By Samson Yaki
The federal government has approved the appointment of Dr. Obarakpo Samuel James as the Acting Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa in Nasarawa State, following the expiration of the tenure of Dr. Abdullahi A. Ahmad who served between January 2018 and December, 2023.
The appointment, which was contained in a letter dated 18TH December 2023 with reference number FME/S.583/CI/11/158 with reference number and signed by the Director, Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions Department in the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Ejeh A. U., said in absence of the governing council, the appointment of Dr. Obarakpo stands pending on the constitution of the governing council.
The letter also stated that the appointment of Dr. Obarakpo takes effect from the first working day after the tenure of the former Rector ended and terminates when the substantive officer is appointed by the Governing Council or six months after, depending on which one comes first.
Born on 23rd September, 1962, James Obarakpo hails from Ughelli-North Local Government Area of Delta State.
He traversed through the Universities of Benin, Jos and Nasarawa State University Keffi for his B.Ed in 1985, M.Sc. in 2007 and Ph.D in 2016 in Mathematics respectively.
Upon joining the services of the Polytechnic as Lecturer ll on 15th August 1994 in the department of mathematics and statistics, Dr. Obarakpo rose through the ranks to become Chief Lecturer on 1st January, 2013.
At any given opportunity, Dr Obarakpo has always proofed himself as a scholar with a difference. His professional dexterities became manifest when he served as Head of Department, Mathematics and Statistics from 2009 to 2023, Dean, School of Applied Science from 2009 to 2014 and Director, NASPoly Consult between 2014 and 2022.
Due to his academic prowess, he was also appointed Deputy Rector, Academic, in June 2022.
Dr. . Obarakpo Samuel James is a symbol of personality with strong academic will, admistrative leadership, good human relations and positive managerial attributes, whose charismatic attributes found him out as worthy vessel to champion to affairs of the institution.
He is a member of Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN), Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) and Nigerian Mathematical Society (NMS).
He has published several papers in reputable publications as well as presented several papers at different conferences, seminars and workshops
Recalled that the appointment of Dr. Obarakpo was faced with stiff oppositions from the immediate past Rector of the institution Dr. Ahmad, who also had interest to be the overseer after serving his tenure of six years. This did not go down well with the members of the Polytechnic and the host community who vehemently stood against it, prompting the intervention of the Elders Council of the Host community that culminated into the confirmation of his (Dr. Obarakpo) appointment.