The 10th governing council of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has ratified the recent appointment of Aisha Sani Maikudi as acting vice-chancellor (VC).

Maikudi, a professor of international law, was appointed as acting VC of UniAbuja on June 27.

Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, the immediate former vice-chancellor, whose tenure ended on June 30, stated that the appointment was awaiting ratification by the university’s governing council.

The ratification was announced on Friday after the inaugural meeting of the governing council, led by Saddiq Ismaila Kaita, its chairman.

Maikudi, who is a former deputy vice-chancellor (academic) of the university, was earlier recommended by the senate on June 26 at its 185th regular meeting held at the main campus.

The recommendation was made under the provisions of section 4, sub-section (4b) of the University of Abuja Act and section 5(13) of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003.

In her response to the ratification, Maikudi said the appointment is an opportunity to build on the achievements of her predecessors, address current challenges at UniAbuja, and create a brighter future for the institution.

She urged each member of the governing council to bring their wealth of experience, expertise, and passion to bear.

“Your leadership and vision are crucial in guiding our university through these challenging times and towards a future of sustained growth and excellence,” she said.

“Let us embrace this opportunity to work collaboratively and tirelessly towards realizing the full potential of the University of Abuja.”

The European Union (EU) has awarded scholarships to 142 Nigerians through its flagship Erasmus+ programme.

During a pre-departure orientation in Abuja on Thursday, Samuela Isopi, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the scholarship recipients will begin their studies in September 2024.

She said the programme allows students to study for 12 to 24 months at a minimum of three different universities in various countries.

Isopi said the pre-departure orientation was designed to help the recipients leverage the opportunities provided through the scholarship.

“The 142 Nigerian EMJMD awardees are among the initial batch of beneficiaries, announced by the organisers of the programme in Brussels. The number is likely to increase. Most awardees will start their Erasmus plus journey in September 2024,” she said.

“The pre-departure orientation aimed to provide the recipients with hands-on tips on how to make the best of the immense opportunities inherent in the prestigious scholarships.

“The programmes will run for 12-24 months, with each beneficiary studying in at least three different universities in as many countries within and outside the EU during the period.”

Isopi said the postgraduate programmes for which the scholarship is awarded will cover several advanced fields.

She said this includes renewable power systems, chemical innovation, public health, bio-refinery, marine environment, soil science, sustainable engineering, and shipping.

The ambassador said the students will receive a joint master’s degree from the consortium of universities involved in their chosen programme after successful completion of their programmes.

Originally established by the EU in 1987, the Erasmus programme aimed to foster closer cooperation between universities and higher education institutions across Europe.

Over time, it has expanded into Erasmus+, encompassing a broad framework for transnational cooperation and mobility in education, training, youth, and sport across Europe.

At 142 recipients for 2024, Nigeria retains its number one spot among beneficiaries of the EU postgraduate scholarships in Africa for the sixth year.

The country also retains its place among the top five recipient countries globally.

The authorities of the University of Benin on Thursday shut down academic activities in the institution indefinitely.

The university in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, attributed the decision to the refusal of the students to shift grounds on their demands.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the students on Wednesday took to the streets, blocking the ever-busy Benin-Ore Highway to protest weeks of power outages on campus.

The students, who had two weeks until their first-semester examination, said the situation was severely affecting their preparation. The students also called for a downward review of transport fares by the UNIBEN shuttle service, which was increased with effect from July 1.

NAN reports that the university was thrown into a blackout by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) following the inability to reach an agreement over contentious electricity billings.

The monthly bill was said to have jumped from about ₦80 million to between ₦200 and ₦280 million, forcing the university to resort to power generators as well as rationalisation of power on the two campuses and hostels.

When a NAN correspondent spoke with the protesting students amidst heavy rainfall, they were hellbent on continuing the rampage unless their demands were met. But in the notice of closure made available to NAN, Ehanire described the students’ demand for a 24-hour supply of electricity as unrealistic.

“Following the insistence of students of the University of Benin to shift grounds on their demands for twenty-four hours supply of electricity and more, considered unrealistic by the University’s Senate, the University has shut down academic activities indefinitely.

“Students are to vacate the hostels immediately while all the relevant units of the University are to take note and comply.

“However, non teaching staff and staff on essential duties are not affected by the shut down,” said the university’s spokesperson.