The Governing Council of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA) in Katsina State has approved the appointment of ASHENEWS Columnist, Prof. Mohammed Khalid-Othman as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
The announcement was made by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Ali Abubakar Jatau, in a statement issued by the university’s Director of Information and Protocol, Mr. Nasiru Abdul, on Saturday in Katsina.
Abdul said the Pro-Chancellor made the disclosure after the 36th Special Meeting of the Governing Council held in Dutse, Jigawa State.
He explained that the appointment followed the consideration of the report of the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board on the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor for the university.
“The emergence of Prof. Khalid-Othman followed a rigorous selection process involving 17 shortlisted applicants for the position,” Jatau stated.
He added that a total of 28 candidates had applied for the position, while the Search Team identified three additional applicants.
“The 17 shortlisted candidates were invited for the interview and participated in a rigorous and transparent selection process. The Selection Board thereafter submitted the top three performing candidates to the Governing Council, which approved the appointment of one of them as Vice-Chancellor,” he said.
Prof. Khalid-Othman, an Agricultural Engineer from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was born on July 22, 1962, in Bindawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He attended Bindawa Primary School (1970–1977), Government Secondary School, Funtua (1977–1982), and the School of Basic Studies, ABU Zaria (1982–1983).
He obtained his first, second, and third degrees from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, between 1984–1988, 1997–2001, and 2003–2007, respectively.
Prof. Khalid-Othman has had a distinguished academic and administrative career, rising through the ranks from Assistant Lecturer to Professor.
He previously served as Executive Director of the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), ABU, Zaria, and is currently an internal member of the FUDMA Governing Council, representing the Senate.
The new Vice-Chancellor is married and blessed with nine children.
