Tinubu Appoints Nakore, Kodage, and Bunkure into Key Roles at Newly Upgraded Federal Universities of Education

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved new leadership appointments for two of Nigeria’s recently upgraded universities of education, naming seasoned technocrats and academics to steer their growth.

In Kano, Engineer Abdurrazaq Abubakar Nakore has been appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education. Nakore, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, previously served as Executive Secretary of the Rural Electricity Board in Jigawa State.

Joining him is Professor Abdullahi Tukur Kodage, who has been confirmed as the new Vice Chancellor of the same university. Kodage brings decades of academic and administrative experience to the role.

Meanwhile, at the Federal University of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State, the President has appointed Professor Yahaya Isa Bunkure as Vice Chancellor. Bunkure, an authority in science education, is currently serving as the Vice Chancellor of Saadatu Rimi University of Education in Kano.

Both institutions — the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano, and the Federal University of Education, Zaria — were among four Colleges of Education elevated to university status between 2022 and 2023, in line with the federal government’s drive to strengthen teacher education and research.

Under the governing laws, the Pro-Chancellor will serve a four-year tenure, while the Vice Chancellors will hold office for five years.

These appointments, announced on September 3, 2025, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), are expected to consolidate the institutions’ foundations and position them as hubs of excellence in teacher education across the country.