President Bola Tinubu appoints Dr. Makoji Stephen as Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ugep, advancing merit-based leadership in Nigerian tertiary education

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Makoji Stephen as the new Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ugep, Cross River State, effective 17 March 2026.

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The appointment, which will run for a single five-year tenure, reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to merit-based leadership in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Stephen served as Chief Lecturer in the Department of Public Administration at Federal Polytechnic Idah and held an adjunct faculty position in the Department of Public Policy and Administration at Miva Open University.

He brings extensive administrative and academic experience, both locally and internationally.

Dr. Stephen earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (Second Class Upper) from Ahmadu Bello University in 1998 and a Master of Science in Public Administration from Benue State University.

He later completed a Master of Science in Human Resource Management at the University of Salford, United Kingdom, in 2009, and a Ph.D. in Business and Management, specialising in Human Resource Management, at the University of Salford Business School in 2016 as a TETFund scholar.

His international exposure includes teaching at multiple UK universities and serving as a Visiting Researcher in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States.

In 2011, he was a fully funded Visiting Researcher at Southern University’s International Centre for Information Technology and Development.

Dr. Stephen also received a Graduate Scholar Award at the 2013 Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Change Management hosted by the University of British Columbia, Canada.

He holds professional memberships with the Society for Human Resource Management (United States), the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development, and the Manchester Industrial Relations Society (United Kingdom).

Education stakeholders have highlighted Dr. Stephen’s blend of leadership experience, human capital expertise, and research exposure as a catalyst for strengthening governance, enhancing academic standards, and improving industry relevance at Federal Polytechnic Ugep.

Observers note that his appointment aligns with the Tinubu administration’s broader agenda of promoting competence, institutional stability, and global competitiveness in Nigerian higher education.

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As Federal Polytechnic Ugep transitions into a new leadership phase, expectations are high that Dr. Stephen’s vision will advance research relevance, operational efficiency, and merit-based administration, positioning the institution as a model polytechnic in Nigeria.