Know Your Candidates(KYC) 3 As admin, this is one of the Candidates we feel should contest for the 2015 gubernatorial election in Plateau State. What do you think about this humble, great achiever and Academia being the next Governor of Plateau State? Name:Professor Shadrach Gaya Best Current Position:Secretary to Plateau State Government What is in a name? While some people are named Goodluck and goodluck follow them, others are named Best and the eventually become the best in all endeavors they find themselves. Shedrack Gaya Best was born on April 17th, 1962 to the modest and humble Gaya Best family in Mangu, Plateau State. He began his educational pursuit at the EKAN primary school Mangu in 1969; between 1975 – 1980 he attended Mangu Secondary School where he obtained his West Africa Schools Certificate. In 1981, he proceeded to school of preliminary studies Keffi and as his name connotes graduated in 1983 as the Best Student in Government and in Literature in English. Armed with his name as certificate, this purpose driven gentleman gained admission into the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria to study Political Science. He was the Part II Faculty Student in 1985 and on graduation in 1986; he earned the Henry Ejembi Prize for the best graduating student in Political Science with First Class Honours as he came top of his class. As a fresh graduate in July 1986, Prof. Best proceeded to the Old Bendel State for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps Scheme (NYSC) where he served at the Federal Government College in Warri Town. Upon completion of his National Youth Service corp (NYSC), he returned to Jos and later took up a job as a Lecturer at the School of Preliminary Studies Keffi; he was there for about eight months. He then moved his service to the University of Jos as Graduate assistant in the Department of Political Science, after acquiring a post graduate degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the same University in 1989 and got promoted to the rank of Assistant Lecturer. He approached the academic career with enthusiasm, vigor and passion, he taught with exceptional communication skill, diligence and conviction, his students can testify to the fact that he is a great motivator. His brilliance, unparallel knowledge, performance and dedication to duty came to the notice of the academic community at annual appraisals for which he has received commendations for outstanding output through his publications, and today he stands before you as a young professor per excellence. He is a proud winner of various Scholarship Awards which include: Academic Staff Commonwealth Scholarship, Association of Common wealth University, at the University of Bradford, UK, 1993-1996, Nominated by the Africa Project, Plowshares Institute in conjunction with the Centre for Conflict Resolution, University of Cape Town, South Africa, 1997-1998, British Council Staff Exchange Programme of the Jos Bradford Linkage spent at the University of Bradford, UK, January-March 2002, Fulbright Summer Institute of the United States Department of State Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois, USA, June to August 2002. There was then no stopping this academic hurricane named Best as he gained admission to the University of Jos for his M.Sc. in International Relations and Strategic Studies, again he was the best graduating post graduate student, Department of Political Science, University of Jos, 1990. With a passion for academic attainment and excellence, he left Jos for the University of Bradford, United Kingdom to pursue a doctorate degree in peace studies. He completed this programme in record time and defended his thesis in November, 1996. Suffice it to mention that University of Bradford houses the world’s largest and most famous Department of Peace and Conflict in the world. In addition to lecturing political science, International relations, Conflict resolution and peace studies, professor Best was actively involved with Civil Society work in the area of peace and development. He was an active community and conflict researcher and an accomplished peace builder and mediator. He has brought his wealth of knowledge to bear in nearly all the key conflict flash points in the country such as Tafawa Balewa, zango Kataf, Ife-Modakeke, Takum, Wukari, Eleme-Okrika, Jos just to main a few. He has done enormous peace building work in Yelwa Shendam, Langtang South, Wase, namu, Jos among others. He later became the founding Director of the Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies at the University of Jos. Professor Best has attended of meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars and has presented papers in Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Morocco, Ghana, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, Burundi etc. he is a regular guest and contributor to international media agencies like Radio France, BBC and Voice of America. He is also a frequent face on our Television stations in Nigeria. Professor Best has also worked with the African Union to Mainstream Peace curriculum for diplomats and workers within international organizations. He has a number of books to his credit and has published dozens of articles in reputable international journals. Among his books are: Conflict and Peace building in Plateau State, Nigeria Ibadan Spectrum Books Ltd, Religion and Post Conflict Peace Building in Northern Nigeria. Ibadan John Archers publishers, Protracted Communal conflict and conflict Management: The Bassa-Conflict in Toto Local government Area, Nasarawa State Ibadan; John Archers Publishers, Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies in West Africa; A Reader. Ibadan: Spectrum Books/University for Peace. Prof. Best has also organized and facilitated numerous conflict management peace building activities/workshops within and outside Nigeria. Time and space will not permit us to mention them here. Prof. Best was appointed Professor of International Relations and Conflict on October 1st 2007. In November 2010 he voluntarily retired from the University of Jos to participate in active politics. Governor Jonah David Jang then appointed him as Special Adviser on Peace building and Conflict Management on 1st February, 2011, an office he held for three months until his present appointment as the Secretary to the State Government by Governor Jonah David Jang. He has been a member of Professional Association e.g. Nigeria political Science Association, Nigeria Society for International Affairs, Peace Studies Association of Nigeria, American Political Science Association 2002-2005 Nigeria Corps of Mediators. Just to mention a few. Professor Best is widely travelled, he loves inspiring young people, farming, gardening, singing and spending quality time with his family. He is married and the union is blessed with four children.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 20:24:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015