University of Abuja is an institution I hold dear to my heart. That’s my alma mater. Popularly referred to as Unibuja or gwags, it is one of the finest public universities we have. It is unique in so many ways providing one of the most excellent learning environments in the country. In terms of security, Unibuja is about the most secure and safe campus in the country, thanks to its location in the nation’s capital.
Unibuja is in the top 10 public universities in Nigeria, and is ranked 13th in both public and private university rankings. Unibuja’s academic excellence is age old. It was once nicknamed ‘glorified secondary school’, and some might think it was because of its size, housed on a mini-campus! But that nickname was more about the disciplined and exceptional learning environment that gave the best to its students, providing a campus that was devoid of most of the ills you’d find in other campuses like unionism, cultism and other similar vices. It has since blossomed into one of the best citadels of learning, having moved to its permanent site, boasting of the best infrastructure you could find in any university across the country. It is a school that is hardly in the news for the wrong reasons.
I picked up a very pleasant surprise about my alma mater, reading about the university having a 41 year old professor as its acting VC! Aisha Sani Maikudi who is a professor of International Law, became the acting VC of Unibuja on the 1st of July, 2024. She is among the 80 scholars that have applied to become the next substantive VC of the university. Prof. Aisha Maikudi has been at various times, Head of Department, Deputy Dean of Faculty, Pioneer Director of one of the key centres in the university, and Deputy Vice Chancellor before her present engagement as Acting Vice Chancellor. She is a proven intellectual and an experienced administrator, managing and heading many vital departments and centres in the school. She is a product of University of Reading, London School of Economics and ofcourse University of Abuja.
However, it seems some elements are just waking up to her achievements and status, and have resolved to leave no stone unturned, in standing in the way of Prof. Maikudi. So many booby traps are being put in her path, trying hard to make sure that Prof. Maikudi doesn’t scale through. One of such is the idea that one has to be a professor for 10 years before he/ she can be VC. This is a contraption in the minds of those bent on standing in her way as this stipulation is neither in the Universities Miscellaneous Act, nor in the
University of Abuja Act.
The power to appoint a VC rests with the Governing Council of the University. A cursory look at other institutions would reveal that most of the VCs in other institutions did not have 10 years of professorship before they became VCs. This criteria is definitely alien to the VC selection process. A lot of heat was generated by the first advert roled out by the university for the VC position.
After a lot of controversy and a strike action by staff of the university, two months after, a new advert was published, and lo and behold, Prof. Maikudi still made the list of 25 applicants qualified for the ‘VCship’ position.
It is interesting to note that of all the applicants for the VC position, non is as qualified as Aisha. She has been Head of Department, Deputy Dean, Pioneer Director, Deputy Vice Chancellor, and eventually now an Acting VC! She stands out amongst all the other applicants and non of them has all these positions and experience as candidates. Her perceived demerit? She is the youngest. She is also a lady, a beautiful one too. Another taboo I guess. The three qualities are perhaps the ones working against her. Certainly not her qualifications or experience. If she was lacking in character and quality, she would have long been scandalised and thrown out of the equation.
As a young person, she is being challenged by older professors who might just be thinking.. how would a 41 year old be our VC? But a glance at what is available the world over, would show that people her age and even younger, are the captains of industry.
As a lady, it’s a man’s world and the world of men who are in the majority in the university wouldn’t be happy being ‘VCed’ by a woman. Lastly, people who look good are looked down upon as just riding on their looks and lacking in content.
Prof. Aisha Maikudi has risen to become the Acting VC of one of the most prestigious universities in Nigeria, as a 41 year old lady. She has come so far at such a young age and is perhaps facing the biggest battle of her life yet. Coming this far means she has got what it takes. The system allows for young people to reach the pinnacle of their careers at a young age, as much as they are qualified. Coming from Katsina State which is the cradle of learning in the North, there is little wonder she has achieved this feat. University of Abuja would be making history in having this young achiever as their substantive VC. She would perhaps be the youngest in the country and in the sub-region. In Africa? Maybe, maybe not. But for Unibuja and Nigeria as a whole, this would be one for the history books. It would be fair that she is allowed to run her course and not have people in the system put bottlenecks and stumbling blocks that would truncate her blistering career. The education ministry should have their eyes keenly on this contest. Despite being the best, I wish Prof. Aisha Maikudi all the best.
- Tahir is Talban Bauchi
