President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration will do all that is necessary to address the security challenges confronting institutions of learning and the country at large.
The President made the declaration Saturday during the 26-31st combined Convocation ceremonies of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, JOSTUM.
Represented by the Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, the president emphasized the importance of education and security. “The Federal Government realizes that education and security are the best tools for development and civilization in any society. My administration is also not unaware of the security challenges faced by this University and is determined to continue to do its best to make all institutions of learning across the country conducive and safe for all learners and managers of educational institutions”, he said
He challenged academics to develop necessary tools needed to tackle security challenges. “Let me throw a challenge to our academics who need to work and develop tools and materials necessary to enhance the detection and tracking of security breaches to make our country safe.
“The combat of insecurity in the 21st century has gone beyond the physical running around by security operatives carrying guns to trace crime perpetrators. Our universities should therefore, be engaged in research aimed at production and utilization of drones and other technology driven solutions to help combat the menace of insecurity on our campuses and beyond. The Nigerian military are doing an excellent job in this direction and we shall continue to support them in all ramifications”, he added.
President Tinubu who said the Federal Government shall continue to give Education a priority with improved funding through Capital appropriation and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, charged managers of the nation’s University’ system to be accountable and prudent in the application of the resources that are made available to them to forestall being called to answer, adding that Universities of Agriculture as specialized Universities must also key into the Agriculture and Livestock Transformation effort of his administration for maximum impact.
He commended the University management for bringing in innovations and development in spite of the global economic recession and insecurity being experienced around the world including Nigeria and congratulated the graduands, urging them to take advantage of the knowledge acquired in order to contribute to the development of the society.
On her part, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, JOSTUM, Senator Joy Emodi explained that Council, being aware of the conscious and relentless effort of Mr. President’s administration to diversify the economy away from the mono-cultural commodity of oil in favour of Agriculture, it has deliberately tilted its actions and courses of actions to liberalize access to the new agricultural technologies through an integrated, problem-solving approach to teaching, research and extension services.
She disclosed that the University is in partnership with agro-entrepreneurs for mechanized farming and massive production of different cereals and legumes of high-yielding varieties saying the idea of the partnership is to produce improved and high-quality yielding seeds for farmers across the country.
The Pro-Chancellor reminded the people that the mission of the University is to advance agricultural research, provide quality education in agricultural and related disciplines, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and develop innovative solutions for food security and rural development in Nigeria.
Senator Emodi expressed appreciation to the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia for his solidarity with the University in her trying times. She said his tremendous efforts in sustaining security and peace on the Campus is highly cherished by the university community.
The Vice-Chancellor of JOSTUM Professor Isaac Itodo emphasized that the 26-31st Joint Convocation Ceremonies are historic in the University as they dispose off the accumulated effect of the covid-19 pandemic. “Mr. President, after the covid-19 pandemic, our university embarked on a rigorous task to cover the gap of the lost teaching period, compute all results and brought them up-to-date. The execution of these joint convocation ceremonies is an eloquent testimony to the background work which preceded the event being witnessed today”
Professor Itodo stated that both the academics, alumni and students of JOSTUM have continued to make the institution proud “Students of JOSTUM are known for winning not only academically but also in other spheres of life. Our students on the platform of Entrepreneurship Action in Us (ENACTUS) came first in Nigeria and were ranked 16” position in the world at Kazakhstan in 2024 winning a cash prize of €10,000.00. Also, our JOSTUM Tillers Football Team won the National University Football League Competition in 2024 at the University of Benin, Benin City. These landmark attainments continue to speak volumes of our capabilities.
“Academics of this university have won research laurels from competitive international academic leagues and the Alumni have established themselves in the critical and strategic national and international endeavours such as in the academia, oil and gas, the public bureaucracy, military and international agencies. Scholars of the university have continued to put JOSTUM in the research space of the world by attracting research grants, collaborating with world-class universities and building enduring partnerships with world-wide academics from institutions across the world”
The university graduated a total of 22,027 students comprising 15,402 conventional Bachelor degrees, 2,121 Sandwich bachelor degrees and 4,504 Postgraduate degrees
