The Governing Council of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria on Wednesday, announced the appointment of Professor Kabiru Bala as the new Vice Chancellor of the university.
He took over from the incumbent, Professor Ibrahim Garba, whose tenure would come to an end on 30th April, 2020.
Professor Bala is a Professor of Building and a former Deputy Vice Chancellor as well as Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies of the university, among positions he holds.
The Council, under the chairmanship of Malam Adamu Fika, made its position known at the Arewa House, Kaduna where the interview and the Council meeting took place.
Report has it that after completion of the interview of contestants by the Council, members deliberated and made the announcement this evening.
With the development, the intrigues that impeded the selection of the new Vice Chancellor of the university have now become a thing of the past.
Recall that 18 Professors were shortlisted at the Council meeting of January 6, but were later reduced to 11. Seven of the applicants either voluntarily withdrew or were dropped on account of age and other reasons.
Professor Ibrahim Mu’uta was said to first withdraw his consent to contest followed by Professors Doknan Decent Danjuma Shemi and Abubakar Sani Sambo.
Among those that were dropped on account of age, according to report were Professor Zakari Mohammed, Professor Shafiu Abdullahi and Professor Nuhu Mohammed Jamo.
It was reliably gathered that Professor Musa Hassan of the University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences was dropped as he did not clock ten years as a Professor.
Report has it that Professors Lawal Saidu, Veterinary Medcine, Sadiq Zubairu Abubakar, NAERLS; Kabiru Bala, Building; Ezzeden M. Abdulrahman, Pharmacy and Abdullahi Mohammed, Pathology slugger it out at the interview.
Others were Professors Kabir Sabitu, Isa Marte Hussaini, Abdullahi A. Umar, Ibrahim Musa Umar, Idris Isa Funtua and Sani Ahmed Miko.