Benue State University, Makurdi

Preparatory to the mounting of a Faculty of Architecture in Benue State University, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tor Joe Iorapuu, fsonta, mnipr, ksm on Friday, 2nd June, 2023 received officials of the Benue State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) led by the Chairman, Arc. Sam Dura who paid him a Courtesy Call.

Professor Iorapuu expressed the readiness of the University to establish the Faculty of Architecture to commence in the next Academic Session. The Vice-Chancellor mandated the Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, Professor Michael Imande to present the draft document for establishment of the faculty at next Senate meeting scheduled for Thursday next week for consideration and approval for onward submission to the National Universities Commission, NUC.

He maintained that on assumption of duty as the Vice-Chancellor, Pharmacy and Architecture were his desired programmes to be established in the University. He expressed optimism that the University would admit students in Pharmacy for the 2022/2023 academic session based on positive response being awaited from the NUC Resource Verification Report.

Earlier, the Chairman, Arc. Dura had expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor for his readiness to establish the Faculty of Architecture and assured him of collaboration and assistance for its take-off. He acknowledged immense architectural benefits of the programme to the University, Benue State and Nigeria if eventually introduced.

He explained that the concept of Architecture as a faculty instead of a department was innovative to the discipline aimed at creating specialized areas as Horticulture, Interior Decoration and landscaping etc.

Also, the Vice-Chancellor granted audience to the newly elected Exco members of NASU-BSU led by Comrade Hembaor Samuel Terfa where the he enumerated challenges facing his members to include: introduction of examination for promotion and confirmation of non-teaching staff, Arrears of Earned Allowance, lack of training and retraining of NASU members, non-recognition of higher qualification of NASU as well as delay in release of lateral conversion/change of cadre.

Equally, the exco of the Medical and Dental Specialist Association in Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University led by their Chairman, Dr. Innocent Abi also paid the Vice-Chancellor a Courtesy Call. He explained that their visit was to commend the Vice-Chancellor on the good work he was doing and requested the migration from the CONUASS salary structure to CONHESS.

Addressing both unions separately, the Vice-Chancellor assured that all their demands would be considered at the Management for necessary action. He encouraged them to embrace dialogue and advocacy for industrial harmony and reminded them they were elected to serve their members and should not misinterpret Union leadership for populist activism.