by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, says the institution has maintained and improved on its academics’ desired standards.
He said, the institution currently has 70 out of 75 of their programmes with National Universities Commission (NUC) full accreditation status, adding that this is about 93.3 percent of the programmes that they run in contrast to 57.3 percent before they assumed office in December 2021.
Speaking, while briefing newsmen at the University of Jos on Thursday on his three years’ stewardship, the VC explained that, they have stabilized the academic calendar and have created two (2) additional faculties and over twenty (20) new academic programmes that are contemporary and currently awaiting NUC resource verification exercise.
While speaking on Research, Prof. Ishaya revealed that, “A consortium of Nigerian Universities and Inter-University Centres collaborated with the University of Jos to develop a DNA-based indigenous COVID-19 vaccine Candidate, code named ‘SJN3T CorVac’ (Sokoto, Jos, NARICT, NIMR, NVRI and TetFund), funded by TETFund (Development of an Anti-Tick Vaccine).
He stated that, the University won 9 TETFUND NRF awards out of 32 concept notes submitted in the 2023 NRF grant cycle (9 out 185 TETFUND NRF awards to all Nigerian Universities in 2024).
According to him, the Department of Theatre and Film Arts won a grant, titled, ‘Wake the flies: Humanitarian crisis in Plateau State, Nigeria, from Hessen Film and Medien, Frankfurt, in February 2024.’ The grant is a production funding for young talents.
The value of the grant is 25,000€. The University got a funding in July 2024, from the National Communications Commission (NCC), Abuja, for research on: Smartware Technology-Based Security and Privacy Awareness Solution for Mobile Device Users.
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences won a grant from the Africa Research Excellence Fund Research Development, July 24, titled ‘Effect of the Necessity-Concerns Framework on Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Outcomes, Total value of Award £9,011.00,’ he noted.
Similarly, the College of Health Sciences got an NIH grant, tiled, ‘Nigeria – Northwestern Research Training Program in HIV/AIDS Malignancies (NN-HAM) project from the Forgarty International Centre (FIC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) July 2024, valued at $1,470,000.
The ORD in August, 2024 won a grant – ‘Michigan-UNIJOS Mentored Programme for Enhanced Research Administration (MUMPERA), from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), to develop the grants management system in the University of Jos and other institutions in Nigeria, one institution each in Togo and Sierra Leone, 2024-2026.
He disclosed that, the grant value is $103,000. In October, 2024, the University received approval from TETFUND for the funding of forty-five (45) research projects for basic research under the Institution-Based Research (IBR) intervention valued at N88,132,000; development of a University Policy on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), that clearly define ownership and usage guidelines for creative works generated by faculty, staff, and students within the University.
“We believe that this will promote research and innovation, while ensuring proper attribution and potential commercialization of intellectual property, while balancing the interests of the university, researchers, and the public at large; utilizing the Directorate of Academic Planning & Management and other Units to scrutinize examination results on behalf of the University Senate to ensure quality and timely release,” he stated.
The VC noted that, they have successfully audited fourteen (14) Part-Time programmes of the Institute of Education by the NUC, and conducted a forensic audit of programmes and facilities of eight (8) affiliated institutions through the goodwill of the NUC.
“The University has sought the lifting of the suspension of five (5) institutions affiliated to the University. In addition, we have also developed Plagiarism and Research Ethics Policies, which are awaiting final approval.”
Prof Tanko Ishaya assured that they have continued to ensure that the welfare of their workforce is prioritized, while issues of training, promotions and other related concerns have continued to receive the necessary attention they deserve.
He stressed that, “Without a virile workforce, we cannot achieve anything. To that effect, the University Management, through its necessary organs, has proactively ensured that cases of promotions and annual increments were adequately tackled.
“We ensured that staff promotions and annual increments are carried out as and when due. Even before the Governing Council was constituted, proactive measures were taken under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education.
“For the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, we have had 97 academic staff promoted to the rank of full Professors, and 89 to the rank of Readers (associate Professors). Deployment of buses at highly subsidized costs to ply several routes to alleviate the hike in transportation for members of staff and students were also given attention.
“In addition, Staff training and development have been a cardinal area, which over 345 staff benefited from one conference/workshop or the other, between July and November 2024. We have the highest record of staff (both Academic and Non-Teaching Staff) that have benefited from conference and workshop attendance,” he stated.
The VC emphasized that, “About one hundred and twenty academic staff were trained locally (within Nigeria), while two enjoyed oversea trainings for both M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes in the year 2024 (Database, Staff Training & Development, 2024).”
Furthermore, he explained, “A total of One Hundred and Ten members of non-teaching staff have been granted training leave to undertake various developmental programmes (Ph.D. M.Sc. PGD, B.Sc., HND and ND) within Nigeria (Database, Staff Training & Development Division, University of Jos, 2024).
“More than eighty (80) members of both teaching and non-teaching staff have enjoyed Sabbatical Leave within the period under review (2021-2024), and about fifty-five members of academic staff have been awarded post-doctoral leave within the year 2021-2024, while twenty-one (21) members of academic staff have enjoyed research leave within the period under review (2021-2024),” he said.
“Also, to motivate their workforce, we have introduced the Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Anniversary Awards to recognise and honour deserving members of staff, who have been professional and excelled in performing their duties and responsibilities.
“The aim is to instigate excellence and a positive attitude towards work. We hope to make it as elaborate as possible so it achieves its desired purpose,” the VC stated.
He said, they started and have completed a number of projects in the institution, and appreciated members of the Community, the Alumni Association, their strategic partners, friends, the good people and the Government of Plateau State for being great hosts to UNIJOS and for supporting them in every part of the journey and also the Federal Government.
While the VC assured of their commitment to service, he stressed that UNIJOS will endeavour to attain the desired heights that the founding fathers had envisioned.