The Vice Chancellor (VC), University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya recently led the Governing Council to visit Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong ahead of its 33rd and 34th combined Convocation ceremonies billed for 11th to 13th May 2023 to woo support for a successful outing.
During the visit, the VC congratulated the governor for leading his party, the All Progressives Congess to a resounding success at the 2023 polls that produced the country’s president, and the successful completion of the British American Junction flyover, which he said will be a legacy that will be remembered.
He asked the governor to put in his handing over notes, an advice for the construction of a similar road dualization for the Farin Gada/University of Jos Road, to address the challenges motorists, staff and students face while plying the road on a daily basis.
Ishaya sympatised with the governor on the recent tanker accident at Bauchi junction which claimed lives, including the life of one student, with two students injured and receiving treatment.
He lamented the proliferation of illegal parks around the university roads, which he attributed to be a major cause of accidents occurring around the university and urged the government to address the challenge to prevent such fatal road mishaps in the future.
Similarly, the VC called on the governor to handle the issue of illegal encroachment of the university land by neighbouring communities.
“Since last year in some of the communities, they have refused to allow contractors to work on parameter fencing around the university despite the job approval”, he said calling for the full implementation of the white paper for the land, verification of landed titles by persons who are illegally encroaching the university land and convincing the owners of the land to release it for the development of the university.
The VC used the forum to invite the governor to attend 22nd -33rd convocation of the university to be held from 11th to 13th of May 2023 at the Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium, Naraguta Campus and will feature the investiture of his highness Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, Emir of Zazzau as the university’s new Chancellor, and conferment of an honorary Degree of Doctor of Law on the revered traditional leader during the convocation ceremony.
He added that among other Nigerians that will be crowned with the university’s Honourary Doctorate Degrees are former TETfund Executive Director, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, and elder statesman, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande for their role in making the university to be highly rated.
However, to make the convocation a success, the VC called for support from the government in areas of accommodation, transportation, and security.
The governor promised to support the university towards a successful and memorable convocation, including fulfilling his promises to the university and working to resolve the land encroachment disputes between the university and neighbouring communities.
