By Omonu Yakubu Nelson
As the sun sets on the tenure of Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi as the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Dutsin-Ma, one cannot help but dip a pen into the ink of reflection and pay a befitting tribute to a man who steered the ship of our dear institution through stormy seas and calm waters alike. After five solid years of unflinching commitment, intellectual sagacity, and administrative gallantry, the curtain falls — not in despair, but in applause.
Prof. Bichi’s era did not just mark time; it made history.
He came, not with trumpets or tumult, but with a clear vision etched in purpose. Like a seasoned gardener, he nurtured the university’s budding potential, turning it into a flourishing orchard of scholarship and innovation. Where there was academic aridity, he irrigated with policy and vision. Where morale was low, he raised banners of hope. And when storms brewed — and yes, they did — he steadied the mast with the composure of a captain who knows his compass.
In a world where many dance to the drumbeats of mediocrity, Prof. Bichi marched to the cadence of excellence.
The corridors of FUDMA will echo his legacy for years to come — the infrastructural uplift, the academic partnerships inked, the dignified diplomacy in handling staff and students, the promotion of peaceful coexistence, and the elevation of our university’s profile in national and international rankings. He was not a man of empty words but of impactful actions. A promise made was a promise kept. He proved that leadership is not about warming the seat but warming hearts and lighting minds.
Like a candle, he burned himself to illuminate the path for others.
Indeed, no tenure is without its trials, and his was no exception. But if the test of leadership is how well one dances in the rain rather than how one basks in the sun, then Prof. Bichi waltzed through the downpours with admirable grace. Even in the face of resource constraints and the ever-evolving challenges of the Nigerian education system, he remained unflappable — eyes on the prize, heart with the people, hands on the wheel.
As the saying goes, “It is not the number of years in a tenure, but the quality of impact that echoes in eternity.”
With sleeves rolled and shoulders squared, he gave FUDMA his best shot — and oh, what a shot it was! His administration became a tapestry woven with the threads of prudence, discipline, innovation, and empathy. The students saw in him a father; the staff saw in him a friend; the system saw in him a reformer.
Now, the time has come for him to take a bow, and what a bow it should be — head high, shoulders proud, footsteps firm. He leaves not with a whisper but with a roar of legacy. A golden chapter is closing, but its stories will be told and retold in lecture halls, in alumni reunions, in scholarly citations, and in the hearts of many who crossed paths with his leadership.
Dear Prof. Bichi, as you pass the baton, may your next chapters be filled with the same honour, dignity, and fulfilment with which you served our beloved university. As you exit the stage, remember this — greatness does not retire; it simply redirects.
Here’s to a well-deserved farewell. You came, you saw, you conquered — and FUDMA will never forget.
So long, Sir. And thank you.