Fresh controversy has emerged over the appointment of Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, with growing concerns focusing on the legality of the selection process rather than the individual himself.
At the centre of the dispute is an alleged breach of the eligibility criteria outlined in the 2025 advertisement for the position, which specified that candidates must possess a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree and have at least 10 years’ experience as a professor.
Sources familiar with the process disclosed that more than 50 applicants initially vied for the position, out of which 10 were shortlisted following security screening by the Department of State Services (DSS). The shortlisted candidates subsequently underwent a two-day interview conducted by the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board.
Three candidates reportedly emerged from the exercise, with the University’s Governing Council adopting a merit-based ranking system that produced Fawehinmi as the preferred candidate.
However, questions have now been raised over whether the appointee met the core academic qualification required for the role. A formal petition challenging the legality of the appointment has reportedly been submitted to both the Federal Ministry of Education and the University’s Governing Council, placing the process under possible review.
The controversy hinges on the distinction between academic and professional qualifications. Critics argue that a medical fellowship—reportedly held by the appointee—does not equate to a PhD or its equivalent, thereby rendering his participation in the selection process questionable.
This position is supported by a judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria delivered on May 8, 2025, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/421/2024, which held that medical fellowship qualifications cannot be regarded as equivalent to a PhD. The court reportedly clarified that such fellowships, often conferred as postgraduate professional certifications, do not meet the threshold of an academic doctorate.
Further reinforcing this interpretation, the Federal Ministry of Education, in a clarification issued on March 5, 2026, stated that while accredited postgraduate medical colleges may award PhDs, their fellowship certifications remain professional qualifications and not academic degrees.
Analysts note that if the advertised requirement was strictly a PhD or its equivalent, any deviation could undermine the integrity of the entire selection process.
Under the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1993, as amended—commonly referred to as the University Autonomy Act—Governing Councils are empowered to advertise vacancies, set up selection committees, and appoint Vice-Chancellors from among qualified professors for a single five-year tenure.
While the law was designed to promote institutional autonomy and merit-based leadership, recent developments across Nigeria’s public universities suggest a pattern of controversies surrounding VC appointments, raising concerns about transparency, compliance, and governance standards.
As scrutiny intensifies, attention is now on the University of Abuja’s Governing Council and the Federal Ministry of Education to determine whether the appointment will stand or be reviewed in light of the legal and regulatory issues raised.
The development has also sparked broader questions about accountability in university governance and adherence to established rules in the appointment of principal officers.