Dr Samuel James has been appointed as the Acting Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa with the approval of President Bola Tinubu. This decision, made pending the appointment of a substantive Rector, was communicated through a letter dated January 23, 2024.
Transmitted to Dr. Munir Ahmad, the Registrar of the Polytechnic, the letter was signed by Dr A.U. Ejeh, Director of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions at the Federal Ministry of Education. The announcement was made in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Friday by Safina Sabo, the Acting Director of Information and Publicity for the institution.
Following the expiration of the tenure of the previous Rector, Dr Abdullahi Alhassan, Dr James assumes the role of Acting Rector. Dr James, who previously served as the Polytechnic’s Deputy Rector, Academics, has been appointed as the acting head until a substantive Rector is appointed, according to Sabo.
After Dr. Alhassan’s five-year single tenure elapsed on December 31, 2023, the Federal Ministry of Education made this decision. NewsNow reported on January 15, that Dr James had initially been appointed as the Overseer of the institution by the Polytechnic’s outgoing Rector, Dr Abdullahi Alhassan Ahmed, a decision which generated controversy as it is said to be contrary to the stipulations of the Polytechnic Act.
Expressing gratitude to God and the Federal Ministry of Education for the opportunity to serve in this capacity, the new Acting Rector, Dr Samuel James, pledged to work collaboratively with the management and staff of the Polytechnic to achieve important goals and contribute to the institution’s progress.