Plateau State University, Bokkos, has announced the promotion of 15 senior academic staff to the ranks of Professor and Associate Professor. The promotions reflect the university’s ongoing academic and administrative expansion under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shedrack Best, and its commitment to strengthening the quality of teaching and research.
Of the newly promoted staff, four former Associate Professors have now attained the rank of Professor, while 11 senior lecturers with doctoral degrees have been elevated to Associate Professors.
The announcement was made during the 103rd Special Senate Meeting of the university held on Thursday, April 9. Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Best, expressed delight over the achievements, noting that the promotions followed a rigorous assessment process conducted by the university’s Governing Council.
Prof. Best urged the beneficiaries to uphold the highest standards of integrity and academic leadership.
“When you go to departmental and postgraduate seminars, exhibit leadership and mentorship, and help to produce your type. That is what it means to come to this cadre. It is not a light responsibility. Congratulations to all of you, and congratulations to PLASU,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Prof. Gonsung Christopher Longji—formerly an Associate Professor and now Professor of English Language—expressed gratitude to the university for its role in advancing their academic careers. He pledged that the newly promoted scholars would use their new positions to further strengthen teaching, research, and service at PLASU.
In another development, Senate ratified the recommendations of the University Examination Misconduct Panel to sanction 85 students found guilty of various examination-related offenses. The report, presented by the panel chairman, Prof. John Vau, covered cases from the 2023/2024 and 2025/2026 First Semester examinations.
Prof. Best expressed regret over the high number of affected students but emphasized that the decision was necessary to safeguard the university’s academic integrity.
“We have a responsibility to protect our integrity and ensure that the quality of graduates we produce meets global standards,” he said.
During the meeting, Senate also received updates on several ongoing institutional developments, including:
1. Recent approvals by the National Universities Commission for 16 new academic programmes
2. Progress on infrastructure for the proposed Faculty of Computing and Computer Sciences
3. Ongoing construction of the Anatomy Dissection Laboratory, as well as Chemistry and Physiology laboratories
Prof. Best further announced that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) had approved the utilization of PLASU’s Entrepreneurship Intervention Fund.
“Last year, we established a poultry farm to serve as a skill acquisition center for students and as a research facility. Students in the Faculty of Agriculture and others interested in entrepreneurship in the poultry industry are free to use the facility. In the 2025 approval, we are setting up a dairy farm in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor also confirmed additional staff promotions, including the appointment of Dr. Rahila Dantong as the new Dean of Student Affairs, and outlined new measures aimed at curbing staff indiscipline.
Masara Kim
Acting Public Relations Officer
Plateau State University, Bokkos
