Eight professors jostle for UNIJOS VC seat

University of Jos' main gate

No fewer than eight professors are jostling for the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Plateau State.

This came to light on Monday as the Advancement Office and the Academic Staff Union of Universities organised a stakeholders’ interaction with the candidates at the ASUU Secretariat, Naraguta Campus.

Those who attended the interactive session were Professor Ikonne Ogaji, Professor Victor Duga, Professor Sati Fwatshak, Professor Anthony Dakum, Professor Patricia Lar, Professor Bernard Matur and Professor Simon Yiltok.

The candidates took turns to present their visions and respond to questions from participants on how they intended to run the affairs of the university if appointed.

In his welcome address, the ASUU Chairman, Prof. Joseph Molwus, said the interaction was deliberately organised to ensure that stakeholders did not stand by and watch things happen.

“Our distinguished keynote speakers, panellists and co-host, the Executive Director, Advancement Office, University of Jos; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen; our dear comrades from ASUU and other unions; and our community leaders, I warmly welcome you to this very important event in the history of the University of Jos,” he said.

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He commended the committee chaired by Professor Okechukwu Great, which organised the event in conjunction with the Advancement Office.

“The culmination of these efforts is what we are witnessing here today in the form of this interaction, which we consider very important,” Molwus said.

Also speaking, a former Vice-Chancellor of Karl Kumm University, Prof. Nanven Gambo, who spoke on “Governance, integrity and inclusivity: Vision, mission, academic leadership and innovation,” challenged the aspirants on how they would manage power.

“I believe that you have contributions to make to the growth and development of the university. The University of Jos is a second-generation university, and therefore, the demands are quite heavy, very heavy,” Gambo said.

He asked, “You are given instruments of power, instruments of authority. How do you manage that? How do you handle that to grow the university from where you have taken over to where you want it to be? I think that underscores the importance of governance.”