From Atang Izang, Jos
Prof Shedrack Best has formally assumed office as the substantive Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos, after serving in acting capacity for one year.
According to a release signed by the university Public Relations Officer, Masara Kim, the Senate of the University yesterday welcomed Best, and made significant decisions regarding the university’s 8th and 9th convocation ceremonies and admission cut-off points for the 2025/2026 academic session.
Similarly, during its 95th regular meeting at the PLASU Senate Chambers, the Senate received and reviewed reports from the Vice Chancellor search and interview committees. This process culminated in an interview on July 18, followed by the submission of a list of top three candidates to the Visitor of the university, Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
The statement further stated that Mr. Yakubu Ayuba, Secretary to Council and Registrar of the University, announced that Governor Mutfwang approved the appointment of Professor Shedrack Gaya Best as the 6th Substantive Vice Chancellor on July 24th, effective immediately, for a single five-year term.
Meanwhile, Prof. Best, who previously served as Acting Vice Chancellor for over one year, expressed his gratitude to God and Governor Mutfwang for his appointment. In his first Senate appearance as the substantive Vice Chancellor and Chairman of Senate, Best pledged a strong commitment to academic and infrastructural transformations, aiming to place PLASU among the top five state universities in Nigeria in the coming years.
“It is possible,” the VC stated, emphasizing the need to learn from other universities and urging the support of faculty members and administrators.
He thanked faculty and staff members for their contributions to the university’s growth, noting, “It gladdens my heart to see students going in and out of classrooms, staffers at their duty posts.”
He also acknowledged the continued academic and administrative services since the last Senate meeting in May, including ongoing teaching and research, and extended appreciation to university unions for their cooperation. Professor Best reaffirmed his dedication to staff welfare and development.
Significant TETFund and State Government Interventions
Professor Best highlighted ongoing interventions from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), commending the body’s commitment to PLASU’s development. He announced the deployment of the 2025 TETFund allocation towards the construction of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, with paperwork and consultations on project design currently underway.
He further revealed two additional TETFund interventions in different sums for zonal intervention for laboratory upgrades in the Physics, Agriculture, and Medical Laboratory Science departments, which is already in the tender process; and intervention for laboratory development, secured after an assessment led by Professor Hayward Mafuyai, for which the university is currently awaiting Approval in Principle (AIP). Professor Best expressed appreciation for TETFund’s swift response to the university’s needs and hoped for more interventions from the fund.
Additionally, Professor Best announced that the state government is nearing commencement on a proposed N500 million project for the construction of the Faculty of Anatomy and Dissection Laboratory.
Convocation Ceremony and Admission Cut-Off Points Approved
During the meeting, the Senate, led by Professor Best, reviewed and approved management’s proposal for the 8th and 9th convocation ceremony, tentatively scheduled for November 2025.
Furthermore, the Senate approved new cut-off marks for admission into the university for the 2025/2026 academic session.
Given an unprecedented 7,000 applications, exceeding the PLASU’s admission capacity, management proposed a minimum of 160 points for general admission into the university. After thorough discussion, the Senate approved the following faculty-specific benchmarks:
- Faculty of Agriculture
160 for all programs
- Faculty of Arts
160 for English, History and International Studies, Religious and Cultural Studies
180 for Theatre Arts
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences
160 for all programs
- Faculty of Education
160 for all programs
- Faculty of Health Sciences
230 for Nursing
210 for Public Health
- Faculty of Law – 220
- *Faculty of Management Sciences
180 for Accounting
160 for Management Studies
170 for Entrepreneurial Science
Medicine and Surgery – 230
- Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences
180 for Biochemistry and Microbiology
170 for Computer Science
160 for Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, ICT, Plant Science and Biotechnology, Zoology
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences- – 200
- Faculty of Social Sciences
160 for Political Science, Library Science
180 for Sociology, Mass Communication, Economics
70 for Psychology
