Professor Tanko Ishaya, the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, shared an account of his second year in office during a recent address.He affirms his commitment to building on the achievements of his predecessors all with a clear vision to foster a world-class academic institution dedicated to academic excellence and innovation in both local and global communities.
Professor Ishaya acknowledged that, it was a privilege leading such a prestigious institution and confirmed his persistence in handling all his duties responsibly despite the varied challenges faced.He mentioned the tremendous impact of COVID-19 on the University’s affairs, which was exacerbated by the country’s economic situation.
However,he attributes the institution’s successes to the support and dedication of key stakeholders, including Chancellor HRH Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau, and Professor Attahiru Jega, the immediate past Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. Prof. Ishaya spoke on the importance of nurturing a collegial environment within the University and fostering industrial harmony.
He emphasized on the relevance of maintaining a good working relationship with staff unions, appointing key personnel based on merit and inclusivity and prioritizing staff welfare. He also stated that the uniiversity is also committed to ensuring the welfare of students, who he referred to as their most important stakeholders.
To foster excellence, recognitions under the Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Anniversary Awards were introduced for deserving members of staff. In terms of research activities, The VC announced that the university is awaiting the results of the National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation exercise and has secured approval for the funding of numerous institutional based researches.
He highlighted that several projects have been undertaken and completed using funds secured from interventions and internally generated revenue. In the bid to streamline ICT and boost medical services, the university has installed and unveiled a one billion Naira equipment to facilitate organ treatment for various ailments.
Expressing the University’s gratitude to the Abulsamad Rabiu (ASR) Africa Initiative for awarding it a Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (250M) grant, Ishaya described it as an intervention towards undertaking infrastructure projects. He noted that the university was also looking forward to hosting the 27th Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) games, representing a strategic marketing move for the institution.
Despite these achievements, Prof. Ishaya acknowledged challenges such as a lack of funds, the current absence of the University’s Governing Council, precarious security situations around the University, and a lack of budgetary allocation for recruitment. However, he expressed determination to tackle these obstacles.