President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated that national development is impossible without skilled citizens and leaders of integrity, noting that this is why the government is deliberately investing in education, digital skills, research capacity, and institutional autonomy.

The President said the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration places education at the heart of economic and social renewal, linking learning to job creation, poverty reduction, democratic stability, and national security.

Speaking at the 34th graduation ceremony of the University of Jos, President Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Professor Ibrahim Garba Hassan, highlighted that the administration is proactively addressing challenges facing the education sector through digital transformation, curriculum reforms, research development, skills-based learning, and improved funding mechanisms.

According to him, the government has prioritised improving the quality of education across all levels through school renovations, teacher training and retraining, and the provision of modern teaching and learning facilities. He added that significant investments have also been made in Technical and Vocational Education and Training centres to equip youths with employable and entrepreneurial skills.

“With specific reference to the University of Jos, the Federal Government has provided resources through interventions, special grants, and other support mechanisms to improve teaching and learning conditions.

“Notably, UNIJOS was selected as one of ten universities to host a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Forensics, and Cybersecurity, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. This centre will strengthen research, innovation, and skills development in response to emerging digital challenges.”

He commended the University for successfully hosting the 27th edition of the Nigerian University Games Association competition, which involved about 100 universities nationwide, stressing that Federal Government agencies, including TETFund, played a key role in supporting the success.

In her address, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of Council, University of Jos, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, disclosed that in 2025, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings listed UNIJOS among the top ten universities in Nigeria, adding that the achievement reflects the University’s sustained commitment to quality education, expanding research impact, growing global visibility, and the steadfast leadership of management and staff.

The Pro-Chancellor charged the graduands to go into the world with pride as ambassadors of the University of Jos—an institution that has stood for fifty years as a beacon of knowledge, peace, strength, and hope.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Tanko Ishaya, said that over the past five decades, the University of Jos has evolved from a modest campus into a globally recognised centre of learning, research, and innovation.

He pointed out that Its achievements include world-class research in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, arts and humanities, law, natural sciences, engineering, security studies, artificial intelligence, and ICT. He added that alumni of the University serve with distinction as governors, judges, diplomats, ministers, legislators, captains of industry, academics, and innovators across the world.

According to him, the University has also provided national leadership in peacebuilding, electoral reforms, community engagement, and inter-ethnic harmony. He noted that growth in infrastructure includes the new Sports Complex, Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dental Sciences and Computing, the Central Research Laboratory, ICT Centre, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and modernised student hostels.

“This year alone, we introduced eighteen new undergraduate programmes, including Data Science, Cyber Security, Software Engineering, Forensic Science, Radiography, Physiotherapy, Pharmacology, Entrepreneurship, and Social Work. Our Golden Jubilee is therefore not merely a celebration of time, but of impact, ideas, people, and national relevance.”

On the graduation statistics, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that a total of 60,000 graduands were produced, comprising 9,236 diploma recipients, 37,741 first degree holders, and 13,023 postgraduate graduates. (Sunday Tribune)

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