By Egbe Attah, Otukpo
The first retreat for the pioneer staff of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo Benue State, has ended with the participants commending President Muhammadu Buhari for restoring the institution, earlier suspended and Governor Samuel Ortom for releasing the General Hospital, Otukpo as a temporary teaching hospital of the university as well as all other persons involved in the establishment of the institution.
In a communique issued at the end of the retreat held recently on the temporary campus of the university at Otada – Otukpo, the participants advised the principal officers and management of the institution on the need to understand the true nature of the demands for pioneering a university, especially at the take off stage and be emboldened as pacesetters to confront such challenges.
They urged the management of the school to see intergrity beyond its ordinary meaning of probity and accountability to include a system that allows all the key players to work as a team, in order to realise the dream of the university, adding that, since the students are the main focus in establishing the university, in all undertakings, the university and the government should make sure their welfare and interest are given high priority.
The two – day retreat with the theme : “Emboldening the Pioneer Staff for Effective Take-off of the University” noted the importance of ICT in global ranking and competitiveness, calling on the government to ensure adquate provision of ICT facilities, as well as an enabling environment for training and retraining of relevant manpower to enhance service delivery in the university.
The communique observed the need for the new university to be anchored on the culture of excellence which should be reflected in the strategic plan of the institution. It advised that the school bursary and officers should operate strictly within the ambit of the extant financial regulations.
The participants further advised the management of the university not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring the security of lives and property on the campus, stressing that there is need for the management to continue to organise similar retreat and staff training programmes to keep them abreast with knowledge of university best practices.
They among other things, emphasised the need to develop policy guideline for various university operations and further urged the university to adopt global best practices for improved internal generated revenue by adopting public-private partnership policy.
During the retreat, 11 papers were presented by reknowned scholars and experienced resource persons on topical issues of global best practices in university administration, governance, sustainable findings and emerging technologies.
Those who attended the retreat included the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Innocent Ujah, and the Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Mallam Aminu Abba. Others were Professors Yakubu Ochefu, David Ker, Barrister Cecilia Ohemu and Dr Qrisstuberg Amua.
