Advancement and Linkages

Advancement and Linkages

Advancement and Linkages

THE DIRECTORATE OF ADVANCEMENT AND LINKAGES

The Directorate of Advancement and Linkages of the Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos was created by the former Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Doknan D. D. Sheni in March 2013. The Directorate has a two-prong function. Firstly:

Making researches into areas of Advancement and Linkages with Plateau State University.
Supervising all projects of Advancement and Linkages.
Keeping comprehensive records of areas of Linkages and advising the Vice Chancellor accordingly.
Making proposals for the benefit of the institution.
Assigning responsibility to staff in the Directorate, supervising and coordinating their work.
Financial responsibility for all the Directorate’s property.
Serving in the Senate which would meet as required by the Vice Chancellor to collectively deliberate and advise on matters of interest to the University and rendering any informal advice to the Vice Chancellor on the affairs of the Directorate.

Secondly, the Directorate keeps a comprehensive database of the University’s Alumi and collaborate with Association to exploit ideas that would contribute to the development of the University and serves as a liaison between the Association and the University Management.

Since its creation in 2013, the Directorate has been engaged in several activities both within and outside the country, aimed at linking the young, but fast-growing Plateau State University with various institutions that would aid its development. Although, the University is young among the league of universities in Nigeria, it has very tall ambitions to excel and to succeed as one of the leading centres of academic excellence in Nigeria, Africa and indeed the world. Thus, driven by this dream, the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages of the University recognises partnerships and collaboration as necessary catalysts towards achieving its vision and mission of transforming PLASU into an academic powerhouse.

Vision

The Directorate of Advancement and Linkages of the Plateau State University, Bokkos, conscious of its mandate, seeks to support the University compete vigorously at the highest level within the country, on the African continent and on the global sphere, by establishing mutually benefitting collaborations/partnerships with institutions, agencies, its Alumni, groups and peoples that would generate funds/resources towards meeting the teething development needs and challenges of the University.

Mission

It will strive to improve the University’s learning environment that would enhance the capacity of its staff to promote a wide-ranging knowledge transfer and qualitative research and learning processes that make Plateau State University to be both nationally and globally competitive. This, the Directorate would seek to do by being in the vanguard of partnering with other institutions and agencies (both within and without the country) to build very strong infrastructures that promote learning.

Objectives

In pursuing quality infrastructure and enhancing cutting-age students and staff development, the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages aims to:

Provide an effective framework for the University’s fundraising programmes, which will expand the involvement and participation of foundations, corporate bodies, groups, Alumni, and so on, toward meeting its development needs.
Raise the University’s profile both nationally and internationally through collaborations and engagements with institutions and agencies locally and internationally.
Assist toward equipping Plateau State University students with requisite entrepreneurial skills and life-changing experiences that enable them to thrive and, thus contribute to the society.
Build a vast network of partnerships and co-operations within and outside the country that contribute to the quality and capacity of Plateau State University.
Build and update database of Alumni, and through shared partnership contribute to the growth and development of the fast-growing Plateau State University, Bokkos.

Partnership with the Seventeen Local Government Areas

The Directorate of Advancement and Linkages, soon after it was created, initiated a partnership with the seventeen local government areas of the Plateau State. This partnership, which the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages played a pivotal role in forging, aims to get the seventeen local government chairmen to identify, at least, five indigent students within their respective local governments, who are science-based and have the requisite qualifications for entry into the Plateau State University, Bokkos for them to sponsor. The partnership seeks to, among other things, close the gap in the educational balance of the state. The chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Plateau State Chapter, Hon Emmanuel Loma of Barkin Ladi, discussed with his colleagues and accepted the proposal. The Directorate of Advancement and Linkages did the follow-up after the initial signing of the partnership. This partnership was reactivated by Prof. Yohana D. Izam, the Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University when the Director of the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages, Rev Fr Dr Andrew D. Dewan, in March 2019, organised a meeting between Prof. Izam and the seventeen local government chairmen, which was chaired by the ALGON Chairman at their secretariat at Rayfield, Jos.

MoU with two South African Universities

Another landmark achievement recorded by Plateau State University was the official trip to the Republic of South Africa in 2014 led by the then Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Doknan D. D. Sheni, together with late Chief Ladan Jiba Barde (Member of Council) and the pioneer Director of the Advancement and Linkages, Rev Fr Dr Andrew Danjuma Dewan, where the three-man delegation met with officials of two of the leading universities in South Africa, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Initially, the three-man delegation from the Plateau State University was to be part of the Senate cum National Universities’ Commission (NUC) delegation that was to travel to Southern African on a study tour of their educational institutions, but at the last minute the Senate/NUC delegation could not travel owing to some issues of national importance that arose. Thus, the three-man delegation from PLASU proceeded on this trip.

The choice of the two universities in South Africa was deliberate (both universities have a long history, tradition, and pedigree, especial the University of Cape Town which is about 130 years old and it is still the leading University on the African continent). Thus, partnerships with such universities will not only enhance the desire of Plateau State University, Bokkos to achieve its vision and mission of becoming one of the leading citadels of learning and research in the country, but also assist it to build a formidable array of well-trained academic staff.

The delegation from PLASU held useful and mutually rewarding discussions with the managements of those universities which culminated in the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for the academic staff training and development of Plateau State University, Bokkos. The MoU with the University of Johannesburg, for instance, saw about nine academic who were admitted to various PhD programmes, ranging from history and international studies, Geography, English, political science, microbiology to physics.

Africa Regional International Staff/Student Exchange

The University of Cape Town is the coordinating institution of the Africa Regional International staff/student exchange (ARISE). This is made up of a consortium of partners with the following universities as members:

Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)
University of Ghana (Ghana)
Makerere University (Uganda)
University of Nairobi (Kenya)
National University of Rwanda (Rwanda)
University of Leuven (Belgium) as Technical Partner.

The intra-ACP Academic Mobility Scheme seeks to promote both student and staff mobility with the African, Caribbean, and Pacific band of countries by strengthening the expansion of the African Union Commission (AUC) Mwalimu Nyerere (former Tanzanian president) programme. It is obvious that currently, no Nigerian University is part of this consortium. Plateau State University, Bokkos therefore made history by being the first to join the list of the top nudge universities on the continent, although due to some challenges it could not continue with the partnership. The Directorate of Advancement and Linkages of the Plateau State University is determined to re-establish relationship with ARISE. This is due to the significant steps the consortium has taken towards achieving increased access to qualitative higher education, especially for the marginalised groups. Partners aim to discover and harvest talents from the four geographic regions of Africa, which does not only put the consortium in a position to gain from the diverse national, cultural, educational, and geo-political traditions but Plateau State University as well. The ARISE programmes are backed up with funds from the African Union and European Union Funds.

These initiatives, then opened a floodgate that has since seen over 60 Plateau State University, Bokkos academic staff gained and still gaining admissions to do various PhD programmes in universities both in Nigeria and across the world. Among the universities that Plateau State University academic have either studied or are still studying in Nigeria, Cyprus, United Kingdom, United States of America, Germany, France, Malaysia, Kenya, Uganda, among a host of other universities around the world.

Since 2016, some of the over 80 academic staff of the Plateau State University have started returning and, to date, over 20 of those staff have returned. With the range of trainings and conferences these members of staff attended, it has undoubtedly helped in their all-round development as academic researchers which is not only rubbing off on the Plateau State University’s community but also turning positively its academic fortunes.

PLASU Alumni Bark Awards

A vast array of dignitaries, family members, staff, and students of the Plateau State University, Bokkos converged on the University’s Senate Chambers in January 2019 to honour some of its past and present students who bagged various international and national awards. In a simple but colourful ceremony organised by the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages, on behalf of the University community, saw Miss Dorcas Bwetisun Bello emerged the winner of “Best Documentary in Africa.” Miss Bello’s documentary was selected from a pool of other entries and premiered at the 2021 International Women’s Day Celebration in Abuja.

The Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos, Prof Yohana D. Izam with some of the Alumni Awardees.

Formation of PLASU Alumni

The Alumni of the Plateau State University, Bokkos is still at its formative stages. Its first batch of students graduated in 2015. Although the Alumni is still young, the three batches of students that have passed out have shown tremendous enthusiasm in getting the Association working. The Directorate of Advancement and Linkages, as the liaison between them and the University administration, is helping them to find their feet. The maiden meeting with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Yohana D. Izam took place in his office in the heels of the receptions held in honour of the three awardees of the University.

Directorate of Advancement and Linkages New Office Complex

The Directorate of Advancement and Linkages, since its inception in 2013, has not had a substantive office. The Directorate has been using one-room office space at the Students’ Centre. This situation has hampered the smooth and efficient operations of the Directorate’s activities. However, the Directorate heaved a sigh of relief when the Directorate did a letter of financial assistance, on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Yohana D. Izam, to Alhaji Abdullahi Usman otherwise known as “Dan China” and graciously accepted. Below is the four-room office complex with a standard boardroom, secretary office and a reception.

Office Complex of the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages

Meet the Staff of the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages:

Rev. Fr. Dr Andrew Danjuma Dewan

Is the pioneer Director and the current head of the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages of the Plateau State University, Bokkos. Dr Dewan joined the services of the Plateau State University in May 2007 as an academic staff in the Department of General Studies and later Mass Communication. He was appointed to this position in 2013 and has facilitated many advancement and linkages activities for the University since his appointment. He has a Masters Degree in Theology and Ethics of Communication from Edinburgh University, Scotland and a Doctorate Degree in Media and Conflict from the University of Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom. Dr Dewan was the Editor-In-Chief of the Word of Life newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos. He has published in several academic journals and chapter in books, locally and internationally.

Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Umar

An Admin Officer II, Umar holds a B.Sc. Degree in English Language from Bayero University, Kano. He joined Plateau State University in February 2017 and later posted to the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages in February 2020.He currently heads the Research & Proposal Writing Unit of the Directorate.

Mr Moses G. Dafom

Holds a BSc in Accounting and he is a certified National Accountant and a graduate of the University of Jos. He joined the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages of the Plateau State University, Bokkos in May 2013. He is currently the Project/Finance Officer.

Mr Hosea Daniel Daben

Is the Alumni Relations Officer of the Directorate of Advancement and Linkages. Daben joined the services of the Plateau State University, Bokkos in May 2013. He holds an HND in Business Administration and Management from Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi. Before he joined Plateau State University, Bokkos, Mr Daben was a Special Assistant to the Niger State Governor.

Mr. Anthony Gama Tetkum

Mr. Tetkum is the Directorate’s Secretary. He joined the University and was posted to the Directorate in March 2021. He holds Masters in Education from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna, and also HND in Secretarial Studies from Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State. Before he joined the University, Mr. Tetkum was a Staff with Access Bank Plc.