JUST-IN: Prof Aisha Maikudi Appointed 7th Substantive UniAbuja VC

The Governing Council of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), under the chairmanship of Air Vice-Marshal Saddiq Ismaila Kaita (Rtd), has approved the appointment of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as the 7th Substantive vice-chancellor of the University.

The appointment was announced during the 77th Extraordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday, December 31 2024.

The appointment takes effect from January 1, 2025, and it is for a non-renewable tenure of five years.

UniAbuja VC: Council Members Boycott Meeting Over Selection Process

Maikudi emerged as the preferred among the 10 shortlisted candidates and interviewed by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the University, in line with the extant regulations governing the process.

LEADERSHIP earlier reported a boycott of the Tuesday’s Council meeting by some members.

Prior to her appointment as the substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi served in an acting capacity from July 5, 2024. During this period, she worked closely with the Governing Council to stabilise the University through a challenging crisis, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment.

Born on January 31, 1983 in Katsina State, Professor Maikudi is a distinguished scholar and professor of International Law at the University of Abuja.

Her educational journey began at Sacred Heart School, Kaduna, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1993. She proceeded to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, earning her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 1999.

Maikudi’s academic excellence took her to the University of Reading, where she earned an LLB in 2004. She further specialised in Public International Law, obtaining an LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2005. After completing her legal education at the Nigerian Law School (2006–2007), she pursued and had 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 rose through the ranks to become a professor in 2021.

Prof Maikudi broke barriers as the first female Head of Department in 2013, the first female Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law in 2018, and the pioneer Director of the University of Abuja International Centre in 2019. She also served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), where she was instrumental in enhancing academic standards and promoting a culture of excellence at the University.

An innovator in her field, she introduced the ‘United Nations Law’ course at the University of Abuja in 2019, backed by extensive research and numerous publications in academic journals and book chapters. She is also highly experienced in supervising theses and dissertations, contributing to the growth of legal scholarship.

Maikudi has represented her university and country at numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and training sessions across the UK, US, South Africa, Germany, Italy, China, Ghana, and Egypt. She has presented papers at many of these events, further solidifying her global reputation as an academic leader.

The new Vice-Chancellor is an active member of several professional organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Law Teachers Association (NLTA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and Nigerian Society of International Law.

According to UniAbuja in a post on its verified Facebook page on Tuesday evening, Prof. Maikudi’s tenure “promises a new era of progress and transformation for the University of Abuja.”