By Israel Joel
Senate of the University of Jos has approved that the suspended academic activities in the University should resume with immediate effect.
It could be recalled that the authorities of the Institution had in August ordered students on campus to vacate their hostels following insecurity in Jos the Plateau state capital.
This was contained in a statement signed by Abdullahi Abdullahi, the Deputy Registrar, Information and Publications, and made available to newsmen in Jos on Monday.
The statement reads that the Senate’s decision was taken at its 7th Special Meeting for the 2019/2020 Academic Session.
It further reads that “the University Senate considered the report of the University Management on the provision of visible physical presence of security personnel in and around the University campuses, and the proposal for the resumption of academic activities on Monday 11th October 2021 before arriving at its decision.”
“Similarly, Senate at its 7th Special Meeting for the 2019/2020 Academic Session undertook a general review of the security situation in the University as regards easy identification of the University security personnel and saw the need for the provision of more uniforms for the security personnel”
After their deliberation, members of the Senate unanimously agreed to make a voluntary donation of some amount of money to support the University Management in providing uniforms for all University Internal Security personnel.
Meantime, following the last meeting of the Senate, Management of the University of Jos has approved that the earlier suspended Second Semester Examinations for the 2019/2020 Academic Session, will resume on Wednesday 13th October 2021. Staff and Students are advised to disregard any information to the contrary as a revised Exam Timetable will be released shortly, which they should note and comply with accordingly.
In another development, the Plateau State Government has opened dialogue with authorities of the University of Jos towards developing a blueprint on how to properly safeguard the lives and property of members of the University community at all times.
This came to light when a delegation from the State Government visited the University to interact with the University Management.
Leading the delegation, Director General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Joseph Lengmang who represented Governor Simon Lalong during the visit, said the State Government wants to partner with the University Authorities towards creating systematic and sustainable ways of addressing the security situation confronting the University rather than the ad-hoc approach currently being implemented.
According to Lengmang, there was a need to cross-fertilize ideas with the relevant stakeholders including the University Management, Students, and the neighboring communities among others, in order to develop a robust and holistic security architecture that would guaranty sustainable peace and tranquility within and outside the University.
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He believes there are efforts from some quarters to de-market the University by creating a scenario of chaos that will have a multiplier effect on Plateau State as a whole that is why the State Government is taking appropriate steps to address the situation.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the University community, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Administration), University of Jos, Professor Gray Goziem Ejikeme, described Unijos as an institution that is central to knowledge acquisition in Nigeria and Africa.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor said the University Management has always taken proactive measures towards addressing security issues on Campus and appreciated the Plateau State Government for its initiative in pursuing an actionable programme to rebuild confidence among members of the University community and Students’ parents and guardians.
