Professor Chris Piwuna, Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos and a consultant psychiatrist at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, has been elected as the new National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). This occurred during the union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress held in Benin City, Edo State. Piwuna succeeds Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, a Soil Science professor from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. He defeated Prof. Adamu Babayo of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, to win the presidency.

In his acceptance speech, Prof. Piwuna pledged to address the pressing challenges facing Nigeria’s public university system and called for the support of all ASUU members to succeed in his mandate. In the race for vice president, Dr. Austen Sado of the University of Port Harcourt scored 231 votes to defeat outgoing treasurer, Prof. Olusiji Sowande of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, who garnered 174 votes. Similarly, Adamu Peter, Chairman of the ASUU chapter at Kaduna State University, emerged as the new treasurer with 296 votes, defeating Prof. Denis Aribodo of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, who polled 106 votes.

Professor Chris Piwuna of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State, has emerged as the 14th President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), taking over from Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke. The announcement followed the union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress, which concluded at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Benin City, Edo State. Piwuna defeated his opponent, Prof Adamu Babayo from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, in the election.

Piwuna’s presidency begins at a critical time for Nigerian universities, with ongoing discussions surrounding funding, Earned Academic Allowances of University academic staff, brain drain, issues of autonomy, and improved welfare for academic staff. His leadership is anticipated to guide the union’s engagements with the government and other stakeholders. Piwuna is a professor of medicine and a consultant psychiatrist, as well as the immediate past national vice president of ASUU. He graduated from UNIJOS with a Medicine (MBBS) degree in 2000, obtained his Master’s at the University of Malta in 2013, and is a West African College of Physicians fellow and a member of the International Psychogeriatric Association. His work specializes in the quality of life in older adults, with several articles in peer-reviewed journals.