UNIJOS VC Receives Commendation from Plateau State Youth Council for Accreditation of Courses, Industrial and Community Relations

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof Tanko Ishaya has received commendation from Plateau State Youth Council for the accreditation of courses in the university which has given the university better ranking in the comity of universities in Nigeria.

This was disclosed when the Plateau State Youth Council led by her leadership led by the Chairman of the Council, Comrade Emmanuel Jukun along with other EXCO members who paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor at his Office at the Naraguta Campus on Friday 10th May 2024. The Youth Council also commended the Vice Chancellor and his management team for improving industrial and community relations with staff and students, as well as the community living around the university, which has birthed relative peace around the university despite few challenges.

“So we must appreciate your team for doing a great job and that we also want to specifically appreciate the management or the welfare of staff too, which we’ve seen obviously in promotions that were done lately and the accreditation of courses that have actually been running without proper accreditation. I want to appreciate the university also for improved ranking…”.

Responding on behalf of the management of the University, Vice Chancellor Prof Tanko Ishaya appreciated the Plateau State Youth Council for keeping tabs with the progress of the university which shows that they are interested in the progress of the university, while also highlighting the journey so far.

“Indeed we have tried as much as possible to maintain a harmonious relationship between the staff and students. Despite the challenges that we have been facing, not just the University of Jos. Universities, public universities in Nigeria been facing alot of challenges with respect to the funds, with respect to the issues that we needed to address the issues that affect staff, and that affect students.”

“Therefore those are areas that most of the time you find that we were trying to iron out between both the staff and the students. It is our hope and I can say that the leadership of all nigerian universities including all the staff unions have been working seriously including sacrifices going on strike in order to ensure that the welfare in the university across university sectors has been improved by government.”

On community relations and security of the university, the Vice Chancellor maintained that “One of the challenges that this management came and wanted to really start solving is security challenges, because our campus is very, very porous. One thing that we did, I remember very correctly, the first thing I did actually was to go and look for funds outside towards ensuring that we have got some funds and some of the parts of the perimeter fence have been done, but we’re still struggling in some of those parts because of the encroachment that is currently going on from our neighboring communities day and night.”

“That was one of the reasons why we have set up a committee, which is actually being chaired by the Local Government Chairman, with membership across board, including some of the royal fathers that we have, towards ensuring that at least we build harmonious community, harmonious society and a university that is safe for our staff and students. We believe that it is only in a safe environment that we can, that our staff can extend all their activities. So we’re not resting.”

On this issues of accreditation of courses and improve ranking of the university, the Vice Chancellor said “I’m happy that you mentioned the issue of accreditation and of course the improved ranking. It is on record that the last accreditation, but those we’re still waiting for the outcome of the last accreditation, the first accreditation that this management had the privilege of hosting. The result was very, very clear.”

“We were informed and we know that the history of the university, that was the best result that we had. That was the outcome of the commitment of management. Because we had to make some commitment to make some sacrifices. Irrespective of the fact that it was within the very very scarce resources. We have to make sure that our programs are accredited because as a university if we do not have programs that are accredited, it means that we are just deceiving our students. We can’t deceive. We are here fundamentally because of our students.” he added.