The Department of History and International Studies at the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) has presented awards to its staff as a mark of recognition for their contributions to the growth and development of the department.
The occasion organised to celebrate achievements and present awards held Friday at the school premises.
Prominent among the honourees was a renowned Professor of African History, Professor Okpeh O. Okpeh (Jr), who was honoured with the Award for Research Excellence, Mentorship and Outstanding Service and Prof Wilfred Uji who bagged the Award for Academic Mentorship and Service.
Other awardees included; Prof Thaddeus Kyegh who received the Award for Leadership and Outstanding Service and the department’s only female Professor, Zara Kwaghe was bestowed with the Award for Exemplary Leadership and Academic Excellence.
The Head of Department ( HoD), Dr Joseph Obuje was named the “Most Accessible and Friendly HoD, while Mr Paul Kigbu was honoured for Hard Work and Dedicated Service to the department.
The department also honoured the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Shehu Abdul Rahman with an award of Excellence in Academic Leadership, Honouring Exceptional Vision, Innovation and Commitment to Academic Excellence.
Speaking during the event, the VC, Prof Shehu Abdul Rahman, represented by the Director, Academic Planning, Prof Ilemona Adofu commended the department for the initiative.
” We are here to celebrate a history that has been made by the department of History and International Studies.
“We in academics often get busy trying to solve academic problems and sometimes tend to forget ourselves, but today history has been made as the department decided to celebrate professors who have distinguished themselves and have done some unique things that are moving the institution and nation forward.”
He lauded the department for the award given them and urged other departments to emulate the gesture.
Also speaking, the Registrar of FULafia, Malam Nuradeen Abdu, also commended the department for recognising its staff, stating that the department has been noted for excellence in all endeavours.
He called on the awardees to work harder for greater achievements and never to relent on the mentorship of the younger ones.
Speaking separately, the Provost , College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof Victor Dugga, represented by the Deputy Provost of the college, Prof Musa Dalhatu and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof George Genyi both described the event as historic and first of its kind in the history of the institution.
On his part, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hon Gabriel Agbashi encouraged the awardees to continue to tell the history of the country.
“The Department of History and International Studies has made yet another history by awarding intelligent professors and other teaching staff of the department. I charge the awardees to continue to tell the history of the country,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Prof Okpeh O. Okpeh (Jr) expressed gratitude to the department for acknowledging their contributions to the society, saying, “We appreciate God for making the day a reality, and we thank the department for acknowledging our contributions to the society. History as the mother of all disciplines shapes the society through ideas aimed at moving the nation forward.”
Earlier, the HoD, Dr Joseph Obuje said the essence of the award was to acknowledge the contributions of members of staff to the growth and development of the department.
He explained that the awardees included all academic staff of the department, comprising four professors, nine lecturers with PhDs, and others.
