‘Unijos on course to becoming one of Africa’s best seven universities’

Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, the officer said what the university lacks in physical structures, it makes up for in qualified lecturers and top quality students and graduates.The University of Jos was established as a full-fledged university in 1975 when it became one of the universities referred to as second generation universities, but […]

Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, the officer said what the university lacks in physical structures, it makes up for in qualified lecturers and top quality students and graduates.
The University of Jos was established as a full-fledged university in 1975 when it became one of the universities referred to as second generation universities, but the varsity community laments that it has remained the only second generation university that has failed to fully develop its permanent site mainly because it has remained the only one in its generation that has not received its take-off grant.
Stating, however, that the university is not allowing such setback to frustrate the drive for excellence, Gomos said, “in line with the vision of our vice chancellor (Professor Hayward Mafuyai), we are working towards making this university one of the best seven in Africa. We may not have fine structures around the old and new campuses, but we have top quality staff, students and alumni.”
The Advancement Office which Gomos heads was created in 2005 to solicit public goodwill and source funding from old students and friends of the university in order to develop the institution.
Gomos who said the university had benefited greatly from activities of the office, stated that the office is currently working out ways to source funds from telecommunication companies to finance vital projects, adding that “among others, we have academic growth needs. The university is starting three new faculties in Engineering, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. These communication companies and others can come in and lift the university towards achieving our lofty aims.”
A 2013 rating of Nigerian universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC) places Unijos at the 7th position after University of Ibadan which leads the pack, followed in descending order by University of Lagos; University of Benin; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and University of Ilorin.
University of Jos currently does not fall within the first 100 of Africa’s best universities, according to a continental ranking which contrasts with NUC’s ranking by indicating Obafemi Awolowo University as Nigeria’s number 1 and Africa’s 10th best.