Benue State University at 30: Enhancing capacity building and quality education for sustainable national growth, By PROF AKASE P. SORKAA (1)

Introductory Remarks

Benue State University has definitely achieved a phenomenal growth in its thirty years of existence into an undisputable centre of academic excellence in Nigeria. There is actually so much to celebrate and rejoice about this citadel of learning. Within thirty years of its existence, the university seems to stand shoulder to shoulder with the older and seemingly better funded universities in Nigeria. One can confidently assume that almost everyone who has been qualified and looking forward to a university education in Benue State must have realised such a dream at the Benue State University. In this lecture, efforts must be made to clearly show the basis of the great achievements of Benue State University (BSU) which are near miraculous, given the seemingly insurmountable odds that usually face organizations that are created for the good of all and sundry. It is only when we have a sense of history of what has been and is now, that we can better posit how to enhance capacity building and quality education for sustainable national growth through the instrumentality of Benue State University.

The Beginning of the 30 years of Benue State University

The idea of a state university for Benue State was first mooted by the first civilian government of the late Mr. Apollos Aper Aku, immediately he was sworn in as the Governor in 1979. His desire was to satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Benue who were finding it difficult to have access to the then existing Universities. In 1982, Governor Aper Aku established the Benue State University of Technology with Prof. O. C. Onazi as the Pioneer Vice-chancellor. The University was the first of its kind in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the Shagari administration became fascinated with the whole idea of a University of Technology and decided to take over the Benue State University of Technology and set up five more of such universities in other parts of Nigeria. When Major-General Buhari became the military leader of Nigeria, he merged the University in Benue with the Federal University in Jos. This means that Benue State that originated the idea of a university of technology in Nigeria, lost out.

It was until 1991 that the Military Governor of the State, Lt. Col. Fidelis Attahiru Makka began the efforts towards the establishment of a university by appointing a 13-member steering committee chaired by the late Och’Idoma, Ambassador Edwin Ogbu, who later became the first Chairman of the Governing Council of the University. The report of the steering committee provided the legal framework through which the Edict No.1 of 1991 was promulgated, guiding the establishment of the university. However, it was the efforts and the commitment of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu, who obtained the approval to establish the university on July 21, 1992. The establishment of BSU owes much to the political will of Governor Adasu, who gave his all to ensure that the idea of a state university came into fruition.

In August 1992, Benue State University (BSU) took off as the first state university in the former Northern Region of Nigeria. Within a few years, BSU set up a pace of development and maintained a standard unparalleled by most of the older universities in Nigeria. How do we explain this great achievement of BSU within a few years of its establishment? The answer lies mainly in the quality of the successive governors of Benue State since the inception of BSU together with the nature and character of the successive Governing Councils and especially, the management of the university, led by Vice-Chancellors that have managed the university in the last 30 years.

As a state owned university, the major funding of the university lies principally with the state government in the promotion of research, teaching and community service as the key functions of the university. Apart from funding, another major factor that affects the capacity building and quality education for sustainable development of the society has much to do with the level of autonomy enjoyed by the university in its relationship with the government of the day. Indeed, one of the most important factors that has enhanced the development of BSU into a centre of excellence has much to do with the relative autonomy that has over the years, in varying degrees, granted to the successive Vice-Chancellors and their management teams to ensure that the mandate of the university is achieved. In fact, it used to be that sometimes, BSU would implement to the letter agreements arrived at with the unions even faster than some federal owned universities due to the quick support of the state government regarding the new policy on staff welfare.

The first Visitor to BSU, Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu was so passionate about the success of BSU to the extent that during the maiden orientation week of pioneer students on Monday, 1^st March 1993, he addressed the students on the mission, mandate and motto of the university. The quality of his address was so high that the issues he touched upon have been central to the success of BSU. He ended his address by saying that which has been key to enhancing the quality attained by BSU:

I wish to conclude this discussion by emphasizing the necessity of proper and adequate leadership. Leadership must be proper and adequate if we are to sustain confidence in the capacity of the Benue State University to provide a peaceful and stable environment free of undue divisive and divisionary activities by staff and students.

In fact, when he left office by virtue of military intervention in governance, he was employed as an Associate Professor in BSU to contribute to the development of BSU.

Even the military governors who governed Benue State after Governor Adasu, in varying degrees, respected the relative autonomy of BSU as a university. Even when some staff of BSU had their employment terminated, the recommendations originated from the university management. I recall how the affected terminated staff had petitioned the newly appointed Military Governor of the State, Col. Kontagora and he informed the Governing Council of the BSU that had gone to pay him a courtesy call that if it was in the wisdom of the Governing Council to reengage the staff, it was alright by him. The matter was later praised in the meeting of the Governing Council by a prominent member of the Governing Council and a former Vice-Chancellor, but it was rejected that it was not on the agenda.

Dr. George Akume became the Governor of Benue State in 1999 and for eight years, it was like the golden era of the University. He did all he could within the available resources to pay salaries and allowances as well as monthly subvention for the research and teaching functions of the university. However, the most important contribution of Governor Akume to the development of BSU for the good of Benue State and Nigeria at large, was the establishment of the College of Health Sciences. The high quality of the buildings of the College became a model for other states who wanted to establish Colleges of Medicine. Dr. George Akume also started the building of a befitting teaching hospital which was completed by his successor, Dr. Gabriel Torwua Suswam.

Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswam completely continued the support of the university in a typical manner of Governor George Akume. Governor Suswam completed and inaugurated the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Management Board with Prof. Abraham Orkurga Malu as the Chief Medical Director, (CMD). This befitting teaching hospital was commissioned in March 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan to usher in clinical and residency training. However, the most glaring contribution of Governor Suswam to the growth of BSU as a centre of learning has been the building of a comprehensive Faculty of Law with all the needed requirements for producing law graduates that are comparable to the best in all facets. Governor Suswam also built a girls hostel and donated to the university. It is clear that the democratic era of governance in Benue State did more in the promotion of BSU through good governance experienced as compared to the military era.

Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom became the Governor of Benue State in 2015. Despite the challenges of payment of salaries, he had put the university on first line charge regarding the payment of salaries of staff of BSU in a prompt manner. However, the most important support of Governor Ortom as a contribution to the development of BSU has to do with his government handing over the Zoological Park, JS Tarka Foundation and Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) to BSU. This commendable gesture is bound to enhance the university to generate more funds for enhancing capacity and quality education for sustainable national growth.

The Place of University Governance in the Development of BSU

The nature and characters of the governance of BSU over the years from inception is key to understanding the achievements of the last 30 years. Typical of most public owned universities in Nigeria, the Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university. His main responsibility is that of presiding over the convocation and congregation of the university. We have already looked at the place of the Visitors to Benue State University in terms of their role in the promotion of the growth of BSU to academic excellence in 30 years. Suffice it to say that even though the role of Chancellors of BSU in terms of management of the university has been mainly ceremonial, efforts have always been made to appoint people of exceptional qualities of leadership so that their knowledge and experience could be tapped for the good of the university. Rtd General Theophilus Danjuma was the Pioneer Chancellor the university, followed by Prof. Jibril Aminu, Dr. Umaru Mutallab, HRH Alhaji (Dr) Hassan Lawal Gumi, and His majesty King (Barr) Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel (II).

The Pro-Chancellors as the Chairman is the Governing Council of BSU are more involved in the governance of the university than the Chancellors, who are mainly ceremonial heads. Over the years, BSU has been blessed with quality Pro-chancellors with the requisite qualifications, knowledge and experience that has enriched the decisions of the Governing Councils of Benue State University. The successive Governing Councils of BSU over the years have ensured that proper accounts of the university are kept and audited annually by independent firm of auditors and the report published. The Council over the years has had joint responsibility with the University Senate in the establishment of new Faculties, Centres and Departments. The appointment of staff and their disciplines is also the responsibility of the Governing Council. Over all, the Governing Council is key to ensuring general control and superintendence of the policy, finances and property of the university, including its public relations. These are the functions that the Governing Councils of BSU have at different levels successfully carried out in the last 30 years to put BSU on the world map of successful universities. The Pro-chancellors have been:

1. Chief Edwin Ogbu 1992
2. Ochapa Onazi 1992 – 2005
3. Aako Ugbabe 2005 – 2008
4. Ode Ojowu 2008 – 2015
5. Zacharys Gundu 2015 – 2022
6. Sebastian Hon (SAN) 2022 – 2023

Closely looked at, the achievements of the last 30 years of BSU have much to do with mainly the quality of the Vice-Chancellors and their management teams that have been central to maintaining efficiency and good order within the university. Prof. Emeritus Charles Gbilekaa Vajime was the Pioneer Vice-Chancellor of BSU. We must reckon with the dedication and commitment of the founding fathers and staff of BSU under the able leadership of Professor Emeritus Charges Vajime. He was able to coordinate the activities of the principal officers by ensuring that they were in good standing with the Governing Council and other relevant agencies of government. Above all, he managed successfully labour – management relations to ensure industrial harmony on the campus. He also ensured peace and order among students and staff. All the foregoing efforts created a conducive enabling environment for research, teaching and community service. Professor Emeritus Charles Gbilekaa Vajime ensured the prudent management of resources and he was an epitome of humility in all his dealings with everyone. The foundation principal officers under the Vice-Chancellor were Barr. William Mozeh, the registrar, The Bursar, Mr. Ralph A. Ogah, the Librarian Mr. D. A. Gbakighir and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. David Ker.

Prof. David Ker became the Vice-Chancellor of BSU in 2000-2005. He sustained and consolidated on the achievements of his predecessor, Prof. Vajime and ended up being adjudged as the best Vice-Chancellor of all State Universities in Nigeria by the National Universities Commission (NUC). As a Vice-Chancellor, he took the university to the highest level of development in all ramifications because right from the inception of BSU, he was key to the mobilization of the best brains all over the world to come over to BSU. Right from the inception of BSU, the management of the university realised the need for adequate staffing in order to attain the dreams of the founding fathers of the university. Actually, staff welfare was given a prime of place to ensure the effective funding and development of BSU. A good number of staff were provided housing by the university, where no official accommodation was not given, a rent subsidy of 70 per cent of the salary is still being paid. Also, BSU has always demonstrated a firm commitment to the training of its staff, both academic and non-academic. Today, many BSU staff who started work with a secondary education qualification have degrees and a few of them have Ph.Ds. Needless to emphasise the obvious that the achievements of the Pioneer Vice-Chancellors of BSU were the sum of the collective efforts of all the staff and students of the university. It is in this regard that I intend to briefly next take a look at the achievements of BSU in the areas of research, teaching and community service that have evidently shown years of boundless growth. These achievements are so numerous that one can only mention a few of the prominent ones. In 2003, the BSU Governing Council lead by Prof. Ochapa Onazi was adjudged by the N.U.C. to be the best managed university in Nigeria. The 2007 NUC Doctoral Thesis Award was won by Dr. Patrick Ukase, of the Department of History, BSU is the only state university in Nigeria that has produced two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in the persons of Douglas Terkura Pepe (SAN) and Ekor Ekor (SAN). Our students have won laurels in world debates, N.Y.S.C and the Nigerian Stock Exchange Essay competition. Of course, there is so much to write on regarding the achievements of BSU as a citadel of learning that one may tend to neglect the challenges that face the university that have to be overcome in order to be able to enhance capacity building for quality education to sustain national growth.

Before looking at the challenges facing the sustenance of the achievement of BSU, we have to talk about other glaring aspects of BSU that have made it a centre of excellence. One of the key achievements of BSU as a centre of academic excellence has much to do with the establishment and the evolution of the Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER). CEFTER was established in 2015, so as to implement the Africa Centre of Excellence project which the university won after a tough competition with 150 universities in Africa. In Nigeria, BSU is the only state-owned university among the ten that won the grant to implement activities targeted at post-harvest losses. This grant has helped BSU to build a graduate centre housing ten lecture halls, an auditorium, two laboratories and a one hundred bed space hostel.

Of all the 25 centres in Africa, the performance of BSU CEFTER has been rated among the top five. Deriving from this phenomenal achievement, the World Bank in 2019 granted BSU another grant which is being implemented. There was a mid-term assessment of this new grant which rated BSU CEFTER as top in performance and exceptional. This resulted in the grant of an additional sum of money for CEFTER to continue doing that which they know best. From the foregoing grants, BSU is currently building CEFTER Foods Technology Innovation Complex to have six mini factories for processing orange juice, tomato paste, wine and the processing of guinea corn or wheat into beverages.

Clearly, therefore, CEFTER is today recognized as the most active unit of the university that has increased recognition of BSU through collaboration with local and international community. In Nigeria, CEFTER is linked with community based groups with farmers in 23 local government areas. Through CEFTER, BSU has established a strong relationship with the University of Zagreb, Croatia. BSU is looking forward to reaping benefits from the relationship in terms of equipment, exchange of staff and training. We must commend the present Director of CEFTER, Prof. Barnabas Achakap Ikyo and his management team for the success of CEFTER.

• Being text of a lecture on the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Benue State University delivered by Professor Akase P. Sorkaa of the Department of Political Science, Benue State university, Makurdi on 26th January, 2024

   

   (To be continued)

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