In a strategic move to stabilize its administrative and academic core, the Governing Council of the University of Abuja (now Yakubu Gowon University) has ratified the appointment of two seasoned scholars as Deputy Vice-Chancellors.

The appointments, approved during the Council’s 82nd Extraordinary Meeting chaired by Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso, signal a commitment to continuity and meritocracy within the institution. The new appointees—Prof. Rosemary Kanene Udeozor and Prof. Muhammad Umar Ndagi—emerged unopposed, a rarity in the often contentious world of academic politics, suggesting a unified vision from the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi.

Profiles in Excellence

Prof. Rosemary Kanene Udeozor takes the helm as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). A veteran of the institution since 1995, her trajectory from a young academic to a Professor of Educational Administration and Planning is a testament to institutional memory. Her deep understanding of the university's pedagogical challenges will be critical as the institution navigates the new curriculum standards demanded by the federal government.

Prof. Muhammad Umar Ndagi assumes the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration). An authority in Arabic Linguistics, Ndagi brings the rigour of the humanities to the chaotic machinery of university administration. His role will be pivotal in managing the university's infrastructure and human capital during a period of tight fiscal constraints.

The Bigger Picture for African Academia

For observers in East Africa, the developments at UniAbuja serve as a case study in governance. The "Unopposed Return" of these candidates points to a pre-consultation consensus model that many volatile universities in the region could emulate. Stability in the "C-Suite" of a university is directly correlated to research output and student stability.

As these two leaders take office for their two-year tenure, the mandate is clear: Transform the administrative friction of the past into a streamlined engine for academic excellence. The renaming of the university to Yakubu Gowon University brings a new identity; it is now up to Udeozor and Ndagi to give that identity substance.