By Jimmy Jackson
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the 11th Governing Council of the University of Abuja, Dr Olanrewaju Tejuoso, has approved the promotion of 45 academic staff to professorial rank, pending its ratification by the Council when fully constituted.
While 20 of the staff were promoted to the rank of Professor, 25 others were elevated to the rank of Associate Professor.
The promotion was announced by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patricia Manko Lar, at the 188th Regular Senate of the University held Tuesday 8 April 2025 on the Main Campus.
The exercise revealed that the academic staff were promoted across various disciplines, which include Geography and Atmospheric Sciences, Social Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Management Sciences, Education, Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, and Arts.
Those promoted to the rank of professor in various fields and specialisations are Dr Ishaya Sunday (Environmental Resource Planning); Dr Gabriel Kehinde Omeiza (Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health); Dr Simon Azubuike Ubah (Theriogenology); Dr Maria Aladi Apochi (Science Education – Biology); Dr Akinola David Babatunde (Social Studies Education); Dr Grace Simadi Olowonefa (Educational Administration and Planning); Dr Comfort Adetutu Olanrewaju (Zoology – Public Health Parasitology); Dr Kolawole Sunday Adebayo (Applied Chemistry); Dr Ogedengbe John Onimisi (Human Physiology) and Dr Kamoru Adio Salami (Process Intensification and Reaction Engineering).
Others are Dr Samson Adeyinka Adeniji (International Relations); Dr Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim (International Relations); Dr Saleh Abubakar Sadiq (Finance); Dr Emmanuel Ademola Anigilaje (Paediatrics – Nephrology); Dr Musa Adeyemi Olaofe (Islamic History and Ethics); Dr Richard Onalo (Cardiology); Dr Zubairul Islam (Geographical Information System/ Remote Sensing); Dr Andrew Donatus Abue (Anatomy – Physical Anthropology); Dr Fatima Kyari (Opthalmology) and Dr Ugheoke Benjamin Iyenagbe (Production / Industrial Engineering).
While congratulating the newly promoted staff, the Acting Vice-Chancellor described them as hardworking academics who were committed to the advancement of knowledge in their various fields of endeavour.
She said, “In view of pending promotions, we sought the permission of the Council Chairman, who magnanimously granted approval – on behalf of the Council and subject to ratification – for the announcement of those who received positive external assessments and were promoted to the ranks of Professor and Associate Professor.
“This is a well-deserved recognition of your dedication, resilience, and hard work. Your promotions not only reflect your individual accomplishments but also serve to showcase the University’s commitment to the academic development and progress of its staff.
“But this is just the beginning of what the world will expect from you in terms of advancing the course of knowledge, engaging in more groundbreaking research, and inspiring the next generation of scholars and leaders. This administration will continue to give you support and ensure that all those who merit such elevation get it as and when due.”
