Plateau state university set to host 2018 NUFAT

By Golok Nanmwa, Jos

Plateau State University, Bokkos is set to host the 2018 edition of Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Festival (NUFAT), following the assurance given by the Vice Chancellor Professor Yohana Daniel Izam to support the Theatre Arts Department of the institution towards the successful hosting of the festival which has as its theme ‘’ Connecting Bridges’’

This was contained in a statement signed by  John  Agam , the Public Relations Officer of the institution and made available to newsmen in Jos .

Professor Izam gave his blessings shortly after watching a dance performance by the Theatre Arts students, at the Open Air Theatre to honour him on his new appointment.

Professor Izam said “I think with what I saw on stage today, the PLASU brand can compete favourably anywhere in the world.  Again, we have seen through the theatrical performance, the importance of unity and when we have unity in PLASU, we will have unity in the Plateau state, Nigeria and the world at large because Plateau State University represents the universe.”

The Vice Chancellor therefore urged the management, staff and students of the University to imbibe the spirit of unity and shun things that will divide them stressing that without unity of purpose there can’t be meaningful progress and as such all hands must be on deck to move the University to higher heights.

He restated his determination to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors to make the institution a centre of academic excellencenot only in the State, Nigeria but in the world.

Professor Izam who assumed office last month as the fourth Vice Chancellor said since his assumption of office a lot of friends, well wishers, institutions and organizations had presented him with congratulatory cards but said the theatrical performance by the Theatre Arts Department was the best of all and assured the department of his readiness to support it to excel.

He then directed the Dean of Faculty of Arts, Associate Professor Thomas V. Anpe and the Head of Department of Theatre Arts, Dr. Edward S. Ossai to document the needs of the Department and submit same to him for consideration.

Meanwhile, Professor Anpe in his welcoming remarks stressed the importance of the 2018 edition of NUFAT saying that about 25 students and lecturers from 26 participating Universities are expected in the University for the Festivaland that Plateau State University will be the first state University to host the festival since its inception in the 1980s.

Anpe said the festival will provide opportunity for undergraduate students of Theatre Arts to showcase their performative talents in an intellectually stimulating environment under the guidance of tested academics and professionals in the performing arts industry and solicits the University management’s to collaboration to create an enabling environment for the success of the festival.

 He disclosed that the event aims at dramatizing and celebrating cultural rejuvenation, healthy competition, social engineering, and national re-birth to promote love, peace, unity of purpose and the collapse of ethnic barriers and stereotypes.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Head of Department, Theatre Arts, Dr. Edward S. Ossai listed some of the needs and challenges of the department to include; lack of lecture room, dressing rooms, light and lighting room and water among other things.

count | 187

Plateau state university set to host 2018 NUFAT