Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa, has appointed Sa’adatu Hassan Liman as the new vice-chancellor (VC) of the Nasarawa State University (NSUK).

Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu, the secretary to the state government, confirmed the appointment in a statement on Thursday.

Aliyu said the appointment of Liman as the substantive vice-chancellor of the state university in Keffi means that the institution is “now fully positioned for optimal performance in line with the current administration’s vision for the education sector”.

He said the appointment of Liman takes effect from April 15, 2024.

With this appointment, Liman becomes the fifth substantive VC at NSUK and the first female indigenous vice-chancellor in the school’s 22-year history.

Liman is a professor of Islamic Studies in the Department of Islamic and Development Studies, Faculty of Arts, NSUK.

The academic has a specialization in the area of women’s rights.

Liman obtained her bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies with second-class honours (upper division) at the University of Jos in 1998.

She rose through the ranks and was confirmed a full professor of Islamic Studies at the Nasarawa State University in October 2017.

Liman has held various academic and administrative responsibilities at Nasarawa State University.

She served as assistant dean of student affairs from 2010 to 2012, as deputy dean of student affairs from February 2013, acting HOD of Religious Studies from April 2013 to March 2014, and acting HOD of Islamic Studies from March 2014 to October 2014.

The professor also served as the deputy dean of student affairs from May 2014 to October 2014.

From October 2014 to October 2016, Liman served as the deputy vice-chancellor academic under the tenure of Muhammad Akaro Mainoma.

She also served as the director of research and publications from 2019 to 2021.

Liman was appointed as DVC Administration by Suleiman Bala Mohammed, the immediate past VC of NSUK, from April 2021 to July 2023.

Among other leadership positions she has held, Liman is the president of the Nigeria Association of Female Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS).

NSUK was established under the Nasarawa State Law No. 2 of 2001. The institution, however, commenced academic activities in March 2002.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has rescheduled the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination into Federal Unity Colleges and the entrance examination into Federal Government Academy, Suleja.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday by Azeez Sani, acting Director, Information and Digital Communication, of the council.

Sani stated that the common entrance examination earlier scheduled for April 20, 2024, would now take place on June 1, 2024.

He also said that the entrance examination for gifted and talented children into the Federal Government Academy, Suleja, earlier scheduled to take place on May 4, 2024, would now take place on May 25, 2024.

He added that the rescheduling of the two examinations was due to the low enrollment of candidates.

He enjoined candidates, parents, guardians, schools, and relevant stakeholders to take note of the new dates.

Sani said that registration of candidates would continue until the new dates of the examinations.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has concluded plans for the 2024 Unified Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The exam will be held between Friday, April 19, and Monday, April 29, in over 700 CBT centres nationwide.

Over 1.98 million candidates successfully registered to sit the 2024 UTME.

In its latest bulletin, JAMB published a list of items candidates must keep out of the exam hall.

Some of these items are smart watches, smart lenses (unprescribed glasses), calculators, smart rings, smart pens, bluetooth devices, and flash drives, among others.

JAMB said candidates are also advised to avoid using decorative tattoos on their palms as these can impact their biometric screening.

The board said candidates are warned to steer clear of all items that have been banned from the examination centres.

It said these items have been noted to have aided some dishonest candidates in their quest to perpetrate examination malpractice.

“To signal the commencement of the process, candidates have been directed to print their 2024 UTME notification slips, which would enable them to know their examination centre as well as the date and time of their examination,” the board said.

“Candidates are enjoined to adhere to the etiquette and guidelines of the examination as stipulated in their notification slips and be at the venue of their examination at the scheduled time to afford them the opportunity of going through biometric verification.

“Any candidate who is 30 minutes late would not be allowed to sit the examination and would be marked as absent.

“The board also reiterates its zero tolerance for examination infractions and other unwholesome practices that could be detrimental to the conduct of the examinations.”

JAMB said parents are requested to refrain from being around the examination premises.

It said any candidate found with a parent in the examination vicinity would face penalties.