President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated that national development is impossible without skilled citizens and upright leaders, noting that this is why the government is deliberately investing in education, digital skills, research capacity and institutional autonomy.
The President said his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda places education at the center of economic and social renewal, linking learning to job creation, poverty reduction, democratic stability and national security.
Speaking at the 34th graduation ceremony of the University of Jos, President Tinubu, represented by the Vice-Chancellor of Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Professor Ibrahim Garba Hassan, highlighted that the administration is proactively addressing the challenges facing the education sector through digital transformation, curriculum reforms, research development, skill-based learning and improved funding mechanisms.
According to him, the government has given priority to improving the quality of education at all levels by renovating schools, training and retraining teachers and providing modern teaching and learning facilities. He added that significant investments have also been made in technical and vocational education and training centers to equip young people with employable and entrepreneurial skills.
“With specific reference to the University of Jos, the Federal Government has provided resources through interventions, special grants and other support mechanisms to improve teaching and learning conditions.
“In particular, UNIJOS was selected as one of ten universities to host a Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. This center will strengthen research, innovation and skills development in response to emerging digital challenges.”
He commended the University for successfully hosting the 27th edition of the University Games Association of Nigeria competition, which involved about 100 universities across the country, noting that Federal Government agencies, including TETFund, played a key role in supporting the success.
In her address, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Council of the University of Jos, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, revealed that in 2025, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings included UNIJOS among the top ten universities in Nigeria, adding that the achievement reflects the University’s sustained commitment to quality education, broadening the impact of research, growing global visibility and strong leadership by management and staff.
The Pro-Chancellor charged the graduates to proudly go into the world as ambassadors of José University, an institution that for fifty years has been a beacon of knowledge, peace, strength and hope.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Tanko Ishaya, said that over the past five decades, the University of Jos has grown from a modest campus to a globally recognized center of learning, research and innovation.
He noted that among his achievements are world-class research in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, arts and humanities, law, natural sciences, engineering, security studies, artificial intelligence and ICT. He added that the University’s alumni serve with distinction as governors, judges, diplomats, ministers, legislators, captains of industry, scholars and innovators around the world.
According to him, the University has also provided national leadership in peacebuilding, electoral reforms, community participation and inter-ethnic harmony. He noted that the growth in infrastructure includes the new Sports Complex, the Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dental Sciences and Computer Science, the Central Research Laboratory, the ICT Centre, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre, the Veterinary University Hospital and the modernized student residences.
“This year alone, we introduced eighteen new university programs, including data science, cybersecurity, software engineering, forensic sciences, radiography, physical therapy, pharmacology, entrepreneurship and social work. Therefore, our Golden Jubilee is not simply a celebration of time, but of impact, ideas, people and national relevance.”
Regarding graduation statistics, the vice-chancellor reported that a total of 60,000 graduates were produced, of which 9,236 received diplomas, 37,741 first degree holders and 13,023 postgraduate graduates.