The governing council of the University of Abuja yesterday elected Professor M.U Adikwu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as the new vice chancellor, replacing the former VC, Professor James Adelabu, whose tenure expired over the weekend.
A member of the governing council of the university who pleaded anonymity called Blueprint immediately after the election exercise to break the news.
It would be recalled that the selection of a new VC for the university was stalled last week following the unavailability of the security reports on the three leading candidates, prompting the council to postpone the exercise till yesterday.
Adikwu finally emerged from a long list of 124 candidates who had applied for the post of vice chancellor, which was later reduced to 10 and finally to three, including Professos Umaru Garba Danbatta.
Umaru Danbatta is a professor of Electronic and Electrical Engineering from Kano state (North West), Raheem Lawal is a professor of Language Education from Kwara state (North Central), and Umale Adikwu, a professor of Pharmacy from Benue state (North Central).
The three shortlisted candidates interacted with the council, each for a period of 45-60 minutes and were assessed based on appearance which carried five marks, reaction to questions, diction and comportment which carried 10 marks and knowledge of the workings of the university system which also attracted 10 marks.
