From Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos
The former INEC Boss Prof. Attahiru Jega has pledged to reposition the Plateau State University Bokkos to the lofty ideas in which the University was founded.
Jega made this statement over the weekend in Jos where he was confirmed the Pro-Chancellor of the University by the Executive Governor of Plateau State Hon. Simon Bako Lalong.
Lalong inaugurated a new Governing Council of the University saying it became necessary for the Plateau State University to take its position in the place of pride as it has no business remaining in the toddler or crawling state of existence it had fond itself.
According to Lalong, “the Governing Council has been reconstituted and the members carefully chosen to guarantee effective formulation and
implementation of policies as well as efficient monitoring and evaluation”.
“The choice therefore of Prof. Attahiru Jega as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council is a loud proclamation to the world that Plateau desires from this University administrator, a former Vice Chancellor and globally acclaimed man of honour and excellence the best f his experience”, Lalong said.
Jega assumed work on Thursday by inspecting some projects and presiding over the council’s meeting in Bokkos, near Jos.
The projects inspected by the former INEC boss shortly after their inauguration by Gov. Simon Lalong, include the N114 million TETFund Lecture Halls and Office.
Others are the N72 million Entrepreneurship Centre and the N69 million 250-capacity theatre.
The university’s Acting Director of Works, Mr. Aku Ayok, who took the council members round the projects, said most of the projects were TETFund’s with some completed while othersat near completion.
The PLASU Vice Chancellor, Prof Doknan Sheni, said that the greatest challenge of the university was non-accreditation and funding.
“A total of 319 of our students could not graduate last year due the issue of non-accreditation of our courses by NUC and we still have another set of 400 students in their final year, “ the VC lamented.
Sheni said there was need for the rapid infrastructural development in the university and recruitment of the staff to meet up with the NUC accreditation.
Jega, who expressed gratitude to the Plateau Government over the appointment, said that the university was founded on very lofty objectives with a very good mission and vision statements.
According to him, the role of the council is defined by law and that it will do everything possible to see that staff worked together to stimulate the growth and development of the university.