The Vice-Chancellor of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM), Engr. Prof. Isaac N. Itodo, has highlighted the physical development projects and interventions recorded across the institution under his administration, saying his four-year tenure will be judged by tangible achievements and accountability.

Prof. Itodo made this known while presenting an overview of infrastructure and other development interventions carried out across the university. He described the projects as verifiable evidence of his administration’s commitment to transforming JOSTUM into a modern university capable of competing with institutions nationally and internationally.

The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and appreciated the contributions of the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, to the development of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

He also expressed appreciation to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Dr. Joy Ifeyinwa Emodi, CON, members of the Governing Council, Principal Officers, staff, students and the entire JOSTUM community for their contributions to the university’s development.

Engr. Prof. I. N. Itodo: My International Exposure Shaped My Vision for JOSTUM

According to the Vice-Chancellor, his exposure to universities and other institutions of higher learning in 24 countries has given him a broader understanding of what a modern university should look like.

He said his experiences abroad exposed him to institutions where infrastructure, aesthetics, security, teaching, learning, research, innovation and academic excellence work together to create an effective university environment.

Prof. Itodo explained that these experiences strengthened his determination to transform JOSTUM, formerly known as the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, into an institution capable of meeting contemporary standards.

He stressed that the development initiatives being implemented at JOSTUM were not designed merely for publicity, but were physical interventions that could be verified across different locations on the university campus.

64 Projects and Interventions Identified and Verified

The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that 64 projects and interventions had been identified and verified across the university.

The projects comprise 21 new signposts, 25 renovation interventions, 12 completed projects and six ongoing projects.

According to him, the 21 new signposts were installed at strategic locations across the university to improve navigation, visibility and the overall aesthetics of the campus.

He noted that the signposts earlier displayed on his official social media platforms represented only preliminary interventions and were part of a broader development agenda being implemented across the university.

Development Across 20 University Locations

The official verification exercise, according to Prof. Itodo, covered 20 locations across JOSTUM.

The locations included the university’s main gate, South Core, Middle Core, North Core, colleges, student hostels, Security Department, University Clinic, Library, Administrative Block, Aper Aku Auditorium and the College of Animal Science.

The Vice-Chancellor said the physical interventions demonstrate that development under his administration has extended beyond individual buildings to cover several aspects of university life.

These include academic facilities, student and staff facilities, security, roads, research infrastructure, parking spaces, technology, entrepreneurship and campus aesthetics.

He maintained that the overall objective was to improve the functionality of the university while creating an environment conducive to teaching, learning, research and innovation.

“Structures Are the First Footprint of an Engineer Vice-Chancellor”

Prof. Itodo also linked the emphasis on infrastructure to his professional background as an engineer.

He argued that physical structures provide an important foundation for teaching, research, innovation, administration and institutional development.

According to him, the buildings and other infrastructure across JOSTUM should therefore not be viewed merely as physical structures but as manifestations of vision, purposeful leadership and accountability.

He said his administration had deliberately pursued projects capable of providing lasting value to the university community.

Infrastructure, Security and Student Welfare

Beyond construction and renovation, the Vice-Chancellor said his administration had also focused on improving security, student welfare, transportation, technology and entrepreneurship.

He explained that the development agenda was designed to address multiple areas that contribute to the effective operation of a modern university.

The initiatives, he said, were intended to position JOSTUM for sustainable growth while improving the experience of students, staff and other members of the university community.

“What Did You Do With the Opportunity You Were Given?”

Reflecting on leadership and public service, Prof. Itodo said every leader would ultimately have to account for how opportunities entrusted to them were utilised.

He stated that while everyone would ultimately give an account of their lives before God, his own service as Vice-Chancellor would also be accountable to the JOSTUM community through the accomplishments recorded during his four-year tenure.

The Vice-Chancellor said he did not want his administration to be remembered simply for speeches, promises or intentions.

Instead, he challenged the university community to judge his tenure through the projects and interventions that had been delivered.

“Let the structures speak. Let the projects speak. Let the renovated facilities speak. Let the completed projects speak. Let the ongoing projects speak. Let the University community speak,” he said.

JOSTUM Transformation Continues

Despite the achievements recorded so far, Prof. Itodo acknowledged that more work remains to be done.

He said the transformation of JOSTUM is an ongoing process and expressed confidence that continued development would help create a university that future generations of students and stakeholders would inherit with pride.

He reiterated his belief that JOSTUM should not merely aspire to be “good enough”, but should develop into an institution capable of competing with leading universities in Nigeria and around the world.

The Vice-Chancellor also thanked the Governing Council, Principal Officers, staff, students, contractors, development partners and other stakeholders who contributed to the projects and interventions.

He described JOSTUM as a shared legacy belonging to the entire university community.

Prof. Itodo concluded by emphasising that genuine leadership should be accompanied by accountability and measurable performance.

For the JOSTUM Vice-Chancellor, the projects recorded during his tenure are intended to serve as physical evidence of the trust placed in his administration.

“When performance is backed up by accountability, there is nothing to hide,” he stated.

PROJECTS GALLERY BELOW