Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, JOSTUM says it is taking proactive measures to tackle the security challenges affecting the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Isaac Itodo, disclosed this during a press briefing for the 26-31 Combined Convocation ceremonies, held at the institute’s Council Chamber on Thursday, adding that the University has been grappling with the challenges of kidnapping of students, invasion by herdsmen, daily pilferage of university properties, particularly armoured cables among others.
He stated that the university is currently constructing a dedicated Security Department building, which is slated for completion within a few weeks to enhance safety.”The university is employing e-security gadget and equipment to tackle the security challenges. Security audit will also be conducted before academic activities resumes”, he said
Recall that academic activities were suspended at the university and students ordered to vacate the campus following the recent kidnapping of three female students.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that most of the security challenges can be eliminated with a perimeter fence around the university. “The university campus is about 8,000 hectares of land with a perimeter of 43 km. The university is actively engaging the Federal Government to fence the campus particularly after the last unfortunate incident of kidnapping of three (3) female students of the university”, he added
He reiterated the commitment of the university’s management to collaborating with various stakeholders. “The university will continue to work with security agencies and the Benue State Government for peace on campus and collaboration on many endeavors; only then can the people of Benue State reap the fruits of scientific research offered by the university. Benue State remains the main entity of the university”
According to Professor Itodo, JOSTUM will graduate no fewer than 22,027 students during its 26th-31st Combined Convocation Ceremonies. He gave the breakdown as follows: undergraduate 15,402; Postgraduate 4,504; PhD 446 with sandwich having a total of 2,121, adding that 200 students bagged first class.
Professor Itodo, who clocked two years as Vice-Chancellor on February 23rd, 2025, highlighted some of the university’s achievements under him to include-the unbundling of programs, the introduction of new courses, and the completion of various infrastructure projects.
“In unbundling the programmes of this university for impact, the NUC undertook a resource verification of programmes in the former College of Agricultural and Science Education, now College of Education, and approved many more programmes resulting in twenty (20) programmes in that College
“A snapshot of the infrastructural development undertaken by this administration shows that the university is currently involved in many projects, out of which many have been completed. Some are ongoing. Others are about to commence.
“The University was able, for the first time in her history, attract the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) High Impact Intervention of two billion Naira (2,000,000,000.00) as Special Agriculture Intervention in 2023 and another of four billion Naira (4,000,000,000.00) in 2024”
He commended staff and students for their support and assured of his commitment to transparency and prudent management of the university’s resources.
The ceremony which commenced from today, March 27th to March 29th, 2025 will also feature the commissioning of various projects, including a teaching and research farm, a specialized plant health laboratory, security department building among others.
