Makurdi, Nigeria — The Governor of Benue State and Visitor to Father Adasu University, Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has approved the appointment of Professor Emmanuel Ayangarumun Kenen as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution.
The appointment, which took effect immediately, was officially announced on Monday, November 3, 2025, following recommendations from the Governing Council of the University. According to the letter of appointment, Prof. Kenen will serve in an acting capacity for a maximum of six months, in line with the University’s Establishment Law and relevant provisions of the Benue State Gazette No. 3, Vol. 45, Part III, Sections 16(11 & 12).
Governor Alia, in his statement, congratulated the new Acting Vice Chancellor and urged him to bring his wealth of academic and administrative experience to bear in repositioning the University for academic excellence, institutional stability, and global competitiveness.
“Father Adasu University must stand as a true centre of knowledge, character formation, and innovation,” Governor Alia said. “Our goal is to nurture graduates who are intellectually sound, morally upright, and committed to the development of Benue State and Nigeria at large. Prof. Kenen’s appointment reflects the administration’s confidence in his capacity to lead with integrity and vision.”
Prof. Kenen’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment in the University’s evolution. Formerly known as Benue State University of Science and Technology before being renamed in honour of the late Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu — the former governor and founder — the institution is currently undergoing wide-ranging reforms aimed at strengthening governance, infrastructure, and academic standards.
Under the new leadership, emphasis will be placed on:
- Improving research and innovation capacity,
- Enhancing staff welfare and institutional governance, and
- Expanding partnerships that align the University with contemporary global standards.
Education stakeholders across Benue have described the appointment as timely, noting that Prof. Kenen’s academic pedigree and administrative experience make him a fitting choice to pilot the University’s affairs during this crucial transition.
Prof. Emmanuel Ayangarumun Kenen is a distinguished academic with decades of service in the Nigerian university system. He has previously held various leadership roles, including department head, faculty dean, and member of strategic research committees. Known for his dedication to scholarship, discipline, and institutional reform, he is widely regarded as a bridge between tradition and innovation in higher education.
As the University embarks on this new chapter, expectations are high among staff, students, and the host community. The success of Prof. Kenen’s tenure will depend on his ability to strengthen academic structures, improve learning facilities, and promote transparency in administration.
For the Benue State Government, the appointment represents a continuation of its broader vision to reposition education as the cornerstone of development.
With a renewed leadership structure and a supportive government, Father Adasu University appears poised for a period of revitalisation — one that could reassert its place as a beacon of learning, discipline, and moral excellence in North-Central Nigeria.
