… Threatens withdrawal of certificates of such persons
By Faith Igbudu
Vice Chancellor, Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, Prof. Tor Iorapuu, has warned that the institution will no longer be lenient with those insulting the university as it has put in place measures to withdraw the certificates of such persons.
Iorapuu gave the warning recently at the 18th-21st convocation lecture of the institution at the university premises. The lecture was held in honour of the pioneer visitor of the university, the late Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu.
“Going forward we will continue to recognize and applaud our staff and students who are excelling in their endeavors of life. For those who are insulting the university and putting the university in bad light, we will invoke the law and withdraw their certificates as appropriate,” he said.
Iorapuu commended the guest lecturer, who is a pioneer student of the institution and Dean of Students Affairs at the Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Prof. Terhemba Wuam, for representing the university well.
In his lecture, Professor Wuam, called on the university community in Nigeria to assume its social responsibility as the agent of intellectual, scientific and technically advancement.
Speaking on the topic: “Enhancing change and building resilience through innovation: The role of universities”, the don said the Nigerian university is becoming narrow minded and advised that they should emulate their global peers across the world and the impact they are making on their communities and learn from them.
While commending BSU for being instrumental in advancing development in the state, he said: “Nigerian universities, especially Benue State University, in the quest for a more durable and advanced Benue, national society must embrace change and be resilient in being at the forefront of innovation that would see the state go above and beyond whatever national average exists.
To this end, “University management and academics must appraise whether the old ways of doing things can still generate the expected results. If not, you have to be innovative in campus management, teaching approaches and the use of technology to raise funds for operations. There is a need for more flexibility and responsiveness to adapting global best practices for Nigerian institutions.”
Wuam commended the late Adasu, saying he was a committed leader and servant of the people.
According to him, “The lesson, in the final analysis, is this, if people who know about governance get into power, and are committed and decide to work and put the state first, and follow the Adasu example and stay home to work, the state will certainly be heading in the right direction faster. And BSU, Adasu’s legacy of science to liberate the people, can make progress even faster.”
Highlight of the day was the presentation of awards to some actors who have played different roles in the advancement of education in the state. Among whom were the late Prof Armstrong Adejo, Paul Edeh Esq, Terwase Swande, Mukhtar Galadima and the university registrar and Dr Mfaga Modom and others.
Earlier, a statue of the pioneer visitor of the institution, the late Rev Fr. Moses Adasu was unveiled at the first campus while that of the first civilian governor of Benue State, Aper Aku was unveiled at the second campus of the university.