The Governing Council of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, has approved the appointment of Prof. Mohammed Khalid Othman as the new substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, His Excellency Ali Abubakar Jatau, announced the appointment shortly after the 36th special meeting of the council held at Grand Amber Hotel and Suites, Dutse, Jigawa State.

A statement by the university’s Director of Information and Protocol, Nasiru M. Abdul, said the appointment followed the consideration of the report of the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board on the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor.

According to the statement, Prof. Othman emerged after a rigorous selection process that involved 17 shortlisted candidates from 28 applicants, while a search team identified three additional candidates.

“The 17 shortlisted applicants were invited for an interview and participated in a transparent process after which the selection board submitted the top three candidates to the Governing Council for final approval,” the statement added.

Prof. Othman, an Agricultural Engineer, was born on July 22, 1962, in Bindawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He attended Bindawa Primary School between 1970 and 1977, Government Secondary School, Funtua (1977–1982), and the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria (1982–1983). He later obtained his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in Agricultural Engineering from ABU Zaria in 1988, 2001, and 2007 respectively.

Prof. Othman has served as a lecturer, researcher, and administrator, rising through the ranks to become a professor. He was once the Executive Director of the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), ABU Zaria, and is currently an internal member of the FUDMA Governing Council representing the Senate.

He is married and blessed with nine children.