Unijos VC identifies technology adoption as key to solving varsities’ challenges

…As NUGA approves new date for 2025 competition in UniJos

Tanko Ishaya a professor and Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Plateau state has called for the adoption of modern technology to address the mounting challenges facing higher education institutions in Nigeria.

The Vice-Chancellor stated this while delivering a keynote address at a retreat organised for Principal Officers, Deans and Directors as well as other Senior Staff of the University, held on Friday at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Plateau state.

Ishaya, who expressed deep concerns about the current state of Universities in Nigeria, emphasized the urgent need for technological solutions to enhance Research, Teaching, and overall service delivery in the Education sector.

The Vice-Chancellor identified inadequate funding for Research, poor remuneration of Academic and non-teaching Staff, as well as lack of government interest in the Education sector, as major factors hindering the quality of Education in the country.

He expressed dismay that the government has left Universities to navigate these challenges on their own, with little support or engagement.

Ishaya pointed out that government often views Universities as failing in their duties because they do not produce graduates who meet the needs of the job market or generate revenue through impactful Research.

“The current situation is worrisome, and if we are to see any real progress, the government must look into the needs of Universities, including the welfare of Staff, to ensure that Academic and other personnel are motivated to give their best.”

He further decried the fact that many University Staff are forced to take on additional jobs to meet their financial needs, which distracts them from their primary Academic responsibilities and affects the quality of their Teaching and Research output.
Despite these challenges, the professor emphasized the importance of maintaining a culture of sacrifice within the Academic community to prevent the Education sector from collapsing.

According to him, the pressure from both the government and industry regarding the quality of graduates produced by Universities necessitated the retreat, which is aimed at brainstorming to formulate Action Plans and strategies for improving the quality of service delivery at the University.

The Vice-Chancellor firmly recommended the integration of technology into Academic and Administrative processes and argued that in an era where traditional methods are becoming increasingly obsolete, embracing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is essential for the growth of the University system.

He pointed out that ICT, particularly Artificial Intelligence, has already made significant strides globally, and Universities must adopt these advancements to stay relevant, noting that the old ways of doing things are over.

Ishaya cautioned that the ICT sector has moved forward while Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, therefore the University system must embrace it in order to grow and thrive.

He announced that, as part of this technological shift, all General Studies (GST) courses in the University of Jos will henceforth, be delivered virtually. This he said is to alleviate the physical and logistical challenges faced by both Students and Staff by providing them with a more efficient and flexible learning environment.

In a presentation titled “Recruitment, Selection, Placement, Development, Promotions and Motivation of Employees”, Rejoice Songden, Registrar of the University of Jos, highlighted the importance of a systematic and strategic approach to employee management, emphasizing how effective recruitment and selection processes can contribute to the overall success of the University.

The Registrar addressed the critical role of employee development and training programmes in fostering growth and motivation within the institution. She underscored the significance of providing opportunities for career advancement through promotions and continuous learning, all of which contribute to a motivated and high-performing workforce.

The retreat brought together the University leadership at various levels to share their experiences, offer valuable recommendations, and collaborate on strategies that will improve service delivery by the University especially with the utilization of technological solutions to foster innovation, improve teaching quality, and enhance Research output.

Read also: UNIJOS engages international consultants to attract funding, marketing opportunities for NUGA

NUGA approves new date for 2025 competition in UniJos

Meanwhile, the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Council has approved a new date for the forthcoming NUGA competition to be hosted by the University of Jos. The Competition will now take place from 6th to 16th November, 2025, at the University of Jos.

The announcement was made when the NUGA National Executives paid a courtesy visit to the University Management during the NUGA Annual Council meeting which took place on Friday in Unijos.

Mohammed Bawa, a professor and NUGA President, who led the delegation, explained that the decision to shift the date came after thorough consultations with key stakeholders. He emphasized that the new date was necessary to ensure that critical ongoing projects at Unijos, which would be used for the competition, are completed on time.

According to Bawa, “After careful consideration and consultation, the NUGA Council agreed to move the competition to November, 2025. This will allow the University of Jos to finish some critical infrastructural projects that are vital for the smooth running of the Games. We’ve experienced, in the past, the risk of institutions losing projects when competitions take place without such projects being completed, and we don’t want that to happen here.”

As part of the Council decision, the president revealed that a Memorandum of Action (MOA) would be signed between NUGA and the University Management to formalize the new date and ensure both parties adhere to it.

He also mentioned that the upcoming West African Universities Games (WAUG) will be held in Ghana, and urged the University Management to encourage Students-Athletes to participate in the various Sports, including Track and Field, Swimming, Badminton, Tennis, Table Tennis, and Taekwondo, among others.