UNIABUJA Governing Council appoints a new Vice Chancellor; The eleventh Governing Council of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), chaired by Distinguished Senator Dr. Olanrewaju Tejuoso, has officially approved the appointment of Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi as the Substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.
The announcement was made during the 80th Extraordinary Meeting of Council on Friday, 7th November 2025. Professor Fawehinmi’s appointment will take effect from Tuesday, 10th February 2026, for a non-renewable tenure of five years.
In the interim, the Council has approved the extension of the tenure of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mathew Adamu, until 10th February 2026. Professor Adamu was first appointed by the Federal Government on 11th August 2025.
Profile of Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi
Professor Fawehinmi is a Professor of Clinical Anatomy and Biomedical Anthropology with extensive experience in institutional administration. His previous leadership roles include:
- Head of Department of Anatomy, University of Port Harcourt (2005–2007; 2007–2009)
- Associate Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (2010–2012)
- Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (2012–2014)
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), University of Port Harcourt (2016–2020)
He has served on numerous statutory and ad-hoc committees, equipping him with the expertise to lead a growing and dynamic academic community.
Academic and Professional Achievements
- National and International Associations: Served as Secretary-General and Member of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Medical Association, Rivers State (1999–2000), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Anatomical Sciences, and President of the Society of Experimental and Clinical Anatomists of Nigeria (2014–2016).
- Fellowships: Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (FRAI) and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Specialties of Nigeria (FAMedS).
- Publications: Authored over 100 articles in reputable, peer-reviewed journals and 37 conference abstracts.
- Research and Grants: Principal Investigator on several national and international competitive grants. His invention, the AMRG Anthropometry Chair, received a Federal Government patent for dimensional body measurements.
- Conferences and Mentorship: Participated as a resource person in 78 conferences, workshops, and training programmes worldwide. Supervised over 100 BSc projects, 15 MSc, and 13 PhD/MD dissertations. Delivered the 111th Inaugural Lecture at UniPort in 2014 titled “Different Tailors for the Same People; Same Surgeon for Different People.”
- External Engagements: External Examiner and Assessor to the professoriate across Nigeria and the University of Exeter, UK. Led NUC and Medical & Dental Council visitation panels to several medical schools.
- Recognition: Cited in the 2021 Africa Scientist Rankings by the Alper-Doger Scientific Index.
Personal Life
Professor Fawehinmi is married to Dr. Hadeezat O. Fawehinmi, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, and they have five children.
