Unijos to Host NUGA Games in April and May 2025

UNIJOS TO HOST NUGA GAMES IN APRIL AND MAY 2025

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the 15th Governing Council of the University of Jos, Senator Grace Folashade Bent has informed the Plateau State Government that the forthcoming Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) competition being hosted by the University will hold between April and May 2025. Senator Bent believes the NUGA festival will not only be beneficial to UNIJOS, but also to Plateau State, as the event will boost the State’s revenue and open up more investment opportunities.

The Pro-Chancellor stated this when she led other members of the Council and Principal Officers of the University including the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya on a courtesy visit to the Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang at the Old Government House, Rayfield.

Explaining the reason for the visit, Senator Bent said it is customary for members of the University’s new Governing Council to inform the Governor about any change in the institution’s highest decision making body. According to Senator Bent, there was need to also intimate him of some pressing challenges confronting the University which requires the State Government’s timely intervention to address. She enumerated some of the challenges to include encroachment into University land by trespassers, insecurity and theft as well as the hike in electricity tariff by the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) which has led to the disconnection of power supply to the University.

The Pro-Chancellor stressed the need to fast track the processes for approving the land title documents for the University’s Farm in Gangnim, Langtang South Local Government Area, which boasts about 500 hectares of land meant for large scale mechanized farming, intensive Agricultural production and Biotechnology practice that would ensure Plateau State has enough food to feed its citizens and even the whole nation. While appreciating Plateau State Government for various donations it has made to the University, most recently the donation of the Dental Chairs in the Department of Dentistry at the College of Health Sciences, the Pro-Chancellor called on the Governor to assist the University recover the institution's land being encroached upon by usurpers.

Responding, Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang represented by the Deputy Governor, Ngo Josephine Pio, pledged to look into all concerns raised by the Council Chairman with a view to proffering solutions, assuring that his administration will work with the relevant bodies to address the challenges confronting the University of Jos.

On the issue of the University land title documents, the Governor said, the Ministry of Lands and Survey will work closely with the University to speed up the processes so that approval would be granted while also taking appropriate action to recover the encroached land belonging to the University.

Governor Mutfwang, while congratulating the Pro-Chancellor and members of the Governing Council on their appointment by the Federal Government, challenged Senator Bent, who is the first female Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council in the University’s history, to use her motherly experience to turn around the fortunes of the institution, adding that the University has brought international presence to the State which must be sustained.

The State Chief Executive noted that as a proud Alumnus of the University, he will do his utmost to ensure a conducive atmosphere is created for the University’s academic enterprise to thrive, thereby encouraging the Students to excel in their studies and contribute towards national development.

The Governor appreciated members of the Governing Council for the visit and wished them a successful tenure in the University even as he wished the University glorious and remarkable achievements in the years ahead. 

* Report by Isaac Uzer, Information and Publications Division