By BLESSING OKON AND MARGARET EBULE
Challenges of life are never-ending and there is a limit to what one’s capacity can deliver. Persistence and sacrifice made always prevail, rewarding brilliant performance with success. This was the central theme at the courtesy visit paid to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor on Wednesday, 9th June at the Conference Room in the Administrative Block, Naraguta Campus, University of Jos.
“You are a gift to us as a University, you are a gift to the State you come from, you are a gift to the entire Country of ours…” said Dr. Godfrey Danaan, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Jos while delivering his speech on behalf of the Department during the courtesy visit. He expressed sincere gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Seddi Sebastian Maimako, for the commitment and support shown towards the development of the Department of Mass Communication.
While speaking, Dr. Danaan thanked the Vice-Chancellor for granting the department audience despite the short notice for the visit and his busy schedule. He stated that the benefits derived from his administration are not easy to enumerate and prayed that the Lord will reward the Vice-Chancellor for his labour of love: “we know you are leaving well sir,” he said.
Further speaking, Dr. Danaan expressed joy over the vast development the University has witnessed under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor’s administration, stating that the University Community is proud of the newness the administration has brought and prayed that the new team of administrators will take the development of the institution farther.
“We have noticed you, sir,” he said while commending the Vice-Chancellor for the impact made to the University Community, stating that despite his humility, the people of the University of Jos Community have noticed him and are in awe of his miraculous works. “Sir, your name has changed. Some people call you ‘Maitamako’ while others call you ‘Maikokeri’ because of what you have done. You are too noticeable to be ignored,” he added.
Dr. Danaan concluded his speech by stating the newfound challenges facing the Department at the Faculty of Social Science they moved to and pleaded with the Vice-Chancellor to intervene in the situation before he steps down from office. “Sir, we thank you again for the miracle of our proposed faculty,” he concluded while requesting the Vice-Chancellor to project the proposed construction of the faculty to the incoming Vice-Chancellor. It could be recalled that the Department of Mass Communication, University of Jos was approved sometime in 2020 to be a stand-alone faculty and a proposed site had been awarded in that regard.
Despite the humorous and touching speech delivered by Dr. Danaan, the seriousness of the courtesy visit was not dampened.
In response to the speech delivered by Dr. Danaan, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Seddi Sabastine Maimako began by greeting the people in place, stating that he had the privilege of working with various grandfathers and past H.O.Ds of Mass Communication: Prof. Augustine Enahoro, Prof. Victor Aluma, Prof. Christiana Best, Prof. Sarah Lwahas, Dr. Taye Obateru and Dr. Godfrey Danaan.
The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the Department for their timely visit, stating that the pressure from the Department’s HoD prevailed over his busy schedule, as he had just received Mr. Abdul Mahmud, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and his entourage. “I am more than happy with the visit,” he added as he expressed joy over the courtesy visit.
Speaking further, the Vice-Chancellor commended the Department for its excellent performance. He said that the Department was rewarded based on their performance in the Faculty of Arts and also based on the motto of his administration: “performance, prosperity and happiness.”
Addressing the challenges facing the department at the new Faculty of Social Sciences, he promised to look into the issue. He also encouraged the Department to be patient and make use of the facilities at the Faculty of Social Sciences pending when the Department’s exclusive Faculty will be built as the proposed site had been mapped out and approved, saying that since the seed has been sown, it will germinate and grow. He added that the administration had its challenges and limitations, but they overcame them: “we may have our limitations, but sacrifices will always prevail.”
On the issue of the incessant killings and insecurities, he encouraged everyone to be careful, watchful and prayerful. He sympathized with two of the Department’s lecturers over the loss of their car and house respectively to the current security challenge and thanked God that no soul was lost.
Before the meeting was concluded, a gift of acknowledgement was presented to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. S.S. Maimako by Dr. Danaan, Prof. Enahoro and Associate Prof. Lwahas on behalf of the Department of Mass Communication.
The courtesy visit had in attendance the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Tanko Ishaya, the Executive Registrar, Mr. Monday M. Danjem, the Deputy Registrar, Mr. Abdullahi Abdullahi, Dr. Godfrey Danaan (H.O.D, Department of Mass Communication), Prof. Augustine Enahoro, Prof. Victor Aluma, Prof. Sarah Lwahas (Dean, Faculty of Arts), Dr. Taye Obateru, Dr. Nancy Katu, Dr. Raymond Goshit, Dr. Rhoda Dalung, Mr. Mabas Akila (Exams Officer), Rev. Fr. Gabriel Gowok, and other staff and students of the department.
While Dr. Nancy Katu-Ogundimu said the opening prayer, Rev. Gabriel Gowok said the closing prayer using Psalms 91 as a point of reference.
