By Amos Aar
BENUE State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has approved the appointment of Prof. Emmanuel Ayangarumun Kenen as the new Acting Vice Chancellor (VC) of the state-owned Reverend Father Moses Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM).
In a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor, who is the Visitor to the institution, said the appointment followed the recommendation of the University’s Governing Council.
According to him, the Council nominated Prof. Kenen to serve in an acting capacity for a period “not exceeding six months, in line with the law establishing the university as contained in Gazette No. 3, Vol. 45, Part III, 16 (11 & 12)”.
Governor Alia congratulated Prof. Kenen on his appointment and urged him to deploy his vast academic experience, administrative competence, and visionary leadership to reposition the university during the transition period.
He charged the new Acting VC to uphold the institution’s core values of excellence, discipline, innovation, and moral rectitude, stressing that the university must remain a center of knowledge and character formation producing graduates who would contribute meaningfully to the development of Benue State and Nigeria at large.
The governor further assured the University community of his administration’s continued support, reiterating his commitment to strengthening tertiary education in the state through improved infrastructure, staff welfare, research development, and academic quality.
National Record had reported how social media platforms in Benue had earlier been awash with congratulatory messages for Rev. Fr. Prof. Vitalis Torwel over a rumoured two-week appointment as Acting VC — a claim Kula dismissed as false.
Prof. Kenen’s appointment comes after Prof. Simon Ubwa acted as VC for about five months, completing the tenure of Prof. Joe Tor Iorpuu, who proceeded on terminal leave in June 2025 amid controversy over his suspension two-month suspension.
A source within the university disclosed that when Prof. Iorpuu’s leave elapsed, Governor Alia directed that it be extended until the end of his tenure on November 3, 2025.
Although Kula’s statement did not disclose Prof. Kenen’s local government area of origin, National Record is making efforts to obtain the information.
While the press release referred to the institution as Father Adasu University, Makurdi (FAUM), some stakeholders maintain that it remains officially MOAUM, as the Benue State House of Assembly has yet to formally effect the name change.
