By Peter Aware, Jos
The 27th and 28th combined Convocation ceremony of the prestigious University of Jos came with its peculiar funfair. The convocation, which coincided with the 40th Anniversary of the university, witnessed the presentation of awards to Nigerians who contributed greatly to the socio-political and economic development of the nation.
The university that started out in 1975 as a campus of the University of Ibadan has risen up to the citadel of learning to be reckoned with in Nigeria’s higher education pantheon.
According to the vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Hayward Babale Mafyau, the institution indeed has cause to roll out the drums.
From landmark improvements in ICT to reforms in the admission process, the exultant vice chancellor said the university had attained revolutionary heights, with more than 150,000 graduates produced since inception.
Incidentally, one of them is Dr John Ogonobi, a 1984 Medical graduate of the university, who has since become the first to serve in the United States cabinet as Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services under the administration of former President George Bush.
Another is Peter Okoche, the popular presenter on BBC, African Service, among several others making their marks on the international circuits.
Professor Mafuyai at the 40th anniversary press briefing
The convocation itself witnessed the graduation of a total number of 16,542 graduates, with 164 Phd, 934 masters, 197 Post graduate diploma and 13,030 Bachelor’s degree categories.
The convocation also witnessed the official installation of the Chancellor of the university, Oba Victor Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi, the Olowo of Owo, who was also honoured with Doctor of Laws Degree.
Also honoured was Retired Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma who bagged the Degree of Science Honourary Causa for his meritorious contributions to the peaceful co-existence of the nation and his philanthropic gestures.
The third awardee and Professor of History was Toyin Falola who bagged the Doctor of Letters Honourary Causa for his outstanding academic achievements.
Widely known for mentoring young academics and building research networks, Falola was a graduate of History of the University of Ife in 1976.
He proceeded for his PhD in the same field in 1981 and became a professor in 1990. He was at Yoke University in Canada as a visiting professor in the Department of History as well as Professor of African History at the University of Texas from 1995 to 2012.
He has so far written 160 books, 16 pages in world encyclopedia, 118 Academic Reviews and 75 high articles in research journals and a total of 5,005 publications.
The renowned Professor of History is sitting Editor in six Journals of International Standard, he is at the editorial boards of 40 Peer Review Indebt Journals and has conducted external examinations in over 20 universities in Canada, Europe and Africa.
Falola is the Chairman of member of the 15th Academic and Outreach Programmes along side relative studies and has attended over 100 conferences. He is also in the council of the Library of Congress of the UNESCO, a fellow and member of 13 different international associations and organizations of reputes.
It is also on record that the contributions of Falola has earned him over 35 career awards and recognitions.
Professor Suleiman Bogoro, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) said that any university that was not addressing the challenges of the economy was not relevant.
He commended the management of the university, saying it had performed creditably well and was happy to support them.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Visitor to the university, congratulated it for attaining 40 years and its contribution to the education and economic sectors.
Buhari, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okoje, also restated the commitment of the Federal Government to fighting corruption.
The Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Honourable Simon Lalong, who said he was delighted to be part of the convocation, paid glowing tributes to the founders of the university, Retired General Yakubu Gowon and the Late Commissioner of Police, Joseph Gomwalk, a former Governor of Benue and Plateau State.
An alumnus, Lalong reiterated his administration’s effort at ensuring peace, security and good governance as well as well as the high premium on the education industry.
The government, he said, was working hard to establish a police station around the university to protect lives and property.
Lalong also said approval was given for the purchase of four tractors for the newly introduced Faculty of Science.
