PLASU needs N8 billion for infrastructural development and over 340 new staff – VC

The Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos requires N8 billion to meet its infrastructural needs as a young institution, according to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Doknan Sheni

Sheni, in his speech at the school’s first convocation, said that the institution was also in dire need of 344 workers to meet its mandate of delivering quality education.

The Vice Chancellor said that the 12-year-old school was still lacking a befitting senate building, faculty buildings, lecturers’ offices, class rooms, roads, among other challenges.

“The university needs to grow and expand, but its challenges are massive; there is an urgent need to complete ongoing projects and recruit key staff before the next accreditation visit because only two, out of the university’s 17 programmes, have full accreditation,” he said.

The VC, who expressed happiness that the school was, at last, holding a convocation after 12 years, thanked Governor Simon Lalong for the support that made that possible.

“We remain committed to raising the university to a world standard institution; we want to assure our stakeholders, founders and supporters that this school will make them proud,” he said.

Of the 334 students graduating, Sheni said that three had First Class, 146 had 2^nd Class Upper, while 174 and 11 came out with 2^nd Class Lower and Third Class divisions respectively.

In his speech, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, expressed happiness that the institution was graduating its first set after a “very long and tortuous journey’’

“We are here today by the grace of God; PLASU is a young university with great potential, unfortunately its growth was blocked and almost stunted by reckless executive interference; happily, those shackles have been removed, ’’ Jega said.

Jega, former INEC boss, challenged the graduates to put the education acquired into good use, and stressed the need to put service to the nation above any other consideration.