Breaking: UniAbuja Professors Reject Appointment of Hakeem Fawehinmi As New VC, Give Reasons
Fresh controversy has erupted at the University of Abuja following the appointment of Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi as the institution’s new Vice Chancellor.
The appointment was approved by the 11th Governing Council of the University, chaired by Distinguished Senator Dr. Olanrewaju Tejuoso, and was announced during its 80th Extraordinary Meeting held on Friday, 7th November 2025. Prof. Fawehinmi is scheduled to assume office on 10th February 2026 for a non-renewable five-year tenure.
Barely a month after the announcement, a coalition of academic staff under the banner of the Concerned Academic Stakeholders of the University of Abuja formally rejected the appointment, alleging that Prof. Fawehinmi does not possess a Ph.D., which they insist was a mandatory requirement clearly stated in the advertised criteria for the Vice Chancellorship.
According to the protesting academics, the job advertisement explicitly required candidates to hold a doctoral degree, reflecting long-established norms of the National Universities Commission (NUC). While Prof. Fawehinmi is widely respected for his academic leadership, distinguished scholarship, and professional fellowships, the group argues that fellowships cannot substitute for a Ph.D. when assessing eligibility for the office of Vice Chancellor.
They warn that proceeding with the appointment despite this alleged breach could create legal, procedural, and governance challenges for the institution. The stakeholders are urging the Governing Council for a review or consider the next fully qualified.
CC: Rivers Mirror