How UniJos improves academic productivity
Authorities of the University of Jos, Plateau State, have redoubled effort toward improving the quality of teaching and providing high-impact learning environment. In this regard, the institution has commenced academic, structural and manpower upgrade and putting in place policies and facilities to ensure quality teaching staff and also attract more students. The Vice Chancellor, Professor […]
Authorities of the University of Jos, Plateau State, have redoubled effort toward improving the quality of teaching and providing high-impact learning environment.
In this regard, the institution has commenced academic, structural and manpower upgrade and putting in place policies and facilities to ensure quality teaching staff and also attract more students.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Seddi Sebastian Maimako, said the management was doing its best to position the university as a world class institution of higher learning and its graduates the best in the society.
The VC, in his speech at the 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremony recently, said the performance of both the academic and non-teaching staff and their commitment to their duties have projected the university as a unique brand and the reputation of a foremost destination for intellectual enterprise in the country.
He said: “To further boost academics and learning in the university, it is heartening to know that several critical projects are being undertaken and are now at various level of completion, including Block B of Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Management and Social Sciences, the new Senate Building, rehabilitation of the African Center of Excellence for Phytomedicine and extension of the University Health Center building.
“Through internal funding sources, we have also renovated and completed many new projects, including halls of residence, lecture theatres, laboratories and offices.
“Our ICT infrastructure is relatively well developed with the a state-of-the-art Data Center, an appreciable number of computers and ICT equipment deployed at our various campuses which are available for use by students and staff,” he said.
The university also recently launched an interactive verification portal for graduands to check and make inputs for the 2018 convocation ceremony.
The university’s alumni association has also embarked on several projects aimed at meeting the academic and social needs of the university, including the construction of a multi-million naira Multi-Purpose Center that will provide a conducive environment for the attainment of the social, educational and civic aspirations of the university.
At a convocation dinner hosted by the Unijos Alumni Association led by its president, Alhaji Idris Yakubu, association reiterated the alumni’s commitment to contributing to the academic excellence of the institution.
The state governor, Barr. Simon Bako Lalong, said the initiative of the alumni association would boost academic activities in the institution. He pledged full support for the university and urged other associations, corporate organizations and public spirited individuals to provide resources required to build the structures that will boost academic activities.
Prof Maimako, speaking at the combined convocation also stated that in the past two years, 363 staff of the university has been given approval to undergo various training programmes, including 134 being sponsored for doctorate degrees, 88 for masters, 57 for first degrees and Higher National Diplomas (HND) and 84 in other certificate grades.
“There is also a steady increase in the number of students admitted into the university from about 5,000 five years ago to about 8,000, leading to rapid increase in the students population from 21,000 in 2008 to over 38,000 presently,” he stated.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, at the convocation, said the government would deal decisively with any university council in the country that fails to deal with reported cases of sexual harassment in their campuses.
In an address read by his representative, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Rasheed Abubakar, President Buhari said all the universities must also demonstrate commitment to the core values of honesty, integrity transparency and the rule of law in order to play any major role in Nigeria’s social, economic, political and cultural transformation.
He said the government would continue to encourage the universities and other tertiary institutions to produce the necessary skilled manpower with a view to building a strong economy capable of sustaining his administration’s change agenda.
The pre convocation lecture was delivered by the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, on the topic, ‘Broken Truths: Nigeria’s Elusive Quest for National Cohesion’.
A total of 18,348 certificates were awarded at the 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremony held at the Jeremiah T. Useni Mini Stadium at the Naraguta permanent site. Thirty-three graduands got Distinction/First Class Honours degrees, 1,950 had Second Class Honours, Upper Division, 5,738 Second Class Honours, Lower Division, 3,149 Third Class degrees while 351 got Pass degrees.
Also, 734 persons graduated with Pass Qualified in Medicine and Pharmacy, 399 got Diploma Certificates, 103 obtained Post Graduate Diplomas, 2,906 had Master’s, 165 got PhD’s and 2,820 backlog.