” All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them,” this popular quote by Walt Disney summarizes the vigour with which Prof. Doknan Decent Danjuma Sheni is pursuing his senatorial ambition and the enthusiasm with which the people of southern plateau have embraced it. A consummate university administrator and gentleman, not only in character and learning, but also in uprightness and morals, Prof. Sheni has like a Colossus traversed the academic landscape not only through the length and breadth of Nigeria, but also in Europe, North America, Latin America, Pacific, Asia and the Middle East. His doggedness and resilience to delve into this project as expounded above by Walt Disney was what, inspite of the undaunting challenges, kept him going.

THE MAN PROF. SHENI

Born October 19th, 1955 in Shendam, Shendam LGA of Plateau State, Prof. Sheni attended Native Authority Primary School, Shendam from 1962 and completed at the Native Authority Primary School, Dadur, Langtang North LGA in 1968 where attained his First School Leaving Certificate, FSLC. He then got admitted into Government College, Keffi between 1969 and 1973 passing out with Division One Distinction. He then moved to the prestigious University of Benin from 1974 to 1978, graduating with a BSc degree in Optometry before leaving the shores of Nigeria to obtain his Masters and PhD degrees in Canada.

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES

In 1981 Prof. Sheni passed the prescribed examination leading to the award of Fellowship, American Academy of Optometry, FAAO, later, Fellowship of the South African Optometric Association, FOA, Fellowship of the Nigerian Optometric Association, FNOA,and Fellowship of the Nigerian College of Optometry, FNCO.

AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS

Prof. Sheni invented an instrument to measure fusion limits, for which he obtained a Canadian patent.
 He has published several referred papers in International acclaimed journals, which for want of time and space, cannot be enumerated here.
 He is the first African to receive a PhD in Optometry in 1984.
 He presented many papers at International Conferences in many countries in North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, India, Latin America and Africa.
 Published books, including one on Clinical Optometry titled “Diagnostic Optometry” and the other on binocular vision titled ” Binocular Vision: Diagnostic Procedures and Workbook”.
 Member, Eye Care Steering Committee, Limpopo Province.

APPOINTMENTS AND POSITIONS HELD
 Vice Chancellor, Plateau State University, PLASU, Bokkos 2013 – 2018.
 Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors of state-owned universities 2017
Ag. Head, Optometry Dept. University of Benin 1989 – 1992
 Project Manager, River Blindness Foundation, Owan Local Government, Edo State 1990 – 1992
 Served on Faculty and Senate of University of Benin
Served as Member of the Nigerian National Prevention by Prof. Olukoye Ransome-Kuti 1989 – 1992
 Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of North/Limpopo, South Africa 1997 – 1999
Dean, Research and Development, University of North/Limpopo 2000
Highlights of Prof. DDD Sheni’s profession was his appointment as Africa’s representative on the board of the World Council of Optometry 2002- 2004
 President, Association of Africa Optometric Educators, AAOE, 1994 – 1998
Prof. Sheni was first African to be elected President of World Council of Optometry 2002 – 2004, among numerous accomplishments.

APPOINTMENT AT PLATEAU STATE UNIVERSITY, PLASU, BOKKOS.

It was the untiring effort of Prof Sheni that transformed the hitherto moribund Plateau State University, PLASU, Bokkos into a fully recognized and accredited citadel of learning. He developed an admission policy where qualified Plateau State applicants who passed their JAMB got admission into Plateau State University instead of waiting year in year out for admission into federal Universities.
Prof. Sheni ensured there was human capital development in the university by collaborating with world class universities in Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa. He made sure Plateau State indigenes obtained their PhDs and Masters degrees in these universities. About 80 staff of the university were sent out for these degrees. More than 70 of them have returned to the university. Prof. Sheni’s interest in staff welfare was demonstrated in his dishing out palliative gifts like 50kg bags of rice, gallons of vegetable oil and other food items to all staff during Christmas and end of year celebrations. These spurred them into optimum productivity in the coming year.
It was during his time as Vice Chancellor that for the first time all courses in the university were accredited by the National Universities Commission, NUC, which led to PLASU holding its very first convocation ceremony in many years and the resultant acceptance their graduates to participate in the NYSC program for the first time. No wonder he was elected Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors of state-owned universities in Nigeria.
Prof. Sheni’s detribalized nature also afforded him the opportunity to embark on a massive non discriminatory employment policy where qualified staff from all the 17 Local Governments of the state were recruited by the university. In the area of infrastructure, the university was moved from a mere two building system to massive edifices worthy of a modern university. Good and adequate security was also provided for the university and students so much so that there was no single incidence of Fulani attack on the university and students. Prof. Sheni also made sure that the university community had a good and harmonious relationship with the Bokkos Community.
Prof. Sheni’s deep religious convictions and overwhelming compassion for the poor, widows and orphans made him to establish the Decent Danjuma Foundation, where more than 5,000 widows from the six Local Governments of Southern Plateau are empowered and taken care of every year, mainly from his personal resources. Prof. Sheni is the Senior Pastor, Shalom Christian Mission International, Polo Kwane, South Africa 2003 – 2012. He is married to Dr. Jummai Nnasakani Sheni and they are blessed with three children, Nanji, Joshua and Nanman Dauda.
In view of the foregoing therefore, it is pertinent to note that the choice of who becomes the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the forthcoming southern plateau by-election can best be qualified by Bob Marley’s lyric that “who the cap fits, let him wear it…” There is no other better choice before us than Prof. Doknan Decent Danjuma Sheni.