PLATEAU
STATE GOVERNMENT
Prof. Shedrack Best
Secretary to the Plateau
State Government
Citation:
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.
He proud winners 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 name 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.
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.
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.
