Professor Tenebe is the former Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Nigeria (NOUN).  He was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, on August 17, 1958. He obtained a B.Sc. (Agric) cum laude, and M. Sc. In Agronomy at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and a Ph. D. in Agronomy at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

Prof. Tenebe began his academic career at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in 1984 and was appointed a Professor of Agronomy at the university in 2003.  In 2008 he assumed the position of Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, a position he held until 2015. During his tenure as Vice-Chancellor developed the only open university in West Africa to become one of the leading renowned tertiary institutions on the continent.  In 2011, NOUN was voted the ‘Best University of the Year’ by the National Association of Northern Nigerian Students.  Prof. Tenebe was the 1^st Vice President of the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE), and the holder of the UNESCO Chair of Open and Distance Learning at the NOUN.  He has published widely and is a member of a many professional associations.