UniAbuja acting VC takes over as Na’Allah’s tenure ends

The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, Monday, assumed office following the handing over of mantle of leadership of the university to her by the outgone Vice Chancellor, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah.

Recall that Aisha Sani Maikudi,a renowned professor of International Law, and Deputy Vice-chancellor, Academic, of the university, was named last week as the new acting vice chancellor by the Senate of the university, following the expiration of Prof. Na’Allah’s tenure.

Speaking at a brief handing over and taking over ceremony, held at the Vice Chancellor’s Conference Room, the acting vice chancellor, vowed to bring immediate reforms to the university, beginning with inauguration of the university’s Governing Council on Thursday, July 4,2024.

She promised “to build upon the outstanding work of my predecessor, whose leadership has guided us through many significant milestones.”

She thanked Professor Na’Allah for leaving the university better than he met it, saying his “leadership and vision have guided us to where we stand today. “

“Your tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to the university have laid a solid foundation for us to build upon, and for that, we are deeply grateful, ” she told her predecessor.

The acting vice chancellor spoke further: “Our university is a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and community engagement. Each member of our academic family, from faculty and staff to students and alumni, plays an essential role in sustaining and enhancing our mission. Together, we have cultivated an environment that fosters intellectual growth, creative exploration, and the pursuit of excellence.

“I am pleased to inform you that the University Governing Council will be inaugurated on Thursday 04 July 2024. I believe that this development will bring an end to the impasse we have been experiencing. With the Governing Council in place, I am confident that we will soon see a return to normalcy, allowing us to focus on our primary mission of education and research.

“As we embark on this new chapter, I am committed to upholding the values that define our university. My priorities will include academic excellence; research and innovation; students success; staff welfare; community engagement; Inclusivity and diversity, “

“I am deeply aware of the challenges we face, but I am equally confident in our collective ability to overcome them. Our strength lies in our unity and our shared dedication to the principles of education and research. I encourage each of you to continue to bring your passion, ideas, and energy to our university, as we navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead, “she further said.

On his part, the outgoing vice chancellor, Prof. Na’Allah, solicited both staff and students’ unflinching support for his successor.

“Today is a great day in the history of our university. They said ” soldiers go, soldiers come. That is how barracks is. It’s really an indication of life. When there’s life, things have to keep moving and our university is fully alive. This great university is fully alive. There cannot be gap, there cannot be freezing and this is an evidence of that.

“Today, as your former vice chancellor, I must say that I’m here with full sense of history. History that has come and we have worked together. History that we really worked hard, that God almighty had blessed us to the extent that today, we are having this ceremony.

” I have total confidence in all of us here, most especially the acting vice chancellor. I am grateful to the Almighty that I have a strong team that worked with me and I handed over to the same team that worked with me.

“My prayer for this university is that whatever we have done, far greater things will come., will be done that this great university will continue with the zeal, with its impact fully realized globally. I will continue to pray for this great university, I will continue to do everything that I can do even from outside to support this university in whatever ways I can.  I think prayer is the most powerful, so I will pray hard.

“What I will want you people to know is not to forget that I am going to be on sabbatical. So, technically, I’m going to still be in this university. “