Yobe State University has appointed Professor Tahir as its new substantive vice-chancellor, marking a significant leadership transition for the institution as it enters a new phase of academic and administrative development.

The appointment was announced on Friday by the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Ahmed Goniri, in an official statement. According to him, the decision followed due process and received formal approval from the Yobe State Governor after the council’s recommendation at an extraordinary meeting held on January 15.

Professor Tahir, a professor of General Surgery and a fellow of the West African College of Surgeons, will assume office at a time when Nigerian public universities are under increasing pressure to strengthen academic standards, improve governance structures and navigate funding constraints.

According to Mr Goniri, the governing council’s recommendation was the culmination of internal consultations and statutory procedures outlined in the university’s enabling laws. The governor’s approval, he said, completed the process, paving the way for Professor Tahir’s confirmation as substantive vice-chancellor.

Until his appointment, Professor Tahir served as the medical director of the Ultra-Modern Police Hospital in Damaturu, where he oversaw clinical services and hospital administration. University officials say his background in medicine and institutional leadership weighed heavily in the council’s decision.

Higher education observers note that appointing a vice-chancellor with experience outside traditional academic administration reflects a growing trend in Nigerian universities, where councils are increasingly prioritising managerial competence alongside scholarly credentials.

Transition from acting leadership

Professor Tahir will take over from the acting vice-chancellor, Bukar Jamri, who assumed office in January 2025 following the expiration of the tenure of the former substantive vice-chancellor, Mala Daura.

Jamri’s acting appointment was widely seen as a stabilising measure intended to ensure continuity while the governing council concluded the process of selecting a substantive head. According to university sources, his tenure focused on maintaining academic schedules and administrative routines during the transition period.

The end of an acting leadership arrangement is often viewed within university communities as an opportunity to pursue longer-term reforms. With a confirmed vice-chancellor in place, stakeholders expect clearer policy direction and more decisive engagement with staff unions, regulators and funding agencies.

Profile of the new vice-chancellor

According to the governing council, Professor Tahir brings a blend of academic training and executive experience to the role. As a professor of General Surgery, he has been involved in medical education, research and clinical practice. His fellowship with the West African College of Surgeons places him among a select group of specialists recognised for advanced professional competence in the region.

Before his move to the university leadership position, his tenure as medical director at the Ultra-Modern Police Hospital in Damaturu exposed him to complex administrative challenges, including personnel management, service delivery and coordination with government institutions.

Education analysts say such experience could prove valuable as Yobe State University grapples with issues common to many state-owned universities, including staff welfare, infrastructure needs and the drive to improve academic rankings.

Appointment of a substantive registrar

In the same announcement, Mr Goniri disclosed that the governing council also approved the appointment of Isa Dallari as the university’s substantive registrar.

According to him, Dallari’s appointment followed a recommendation by the council’s selection committee and was carried out in line with the provisions of the Yobe State University Law, 2006, as amended.

Before his elevation, Dallari served as a director of administration at the institution, a role that involved overseeing administrative operations and internal processes. Council officials described his appointment as a move aimed at ensuring continuity and institutional memory within the university’s central administration.

University governance experts often stress the importance of the registrar’s office in maintaining regulatory compliance, managing records and supporting the vice-chancellor in policy implementation. The confirmation of a substantive registrar alongside a new vice-chancellor is therefore seen as a coordinated step toward administrative stability.

The leadership changes come at a time when state universities across Nigeria are facing heightened scrutiny over governance standards, financial management and academic output. According to reports from sector analysts, institutions with prolonged acting leadership arrangements often struggle to implement major reforms or secure long-term funding commitments.

For Yobe State University, the appointment of substantive officers could strengthen its engagement with oversight bodies such as the National Universities Commission, as well as with development partners interested in supporting education in the North East.

There is also the broader context of rebuilding and expanding educational infrastructure in a region that has faced security and development challenges over the past decade. Stable university leadership is widely regarded as a key factor in attracting staff, retaining students and improving research capacity.

Expectations and implications

While the governing council did not outline specific policy priorities for the new vice-chancellor, stakeholders say attention will likely focus on academic programme development, staff training and infrastructural expansion.

Observers also expect the new leadership to address issues related to funding diversification, including internally generated revenue and partnerships with government agencies and the private sector. Professor Tahir’s background in managing a large public health institution could shape his approach to these challenges.

Meanwhile, the appointment of a substantive registrar is expected to improve administrative efficiency, particularly in areas such as admissions processing, staff records and compliance with statutory requirements.

In the coming months, the university community will be watching for the formal handover process and the unveiling of Professor Tahir’s strategic agenda. Analysts say early signals, such as committee appointments and engagement with staff unions, often provide insight into a vice-chancellor’s leadership style.

There will also be attention on how the new leadership team works with the governing council and the state government to address funding and infrastructure needs without compromising academic standards.

For now, the appointments mark a return to substantive leadership at Yobe State University, a development that many see as a foundation for stability and future growth.