How Joseph Imalighwe lost out in NCAT Rector race

By Chinelo Obogo   

The announcement of Dr. Danjuma Ismaila as the substantive Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, two days ago, ended weeks of speculation over who heads the prestigious institution.

Daily Sun’s recent exclusive report chronicled how 35 candidates from diverse backgrounds, 14 from within NCAT and 21 from outside the college, jostled for the coveted position.

Among the applicants were Dr. Ismaila and Joseph Imalighwe, who was appointed acting rector on December 13, 2023.

Others who threw their hats in the ring were heads of agencies under the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

While Imalighwe is an expert in air traffic control (ATC) instruction and instructional system design, Ismaila specialises in air transportation management and aviation security.

Unlike his predecessors, Imalighwe had to undergo a competitive application process due to the revised 2022 NCAT Act, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The new act mandates that the appointment of the rector must follow recommendations from the Joint Council, Academic Board, and Selection Board, a significant departure from the previous procedure. The revised Act introduced a more transparent and competitive selection process for the rector’s appointment.

In line with the revised Act, which requires the council to publicly advertise the vacancy in at least three national newspapers to ensure a wider pool of qualified candidates, Daily Sun learned that the Minister, Festus Keyamo, encouraged Imalighwe to apply for the position, which he did.

After the application deadline passed, the rector was required to nominate members of the search team, as stipulated by the law. Daily Sun confirmed that this step was completed.

The next stage involved the inauguration of a four-member search team tasked with screening the candidates and their credentials. Once the search team completed its work, a selection committee would be established under Section 10 (1) of the act. This committee would interview qualified candidates and recommend three finalists to the president through the minister for consideration. However, this process was not fully followed. The search team had yet to screen the candidates and their credentials when Ismaila’s appointment was announced.

Daily Sun reliably learned that very influential individuals within the All Progressives Congress (APC) who are from Kaduna State and have direct access to the President, were able to successfully prevail on him to consider Ismaila for the position of substantive rector.