Meet UniAbuja acting VC, Prof. Aishat Sani Maikudi, the woman of many firsts

Quadri Yahya 

In the world of academics, Professor of International Law, Aishat Sani Maikudi is one of a kind. At a young age, Prof. Aisha has broken barriers and achieved many firsts. 

Thanks to her influential and lovely mother who took the now-academician to school at the age of 1, making Prof. Aishat to finish primary school at the age of 10, and then proceed to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, completing her secondary education at the age of 16 in 1999.

Her interview with the Daily Trust shows Prof. Aisha, as someone whose early exposure to books spurred her interest in reading; anytime her dad travelled, she made a request for books as a homecoming gift, she disclosed.

Her early start has ignited her quest for knowledge; the springboard propelled her to proceed to the United Kingdom, where she did A Level for two years at one of the centres of studies at Cambridge University.

On her education sojourn, she proceeded to the University of Reading for her Masters of Law, then to the  London School of Economics and Political Science for LLM (which is the masters). 

She didn’t stop. 

She returned to Nigeria for law school. 

Then she was called to Bar. 

Afterward, she commenced the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme —at the Corporate Secretariat and Legal Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, in 2007 —, after which she joined academics in the University of Abuja, as the youngest lecturer at the time.

Born in Kaduna State, Prof. Aishat has travelled across borders seeking knowledge before settling down to impact students at the University of Abuja and beyond, with her knowledge and vast experience in United Nations Law, a field which she has written numerous articles and journals. 

From being a lecturer 2 in 2008 at the university to becoming the first female and youngest Head of Department, Faculty of Law in 2014, she continues to break barriers, emerging as the youngest Professor at the institution and Nigeria, as well as the first female Professor of Law in the entire North West. 

Her many firsts also include: first female and youngest Vice Dean, Faculty of Law in 2018 and the pioneer Director, International Centre, University of Abuja. 

She is a member of various professional associations that include: the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Law Teachers Association, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers. 

Prof. Aisha is married with children.

To cap her achievements, she is currently the acting vice-chancellor of the great UofA. 

Perhaps an excerpt from the newspaper interview summarised Prof. Aishat’s academics exploits and achievements: “I always like a challenge. If I find something difficult, I try to make sure I know what it is all about so that I can answer a question on it.”