No ethnic or religious bias in FUHSO -VC

*’Achieving global academic excellence our goal’

By Benjamin Arida://

Management of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, FUHSO in Benue State, has dismissed as false and unfounded allegation of appointment of principal officers of the institution on ethnic or religious considerations.

Some youths who claimed to be Tiv Youth Council Worldwide of Benue State had at a press conference in Makurdi, alleged ethnic bias in the appointment of principal officers of the university.

But the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Innocent Ujah, informed in a statement issued on Thursday and made available to our correspondent in Abuja that the appointment of principal officers of the institution were made by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 12, 2020.

According to him, the appointments were based on qualifications, experience, competence and catchment areas without compromising federal character of the country.

He listed the principal officers to include Professor Abdullahi Alkali Abba, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council from Adamawa State (North East), Professor Innocent Ujah, Vice Chancellor, from Benue State (North Central), Professor Ibrahim A. Yakassai from Kano State (North West), Professor Martins Ike-Mounso from Enugu State (South East), Professor John Idoko from Benue State (North central), Mr. Ola Opesan from Lagos State, (South West) and Malam Aminu Abba from Kano State

, (North West), Registrar and Secretary to the Council.

Ujah added that the President also appointed the Emir of Zamfara, Alhaji Attahiru Muhammed Ahmed from North West as the Chancellor of the university on July 9, 2021.

“In exercise of his rights guaranteed by the University Act, the Vice Chancellor has the right to appoint his Deputies and heads of Departments, Directorates and units to assist him in the day to day management of the university,” he said.

All recruitments or appointments, the Vice Chancellor stated would be based on qualifications, competence without undermining consideration for our diversity and federal character.

Ujah assured that the priority of the university is to work hard to achieve academic excellence with the best hands anywhere in the world.

“We working towards achieving a world class university that would attract the best brains from across the world. It is inconceivable and unthinkable to ascribe ethnic or religious considerations in our operations.

“We are conscious of federal character and diversity of our country without compromising competence and standards. The world is our constituency. We want to achieve global academic excellence in our university. There is no bases for ethnic or religious sentiments.

“The management will at all times reflect and indeed be mindful of the diversity of the country in recruitment of personnel and admission of students

“There is nothing to worry about because our activities and actions would be an open book for all to see,” he stressed.