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 Ikonne Ogaji, Victor Duga, Sati Fwatshak, Anthony Dakum, Patricia Lar, Bernard Matur and Simon Yiltok, all professors.
The candidates took turns to present their visions and respond to questions from participants on how they intend to run the affairs of the university if appointed.
In his welcome address, the ASUU Chairman, Joseph Molwus, said the interaction was deliberately organised to ensure that stakeholders did not stand by and watch things happen.
He commended the committee chaired by Okechukwu Great, which organised the event in conjunction with the Advancement Office.
“The university does not exist in isolation. That is why we have extended invitations to all the critical stakeholders to come and interact with those who have indicated interest in becoming the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos,” he said.
Speaking directly to the candidates, Molwus said: “I am speaking to you. One of you, by the grace of God, is going to become our vice-chancellor. It is not a battle, and it is not a do-or-die affair. Whoever emerges will simply be one among equals. The idea of a university, as is the case with every community, is that there will always be one leader.
“We have all indicated interest, and we have our individual ideas that we are going to interact on today. I believe that by the time one of you emerges, if all seven of you seated here today rally around him with the ideas we have shared, the university will be better for it.
“It should not be the case that after the selection process, one person is announced and the rest of you go back and take the back seat. No.”
Molwus said the union’s ideology was that, as a very important stakeholder, it should not stand by and watch things happen.
“We want to make things happen the way they should. That is why we have sustained this tradition of organising this interaction,” he said.
A former Vice-Chancellor of Karl Kummeh University, 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.
On governance, Gambo said: “The concept of governance refers simply to the management of power and authority for the common good of the community within which that power is exercised.
“You have been appointed vice-chancellor. Everybody recognises that you have the power; you have the authority to do certain things. But in whose interest are you using that power? Is it for your personal interest? Is it for sectional interest? Is it for the common good of the community?
“I think we need to get that right from the outset, so that when you enter office, you start working right from day one. If you really want to make an impact, I mean, five years, if the tenure is long enough, but before you know it, it’s all over.”
Gambo warned that after a five-year tenure, a visitation panel would evaluate whether due process had been followed.
“And so, I will advise that vice-chancellors must be sensitive and responsive to the demands of due process. Never seek to cut corners because your record will follow you,” he said.
On vision and mission, Gambo said a vice-chancellor could not articulate a vision without knowing where the university currently stood.
“Vision and mission. That is what is expected from all our aspirants. What is your vision for the university? And you cannot articulate a vision for the university without knowing where the university is currently,” he said.
“You need to have that good understanding of the current position of the university, so that you can now find an entry point. How do I come in? You know, to continue from where I could go.
“So, a vision simply means the future that you are expecting from the university. What should become of the University of Jos after your five-year tenure? That is a vision.”
He advised the aspirants to carry out a SWOT analysis of the university.
“But let me advise that, in articulating your vision and mission statements, you must do what we call a SWOT analysis of the university.
“You should be able, just like Mr Pam said, to come up with a picture. What are the strengths of the university? What are the weaknesses? What are the opportunities, and what are the threats?
“Unless you do that, you cannot objectively come up with a proper understanding of the university for you to find an entry point where you want to start,” he said.
In an interview, the co-convener of the event and Executive Director of the Advancement Office, University of Jos, Prof. Sarah Lwahas, explained the rationale for the interaction.
The vice-chancellorship candidates, in their separate responses to questions from participants, spoke on governance, funding, staff welfare, student welfare, research, innovation and how they intend to run an inclusive and transparent administration if appointed.
Our correspondent reports that the tenure of the current VC of the university, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, ends in November 2026, concluding a five-year single term that began on December 1, 2021.
Sources close to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Jos, Senator Grace Folashade-Bent, told our correspondent that a new vice-chancellor for the institution would be announced this week when the selection process is concluded.
