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As the Rev. Father Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (formerly Benue State University) prepares to appoint its next Vice-Chancellor, voices from the Sankera geopolitical axis are rising, calling for fairness, justice, and equity in the selection process. The institution, the first state-owned university in Northern Nigeria, is set to welcome a new leader, with Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia expected to announce the appointment on November 3, 2025.
However, beneath the anticipation lies a deep concern: Sankera has never produced a Vice-Chancellor or Registrar since the university’s founding over three decades ago. This longstanding imbalance has sparked a passionate plea for inclusion from the region, encompassing Katsina-Ala, Logo, and Ukum.
Decades of Imbalance
Records reveal that top positions, including Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, and Bursars, have been dominated by individuals from other zones, primarily Zone C and MINDA, while Sankera remains conspicuously absent. Notably, out of all past Vice-Chancellors, none have hailed from Sankera. The only time the zone held a key academic office was when Prof. Linus Saalu from Ukum served as Provost of the College of Health Sciences.
Concerned Sankera elites argue that while merit should guide appointments, fairness and balance must not be ignored in a state as diverse as Benue. They insist that qualified scholars from the Sankera axis, with strong academic credentials and leadership experience, are capable of leading the university into a new era. “Equity strengthens unity,” the group emphasized, urging Governor Alia and the university’s governing council to seize this moment to correct historical imbalances and prove the administration’s commitment to inclusiveness.
As the race tightens, all eyes are on the state government to ensure the selection process reflects the principles of fairness and justice, ending Sankera’s decades-long silence in leadership. The concerned elites, signing as “Concerned Sankera Elites (For Fairness, Justice, and Equity in Leadership Appointments),” are hopeful this appointment will mark a turning point.
Stay tuned for updates as the university prepares for this significant transition.
