BREAKING: UniAbuja governing council appoints Maikudi as substantive VC
Habib Yakoob, the acting director of information and university relations, said in a statement that the announcement was made during the 77th extraordinary meeting of the council held on Tuesday.
By Idris Temidayo
The governing council of the University of Abuja, under the leadership of Saddiq Ismaila Kaita has approved the appointment of Aisha Sani Maikudi as the seventh substantive vice-chancellor of the university.
Habib Yakoob, the acting director of information and university relations, said in a statement that the announcement was made during the 77th extraordinary meeting of the council held on Tuesday.
Yakoob noted that Maikudi’s appointment will take effect on January 1, 2025, and will be for a non-renewable term of five years.
“Maikudi was selected as the top candidate from a pool of 10 shortlisted individuals, following an interview process conducted by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the University, in full compliance with the governing regulations,” the statement reads.
MAIKUDI’S PROFILE
Before her appointment as the substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi served as Acting Vice-Chancellor from 5th July 2024. During this time, she played a pivotal role in stabilising the University amidst a challenging crisis, demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication to the University’s progress.
Born on 31st January 1983 in Katsina State, Professor Maikudi is an esteemed scholar and Professor of International Law at the University of Abuja.
Her educational journey began at Sacred Heart School in Kaduna, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1993. She went on to attend Queens College in Yaba, Lagos, where she completed her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 1999.
Professor Maikudi continued her academic pursuits at the University of Reading, where she earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2004. She further specialised in Public International Law, obtaining a Master of Laws (LLM) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2005. After completing her legal studies at the Nigerian Law School (2006-2007), she went on to earn 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 steadily advanced through the academic ranks, achieving the status of Professor in 2021.
Professor Maikudi has made significant strides in leadership, becoming the first female Head of the Department of Law 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 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), where she contributed greatly to improving academic standards and fostering a culture of excellence within the University.
A trailblazer in her field, she introduced the ‘United Nations Law’ course at the University of Abuja in 2019, underpinned by extensive research and numerous publications in academic journals and books. Professor Maikudi has also supervised numerous theses and dissertations, further contributing to the growth of legal scholarship.
She has represented both the University and Nigeria at numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and training sessions, in countries such as the UK, US, South Africa, Germany, Italy, China, Ghana, and Egypt. At many of these events, she presented papers that reinforced her standing as a leading academic figure on the global stage.
Professor Maikudi is an active member of several professional associations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Law Teachers Association (NLTA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the Nigerian Society of International Law.
Her appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter of progress and transformation for the University of Abuja.
