The leadership transition at the University of Abuja has taken a significant turn with the appointment of Professor Matthew Adamu as the new Acting Vice Chancellor by the Federal Government for a tenure of three months. His appointment comes on the heels of the successful completion of a six-month tenure by Professor Patricia Manko Lar, whose leadership as Acting Vice Chancellor brought notable restoration and stability to the institution.
Professor Lar assumed office on February 10, 2025, following the Federal Government’s dissolution of the University’s Governing Council and removal of the former Vice Chancellor on February 6. In collaboration with the Chairman of the Council, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso, she worked diligently to restore peace and unity to a campus previously polarized along ethnic and religious lines.
Despite the brevity of her tenure, Professor Lar’s leadership left a lasting impact. Her administration was marked by academic and administrative stability, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to justice. She successfully addressed several long-standing issues, including unjust staff suspensions, withheld salaries, and delayed promotions. One notable case was that of an academic whose promotion letter prepared in 2022 was deliberately withheld until Professor Lar intervened, resulting in its eventual release.
Professor Lar also oversaw the conduct of internal elections for Council representatives on June 26, 2025, following the appointment of external members earlier that month. The election process was praised by the University community for its transparency, inclusiveness, and credibility, with results widely accepted by all parties involved.
In a bid to foster reconciliation and labor peace, she initiated a successful peace meeting with the University branch of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), resolving a crisis that had lingered since 2022. She further ordered the release of the union’s outstanding dues, thereby restoring trust between the administration and the union.
Throughout her tenure, Professor Lar demonstrated a strong sense of purpose and inclusive leadership, often working without the full complement of a Governing Council. Her collaboration with Senator Tejuoso was instrumental in ensuring seamless operations during a turbulent period.
Her legacy was celebrated in a farewell march held on August 11, 2025, attended by over 3,000 staff and students. Speakers at the event recounted her numerous achievements, with many visibly moved by her selfless contributions to the institution’s progress.
As Professor Matthew Adamu steps into the role of Acting Vice Chancellor, expectations are high. A seasoned academic and administrator, he inherits a largely stabilized institution and a well-laid foundation for the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor. The task ahead is time-sensitive, and we urge him to act decisively, building on the groundwork laid by his predecessor.
We also call on all members of the University of Abuja community to offer him their full support. At this critical juncture, distractions and attempts by self-serving individuals to derail progress must be firmly resisted. The success of the new Acting Vice Chancellor is the success of the entire institution.
We are confident that with collective support and purposeful leadership, the University of Abuja will continue on its path toward growth, excellence, and national relevance.
Dr Godwin Okaneme,
Department of Philosophy,
Faculty of Arts,
University of Abuja.
Dr. Iheanyichukwu Hilary Ukpabi,
Department of Policy & Strategic Studies,
Abuja Leadership Centre,
University of Abuja, Abuja.
