By Waziri Isa Adam (Group Editor-in-chief)
The recent appointment of Professor Adamu Ahmed as the 14th Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria has sparked needless controversy, with some ignorantly questioning the legitimacy of his appointment due to his second-place ranking in the interview process.
According to Education Monitor’s Editorial, a closer look at the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1993 reveals that the Yayale-led Council acted within its mandate in appointing Professor Ahmed.
The Editorial clarified that the Act stipulates that the Selection Board, chaired by the Chairman of Council with two external members and two members from the senate, presents a report to the full Governing Council, ranking candidates in order of performance. Crucially, the Council has the liberty to appoint any one of the top three candidates, either through consensus or voting.
It further said that, “This provision affords the Council the flexibility to choose the best candidate for the position, regardless of their ranking”
It added that “It’s worth noting that this is not the first time a second-ranked candidate has been appointed Vice Chancellor at ABU. In 2010, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, who came second in the contest, was appointed Vice Chancellor”
This precedent suggests that Professor Ahmed’s appointment is not unusual or illegal.
It revealed that, “the only potentially wrongful act would have been if the Selection Board’s report had been refused presentation to the full Council. This was the case in 2019, when the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Kabiru Bala, was unilaterally appointed by the late Adamu Fika-led council without a Selection Board report”
However, in Professor Ahmed’s case, all stipulated processes were followed to the latter. Therefore, the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed-led Council’s decision to appoint Professor Adamu Ahmed as the 14th Vice Chancellor of ABU Zaria should be seen as a legitimate exercise of their authority.
The Council’s diligence and commitment to upholding the principles of fairness and transparency in the appointment process are commendable.
As Professor Ahmed assumes his new role, he is urged to build on the successes of his predecessors and tackle the challenges facing the university with vision, courage, and wisdom.
The appointment of Professor Adamu Ahmed as the 14th Vice Chancellor of ABU Zaria is a proof of the Council’s commitment to excellence and fairness.
The Editorial called on the university community to rally behind the new Vice Chancellor and support him in his efforts to make ABU great again.