The Governing Council of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, JoSTUM, has appointed Prof. Isaac Itodo the seventh Vice Chancellor of the university.
The appointment took effect from April 17.
The pro-chancellor and chairman of the council, Edith Uwajumogwu, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.
Ms Uwajumogwu said that Mr Itodo, an agricultural engineer, is the first alumnus of the university to be appointed its vice-chancellor since the university’s established in 1988.
She said that Itodo emerged victorious among 16 candidates through a credible and open process.
She said that 18 applications were received in response to an advertisement for the position, adding that the applicants were screened, after which 16 candidates were shortlisted.
“The choice of Prof. Itodo was unanimous after he emerged with the highest score from the three candidates who the selection committee recommended.
“In the process, JoSTUM’s interest was put first.
“We went for merit and took the best, for the university to take its pride of place in the Nigerian university system,” she said.
Mr Itodo, aged 58, rose through the ranks in the university to become a professor in 2003.
He has served the university in various capacities, including Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Dean of the College of Engineering and Director of Linkages.
He is a scholar-practitioner who holds two patents, a National Productivity Award Winner and a Fellow of the Academy of Engineering, among his academic titles.
He will take over in April from Prof. Paul Annune who has been acting since November 2022.
Mr Itodo succeeds Prof. Richard Kimbir, whose tenure ended on November 18, 2022.
NAN
