By Chuwang Dungs
UNIJOS AT 50 – Dec 12, 2025
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Prof. Tanko Ishaya, has said the university’s 50th anniversary is a celebration of resilience and a reminder of the long-running challenges that continue to slow its progress.
Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the 35th and 36th combined convocation ceremonies billed for December 12–13, the VC noted that UNIJOS is the only second-generation university that did not receive a take-off grant when it was established. He said the omission created a foundation of difficulty the institution is still battling to overcome.
Despite this, the VC said the university has grown from four faculties to 17, now running 93 academic programmes, with 60,000 graduands set to receive certificates and degrees during this year’s convocation.
Prof. Ishaya listed several achievements under his leadership. UNIJOS recently made the list of Nigeria’s top 10 universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education World Ranking, placing in the 1201–1500 global category.
He also revealed that the institution was selected as one of Nigeria’s six Technology Centres of Excellence, with a mandate to drive innovation in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.
The VC further highlighted the ₦4 billion TETFund Special High Impact Project, a solar hybrid power system, and 430 solar-powered streetlights installed under the Energizing Education Programme. He also noted that UNIJOS successfully hosted the 27th Nigerian University Games, finishing with the highest medal haul.
According to him, a new Sports Institute is in the pipeline and will offer more than ten programmes, including Sports Medicine and Sports Journalism.
Despite the gains, Ishaya said the institution still faces “deep structural problems.” He noted that the university’s growth has not been matched with the recruitment of adequate academic and non-academic staff.
“We are expanding but cannot hire enough personnel. This affects morale, increases workload and threatens our accreditation,” he explained.
He also listed rising energy bills, land encroachment, and illegal mining activities as threats to campus safety and operations. According to him, recurring crises in Jos have repeatedly disrupted academic life and slowed development projects.
With his tenure nearing its end, the VC appealed to alumni, government agencies, development partners and the private sector to support the repositioning of UNIJOS.
“Our journey has been one of rising above adversity,” he said. “But going forward, resilience alone is not enough. We need accountability, sustained investment and shared responsibility to secure the future of this university.”
