In a pivotal leadership transition, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has elected Professor Chris Piwuna as its new national president. The announcement was made at the Union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress held in Benin City on Sunday, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the ongoing struggle for academic integrity and improved university education in Nigeria.
Professor Piwuna, a seasoned academic and respected consultant psychiatrist, currently serves at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital. He also holds the position of Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos, a role that has further solidified his reputation as a bridge between academic leadership and student engagement.
He succeeds Professor Victor Osodeke, a Professor of Soil Science from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State. Osodeke’s tenure was marked by vigorous advocacy, prolonged industrial actions, and a relentless push for better funding and autonomy in Nigerian public universities.
Professor Piwuna emerged victorious in a keenly contested election, defeating Professor Adamu Babayo of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. Delegates from various university branches converged at the congress, which is held every three years, to elect new officers and deliberate on the future direction of the union.
Observers note that the choice of Piwuna signals a potential shift in tone and strategy for ASUU. Known for his calm yet firm leadership style and strong student-centered philosophy, Piwuna brings both medical expertise and administrative experience to the national stage.
As the new president, he is expected to steer the union through ongoing negotiations with the federal government, address perennial issues such as underfunding, delayed salaries, and university autonomy, and possibly recalibrate ASUU’s approach to industrial actions.
His election has already generated buzz among academic circles, with many expressing optimism that his background in mental health may influence a more empathetic and reform-focused era for Nigeria’s embattled university system.
With the weight of expectation now on his shoulders, all eyes will be on Professor Piwuna as he steps into one of the most demanding leadership roles in Nigeria’s academic landscape.
