Celebrating a legacy: University of Jos at 50

BY SHAMAKI PETER

In the heart of Plateau State, Nigeria, a vision was born through the efforts of visionary leaders through sweat, struggle, and perseverance.

That vision became a reality in 1975 when the University of Jos first opened its doors for academic activities. It was not a stroke of luck or a moment of chance. It was the result of genuine, persistent effort, a commitment by pioneers who believed in the power of education to transform lives and blossomed into a mighty institution.

Fifty years is not just a number; it is a story—a story of resilience, growth, triumphs, and trials, a dream nurtured by men and women who believed in the power of education. This University has produced leaders in government, business, and politics, pioneers in science, icons in the arts, and countless men and women who have carried the values of Unijos into the wider world.

Today, we honor those who laid the foundations and those who sustained this institution through the decades.

As our great University turns 50, a golden jubilee, what better time to roll out the red carpets, beat the drums, and dance to the rhythms of our shared history? This milestone deserves celebration, not just in grandeur but in gratitude.

As we reflect on this milestone , we must be deliberate on the future of the institution. The next 50 years of the University of Jos will be defined by what its alumni and friends choose to do today. The University is more than its classrooms, lecture halls, or building. It is us, the great minds the institution produced. The future of this great citadel of learning rests in our hands.

The alumni, are living testaments to what the University produced. But beyond celebrating what we have become, we must give back to ensure that future generations have greater opportunities. Unijos needs us, our voices, expertise, networks, and resources.

Let us support the University by:

Investing in infrastructure and facilities to ensure students and lecturers can learn and teach in a safe, conducive environment.

Providing scholarships and endowments so no child is denied the right to education due to financial challenges.

Partnerships with government at all levels, private individuals, and global institutions to position Unijos as a hub of excellence and research, not just in Nigeria but across Africa and the world.

Support the management to ensure hostels and lecture halls are built, laboratory equipped, scholarships awarded, and opportunity created to benefit generations yet unborn.

That is the legacy we can build.

As we celebrate 50 years of greatness, it becomes imperative to call on all to attend and participate in the lecture, organized by the alumni in collaboration with the Department of Sociology, on “Violence and Insecurity in Central Nigeria: Nature, Causes, Policy Responses, and Remedies for Sustainable Peace and Development” schedule for Monday 22nd September alongside other activities outlined for this week.

May the University of Jos continue to rise, inspire, and transform lives in the next 50 years and beyond.