The Governing Council of the University of Abuja, now renamed Yakubu Gowon University, has approved the appointment of Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
Professor Fawehinmi, who currently serves as Vice-Chancellor of the Nigerian British University, was announced as the new helmsman during the 80th Extraordinary Meeting of the Council held on Friday.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, the appointment takes effect from Tuesday, February 10, 2026, for a single, non-renewable tenure of five years.
“The appointment takes effect from Tuesday, 10 February 2026, and is for a non-renewable tenure of five years,” Yakoob stated.
The Council also approved an extension of the tenure of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mathew Adamu, who will continue to serve in an acting capacity until February 10, 2026, when Professor Fawehinmi formally assumes office. Professor Adamu was first appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor by the Federal Government on August 11, 2025.
A distinguished scholar, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi is a Professor of Clinical Anatomy and Biomedical Anthropology with deep roots in academic leadership and institutional governance. He previously served as Head of the Department of Anatomy (2005–2007; 2007–2009), Associate Dean (2010–2012), Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (2012–2014), and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (2016–2020) at the University of Port Harcourt.
Beyond his administrative roles, Professor Fawehinmi has served on numerous statutory and ad hoc committees and is an active member of national and international professional associations. He was Secretary-General and Member of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Medical Association (Rivers State) from 1999 to 2000, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Anatomical Sciences, and President of the Society of Experimental and Clinical Anatomists of Nigeria (2014–2016).
He is the recipient of several academic and community service awards and holds fellowships from the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland and the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria.Professor Fawehinmi has also secured several national and international competitive research grants as Principal Investigator. His innovation—the AMRG Anthropometry Chair for Dimensional Body Measurements—earned him a Federal Government Patent in recognition of his contribution to scientific advancement.
