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From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The Governing Council of the Federal University Kashere (FUK) has appointed Professor Muhammad Inuwa Ja’afaru as the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
The appointment was announced by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Williams Olushola Aderounmu, following the conclusion of a rigorous and competitive selection process.
Professor Ja’afaru is a seasoned academic and administrator with an extensive career at Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola. Until his new appointment, he served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), where he was responsible for overseeing the university’s administrative operations.
Speaking shortly after unveiling the new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aderounmu explained that the selection was guided by clearly defined criteria. According to him, applicants were required to have spent a minimum of seven years as professors before becoming eligible for consideration.
He stated that experience, academic publications, community service, and performance during the interview were key factors in the assessment. He added that special emphasis was placed on candidates’ ability to generate funds for the university through international grants, endowment funds, consultancy services, and income-generating ventures.
“Government cannot fund everything, so we are trying as much as possible to generate additional funds,” the Pro-Chancellor said, noting that financial sustainability was a critical consideration in the appointment process.
When asked about the margin by which Professor Ja’afaru emerged, Professor Aderounmu confirmed that there was a clear gap between him and other contenders, though he declined to disclose specific performance percentages.
Addressing the other candidates who contested for the position, he disclosed that a total of 20 highly qualified professors were interviewed, all of whom were capable of serving as vice-chancellors in Nigerian universities. However, he emphasised that only one candidate could ultimately be appointed.
He described the process as meticulous and fair, with careful evaluation of application letters, curricula vitae, publications, and other credentials. Differences in years of professorial experience, ranging from seven to nearly three decades, also influenced the final scoring.
