The University of Abuja, recently renamed Yakubu Gowon University, has set a new record by promoting 104 academic staff to professorial ranks, the highest number ever elevated in a single exercise since the institution’s inception.
The 11th Governing Council of the university, chaired by Senator Dr Olanrewaju Tejuoso, approved the promotions during its 78th Extraordinary Meeting held over two days, Tuesday, September 9 and Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the university’s main campus.
Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, announced the development in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. He disclosed that 58 lecturers were promoted to the rank of professor, while 46 were elevated to associate professor.
The promoted academics cut across a wide range of disciplines, including agriculture, animal science, Islamic studies, Islamic history and ethics, clinical sciences, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, radiology, ophthalmology, theatre arts, social science education, civil engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, pharmacology, statistics, applied mathematics, nursing and allied health sciences.
Congratulating the newly promoted staff, Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Mathew Adamu commended their dedication to scholarship and academic excellence.
“This promotion is a recognition of your hard work, academic excellence and commitment to the values and growth of the university. We expect that your new academic status will inspire even greater achievements in teaching, research, mentorship and community service,” he said.
Professor Adamu also underscored the importance of the milestone, stating: “This promotion is particularly remarkable because the number of staff elevated to professorial rank is the highest in the history of this university. It is a great achievement and a credit to the commitment of council, management and the entire university community to reward excellence and strengthen our human resource capacity at this point in the university’s development.”
He expressed optimism about the university’s future, adding: “Let me also reassure you that, with the stability the university currently enjoys, greater achievements lie ahead. I am certain that both the university and its staff will benefit from this new drive to ensure an improved and timely reward system designed to strengthen our journey towards attaining the heights of world class institutions.”
“On behalf of the Governing Council and the management of the university, I congratulate you on this noble achievement,” Professor Adamu concluded.
