The 1-year Scorecard Of Professor Msugh Moses Kembe (VC-BSUM)

The Principal Officers of the University;

•  The Dean of Students;
• The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Benue State;
•  Unions on Campus;
•  Gentlemen of the Press;
•  Distinguished ladies and gentlemen;

I welcome you all to this media chat, being the second since my assumption of duty as the 5th Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University, Makurdi on 3rd November, 2015. You may recall that the first media chat was held on Wednesday, 6th April, 2016 where we unfold an agenda for my tenure as Vice-Chancellor.


So far, by the special grace of God, and the uniting efforts of the Executive Governor of Benue State and Visitor to the University, His Excellency, Samuel Ortom, we have made tremendous success and achievement in the past one year.

Therefore, this media chat, will afford me the opportunity to unveil to you, the Benue people and the entire public my scorecard within the last one year. This has become even more imperative following the directive of the Executive Governor at the 3rd Benue State Stakeholders’ Forum held on Monday, 13th February, 2017 at Benue People’s House, Makurdi that all Government Ministries, Parastatals, Departments and Agencies should brief the Benue public on their activities within the last one year.
Before I came on Board, there were issues of accreditation of academic programmes, payment of salaries, security and agitations amongst unions on campus etcetera. Today, I am happy to say that these are no longer issues in the University resulting in harmony n campus and uninterrupted academic session.


Let me, therefore summarized my one year scorecard under the following:

• Academic

1. Accreditation of seven (7) programmes. These are:
i. Faculty of Management sciences
A. Accounting
B. Business Management
ii. Faculty of Education
C. Integrated Science
iii. Faculty of Social Sciences
d. Psychology
e. Sociology
f. Mass Communication
g. Economics


2. Expansion of the University carrying capacity from 4,655 to 6,000 (addition of 1,345);

3. graduation of four (4) sets of medical doctors;

4. electronic module for computation of examination results;

5. Timely release of examination results through conference marking.

6. Introduction of scholarship to best performing students in all academic competition amongst students of the University. 18 students have so far benefited.

7. Introduction of a scheme for Indigent Students.

8. Sponsorship of many staff to Conferences, Workshops locally and Internationally.

• Administration

1. Establishment of the Procurement Unit to enhance quality service delivery and due process

2. Procurement of official and utility vehicle to relevant officers and offices to enhance efficient and effective running of the UNIVERSITY.

3. CONSTITUTION OF RELEVANT Committees like Environment and Sanitation Task Force, Task Force on Utilities on Campus to enhance the wellbeing of staff and students as well as strengthen the administrative apparatus of the University.

4. Introduction of an online integrated system for payment of school fees via Interswitch. With this integration, students/candidates can make payment to the University anywhere in the world unlike before where they have to come to Makurdi before making such payment.

•  Infrastructural development

So many projects have been carried out through user-charges of the University as well as completion of TET Fund and Presidential NEEDs Assessment projects. Below is the tabulation:


Projects executed through user-charges:
S/NO
JOBS
1. RENOVATION OF QUARTERS NO. BSU/Q/03

2 .CONSTRUCTION OF A CAR PORT AT FACULTY OF LAW

3. RENOVATION OF BURNT ATE AT SENIOR STAFF CLUB

4. CONSTRUCTION OF A DRIVERS LODGE

5. RENOVATION OF A BLOCK OF FOUR CLASS ROOMS AT TECHNICAL COLLEGE

6. FENCING, PARKING LOT AND LANDSCAPING AT THE EASTERN WING

7. RENOVATION OF QUARTERS NO. BSU/QTR/03

8. SERVICE OF BOREHOLES ON CAMPUS

9. INSTALLATION BACKUP TRANSMITTER

10. INSTALLATION OF CCTV ON CAMPUS

11. CONSTRUCTION OF COLLAPSED FENCE AT THE OLD VC’S LODGE

12. CONSTRUCTION OF DRAINAGE GUTTER AT THE EASTERN CAMPUS

13. RENOVATION OF BLOCK OF OFFICES HOUSING PHYSICS, BIOLOGY & SOCIAL SCIENCE LIBRARY

14. REMODELLING OF 1 NO JUNIOR STAFF HOUSING BLOCK

15. CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL TOILETS TO PROFESSORS OFFICES

16. CONSTRUCTION OF NEON LIGHT PLASTIC SIGNBOARD IN FRONT OF LIBRARY BUILDING


17.RENOVATION OF SENATE CHAMBERS

18. RENOVATION WORK AT PRE FRENCH SECRETARIAT

19. RENOVATION OF BSU ESTABLISHMENT OFFICES

20. Renovation of quarters no BSU/QTRS/NO. 5

21. CONSTRUCTION OF A HANDBALL COURT

22. CONSTRUCTION OF OFFICE BLOCK FOR THE TASK FORCE ON SANITATION

23. RENOVATION OF QUARTERS No BSU/TEC/03/BQ

24. RENOVATION OF QUARTERS NO. BSU/QTRS/NO. 12B MAIN CAMPUS

25. RENOVATION AND CREATION OF TABLE TENNIS/GYMNASIUM AT THE STAFF CLUB

26. RENOVATION OF QUARTERS No. BSU/QTRS/TEC/06

27. INSTALLATION OF DIGIT INTERCOM SYSTEM WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

28. RENOVATION OF THE CLUB HOUSE

29. EXTENSION OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE

30. RENOVATION OF QUARTERS NO. BSU/QTRS/17a

31. RENOVATION OF QUARTERS NO. BSU/TEC/04/BQ

32. RENOVATION OF QUARTERS NO. BSU/ TEC/04

33. CONSTRUCTION OF PERIMETER FENCE AT MSR. TOLUFASHE’S RESIDENCE

34. FURNISHING AT THE UNIVERSITY GUEST HOUSE

35. TREATMENT OF ALL THE SEPTIC TANKS IN THE UNIVERSITY

36. CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF FOUR (4) STUDENTS BULLETIN

37. CONSTRUCTION OF A TOILET FACILITY IN THE LABOUR MARKET

38. CONSTRUCTION OF 2 MAIN ENTRANCE BURGLARY PROTECTORS AND SEVEN DOORS

39. RENOVATION AND UPGRADING OF KITCHEN AT THE SENIOR STAFF CLUB


40. LANDSCAPING OF THE PROPOSED PROFESSORS OFFICES AND CLASSROOMS

41. RENOVATION OF 3 BEDROOM FLAT (BLOCK NO. 023) STAFF QUARTERS


42. RENOVATION OF BSU TECHNICAL SCHOOL SS2 BLOCK


43. Additional work for the renovation of the pro-chancellor’s lodge, Norht Bank


44.ROAD MARKINGS (BUMPS AND ZEBRA CROSSINGS) AT MAIN CAMPUS

45. RE-WASHING, BLINDING AND POLISHING OF TERRAZZO FLOOR AT THE MAIN LIBRARY

46. CONSTRUCTION OF SIX (6) CUBICLES IN THE MAIN LIBRARY

47. RENOVATION OF THE SIWES UNIT

Completed TET Fund and Presidential NEEDs Assessment sponsored projects:
o Ultra-modern library
o Twin Lecture Theatre
o Postgraduate School Extension
o Lawn Tennis Court
o 500 Capacity Lecture Theatre
o 2 No. Students Female Hostel of 160 bed-space
o Physics/Chemistry Laboratories
o Equipment of the Virtual Library, Departmental Laboratories and staff office.

•  Religious activities

The University is committed into the hands of God through institution of monthly prayer session n rotational basis in two of our churches on Campus. On last Sunday of each month, we pray for peaceful co-existence amongst staff and students as well as their peaceful retirement and graduation from the university.

• Security

1. This has been achieved through several interactive sessions with the host community (traditional rulers, youth, women etc) and security operatives as well as advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders of the University towards peaceful co-existence, security of lives and property in and around the campus as well as continued support to the development and growth of the University.
2. Engagement of the services of external security personnel;
3. The constant dialogue with unions in the University has engendered a peaceful and harmonious working relationship.

•  Corporative social responsibility

1. Collaboration with the present administration in the State led by His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom on the Benue Students Annual Festival (BENSAFE) through the Office of the Special assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs to realise its educational policy. The BENSAFE project is poised to developing the physical and intellectual abilities of our pupils and students right from the primary to tertiary institutions;
2. Partnership with Mzough u Tiv to organize the 1st International Conference and Round-Table with a view to Reviving the Tiv culture and reuniting the Tiv Nation;
3. Provided a borehole for the host community at Akpehe, Makurdi.
Challenges
Inspite of this modest scorecard, the biggest challenge of the University has remained adequate funding which has multiplier effect. Although the State Government has completely taken charge of payment of staff salaries which are up to date, the user-charges are not coming in as they should due-to non-payment by students. As a result of this, we lack funds to carry out more projects like office and hostel accommodation, sponsorship to conferences, seminars and workshop; provision of adequate utilities on campus and other relevant facilities conducive for teaching, learning and research as well as payment of arrears of earned allowances.
Let me conclude, like i said at the maidan media chat, that by the Grace of God I shall justify the confidence reposed in me, by doing the needful to fulfil not just the dreams and objectives of the founders of this University, but also the mandate, the vision and mission of the institution towards attaining higher heights so as to compete favourably among the comity of Universities in Nigeria and beyond.
I take this opportunity again to charge you as gentlemen of the Press to always avoid speculative or junk journalism. We will continue to partner with you in the BSU project. My administration will always welcome constructive and objective criticism as Benue State University belongs to all of us.



Once again, I thank you for your audience and may God bless you all and the Benue State University, Makurdi.