Distinguished Alumni

The alumni of the University of Jos became more and more part of the general definition of the university through their outstanding performances and achievements in their respective fields of specializations nationally and world-wide; and, also, in their contributions to the development of the university. Some of the major accomplishments by alumni are outlined below:

Speaker, House of Representatives is a Great Josite!

Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara was born in December 1967 in Bauchi State, where he had his primary and secondary education before heading to the University of Jos in 1982 to study Law.

He currently represents Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa Federal Constituency, and is serving his third term as a federal lawmaker, after first being elected in 2007.

His education began in 1976 at Gwarangah Primary School in Bauchi state. In 1982, he proceeded to the Bauchi Teachers’ College for his secondary education, and obtained a Grade II Teachers’ Certificate in 1987.

In 1988, he went on to the University of Jos, Plateau State, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Law (LLB Hons.) degree in 1992. He then proceeded to law school and was eventually called to the Bar in 1993.

He later obtained a Masters (LLM) in International Commercial Law at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland.

In 2006, he attended a course on Managing and Leading Strategic Change and in 2013, he completed another course on Negotiation at the Oxford University. In 2014, he went on to the Harvard Kennedy School for yet another course on Leadership.

After graduating from the Bauchi Teachers’ College, he took up employment in April 1988 as a teacher at the ATBU Staff School in Bauchi. In 1993, during the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, he served at NCCF, Akwa Ibom state, and upon completion of the NYSC programme in 1994, he went into private legal practice until 2005 when he was appointed Special Assistant to the then Minister of State for Transport.

He held this position until 2006, when he decided to contest to represent the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa constituency at the Federal House of Representatives. His bid proved successful and he has been a member of the House since 2007 until elected as the Rite Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Great Josite elected Governor of Plateau State.

Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong (born May 5, 1963) was elected Governor of Plateau State, Nigeria in April 2015. He has held various offices and can be described as a veteran in Plateau politics.

Educated at the Ahmadu Bello University (LLB) and the University of Jos- Nigeria (LLM), thereafter began his political career and journey to destiny and has served as Legal Luminary and Community Developer, then Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly (2000-2006), also, Chairman conference of Speakers of Nigeria (2005-2006), and Member Representing Shendam Constituency at the Plateau State House of Assembly (1999-2006).

Deputy Directors-General, World Trade Organisation.

Yonov Frederick Agah

Yonov Frederick Agah was appointed as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the WTO in 2005. In that capacity, he served as the Alternate Chief Negotiator for the Doha Round and Head of Nigeria's Trade Office to the WTO in the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations Office in Geneva. The Trade Office is responsible for Nigeria’s participation in Geneva-based trade-related international organizations, particularly the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the International Trade Centre and the WTO.

Mr Agah served as Chair of the WTO's General Council in 2011. He was responsible for organizing the Eighth WTO Ministerial Conference, which was acknowledged to be successful despite the prevailing stalemate in the Doha Round. He has also served as Chair of the following WTO bodies: Dispute Settlement Body in 2010, the Council for Trade in Services in 2009, the Trade Policy Review Body in 2008, the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights in 2007, and the Council for Trade in Goods in 2006. He was also the Chair of the Council for TRIPS, Special Session, in 2013.

Mr Agah has previously worked as a lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna (1979-81), senior features writer/circulation manager, Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation (1982-84), Sales Manager, Benue Bottling Company Limited (1984-87), Field Manager, UTC Nigeria PLC (1990-91), Deputy Director (multilateral) (1991-2001) and Director (external trade) (2002-05).

Mr Agah holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He obtained a Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (International Trade) from the University of Jos, Nigeria, in 1989 and 2007 respectively. His doctoral dissertation was on “Trade Policy Reform and Economic Growth in Nigeria Since 1986”. Mr Agah also obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Abuja, Nigeria, in 2009. He has contributed to various books and journals.

-UNIJOS Alumnus Appointed US Assistant Secretary for Health

Dr John .O. Agwunobi, a graduate of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, was confirmed by the US Senate on December 17, 2005 to be Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), (the equivalent of Minister of State for Health in Nigeria) US Department of Health and Health Services, and an Admiral in the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. As the ASH, Dr Agwunobi served as the Secretary's Primary Adviser on matters involving the nation's public health.

“I am proud to declare that I graduated from UNIJOS”, the US Minister declared in a letter he wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos. “The education I received from that wonderful Faculty has been a formidable weapon in the fight to further my career. . . I like to believe the education was more than academic. The pluck and determination of UNIJOS, a small diverse university fighting to make a name for itself through excellence in education undoubtedly influenced my own approach to the competitive professional environment in which I find myself”. He then urged every student to always aim for the stars. According to him, “absolutely nothing is beyond your reach if you work hard and stay focused on your goal, especially if you have been empowered with a UNIJOS education”. Dr Agwunobi confronted many public health challenges during his tenure, including leading the state's public health and medical response to the unprecedented four major hurricanes that struck Florida in 2004.

-UNIJOS Alumnus Appointed Chair of African Scientists Group Dr. Simon Agwale, an alumnus of the University of Jos. was appointed Chairman of the African Scientists Group at the European and Developing countries Clinical Trials Programme (EDCTP). The programme is a partnership of EU member states and Sub-Saharan African states formed to accelerate the development of new clinical interventions to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB through joint conduct of clinical trials. Clinical trial is critical to the development of any drug, and especially vaccines, as efforts continue to find a solution to HIV/AIDS pandemic on the sub-continent. Agwale was appointed at a meeting of stakeholders in Arusha, Tanzania, May, 2006 for an initial two years with possibilities of renewal annually. Agwale, who specializes in human virology, represents Nigeria and West Africa at EDCTP and is the focal person for the Developing Countries Coordinating (DCCC) a key part of the programme that strengthens policy debate from African experts and countries. Agwale, who founded the first Biotechnology firm in Nigeria, Innovative Biotech Ltd. previously worked at the Institute of Human virology, (IHV) Baltimore, USA, and Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, and also the Department of Zoology, University of Jos. He was also reported to have developed an experimental HIV-1 vaccine, tailored specifically to help fight AIDS in Nigeria, a feat accomplished in collaboration with colleagues.

-UNIJOS Alumni Spearheaded National Electoral Reform Among members of the National Electoral Reform Committee, was Festus Okoye Esq., Barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria found him worthy to participate and contribute to reforming Nigeria's constitutional and electoral framework. An alumnus of the University of Jos, where he obtained a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985, Festus Okoye also undertook a graduate programme in 1983-1984 as a Hubert Humphrey Fellow. Also appointed member, National Electoral Reform Committee by late President Musa Yar'adua, is an alumnus of the University of Jos, comrade John Ejoha Odah. A graduate of Political Sociology from the University of Jos, Comrade Odah had been the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) since December, 2001.

-Big Brother Africa History was made again, when University of Jos came to international lime light on the 6th December, 2009. The event was the grand finale of the number one rated reality television programme Big Brother Africa tagged “The Revolution”. The Big Brother Africa series, up till then, was the largest and the biggest reality programme in Africa produced by M-net Africa. The grand prize of $200,000 went to Kevin Chuwang Pam - a graduate of English from the University of Jos, and the first Nigerian to win the programme.

-Prof. Chimay Anumba Prof Chimay Anumba, Head of Department, Architectural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University USA: A First-Class Graduate of the second set of Building students, University of Jos, attributed the status he attained as a Professor of Construction and Informatics to the training received as a student of UNIJOS. He is optimistic that the future of Nigeria is bright if Nigerian students are well prepared to compete with their peers from other countries.

-Architecture Alumni Blazes the Trail the Department of Architecture is wearing a new look, with an ongoing silent revolution triggered by a former Head of Department Architect Dr. Anthony Ogbonna. Architect Olukoya Olusegun, a 2004 graduate of the department of Architecture says the department remains the best and that the students of Architecture in the University of Jos can compete with any other globally. Driven by this belief Arc. Olusegun joined the league of alumni who lent a helping hand to develop the department with a donation of five swivel chairs and five tables worth N100,000. Arc Olusegun said this was the beginning because he intended to make more donations to the department. With staff contributions, already totaling N260,000, the department appeared to have raised its stakes high for all stakeholders to share its vision, and have a sense of belonging to sustain the drive for excellence.

 -Distinguished Alumni Lectures Series of Distinguished Alumni Lectures were held in the Faculties of Law, Arts, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Natural Sciences, Education, Social Sciences and Medical Sciences. -Prof. Paul Idornigie was the first distinguished Alumni Lecturer in the Faculty of Law. -Helon Habila the writer of Measuring Time and Waiting for an Angel was guest in the Faculty of Arts. Helon Habila's Waiting for an Angel, was awarded the Commonwealth Writers prize for New Writing

(2003). It also won the Michael Caine prize for African Literature in 2001.

-Pharmacist Emmanuel Agba was the Guest Lecturer in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He instituted a prize of N150, 000 in the Faculty.

-The ICT Director, Dr Tanko was the Distinguished Alumni Lecturer in the Faculty of Natural Sciences. He has also donated ICT books to the Library worth thousands of naira.

-Dr (Mrs.) Kachallom Gang, an Assistant Director in the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC), was Distinguished Alumni Lecturer in the Faculty of Education.

-Another Distinguished Lecturer - The General Manager, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Idris Yakubu was hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences. Through his efforts the bank was able renovate one of the blocks in Naraguta Hostels and the Students Centre at the cost of over N30 million naira. Mr Idris Yakubu is the current National President of UNIJOS Alumni who is representing the University Convocation on the Governing Council.

-Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Olatilewa O. Amusu was the Distinguished Alumni Lecturer in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. Maj. Gen. (Dr) Amusu is the first Unijos female General of the Nigerian Army.

-Alumni President on Governing Council of the University:   The National President of the University of Jos Mr Idris Yakubu, became a member of the Governing Council of the University. This gave the Alumni a sense of belonging as part of the body responsible for policy formulation and implementation in the institution.

 List of Josites who are holding Political positions

-Former Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who are Josites

1               Minister for Information- Hon. Labaran Maku

2               Minister of State for Niger Delta- Hon. Sam Ode

3.              Minister of state for commerce and industry- Ms Josephine Tapgun -

Contributions of Alumni to the development of the University

1               Five white boards were donated by the Kaduna Chapter of the University of Jos Alumni Association

2               Five white boards were donated by the Bayelsa chapter of the University of Jos Alumni Association

3               Twenty-five white boards donated by the National body of the University of Jos Alumni Association.

4               Five incinerators donated by the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro

5               N100,000 donated to the University by the Lagos State Chapter of the University of Jos Alumni Association, to assist in renovating the Lagos Liaison Office of the University.

6               One hundred dust bins donated by the Lagos State Chapter of the University of Jos Alumni Association.

7               N100, 000 donated by Pharmacist Emmanuel Okwu at the workshop organized for Alumni Representatives in Jos.

8               Ninety-nine cartons of medical books donated by Dr Sunday Goshit, an alumnus of the University of Jos, who is a graduate of the Department of Geography.

9               N500, 000 donated to a Medical student of the University of Jos, by the National Executive of the University of Jos Alumni Association. The student - Victor was a victim of the 2008 crisis. The donation was to help him seek medical attention abroad.

10            N50 million ICT Centre is to be constructed by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. This was made possible through an alumnus who works in shell, Dr Chidi Chukwueke.

11            Set 92 of Theatre Arts Department donated lighting equipment worth N700, 000 to the department. They recently donated books worth N300, 000 to the Departmental Library.

12            Theatre Arts graduates donated 18-seater bus to the department.