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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Following the controversy surrounding the selection and appointment of Professor Aisha Maikudi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja by the university’s governing council, a Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT), has described the new VC as a round peg in a round hole.
It was gathered that two representatives of the university Senate claimed that the council did not hand over the guidelines and criteria for screening the 40 candidates said to have been shortlisted for the Vice-Chancellorship at that time.
However, in a statement on Tuesday by the Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, it was stated that Professor Maikudi is more than qualified to occupy the position at the Ivory Tower.
ATT expressed optimism that Maikudi’s tenure would bring a new era of progress and transformation at UNIABUJA.
The Governing Council of the University of Abuja, under the chairmanship of Saddiq Kaita, a retired air vice-marshal, has approved the appointment of Aisha Maikudi as the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university.
The appointment was announced during the 77th Extraordinary Meeting of the governing council on Tuesday, 31 December 2024. The appointment took effect from 1 January 2025, and it is for a non-renewable tenure of five years.
The group urged Maikudi to remain firm and not be intimidated despite protests against her appointment.
“Don’t be intimidated, you are more than qualified, and we are supporting you. Those who are kicking against your appointment are doing so because of your gender. You are more than qualified. They should wait for their turn and allow you to finish your statutory tenure of office,” the statement said.
The statement continued, “Professor Aisha Maikudi, a professor of law, emerged as the best among 10 shortlisted candidates interviewed by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the university, in line with the extant regulations governing the process.
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“Prior to her appointment as the substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Maikudi served in an acting capacity from 5 July 2024. During this period, she worked closely with the Governing Council to stabilise the university through a challenging crisis, demonstrating leadership and commitment.
“Born on 31 January 1983 in Katsina State, Maikudi is a distinguished scholar and professor of International Law at the University of Abuja.
“Her educational journey began at Sacred Heart School, Kaduna, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1993. She proceeded to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, earning her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 1999.
“Professor Maikudi’s academic excellence took her to the University of Reading, where she earned an LLB in 2004. She further specialised in Public International Law, obtaining an LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2005. After completing her legal education at the Nigerian Law School (2006–2007), she pursued and earned a PhD in International Law from the University of Abuja in 2015.
“She joined the University of Abuja as a Lecturer II on 4 September 2008 and rose through the ranks to become a professor in 2021.
“Professor Maikudi broke barriers as the first female Head of Department in 2013, the first female Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law in 2018, and the pioneer Director of the University of Abuja International Centre in 2019. She also served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), where she was instrumental in enhancing academic standards and promoting a culture of excellence at the university.
“An innovator in her field, she introduced the ‘United Nations Law’ course at the University of Abuja in 2019, backed by extensive research and numerous publications in academic journals and book chapters. She is also highly experienced in supervising theses and dissertations, contributing to the growth of legal scholarship.
“She has represented her university and country at numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and training sessions across the UK, US, South Africa, Germany, Italy, China, Ghana, and Egypt. She has presented papers at many of these events, further solidifying her global reputation as an academic leader.
“The new Vice-Chancellor is an active member of several professional organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Law Teachers Association (NLTA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the Nigerian Society of International Law.”
