Prof Stephen Abah Emerges FUHSO Acting Vice Chancellor…. Outgoing VC advocates Sustain Academic Excellence.

By David Odama

The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Prof Stephen Abah has emerged as the Acting Vice Chancellor following is election by the Senate of the University.

The emergency Senate of the University which led to the emergence of Prof Abah was chaired by the outgoing pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof. Innocent Ujah as directed by the Federal Ministry of Education following his retirement after clocking 70th years of service.

According to the Senate of the University, the decision which is now awaiting the ratification by the Governing Council aligned with the University’s foundation status and legal standards.

Speaking, the outgoing Vice Chancellor commended the maturity of the members of the Senate for the maturity exhibited despite the few unfortunate development to ensure that academic excellence of the University is sustained.

The pioneer Vice Chancellor who commended the Federal Government for citing the first ever University of Health Sciences in Benue South Senatorial District of Benue State, called for synergy among the critical stakeholders for the general interest of all.

He acknowledged that as foundation staff and management, the journey was in the last four years plus was not easy, ” but we must collectively thank God for His faithfulness that has brought us this far and the relevant government agencies both at the federal and state levels for all the supports”.

The new Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Stephen Abah who until his election was the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic is a sound Professor of Community Medicine and highly respected and accessible by staff and students within the University community.

The Senate described the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Education as a pivotal development that signals a commitment to upholding lawful governance and maintaining stability within Nigeria’s specialized educational institutions.

It will be recalled that following reinstatement of the former pioneer Vice Chancellor Prof Innocent Ujah wrongly suspended by the Governing Council by the Federal Ministry of Education on the recommendation of the National Universities Commission ( NUC) to complete his tenure and initiate the selection of Acting Vice Chancellor immediately before his exit date.