Benue State University at 30: Enhancing capacity building and quality education for sustainable national growth, By PROF AKASE P. SORKAA (2)

The College of Health Sciences

The achievements today of the College of Health Sciences of BSU despite the seemingly insurmountable odds facing the institution at its inception needs to be told briefly so that we can learn from it in the quest o sustain the achievements of the past. Typical of all newly established Colleges of medicine, there was the challenge of availability of a teaching hospital fully equipped for clinical training stage. Prof. Emeritus Matthew Akinyemi Araoye as the Pioneer Provost recruited the best brains to start the pre-clinical training. But there was the stagnation of the students which became a serious issue. Gladly, Governor Suswam completed the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and inaugurated a teaching Hospital Management Board.

However, one of the greatest challenges facing the survival and development of the College of Health Sciences was the impending end of tenure of the Pioneer Provost, Prof. Emeritus Matthew Araoye. There was the need to have a provost with the requisite qualifications and experience to achieve accreditation needs of the College, that necessitated a harmonization of the requirements of the Teaching Hospital with those of the college. The choice of the new Provost in the light of the circumstances of finding a lasting solution to the lingering challenges facing the College of Health Sciences fell on Professor Shima Kaimom Gyoh.

Prof. Gyoh happened to have been the Chairman of the Steering Committee set up by Prof. Emeritus Charles Gbilekaa Vajime to advice the university regarding the establishment of a faculty of medicine. Prof. Gyoh had also in the past served as the CMD of University of Jos Teaching Hospital and Director General, Federal Ministry of Health. He also was a former Chairman of the Dental and Medical Council of Nigeria. He happened to have had the onerous task of reviewing the curriculum for the Colleges of medicine. Above, all, Prof. Gyoh had seen it all through practicing surgery in England, Zaria, Kaduna, Jos, Lagos and Benue State. As a professor of professors, the university knew that he had the knowledge, character and experience to take the College of Health Sciences to the promised land. In this, he was a great success. To me, he created the enabling conducive environment for the subsequent induction of medical graduands of the Benue State College of Health Sciences.

Prof. Simeon Adeani Adebisi oversaw the final accreditation of the College in 2015. During his time, the College expanded regarding undergraduate courses that included Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Anatomy and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Physiology. In 2019, Prof. Linus Chia Saalu was elected the Provost of the College and he gladly continued on the expansion of the development of the College in all facets. He has established more undergraduate programmes such as Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Radiography and Radiation Sciences, Bachelor of Nursing Sciences (BN.Sc.) and Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS). Above all, deriving from the standard of the College of Health Sciences of BSU, in all ramifications, the carrying capacity of the College has recently been increased from 75 to 150.

The achievements of BSU cut across all faculties, centres, schools and Departments. There is no way given the limited time given, one can touch on all the achievements of all the units of Benue State University. What I have tried to do is to simply pick on the more glaring achievements but recognising that in varying degrees, all the different units of BSU have all collectively done their bid towards the recognition of BSU as a centre of excellence for learning. However, there is still the need to mention some of the units that are bound to be a part of the quest for enhancing capacity building and quality education for sustainable national growth. These units include, among others, the Centre for Open and Distance Learning. This centre is looking forward to providing access to a flexible learning environment through quality ICT channels. Nigerians are bound to have opportunities to realise their full potential through continuous life-long education. Above all, the Centre for Open and Distance Learning will bring more funds into the coffers of BSU.

Another unit of importance in the sustenance of the achievements of BSU is the Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies which came on board in 2012. The main objective of the Centre is the provision of entrepreneurship education so as to empower graduates with the requisite entrepreneurial skills to create jobs after graduation. So far, students have been trained in producing items of furniture, fabrics, clothing, leather, catering, chemicals, feeds, hairdressing, tailoring and the production of many other items. In conjunction with the Benue State University Printing Press, a University Bakery, Car Wash service and is involved in BSU Consultancy Services Limited training workshops and seminars.

A Directorate of ICT was also established in BSU in 2010 headed by Mr. Terna Abuul as its Pioneer Director. The Directorate of ICT comprises five Departments of Software, Networking, Management Information System (MIS), Maintenance and Support Services and Training Department. Much has been achieved since its inception and the impact on the society at large has been quite immense. So much is to be gained by the university and society at large when the requisite ICT infrastructure and facilities are provided. This will enable the university to commence Digital Learning which is tantamount to Open and Distance Learning and E-learning. This will make provision for the massive learning needs of the public service and applicants in other states of Nigeria through the online undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Gladly, the Directorate of ICT of BSU has been able to resolve the challenges of the university management regarding the processing of results and transcripts.

Lastly, but definitely not the least among the units of BSU to reckon with especially regarding the sustenance of the achievements of the last 30 years has to do with BSU Consultancy Services Ltd. The importance of this unit lies mainly in its potential to generate funds that can go a long way in solving some of the funding challenges of BSU. This is the official business company of BSU. After twenty nine years of low key performance by this outfit, the university Governing Council during the era of Prof. Joe Tor Iorapuu as the current Vice-Chancellor has restructured the Consultancy to be independent and profit driven. Within a period of barley two years, so much has been achieved. BSU Consultancy is now the leading provider of resource persons for the training of staff of the Government of Benue State. It has organised capacity building workshop for staff of Benue State House of Assembly, induction course for local government council officials and capacity building for many other groups within and outside Benue State. The BSU Consultancy has reopened the Benue State University Staff School. But more important educationally, the BS Consultancy has established a BSU Information Technology Secondary School in partnership with the Directorate of ICT of BSU. This secondary school is the first of its kind in Nigeria. The BSU Consultancy has also established a printing and publishing press that is one of the best in Benue State. Also, in partnership with the Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, BSU Consultancy has established a bakery which is already quite popular due to the quality of its products.

It is clear that the BSU Consultancy Services Ltd has achieved much since its restructuring during this era of Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu as the Vice-Chancellor. In fact, the BSU Consultancy Services has established also BSU Consultancy Water Deport, BSU Fish Farm, BSU Vegetable Farm, a restaurant and catering services and the University’s Technological Transfer and Staff Mentoring Unit in collaboration with CEFTER.

Enhancing Capacity Building and Quality Education for Sustainable National Growth.

This presentation has shown that in order to have an enhanced capacity building and quality education for sustainable national growth in BSU, there is the need to consolidate and build on the achievements of the last 30 years. This is mainly the mandate of Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, the present Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University. As the Chief Executive of the university, the Chairman of Senate, Congregation and member of Council and all Faculty Boards, the Vice-Chancellor is the image figure of the institution. The Vice-Chancellor is the main official source of information on the state of affairs of the university. In fact, he is the one that sets the agenda of what is even discussed in the Governing Council. Matters concerning the future of the university that are discussed at the various Committees and Senate are what is mainly brought before the Governing Council. One can discern that the repositioning of the Faculties, Centres and Departments of BSU in the last two years are definitely the quest by the present BSU administration to sustain the achievements of the last 30 years. One can already see the refocusing of the Centre of Entrepreneurship Studies and especially the restructuring of the BSU Consultancy Services Ltd as a means of sustaining the growth of BSU to higher heights. However, there is the need to briefly touch on certain challenges that are facing BSU that are typical of all universities, particularly the public owned universities.

Funding is the commonest challenge typical of all universities, in varying degrees. Inadequate resources are facing BSU, especially given the increase in population of students and staff. As a public owned university, it is expected to have affordable charges and fees and this makes it challenging to have the funds with which to cater for the basic needs of running the university. Consciously, one can see the quest by the university trying on improving on its internal revenue generation through such units as the Centre of Entrepreneurship Studies and the BSU Consultancy Service Ltd. There is the need to step up efforts in the Centre for Open and Distant Learning kick starting the programme. This will not only expand the reach of the university and its internationalization, but above all, bring in more revenue for BSU. Equally important for a source for increased revenue generation for the university is to provide the requisite ICT infrastructure and facilities to the Directorate of ICT of BSU. This is bound to promote the commencement of Digital Learning to cater for the teeming learning needs of public servants throughout Nigeria. The funds of the university will definitely increase when this is done. Indeed, apart from the benefits of increased internally generated revenue for BSU as a result of greater infrastructure and facilities for ICT, this will facilitate the computerization of the Bursary, Registry, Faculties, Departments, Senate and the Council activities.

Strikes are a recurrent decimal that has had dire consequences on the workings of especially public universities in Nigeria. The reasons for most of these strikes have to do mainly with the failure to honour agreements on the part of the government. These strikes have had far reaching negative effects on the quality of teaching research and community service. Fortunately, most of the roots of these strikes have origins with the activities of the state and not the internal management of the universities.

However, one of the most important challenges facing public universities today in general has to do with the issue of autonomy. Earlier on in this write-up, I had commended the past visitors to Benue State University, especially  Rev. Fr. Adasu, Dr. George Akume and Dr. Gabriel Suswam for the autonomy they provided for the enabling conductive environment for research and teaching. There is no way BSU would have survived and ended up being a success story given the seemingly insurmountable odds facing the institution at its inception. The Pioneer Vice-Chancellors in the first twenty five years of the university, in varying degrees, enjoyed a measure of autonomy in the recruitment of the best brains all over the world to take the university to the level it has attained. It used to be that the Vice-Chancellor of BSU could appoint a staff with the recommendation of a Department, subject to approval of Council within two years. Given the increasing cost of managing the university, there seems to be too much control over employing people with the requisite qualifications and experience to replace departing ones. A university is supposed to be a lamp that throws light on the rest of the society in doing that which is right. This means that merit, justice and equity should be guiding principles of on-goings within the university. Unfortunately, I am not sure we are still returning our best graduating students who would be trained to be the future of the different Departments for quality assurance. As a knowledge industry, we must go back to the old system of recruitment of staff based on merit and experience. It behooves on the Vice-Chancellor to stand firm on protecting the cherished relative autonomy of BSU.

Finally, as one of the challenges facing the sustenance of the achievements of the last 30 years, we must also touch on the character regarding the norms and values that guide both the staff and students in doing that which conforms with the achievement of the mandate of a university. Degrees in a university are given for character and learning. It means that the staff of the university must be seen to be manifesting the tenets of character and learning before the students can learn from and imbibe. In fact, the above tenets are supposed to be exhibited by the management of the university beginning from the top down to Heads of Department. I remember that Prof. David Ker as the Vice-Chancellor of BSU, was lecturing introductory courses to 100 level students and Ph.D. The whole essence was simply to show leadership by example.

Another challenge facing most universities in Nigeria has to do with the issue of internal security that has much to do with the activities of cultism. When BSU began its activities, just like other Nigerian universities, it faced the same menace of cultism. The management of the university squarely faced this challenge. The opening only came when the university realised that many of the students were recruited from well placed families in the society, including the university. The idea was to get the protection and cover and get away with their evil dealings. BSU took the decision to expel any student found involved in cultism, in spite of the family background. This is what has sent cultism out of the confines of the university to the town.

Finally, as a challenge that BSU must have to tackle is the issue of encroaching and taking over BSU lands. This is a serious issue that has been difficult to solve because the people who are involved are the powerful and the connected ones in the society. BSU in the public interest has to take precedence over all personal and self serving interests of some of the people who are standing in the way of the development of this wonderful edifice of Benue people. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu is already taking action by extending the fencing of the university beyond the Teaching Hospital. The Benue State Government must come to the protection of the lands and property of BSU for the good of the people of Benue State.

Concluding Remarks

We have looked at Benue State University at 30 and shown that the phenomenal growth of the university into a centre of excellence has much to do with the kinds of choices made by the political leadership based on their vision and mission of satisfying the yearnings and aspirations of the people for university education. From Mr. Aper Aku to Lt. Col. Makka, Rev. Fr. Orshio Adasu, Dr. George Akume, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, Dr. Samuel Ortom and today, we have Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia as the Governor to see to the enhancing and consolidation of achievements of the last 30 years. The future of BSU therefore has much to do with the choices that are to be made by the Government of Rev. Fr. Alia for the good of the people of Benue State and Nigeria, at large.

Fortunately and gladly, it is clear that the present government seems to be concerned about the development of BSU to build quality education that will promote national development. This has been shown already in the Visitation Panel to BSU that has successfully done its work and submitted its findings to the Government for action. We are therefore looking forward to massive support from the Government to foster the attainment of the dreams of the founding fathers for a university of first choice in Nigeria. We are hopeful that the present Visitor to BSU will ensure that the challenges facing BSU that have been briefly looked at, especially funding is tackled. However, let me make this important point regarding the welfare of staff of BSU. The Governor of Benue State has brought a new lease of life to the public servants of Benue State concerning the payment of salaries, pensions and gratuity. As I am presenting this paper, salaries and pensions for the month of January have already been paid for the public servants. The issue of payment of pensions and gratuity has to be extended to Benue State University. This is bound to positively affect the performance of staff of BSU who will be bound to put in their best for the university, knowing that they are secured after retirement.

This lecture has also focused on the achievements of the pioneer management of the university led by Prof. Emeritus Charles Gbilekaa Vajime and Prof. David Iyornongu Ker, all of blessed memory. This does not mean that the three successive Vice-Chancellors of Prof. Sorkaa, Prof. Angya and Prof. Kembe did not immensely contribute to the growth and success of BSU. For example, Prof. Charity Ashimem Angya was known as madam infrastructure deriving from her massive infrastructural development of BSU. However, she was able to do this by virtue of the special intervention by TETFUND that BSU competed for and won for North Central Nigeria. BSU won this special intervention as a result of the performance of past Vice-Chancellors in implementing TETFUND or ETF projects. The other universities of North-Central Nigeria could not meet the performance of the past BSU Vice-Chancellors and the management in the implementation of past projects of TETFUND.

The present Vice-Chancellor of BSU, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, therefore has the herculean task of enhancing the capacity of BSU by building quality education for sustainable national growth and development. The last two years as shown in the activities of the senate, Council, Faculties, Centres and Departments, show that the university is poised on consolidating on the achievements of the last 30 years. Already, new Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences are in place and Engineering and others are bound to follow soon. This is a daunting task that needs a clear vision and mission which the Vice-Chancellor and the management are providing. It is not going to be easy, but from the choices made in the last two years and given the political will of the present government in Benue State, we are hopefully looking forward to a consolidation of the phenomenal achievements of last 30 years of Benue State University.

Thank you for the audience.

• 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

 (Concluded)

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