MATUR LAUDS NUC FOR CONSTITUTING PILOT VISITS TO SIWES, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ADVANCEMENT AND LINKAGES OFFICES IN SELECTED NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has been commended for initiating a pilot visitation programme to SIWES, Entrepreneurship Centres and Advancement and Linkages offices in some selected Nigerian Universities for the purpose of peer reviewing the functions and activities of these offices.
The Vice Chancellor, Plateau State University Bokkos Professor Matur Malau Bernard made the commendation when a three man committee of the National Universities Commission under the leadership of former Vice of Federal University,Kashere , Professor Alhassan Gani paid him a courtesy call to intimate him on the assignment given them to appraise the activities of the three offices of the University.
Professor Matur who described the National Universities Commission as a compass that directs the activities of universities nationwide said the visit will widen the scope of thinking of universities to initiate,train and graduate students who will translate their skills into practical products that will earn them a living by being self employed.
He said the initiative by the National Universities Commission will lead to the development of a new culture and attitude of students who will use both their brains, hands and environment for the attainment of self sustenance.
Speaking earlier,leader of the NUC pilot visitation team, Professor Alhassan Gani said the essence of the pilot visit was to stimulate and encourage universities to develop the skills of their undergraduates in a manner that they will use their brains for creative thinking for the purpose of making innovations that will enable them become self employed when they graduate.
He said the outcome of their findings will help stimulate the spirit of creative enterprise amongst students of Nigerian Universities who will rather than wait on government for white collar jobs become employers of labour themselves.
The team later visited the SIWES Directorate where the Director,Dr. Nancy Dawam told them that among the organisations undergraduate students of the University are sent for students industrial work experience are the National Veterinary Research Institute,Vom,Jos University Teaching Hospital and NASCO Group of companies.
At the Entrepreneurship Centre,Dr. Director,Dr. Nanteer Yonla Maklu told the team that amongst the skills taught are fashion design,tailoring, welding and fabrication, carpentry and bed making,tiling,fisheries, pomade, perfume and soap making,duvet and bedsheet making, photography, creative videography and graphic designs.
He said the success story of the centre was inspiring thus encouraging them to teach more skills to the students.
While at the Advancement, Partnership, Collaboration and Linkages office, the Director,Rev. Fr. Dr. Andrew Danjuma Dewan told the team that the office has brokered partnerships with the Universities of Johannesburg, Capetown in South Africa, Kenyatta University in Kenya and Makerere University in Uganda as well as the University of Cyprus where a number of the University academic staff have trained and obtained their Doctorate degrees.
He said Plateau State University Bokkos also has collaboration with Globethics.net a Geneva based organisation where the mainstreaming of ethics in the University's training curriculum will be made as a way of improving global best practice ethics in the undergraduates.
He told the team that the University is also in the process of entering into an understanding with the University of Life Sciences in Czech Republic for the purpose of developing a pilot Irish potato Value Chain and the building of hostel accommodation for students of the University to address the shortfall in student accomodations on campus.
He also revealed that some Alumni members of the University have done the University proud having participated in both national and international competitions in the areas of theatre arts,short documentary and computer science where they won laurels.

John K.Agam
Public Relations Officer.