FG APPOINTS VCS, REGISTRARS FOR NEW VARSITIES

By NBF News

By Chris Ochayi
Federal Government, yesterday, appointed Vice Chancellors and Registrars for the newly established nine Federal universities in order to ensure that the institutions commenced full academic activities by September 2011.

Following this development, it had directed the management of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, to facilitate the students' intake into the universities by September this year.

Vice-Chancellors appointed include, Prof. Abdulmumini Rafindadi for Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State; Prof. Ekanem  Braide, Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State; and Prof Mohammed  Farouk for Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State.

Others were Prof. Geoffrey Okogbaa for Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State; Professor James O. I. Ayalse for Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State; Prof. Jibrila Amin for Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State; Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe for Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State; Prof. Chinedun  Nebo for Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State; and Bolaji Aluko for Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Some of the Registrars are  Mrs. Habiba Adeiza for Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State; Dr. Idris Jibrin for Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State; Dr. Abubakar  Bafeto for Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State; and Mr. John  Ansho for Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State.

Others  are Mr. Abubakar  Yusuf for Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State,  among others.

Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Ajayi, Federal Universty, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, and Mr. David Ujode Suwari, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayatu Ahmed Rufa'i while announcing this at a press conference in Abuja, said this effort was in the deliberate pursuit of this administration's determination to avoid the localization of the new universities and to ensure they take-off as national and international centres of knowledge.

She said, care has been taken to ensure that the pioneer Vice Chancellors were carefully chosen from the ranks of former Vice Chancellors, Provosts of Colleges of Medicine as well as distinguished Nigerian professors in the Diaspora.

She added that, 'similarly, no Vice Chancellor shall serve in a university within his or her geo-political zone.'

She said 'in case of the office of Registrar, Government allowed for the appointment of candidates from the rank of former but active Registrars of serving experienced Deputy Registrars. However, in order to assist the Vice Chancellors, consideration was given to indigenes to ensure a good host community-university relationship.

'In due course, the universities will appoint the other principal and frontline officers as well as support staff', she said.