The University of Abuja, recently renamed Yakubu Gowon University, has chosen its next academic leader in a decision that sets the stage for a new chapter in the institution’s history.
Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi will take the reins as substantive Vice-Chancellor, bringing experience from his current role as head of the Nigerian British University.
The Governing Council made the announcement during its 80th Extraordinary Meeting held on Friday, marking the culmination of what officials describe as a thorough selection process.
Dr. Habib Yakoob, Acting Director of Information and University Relations, confirmed the appointment in an official statement released by the institution.
Professor Fawehinmi’s tenure will officially begin on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, and will run for a single, non-renewable five-year term as stipulated by current university regulations.
To ensure continuity in university operations, the Governing Council has extended the appointment of Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Mathew Adamu until February 10, 2026.
This extension creates a seamless handover period, allowing Professor Adamu to maintain leadership stability until Professor Fawehinmi formally assumes office.
The decision prevents any leadership vacuum that could disrupt ongoing academic programs, administrative processes, or strategic initiatives already underway at the university.
Professor Fawehinmi comes to Yakubu Gowon University with substantial administrative experience gained from steering the Nigerian British University as its Vice-Chancellor.
His cross-institutional perspective could prove valuable as the recently renamed university navigates its new identity while maintaining academic excellence and expanding its footprint in Nigeria’s higher education landscape.
In a parallel development across the country, the Federal University Oye-Ekiti announced its own vice-chancellorship appointment on Thursday.
Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, a specialist in Soil Ecosystem and current Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Strategic Partnership, Research, Innovation and Linkages, will become FUOYE’s fifth substantive Vice-Chancellor.
His appointment takes effect one day after Professor Fawehinmi’s, on February 11, 2026, succeeding Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina whose tenure expires February 10, 2026.
At a press conference held at the National Open University of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja, FUOYE’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, defended the selection methodology employed by his institution.
“The process was fully digitalized. The applications were launched online, and the assessments were done by the system. However, to ensure transparency and accuracy, we still carried out a manual review,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria explained.
Senator Ndoma-Egba addressed questions about holding the council meeting outside the university campus, asserting that no law prohibits such arrangements.
He urged unsuccessful applicants to support Professor Ogunwole’s leadership, emphasizing that collective effort remains essential for university development.
The FUOYE Pro-Chancellor had high praise for departing Vice-Chancellor Professor Fasina, particularly highlighting his infrastructure legacy.
“He towers above his predecessors in terms of infrastructure development of the university,” Senator Ndoma-Egba stated, thanking Professor Fasina for “finishing strong.”
The timing of both appointments creates an interesting coincidence, with two federal universities welcoming new leadership within a 24-hour period in February 2026.
This clustering of vice-chancellorship transitions may reflect synchronized tenure cycles across Nigeria’s federal university system, where five-year terms often align due to coordinated appointment schedules.
Both incoming vice-chancellors face the universal challenges confronting Nigerian university leaders: funding constraints, infrastructure needs, faculty retention, research output expectations, and maintaining academic standards amid economic pressures.
For Professor Fawehinmi specifically, leading a recently renamed institution adds another dimension, helping Yakubu Gowon University establish its distinct identity while building on the foundation laid by its previous incarnation as University of Abuja.
The non renewable five-year term gives him a clear timeline to implement his vision and deliver measurable results without the distraction of reappointment considerations.
The appointments signal continuity in governance structures while offering fresh perspectives that could drive innovation and progress at two important federal universities serving different regions of the country.