The appointment of Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja has been plunged into controversy following allegations that the selection process breached the university’s own eligibility criteria regarding academic qualifications.
At the heart of the dispute is whether Professor Fawehinmi meets the mandatory requirement of possessing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, as specified in the 2025 advertisement for the position.
The Selection Process
The vacancy, advertised last year, explicitly required candidates to hold a PhD and possess at least 10 years of experience as a professor. Out of over 50 applicants, 10 were shortlisted following security screening by the Department of State Services (DSS).
A Joint Council/Senate Selection Board subsequently conducted a two-day interview process. Based on a merit-based scoring system, the Governing Council selected Fawehinmi, who emerged as the top candidate among the final three.
The Legal and Academic Row
The appointment is now facing formal challenges through petitions submitted to the Federal Ministry of Education and the University Governing Council. Petitioners argue that Fawehinmi’s medical fellowship—a professional qualification—was erroneously treated as an equivalent to an academic PhD.
The controversy is bolstered by two recent regulatory and legal milestones:
National Industrial Court Ruling: A May 8, 2025, judgment (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/421/2024) reportedly ruled that medical fellowships are professional postgraduate diplomas and do not equate to an academic doctorate (PhD).
Ministry of Education Clarification: On March 5, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Education clarified that while medical colleges may be accredited to award PhDs, a fellowship certification remains a professional distinction, not an academic degree.
Implications for University Autonomy
Critics argue that the appointment undermines the University Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1993 (University Autonomy Act). While the Act grants Governing Councils the power to manage appointments to shield institutions from political interference, observers note a “disturbing pattern” of councils bypassing statutory requirements to favor specific candidates.
The Federal Government has maintained that while fellowships are essential for clinical practice, the PhD remains the global benchmark for academic leadership in the university system.
Questions for the Governing Council
The situation has raised urgent questions regarding the oversight of the selection process. Stakeholders are now calling on the Governing Council and the Ministry of Education to address whether the advertised criteria were intentionally ignored and whose interests were served by the alleged bypass of the PhD requirement.
As of press time, the University Governing Council has not issued a formal rebuttal to the petitions, leaving the legitimacy of the institution’s new leadership under significant public and legal scrutiny.
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