Three alumni of the University of Jos were back on campus to deliver Lectures in the Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series organized by the Advancement Office to mentor current students. The events took place at the Naraguta Campus of the University.

Mr. Henry Onukwuba, Director Alumni Relations, Pan African University, Lagos, one of the alumni, the Best Graduating Student of Political Science University of Jos 1994, instituted a Prize for the Best Graduating Student (Research) in Political Science. He also donated N200, 000 to the Faculty of Social Sciences to purchase a generator.

Delivering the lecture titled: “Collaboration between the Private Sector and the Faculty/University to Leverage on Alumni Resources for Development” Mr. Onukwuba underscored the importance of Alumni in institutional development. He used his experience as Alumni Director of the Lagos Business School where alumni are a great part of the institution’s rise to excellence. Encouraging faculties to provide enabling environment for students to learn so that they can support the institution in future, he said the strength of an institution is the strength of its certificate. As such, he encouraged alumni to support Unijos to take it to greater heights.

The Vice Chancellor, University of Jos Prof. Hayward Mafuyai represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Musa Ibrahim appreciated the Guest Lecturer, highlighting the importance of the alumni association in supporting the University financially. He emphasized the need of the alumni to work together with the University in its developmental strides.

Prof. Saint Gbilekaa, 1980Theatre Arts graduate and a former Lecturer at the Department pledged to donate one million naira for purchase of books for the Faculty of Arts during a Lecture delivered by him at the University. The Lecture with the topic: “The Artist and Partisan Politics in Nigeria” focused on the role of arts in politics. Prof. Gbilekaa gave an insight into theory and practice, in relation to the artist and politics – as he is an artist and a politician. According to him, arts is longer for arts’ sake; as such, Theatre Artists and Academics should participate in politics or use Community Theatre to bring the desired change in the country. Prof. Gbilekaa is currently the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Benue State.

The Chairman of the occasion Hon. Yakubu Dati (Theater Arts Class of 1990) thanked the University for inviting him to Chair the occasion. He attributed their success in public life to the training they got from the Theatre Arts Department, University of Jos. He donated the sum of N50, 000 cash towards the organization of future alumni events.

Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, the Vice Chancellor University of Jos in his remark said that with the level and number of alumni of Unijos at all strata of life, moving to the permanent site of the should be a reality with alumni support. He thanked the Guest Lecturer for a well delivered lecture and presented him with a gift on behalf of the University of Jos.

Hon. Philip Shaibu, another of the Guest Lecturers, former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) President, graduate of Accounting Unijos 2001 and currently Majority Leader Edo State House of Assembly has donated 3 computers and a printer towards the Digital Transcript System of the University of Jos. He also donated N500, 000 towards the accreditation of the Faculty of Management Sciences during the Lecture.

After chanting some aluta solidarity songs with the students, Hon. Shaibu in his lecture titled: “From NANS Presidency to Majority Leader” attributed his success in life to the tutelage he got from his lecturers. From a humble beginning - a son of a driver for a government ministry in Kaduna State, Hon. Philip Shaibu started Student Union struggle from his first days in Unijos, which propelled him to represent the Abuja Hostel in the Students’ Parliament as a Jambite. He grew from there to SUG Welfare Secretaryand the NANS President from 2000 to 2001. Hon. Shaibu recorded landmark achievements as NANS Leader which paved way for his becoming a Member of the Edo State House of Assembly today. He challenged the Students’ Union to be responsive to the students that have elected them, advising them to struggle for students’ welfare instead of begging government officials for money.

The Vice Chancellor, University of Jos Prof. Hayward Mafuyai represented by the Executive Director Advancement Office, Prof. Victor Dugga, thanked Hon. Shaibu for sparing time out of his busy schedule to mentor students in the Faculty. He said that the University is launching its Annual Fund later this year. Encouraging Josites to support the University, the Vice Chancellor said of the 23,000 alumni in the University database, if everyone was to give N1000 annually, the institution would realize N23, 000,000 which would go a long way in developing the University.