In a surprising turn of events, the Governing Council of the University of Abuja, under the chairmanship of Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (rtd) approved the appointment of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as the 7th substantive Vice Chancellor of the university.

Her appointment follows the 77th extraordinary meeting of the institution’s governing council on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

A statement by Dr Habib Yakoob, acting Director of Information and University Relations, confirmed the latest development.

The statement noted that Maikudi’s appointment takes effect from January 1, 2025, and for a non-renewable tenure of five years.

Maikudi emerged as the best among the 10 shortlisted candidates interviewed by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the University, in line with the extant regulations governing the process.

Prior to her appointment as substantive Vice Chancellor, Prof Maikudi served in an acting capacity from July 5, 2024. During this period, she worked closely with the governing council to stabilise the university through a challenging crisis, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment.

Prof Maikudi, born on January 31, 1983, in Katsina State, is a 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.

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 in 2007, she studied for a PhD in International Law from the University of Abuja in 2015.

She joined the University of Abuja as a Lecturer II on September 4, 2008 and rose through the ranks to become a professor in 2021.

She broke the glass ceiling 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. 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 Nigerian Society of International Law.

Before her appointment on Tuesday, there had been controversies surrounding her emergence as the Vice Chancellor, with some academic staff protesting against her appointment.

Prof Aisha Maikudi appointed 7th Vice Chancellor of UniAbuja