By Polycarp Auta
THE VICE Chancellor of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Prof. Tanko Ishaya, has decried the paucity of hostel accommodation for students within the campus.
Ishaya said this when members of set 1988 of the Faculty of Law of the university visited him on Saturday in Jos.
Ishaya, who said that the university currently has over 45,000 students, also noted that it was unfortunate that most of them find it difficult to have access to hostel accommodation.
“As we speak, only seven per cent of our students live within the campus against the global standard of 40 per cent. This is due to shortage of hostel accommodation. So, over 90 per cent of students live off campus.
“We are making efforts to address this concern through public-private partnership,” he said
The vice chancellor also said the university’s electricity bill had skyrocketed to over N80 million per month.
He, however, said that efforts were also in place to develop a solar farm to generate power that would serve the institution and its host community.
Tanko told the former law students that the university currently runs 78 fully accredited academic programmes in 17 faculties.
Speaking, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, a member of the class, promised continued support for the progress of the institution.
Mutfwang, represented by Mr Rauta Dakok, the immediate past Head of Service of the state, also thanked the management of the university for sustaining higher academic standards in the institution.
Earlier, the leader of the class, Emeka Etieba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said that members of the class were in Jos to observe their annual reunion.
He added that the visit to the university was to ascertain the challenges currently confronting the institution to enable members of the class to make informed decision toward an intervention. (NAN)
