By Uche Bibilari
The Governing Council of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), has approved the promotion of 218 members of staff, including 30 academic staff elevated to the rank of professors.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, Habib Yakoob, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the university is now known as Yakubu Gowon University.
Yakoob said that the promotion followed the successful completion of the university’s promotion exercise.
He said that the promotion to the professorial cadre was based on positive external assessment reports on the candidates’ scholarly publications.
He further said that the reports were ratified at a meeting of the governing council held on Dec. 11th and Dec. 12th at the university’s main campus.
The university spokesperson gave a breakdown of the academic promotions which showed that 14 scholars were promoted to the rank of professor while 16 others were elevated to the rank of associate professors.
“In addition, 12 academic staff were promoted to senior lecturers, seven to lecturer 1, one to lecturer II, and one staff member was promoted to the rank of senior librarian.
“Similarly, the review of the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 promotion exercises for non-teaching staff indicates that one staff member was promoted to Level 15, and 22 staff were promoted to Level 14,’’.
He also said that 29 others advanced within the senior staff cadre while 115 non-teaching staff were promoted to Level 13 and below.
According to him, the professorial promotions span a wide range of disciplines, including poetry and psychoanalytic studies, directing and communication aesthetics, feminism and gender studies as well as philosophy.
“Other areas are chemical engineering, civil engineering, applied chemistry, theoretical physics, internal medicine (neurology), dermatology, neurosurgery, gynaecology and obstetrics and radiology.
He said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi congratulated the promoted staff and described the exercise as a reflection of the university’s commitment to merit, academic rigour and institutional development.
“Promotions, aside from being a reward for past efforts are a renewed responsibility to deepen scholarship, mentor younger academics, and strengthen the university’s contribution to national development.
“The university will continue to prioritise transparent processes, staff development and a research-driven academic culture that positions the institution for greater national and global relevance.
“The university is now better positioned to pursue excellence and advance its goal of becoming a world-class institution,’’ he said. (NAN)
