Abuja — The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, has been honoured with the Kwame Nkrumah Special Award of Recognition for Peace and Community Development by the African Network for Accountability (ANFA), Accra, Ghana, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to higher education, academic leadership, research, institutional development, and nation-building.
The award was presented during a brief but colourful ceremony held at the Conference Hall of the University of Abuja, where members of the university management, senior academics, and representatives of the African Network for Accountability gathered to celebrate the distinguished scholar and administrator.
Presenting the award on behalf of the Founder and Global President of ANFA, Prince Sammi Osei Ajayi; Dr. Azu Monday, Country Director (Nigeria), described Professor Fawehinmi as an exemplary academic leader whose vision, integrity, and commitment to excellence have positioned him among Africa’s most respected university administrators.
According to Dr. Monday, the Kwame Nkrumah Special Award is one of ANFA’s highest honours and is reserved for exceptional Africans whose leadership reflects the ideals of the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the foremost Pan-Africanist whose legacy of unity, education, justice, peace, and sustainable development continues to inspire generations across the continent.
He noted that the award was not merely a recognition of personal achievement but a celebration of purposeful leadership and the transformative role of education in Africa’s development.
“At the African Network for Accountability, we believe that Africa’s transformation depends not only on political leadership but equally on the quality of leadership within our educational institutions. Universities remain the factories where future leaders are shaped, innovation is cultivated, and lasting solutions to Africa’s challenges are developed,” he said.
Dr. Monday commended Professor Fawehinmi’s leadership since assuming office as the eighth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, noting that he has demonstrated remarkable commitment to strengthening academic standards, promoting impactful research, improving institutional governance, and positioning the university for greater national and international relevance.
He further observed that Professor Fawehinmi’s distinguished career as a Professor of Clinical Anatomy and Biomedical Anthropology has significantly enriched scholarship and advanced medical education through teaching, research, mentorship, and institutional leadership.
“True leadership is measured not merely by the office one occupies but by the positive impact one leaves on people and institutions. Professor Fawehinmi embodies integrity, innovation, accountability, and service—qualities that align perfectly with the values and mission of the African Network for Accountability,” Dr. Monday stated.
He added that, at a time when Africa requires transformational leadership across every sector, Professor Fawehinmi represents the calibre of leaders capable of driving sustainable development through knowledge, innovation, and human capital investment.
Born in 1969, Professor Fawehinmi obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), later earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Clinical Anatomy from the University of Port Harcourt, and subsequently obtained a Master of Science degree in Medical Anthropology from the University of London.
Before his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja on February 10, 2026, he had served in several strategic academic leadership positions, including Dean and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Port Harcourt. He also served as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Nigerian British University, where he established strong institutional foundations anchored on global academic standards.
The citation further noted that Professor Fawehinmi has authored and co-authored over one hundred scholarly publications in Clinical Anatomy, Human Biology, and Biomedical Anthropology and is widely recognised for his patented AMRG Anthropometry Chair, an innovation that has enhanced anthropometric research and medical practice.
ANFA also acknowledged his membership and fellowship in several professional bodies, including the prestigious Royal Anthropological Institute, describing him as a globally respected scholar, researcher, mentor, and institution builder.
Receiving the award, Professor Fawehinmi expressed profound appreciation to the African Network for Accountability for finding him worthy of the prestigious honour.
He thanked the organisation for the confidence reposed in him and assured the delegation that the recognition would serve as additional motivation to continue promoting excellence, accountability, quality education, and institutional development.
The Vice-Chancellor pledged to improve upon the standards and achievements that informed his selection for the award, reaffirming his commitment to advancing the University of Abuja as a centre of academic excellence and innovation.
Among dignitaries present at the ceremony were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Rosemary Kanene Udeozor, the Registrar of the University, Malam Alkasim Musa Umar, members of the university management, senior academic staff, and representatives of the African Network for Accountability.
The African Network for Accountability (ANFA), headquartered in Accra, Ghana, is a Pan-African organisation committed to promoting accountability, ethical leadership, peace, sustainable development, and good governance across Africa. Through the Kwame Nkrumah
