By Sulayman Nafiu

According to Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third president of the United States, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”

In recent days, Professor Rasheed Adedayo Hamzat has become perhaps the most unjustly vilified candidate for the position of Vice-Chancellor at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State.

The harassment and humiliation he endured under the outgoing Vice-Chancellor whose tenure ends today, 11 May, 2025, are well legendary and deeply troubling. No academic should be subjected to such professional hostility by a colleague within the same institution.

Adding to his ordeal, a network of online platforms appears to be orchestrating a campaign of coordinated character assassination. Among these is an online newspaper which has repeatedly published sensational and unsubstantiated allegations against Professor Hamzat, often lacking both factual merit and journalistic integrity.

In a particularly egregious article published just three days ago (8 May, 2025), the outlet falsely claimed that Professor Hamzat’s appointment was terminated by FUDMA for misconduct and insubordination.

To clarify: Hamzat joined FUDMA in 2014 as a founding academic staff member. He was the second most senior professor.

He served as Head of the Department of Animal Science, among other key roles, and was also the Amir—the Muslim community leader—on campus. Notably, his tenure saw the establishment of the University Mosque and other laudable contributions to the university’s development.

Those familiar with leadership style of the embattled outgoing Vice Chancellor have likened his conduct to that of Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello, a character notorious for manipulation and deceit.

This comparison is not hyperbolic; his management was defined by a suppression of dissent and a tendency to fabricate narratives to serve personal agendas.

He has demonstrated a pattern of disingenuous behaviour, including the invocation of solemn oaths to lend falsehoods an air of credibility. Whenever he says, “Walahi” – swearing by Allah, what comes next is often falsehood.

Disillusioned by this climate of administrative dysfunction, Professor Hamzat voluntarily resigned from FUDMA in March 2021 and transferred his service to University of Abuja (recently renamed Yakubu Gowon University).

His resignation complied with all contractual requirements, including the payment of three months’ salary in lieu of notice.

Nevertheless, the VC later sponsored a damaging and factually incorrect report—leaked to the same online newspaper alleging that Professor Hamzat was dismissed on 11 June, 2021.

This claim is demonstrably false, given that his formal resignation had been finalised nearly three months earlier. Or, at what time did the University serve him with a letter of disengagement? It’s obvious that he recently kept the letter of sack in Prof Hamzat’s file to play his destructive game.

This act is consistent with the outgoing VC’s tenure, which many have described as manipulative, autocratic, vindictive, secretive, and ethically questionable.

His own appointment as Vice Chancellor wasn’t publicly advertised, raising concerns about transparency and fairness. Prof Hamzat approached court to challenge his appointment’s legitimacy but was begged by the man himself, FUDMA management, the Muslim community of the university, Yoruba community in Katsina and more notably, the Yandakan Katsina- the district Head of Dutsin-Ma also intervened. This calls into question leadership appointment integrity in Nigerian higher education.

The role of a Vice-Chancellor is both multifaceted and consequential. It involves providing strategic leadership to a diverse university community, ensuring compliance with academic and regulatory frameworks, and serving as the institution’s principal liaison with a wide range of stakeholders—including funding agencies, policymakers, alumni, and international partners.

Such a role requires not only administrative competence but also a commitment to fairness, inclusivity, and accountability.

Sadly, the case of FUDMA illustrates the erosion of these ideals. Professor Bichi’s administration is alleged to have been tainted by tribal favouritism and political patronage, rather than merit-based appointments.

It is worth contemplating how different the trajectory of the university might have been under leader- scholars like Kenneth Onwuka Dike, Norman Stanley Alexander, Eni Njoku, Hezekiah Oluwasanmi, Tekena N Tamuno, Professor Emeritus Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe, Razaq ’Deremi Abubakre, Is-haq Oloyede or Mahfouz Adedimeji—individuals whose academic leadership was guided by excellence and integrity.

More recently, further allegations have emerged regarding financial mismanagement, lawlessness and abuse of office under the said Professor’s leadership.

A petition reportedly filed by a Professor David Dura Yongo from the Department of History and Strategic Studies, Federal University of Dutsin- Ma accused him of allegedly misappropriating funds, including monies allocated under the National Education Loan Fund (NELFund), intended to support underprivileged students across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

He has been reported to EFCC. It is equally instructive to say that many staff members of the university have taken him to court due to his maladministration, some were eventually dismissed by him.

Another staff member fell victim to his parochial attitude, with his salary suspended for six months now.

It is also important to dispel the unfounded claim, also circulated by said online newspaper, that the Minister of Education is attempting to impose Professor Hamzat as Vice-Chancellor. This allegation is baseless. Dr Tunji Alausa, the current Minister of Education, is a distinguished Nephrologist and a proponent of due process.

Assertions to the contrary are nothing more than an attempt to distract from legitimate scrutiny of the Bichi’s administration and conduct.

Professor Rasheed Adedayo Hamzat is not a run-of-the-mill scholar and no doubt has long possessed the qualifications and requirements demanded by the relevant criteria for appointment as Vice Chancellor in Nigerian Universities.

He has accumulated 13 years of full professorial experience at 56 years old.

He is a distinguished Iroko Igi nla of international repute in the area of Animal Agriculture.

He served as member of the 2nd and 3rd Governing Councils of Federal University Dutsin-Ma. He was the 3rd Professorial Inaugural Lecturer of the University.

Prof Rasheed Adedayo Hamzat’s career spans academia, research, and leadership roles in Nigeria, Ghana, Niger Republic, Malaysia, Costa Rica, France, Belgium, and the United States of America.

His leadership extends to various national assignments. He is a recipient of many prestigious scholarships/grants, awards, fellowships, and medals, including but not limited to the TETFUND Research Scholarships; the Postgraduate Scholarship of Oluyole Club Lagos; Postdoctoral Fellowship of Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America; Professional Fellowship of the Institute of Business Specialists & Enterpreneurs of Nigeria and certified as Specialists in Business and Enterpreneuship; Professional Fellowship of the College of Animal Scientists of Nigeria; and the 2023 University of Abuja Research Bronze Medal.

His expertise is further demonstrated through international collaborations and invited talks, cementing his reputation as a leader in animal science and agricultural research.

Beyond academia, Prof Rasheed Hamzat is actively involved in community engagement, farmer training programmes, and policy discussions, bridging the gap between research and practical agricultural solutions.

His career reflects a commitment to advancing knowledge, mentoring future leaders, and contributing to sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria and beyond.

As the University Governing Council under the leadership of HE. Ali Abubakar Jatau begins its fresh merit-based shortlisting process for the next Vice-Chancellor, it is vital that integrity and competence—not propaganda or vendettas—guide its decisions.

Professor Rasheed Adedayo Hamzat’s credentials are impeccable, and his reputation as a principled, intellectual, and approachable academic leader is well established.

He exemplifies the values of humility and commitment to institutional advancement—qualities sorely needed in Nigerian higher education today.

Universities are, at their best, transformative institutions. In a polarised, post-truth society, the need for transparent, accountable, and visionary leadership has never been more urgent.

The attempt to malign Professor Hamzat’s record through deliberate misinformation must be rejected by all who value truth and institutional integrity.

Sulayman Nafiu, a Media and Communication Adviser to Prof Rasheed Adedayo Hamzat

11 May, 2025