By Mahdi Waziri Isa
The Governing Council of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA) has appointed Professor Mohammed Khalid Othman as the university’s new substantive Vice-Chancellor.
The announcement was made by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, His Excellency Ali Abubakar Jatau, following the 36th Special Meeting of the Council held at the Grand Amber Hotel and Suites in Dutse, Jigawa State.
The information was officially released by Nasiru M. Abdul, Director of Information and Protocol of the university.
The appointment was finalized after the Council received and considered the report from the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board. Chairman Jatau stated that “the emergence of Prof. Othman followed a rigorous selection process involving 17 short listed applicants for the position.”
He detailed the process, noting that 28 candidates initially applied for the position, with a Search Team identifying three additional candidates.
“The 17 short listed applicants, who were invited for the interview, participated in the rigorous and transparent selection process after which the selection board submitted the top three performing candidates to the Governing Council to select and approve the appointment of one of them as the Vice Chancellor,” Jatau explained.
Professor Othman, born on July 22, 1962, in Bindawa Local Government Area of Katsina State, is an Agricultural Engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. His academic career spans from Assistant Lecturer to Professor, during which he has held various teaching, research, and administrative positions.
He previously served as the Executive Director of the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS) and is currently an internal member of the FUDMA Governing Council, representing the Senate.
The new Vice-Chancellor is married with nine children.
