Benue State Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has appointed former President of the Admiralty University of Nigeria, Prof. Leonard Karshima Shilgba, as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Science and Technology (UAST), Ihugh.
Dr Shilgba, a Professor of Mathematics, accomplished university administrator, scholar, and author, hails from Ushongo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State and is widely recognised for his contributions to higher education in Nigeria.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was announced in a statement on Thursday, July 30 by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula.
He replaces Dr Qrisstuberg Msughter Amua, who was relieved of his duties for administrative reasons, the statement noted.
In June this year, Fr. Alia appointed Prof. Shilgba as the Chairman of the Taskforce for the take-off of UAST, a university he is said to have played a key role in establishing.
Professor Shilgba’s academic career includes advanced postdoctoral research in Japan under the Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO) Fellowship awarded in 2009. He has also been actively involved in strategic planning and institutional development during a transformative period in Nigeria’s university system.
In 2017, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Prof. Shilgba as Chairman of the 9th Governing Board of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), where he was credited with providing visionary and disciplined leadership.
Congratulating the new Acting Vice Chancellor, Fr. Alia, who is the Visitor to the university, described the appointment as one of great responsibility and expressed confidence in Prof. Shilgba’s ability to provide purposeful leadership.
“This is a position of great responsibility, and we trust you will lead with wisdom, integrity, and fairness,” the governor said. He urged the new Vice Chancellor to strengthen academic excellence, promote unity among staff and students, prioritise the welfare of the university community, and uphold the values and reputation of UAST, Ihugh.
