Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos (UniJos), Prof. Tanko Ishaya
Fifty years after its establishment, the University of Jos (UNIJOS) said it has continued to thrive without ever receiving the take-off grant traditionally provided to new universities by the Federal Government, a gap it describes as a long-standing setback to its infrastructural and academic growth.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, made this known during a press briefing at the University’s permanent site in Jos as part of activities marking its golden jubilee.
He described the absence of the take-off grant since 1975 as a “foundational disadvantage” that has shaped the university’s journey for decades.
He said: “From inception, UNIJOS was never provided with a take-off grant, which is the standard support given to newly established universities by the Federal Government. This has placed the University at a serious disadvantage for decades. Unlike our sister institutions that consolidated their growth with such grants, most of our structures were makeshift or those donated by the then Plateau State Government and other spirited individuals. This challenge continues to define the gap in our infrastructural needs till today.
Despite this historical handicap, the Vice-Chancellor said the University has expanded from four faculties at inception to seventeen, currently accommodating over 40,000 students and more than 4,000 staff members, making it one of Nigeria’s foremost public universities.
He praised the resilience of the institution’s community and the support of development partners that have sustained it through lean years, saying the story of UNIJOS is one of perseverance, innovation, and collective commitment.
“Our story is one of resilience. Even with this burden, we have evolved into a globally recognised institution that prides itself on academic excellence, innovation, and professionalism. The lack of take-off support is not a complaint; it is a reality we must continue to highlight so that government and partners can appreciate how far we’ve come and how much further we can go with adequate support.
“Every one of our achievements, from the relocation to the Naraguta campus to the expansion of academic programmes and research centres, is a testimony of sheer dedication from our internal community and the support of agencies such as TETFund, NUC, and development partners”, he added.
Professor Ishaya, however, noted that the university continues to face major deficits that hinder its operations.
He listed pressing challenges such as inadequate staff housing, limited hostel accommodation, rising energy costs, and a long-standing freeze on staff recruitment.
“We still grapple with acute infrastructural gaps, limited staff housing, inadequate hostels for students, and rising energy costs. Our capacity to recruit new academic and non-academic staff has been greatly hampered since 2018. The university has not been able to meet the minimum staffing requirements stipulated by the NUC, even as student enrolment continues to grow”
He called on the Federal Government and stakeholders to correct what he described as a historical injustice by providing deliberate funding support as the university marks its 50th year.
“UNIJOS deserves to be treated equitably. If after 50 years we are still reminding the nation that we never got a take-off grant, then we must collectively rise to correct that historical omission.
“A deliberate funding intervention at this stage would not only be fair but strategic in unlocking our next phase of growth”. the Vice-Chancellor emphasized.
Also speaking during the anniversary event, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, commended the university’s enduring legacy and called on alumni to give back meaningfully to sustain its future.
“The university has shaped countless lives. This milestone should challenge all of us alumni, leaders, and policymakers to sustain its legacy through meaningful contributions”, Dogara said.
As part of activities marking its golden jubilee, the University management announced plans to establish new Centres of Excellence in Sports and Artificial Intelligence — a step aimed at repositioning UNIJOS for greater relevance in the years ahead.
