The Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration) of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, is officially retiring from the Nigerian Civil Service, marking the end of a remarkable 35-year career dedicated to public service and higher education development.
Maiyaki’s retirement follows the mandatory 35-year tenure limit for civil servants. His exit brings to a close a career defined by administrative excellence, institutional reforms, and transformative leadership within Nigeria’s university system.
He served as Acting Executive Secretary of the NUC between 2023 and 2024, providing strategic oversight and direction for university governance at a time when Nigeria’s higher education sector was undergoing significant reform. During his tenure, he championed initiatives that strengthened regulatory compliance, enhanced quality assurance, and promoted innovation in university administration.
Maiyaki’s public service journey began in 1990 as an Administrative Officer with the Policy and Administrative Division of the Cabinet Office in the Governor’s Office, Jos, Plateau State. Three years later, in 1993, he joined the National Universities Commission through an inter-service transfer as a Personnel/Administrative Officer I.
Upon joining the NUC, he was immediately appointed Administrative Secretary of the World Bank Project Implementation Unit, which managed a $120 million credit facility for 20 federal universities across the country. The project, widely praised as one of the best-managed in the World Bank’s education portfolio in Nigeria, marked the beginning of Maiyaki’s rise as a key figure in tertiary education management.
Following the project’s successful conclusion in 1996, Maiyaki held several strategic roles within the commission, including Deputy Director, Special Duties and Protocol, and Chief of Staff to the Executive Secretary—a position he held from November 2009 to October 2014. His consistent performance and leadership earned him a promotion to substantive Director in 2014 and later to Deputy Executive Secretary in 2020.
Over the years, Maiyaki worked under six different Executive Secretaries and 18 Ministers of Education, contributing to policy formulation, institutional capacity building, and the implementation of key reforms that shaped Nigeria’s higher education landscape.
Colleagues at the NUC describe him as a disciplined and visionary administrator who embodied professionalism, humility, and commitment to national development through education. His leadership was instrumental in driving collaborative partnerships between the NUC, universities, and international development agencies.
Reflecting on his career in a chat with reporters in Abuja, Maiyaki said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve his country. “My years in the public service have been fulfilling. I am leaving with immense gratitude and a sense of accomplishment,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to successive Executive Secretaries, Ministers of Education, and colleagues who supported him throughout his career, describing their collaboration as crucial to his professional success. He urged younger public servants to embrace integrity, diligence, and accountability, reminding them that public office is a trust to be managed with humility.
“Public service is not about self, but about nation-building,” he said. “It demands discipline, patience, and the ability to see beyond personal gain. I encourage younger officers to serve with honesty and dedication.”
Looking ahead, Maiyaki revealed that several local and international organisations have already approached him to leverage his expertise in educational administration and policy development.
“With the experience and skills I’ve gained over the years—organisational, regulatory, and diplomatic—I believe I can contribute meaningfully to the internationalisation of education and transnational learning,” he said. “Even in retirement, I will remain involved in initiatives that advance higher education. Some people are already reaching out, even foreign universities seeking collaboration. I see post-retirement as another chapter of meaningful engagement.”
Maiyaki’s legacy at the NUC is defined by his role in advancing administrative professionalism, strengthening governance structures in universities, and promoting partnerships that align Nigeria’s higher education system with global standards.
A farewell ceremony in his honour will be held today in Abuja, where colleagues, friends, associates, and key stakeholders in the education sector are expected to celebrate his 35 years of meritorious service.
