AfriPulse
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved major federal interventions for the University of Jos (UNIJOS), including the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity, as part of efforts to reposition Nigerian universities for a technology-driven future.
The President announced the interventions at the University’s 35th and 36th combined convocation ceremonies and 50th anniversary celebration in Jos. He was represented at the event by the Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Professor Ibrahim Garba Hassan.
Tinubu said the University of Jos was selected as one of ten universities nationwide to host the specialised Centre of Excellence in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s digital future.
“This Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity will strengthen research, innovation and skills development, while preparing our young people to respond effectively to emerging digital challenges and global technological demands,” he said.
The President further disclosed that the University has benefited from a ₦4 billion TETFund Special High Impact Intervention targeted at expanding the training capacity of medical professionals. He also listed the ICT-DEV Project funded by the French Development Agency and the inclusion of the institution in Phase VI of the Energising Education Programme among recent federal interventions.
According to him, the renewable energy project under the Energising Education Programme would reduce operational costs and improve learning conditions, creating an environment where teaching, learning and research can thrive sustainably.
Placing the interventions within a broader national framework, Tinubu reaffirmed that education remains central to the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the Federal Government allocated ₦3.5 trillion to the education sector in the 2025 budget. While acknowledging challenges facing Nigerian universities, he said his administration remained committed to reforms in funding, digital transformation and skills-based learning.
He stressed that national development is impossible without skilled citizens and leaders of integrity, and urged graduating students to deploy their knowledge and character in the service of the country.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of the University, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau, described a recent loss of students as a painful development that cast a shadow over the celebrations. He offered prayers for the departed and urged the University community to remain united and resilient.
Reflecting on the institution’s journey, Bamalli said the University of Jos has grown into an institution of high repute, producing graduates who have contributed significantly to national development. He appealed for urgent attention to lingering challenges, including the absence of a take-off grant, land encroachment and security concerns.
Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Governing Council, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, said the University has expanded from a modest beginning to a major federal institution with 17 faculties, over 100 academic programmes and a student population exceeding 40,000.
She said the Golden Jubilee coincided with notable institutional milestones, including the successful hosting of the largest Nigerian University Games Association competition in the event’s history.
Bent added that the University’s rising profile has attracted strong alumni support and international recognition, with UNIJOS ranked among the top ten universities in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Tanko Ishaya, described the combined convocation and Golden Jubilee as both a celebration of progress and a moment of reflection on the institution’s national mandate. He disclosed that the University has produced about 60,000 graduates over the past five decades, including 9,236 diploma holders, 37,741 first-degree recipients and 13,023 postgraduate graduates.
“Over the past fifty years, the University of Jos has evolved from a modest campus into a globally recognised centre of learning, research and innovation,” Ishaya said, adding that the institution has introduced 18 new programmes in areas including data science, cybersecurity, software engineering and forensic science.
The event also featured the conferment of honorary degrees on distinguished Nigerians, as the University marked its Golden Jubilee with renewed calls for excellence, innovation and service.
Source: NationalAccordNewspaper | Read the Full Story…
