UNIJOS Secures 250 Million Naira Infrastructure Grant

University of Jos (UNIJOS) Secures 250 Million Naira Infrastructure Grant

University of Jos has secured a 250 Million Naira grant from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) under the Initiative’s Africa Tertiary Education Grants Scheme. The Scheme is part of ASR Africa’s intervention towards undertaking infrastructure projects in Universities and Institutions of Higher Learning across Nigeria.

Presenting the Grant documents to Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya in his office in Abuja, Managing Director of ASR Africa, Dr Ubong Udoh said the University is one of the thirty beneficiary institutions in Nigeria that were chosen based on a list of carefully selected criteria. According to Dr Udoh, such criteria include the institution’s ranking and visibility as well as the vision of its leadership and praised the leadership qualities of Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya whom he said has injected a greater sense of synergy and enterprise since assuming the reins of leadership in the University.

The Managing Director explained that Chairman of ASR Africa and the BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu considers Education as pivotal to the national development which he why he is investing over Seven Billion Naira to reinvigorate the sector. Dr Udoh said other areas of intervention that form the core mandate of ASR Africa are Health and Social Development and disclosed that the next phase of the Scheme’s implementation process is the Project selection as well as developing of mutual accountability frameworks with the respective institutions.

He stressed that the Grant is not a cash award to the institutions but consists of funding of any infrastructural project in the institution worth 250 Million Naira which would be completed and put into full functionality within three months of commencement.

The Managing Director praised University of Jos for what he describes as its bold and futuristic proposal to use the Grant to develop its sports facilities thus keying into the Federal Government’s new Policy focus for Sports to be operated as a business enterprise rather than solely for recreation.

Also contributing, Multilateral Coordination Specialist, ASR Africa, Nakama Keri disclosed that the organization collaborates with partners who provide specialized services including Laboratory equipment which will be made available to the University. He confirmed that efforts are also being intensified to secure a funding intervention for sponsoring Academics to acquire Masters and Doctorate Degrees in addition to creating a programme for funding Academic Research activities.

Receiving the Grant documents from the ASR Africa helmsman, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya said the University has a lot of needs because of its infrastructural deficit but Management decided to prioritize the development of the University’s Sports facilities due to the upcoming National Universities Games Association (NUGA) Sports festival to be hosted by the University in 2024.

The Vice-Chancellor assured that in keeping faith with the bold declaration that the University will host the best ever NUGA Sports festival in the Games’ history, the University has aggressively commenced preparations by entering into partnerships with a wide range of public-spirited organizations and institutions to develop its Sports facilities and infrastructure.  According to Professor Tanko, the essence of hosting the NUGA Sports Festival in UNIJOS is not just as a jamboree but as part of the strategy to turn the University into a Sports hub in Nigeria.

The Vice-Chancellor observed that the unique weather and scenic beauty of Jos is highly conducive for organizing international Sports competitions which is why the University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Sports University in South Korea to develop a comprehensive Sports programme that will harness the talents that abound across the Country in the various fields of Sports. He revealed that the University of Jos has already designed a Sports Curriculum that will be jointly implemented by the two Universities with a provision for Exchange Programmes and Capacity Building initiatives in Sports Medicine, Sports Marketing, Sports Journalism, Sports Psychology, Sports Data Analysis among others, for both Staff and Students.

Professor Tanko said although the University plans to build an Ultramodern Sports Complex ahead of the NUGA Sports Festival, the funding being sought from ASR Africa is to enable the University develop Outdoor and Indoor Courts to host games such as Basketball, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Lawn Tennis as well as an Olympic Size Swimming Pool. He appreciated ASR Africa and its Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu for identifying with the University and assured that UNIJOS has a sustainable plan in place that will make every kobo invested in the project worthwhile, mutually beneficial and socially impactful.

MySchoolNews reporting