University of Jos

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The Department of Business Administration has undergone some metamorphosis over the years. It was initially known as the Department of Management Studies, later the Department of Accounting and Management Sciences and now the Department of Business Administration. Although the University of Jos Senate gave formal recognition to the separation of the Departments of Accounting and Management Sciences in 2004 and took up formally in August, 2004. After the separation, the Department was called Management Sciences.
Since the separation in 2004, the following staff headed the Department:
a. Professor Sebastian S. Maimako 2004 – 2006
b. Professor Teresa M. Nmadu 2006 – 2008
c. Professor Sebastian S. Maimako 2008 – 2015
d. Dr. Meshach G. Goyit 2015 - Date
With the creation of the Faculty of Management Sciences in December, 2010, the Department was renamed as Business Administration.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
The goal of the Department of Business Administration is to inform, instruct and inspire students to the greatest heights in a challenging and integrating business world system. To say today's world is competitive is to state the obvious. To develop managers who think and act strategically and take advantage of the vast opportunities and many potential rewards is what the Department has developed in its course offerings at the undergraduate level. Our undergraduate programme career's cutting edge contains important concepts and practice of modern management, taking cognisance of the local, national and international environment. The Department prepares middle level managers to manage businesses in an increasingly competitive environment.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

Although the undergraduate course contains a strong vocational element, it is designed to give a broad educational foundation for Management Executives and to train students in functional areas of business. This involves giving all students a sound knowledge in the elements and concepts of relevant academic disciplines and teaching them how to apply these to the study of problems related to management of organizations. As the course proceeds, however, the student has an opportunity to focus his/her interest towards particular aspects of business activity, such as production, marketing, personnel and general management. The aim is to give the student an area of particular interest where by his/her future study of various disciplines and techniques of management becomes more effectively integrated by applying them to a wide range of problems. The course is not, however, designed with any particular professional examination in view.
The first three years of the course are common to all students. Individual choice of subjects needs not be fully made in any particular area of interest until students are approaching their final year. The philosophy is that, general concepts of management should come first; these are then tested by use of case studies and experiences which have been collected as far as possible in Nigeria. The students are encouraged to take electives from the other related areas and Departments so as to broaden their exposure and scope.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE

The general philosophy of the Undergraduate Business Administration Programme has the following aims and specific objectives:

AIMS:
i. To provide the students with a broad-based intellectual foundation for understanding and analyzing problems related to the Management of/and Administration of Industrial, Commercial, Public and other human organizations.
ii. To equip the students with the skills required for recognizing and defining problems and critically evaluating them particularly as they relate to business operations in both private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy.
iii. To develop in the students the capacity for appropriate business decision making using scientific techniques and tools.
iv. To inculcate in the students an awareness of and sensitivity to environmental factors and conditions and their impact of managerial administrative practice.
v. To develop leadership and interpersonal relation skills needed to work in an organization as well as groom people who are worthy citizens of a wider society.

OBJECTIVES
It is intended that, at the end of the course, successful graduates should be able to:
a. Take up middle level management positions in the private and public sectors and make an effective contribution to the organization.
b. Manage in changing situations whether environmental or internal with due considerations of the cost element.
c. Diagnose problem situations, and produce practical workable solutions within the boundary of the objectives and policies of the organizations and of the constraints of the environment.
d. Play entrepreneurial roles as the economy dictates.