From Yola to Global Laboratories: The Academic Journey of Professor Benjamin Kefas, FUW’s New Vice Chancellor.

By Jako Keke, February 11,2026.

When the Federal University Wukari (FUW) announced Professor Benjamin Kefas as its new Vice Chancellor, the decision was widely seen as more than a routine administrative appointment. It marked the rise of a scholar whose academic and research journey spans continents, disciplines, and some of the world’s most respected institutions in medicine and pharmaceutical sciences.

A closer look at Professor Kefas’ academic progression reveals a career built on intellectual discipline, global exposure, and deep scientific specialization — qualities many believe will shape the future direction of the university.

Born on June 12, 1970, Professor Kefas’ early academic promise was evident from the start. He completed his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certification in 1989 and proceeded immediately to the College of Preliminary Studies (CPS), Yola, the same year. That foundational period prepared him for entry into Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, one of Nigeria’s premier universities, where he studied Pharmacy from 1992 to 1998, earning a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree.

But his academic curiosity did not stop at professional qualification. Driven by a passion for deeper scientific inquiry, he moved to Europe for postgraduate studies at the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels, Belgium — a transition that would define his research trajectory. Between 1999 and 2001, he obtained a Master’s degree in Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, followed by a PhD in Medical Sciences with specialization in Molecular Medicine from 2001 to 2004.

This period marked his transition from pharmacist to molecular scientist — shifting from drug use and dispensing into the deeper mechanics of disease, genetics, and cellular processes. His doctoral work placed him within the fast-evolving global conversation on molecular medicine, cancer biology, and immunology.

Following his PhD, Professor Kefas secured highly competitive research fellowships in the United States. From 2005 to 2007, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH), a global hub for biomedical research. He later continued as a Research Associate and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Virginia between 2007 and 2008, where he expanded his laboratory and translational research experience.

His rise through academic ranks in the United States was steady and merit-driven. He became an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia from 2008 to 2014, teaching and conducting research in Neurology, Cancer Biology, Microbiology, and Immunology. His interdisciplinary teaching profile reflected a rare academic breadth — connecting pharmaceutical sciences with neurological and cancer research.

Between 2014 and 2015, he served as Professor of Pharmacy at American National University in Charlottesville, further strengthening his academic leadership credentials. From 2015 onward, he continued professorial work in Pharmacy, Neurology, Cancer Biology, Microbiology, and Immunology at the University of Virginia and affiliated pharmacy technician programs — contributing to both advanced research and professional training.

His academic exposure also includes professional and research engagements in the United States, including a noted academic visit to Boston in June 2017, further broadening his collaborative and institutional networks.

In recent years, Professor Kefas brought his global experience back home to Nigeria, joining the Federal University Wukari. Between 2022 and 2025, he served in senior academic roles, contributing to research development, postgraduate supervision, and institutional growth. In 2025, his professorship in Molecular Medicine and Pharmacology at FUW was regularized from visiting status to full tenure — a move that formally anchored his expertise within the Nigerian university system.

Colleagues describe him as a laboratory-driven scholar and systems thinker — one who understands both the rigors of bench science and the demands of academic administration. His body of work across molecular medicine, pharmacology, cancer biology, and immunology places him among a select group of Nigerian scholars with deep international research footprints.

As Vice Chancellor, expectations are high that Professor Kefas will leverage his cross-continental academic exposure to strengthen research culture, attract collaborations, expand postgraduate training, and position Federal University Wukari as a competitive center for scientific and medical research.

His journey  from WAEC classrooms in Nigeria to elite research institutions in Europe and the United States, and now to the helm of a federal university  stands as a compelling story of academic persistence, global excellence, and intellectual leadership.