New Leadership at the University of Abuja
The Governing Council of the University of Abuja, now known as Yakubu Gowon University, has officially approved the appointment of Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi as the substantive Vice Chancellor. This decision was made during the 80th Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on Friday. The announcement was made by the institution’s acting Head of Information, Dr Habib Yakoob.
“The appointment will take effect from Tuesday, 10 February 2026, and is for a non-renewable tenure of five years,” Yakoob stated in the official communication.
Professor Fawehinmi currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of the Nigerian British University. His new role at the University of Abuja follows a period of leadership under acting VCs, who were appointed by the Federal Government due to controversies surrounding the previous Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi.
In addition to appointing Fawehinmi, the Council has also decided to extend the tenure of the current Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Mathew Adamu, until February 10, 2026. Adamu was initially appointed on August 11, 2025, by the Federal Government.
Academic Background and Professional Experience
Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi is a distinguished academic with expertise in Clinical Anatomy and Biomedical Anthropology. He has a strong foundation in academic traditions and extensive experience in institutional administration.
His career includes multiple roles such as:
- Head of Department of Anatomy (2005 – 2007; 2007 – 2009)
- Associate Dean (2010 – 2012)
- Dean (2012 – 2014) of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
- Two terms as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) (2016 – 2020) at the University of Port Harcourt
Fawehinmi has also been actively involved in various statutory and ad hoc committees and boards. His contributions to professional associations include:
- Secretary-General and Member of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Medical Association
- Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Anatomical Sciences
- President of the Society of Experimental and Clinical Anatomists of Nigeria (2014-2016)
Recognition and Contributions
Throughout his career, Professor Fawehinmi has received numerous awards and honors for his academic and community service. He is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland and a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Specialities of Nigeria.
He has successfully secured several national and international competitive grants as a Principal Investigator. One of his notable achievements is the invention of the AMRG Anthropometry Chair for Dimensional Body Measurements, which earned a patent from the Federal Government.