UniAbuja gets new Vice Chancellor

The Governing Council of the University of Abuja,UniAbuja , has approved the appointment of Professor Aisha Maikudi as the 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.

This decision was announced during the 77th Extraordinary Meeting of the Council in Abuja.

A statement from the Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, explains that Professor Maikudi was selected as the top candidate among 10 shortlisted individuals following interviews conducted by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the University, according to existing regulations.

Before she was appointed substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Maikudi served in an acting capacity from 5th July 2024.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the external members of the Governing Council boycotted a meeting with the Chairman, Retired Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Kaita, claiming that due process was not followed in the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor.

Profile of New UNIAbuja Vice-Chancellor

Born on 31st January 1983 in Katsina State, Professor Maikudi is a distinguished scholar and a professor of International Law at the University of Abuja.

Her educational journey began at Sacred Heart School in Kaduna, where she earned her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1993. She then attended Queens College in Yaba, Lagos, where she obtained her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 1999.

Professor Maikudi’s impressive academic track record led her to the University of Reading in the UK, where she earned an LLB in 2004. She further specialized 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 achieved a PhD in International Law from the University of Abuja in 2015.

She joined the University of Abuja as a Lecturer II on 4th September 2008 and advanced through the ranks, becoming a professor in 2021.

Professor Maikudi has broken barriers as the first female Head of Department in 2013, the first female Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law in 2018, and the inaugural Director of the University of Abuja International Centre in 2019. She also served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), where she played a key role in enhancing academic standards and fostering a culture of excellence at the university.

A pioneer in her field, she introduced the ‘United Nations Law course at the University of Abuja in 2019, supported by her extensive research and numerous publications in academic journals and book chapters. Additionally, she has significant experience supervising theses and dissertations, contributing to the advancement of legal scholarship.

Professor Maikudi 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 establishing her global reputation as an academic leader.

The new Vice-Chancellor is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Law Teachers Association (NLTA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the Nigerian Society of International Law.