JOSTUM Alumni Association inducts newly recruited graduates, urges professionalism and integrity

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
The Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi Alumni Association (JOSTUMAA) has welcomed and inducted newly recruited young graduates of the university as members of the association, urging them to imbibe the culture of the institution rooted in integrity, innovation, professionalism, collaboration, excellence and mutual trust.

This is just as the National President of JOSTUMAA, Theophilus Ukaa, hailed the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Itodo, and his management team for the massive recruitment of its old students as academic and non-academic staff.
JOSTUM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Itodo, who made the call during the maiden orientation and reception of new alumni members on Thursday, advised them to concentrate on their responsibilities, abide by the rules and regulations governing the school, and acquire further knowledge to transform themselves into better people in the next few years.
Itodo, the alumni’s first National President, spoke through the National President of JOSTUMAA, Theophilus Ukaa, saying, “As a graduate assistant, your responsibility is to give yourself the opportunity to go back to school and study. Equip yourself so that you can become better and come back to teach. So this first stage is for them to basically study for their good and the good of the school.”
Speaking in his capacity as the National President of JOSTUMAA, Theophilus Ukaa said the event was to celebrate with the new recruits, reintegrate them into the system, and also appreciate the efforts of the Vice-Chancellor for collaborating with the Alumni Association in driving development that will transform the institution.
He disclosed that while 317 candidates were recruited as both academic and non-academic staff, 70 of them were first-class graduates from the university who had been unemployed, including Ugwuoke Ejike, a Biochemistry graduate who had taken up work as a bus conductor due to lack of opportunities.
Ukaa said, “This is the first time in the history of the University that there is a single massive recruitment of graduates, predominantly from our alma mater. It is on record that out of the over 300 candidates recruited, 80 percent are academic staff. Out of the 80 percent academic staff, 80 percent are graduates from our alma mater, with over 70 first-class graduates recruited across various colleges and departments.
“This exercise will surely go a long way not only in ensuring knowledge retention in the university but will also ensure a gradual and systematic takeover of effective leadership and management of the university in no distant time.”
He further appreciated the Vice Chancellor for conducting what he described as the most transparent, merit-driven, and inclusive recruitment exercise in the history of the university, adding that “the recruitment process has not only reinforced public confidence in the university’s leadership but has also set a remarkable benchmark for fairness, equity, and institutional integrity.”
He welcomed the new members to the fold, pledging to support them to grow and reach their full potential.
Branch Chairman of JOSTUMAA, Dr. Kumator Taku, pledged total support to the newly engaged alumni members, saying, “As a branch, we are here to support you. We serve as a platform for engagement, welfare, and professional solidarity. We are committed to ensuring that your working environment is conducive, your rights are protected, and your voices are heard. I urge you to actively participate in branch activities, ask questions, and seek guidance whenever necessary. You are not alone on this journey.”
The orientation of the new members featured paper presentations including “Academic Progression and Growth in the University System: The Right Way” by Prof. John Igoli, Director of Research & Innovation, JOSTUM; “Ethics in the University System – The Rudiments, the Pitfalls” by Prof. Simon Ejembi, Dean of Students’ Affairs; while Prof. Alexander Wuanor, Head of Department, Animal Nutrition, also presented a paper on “Strengthening University Governance through Alumni Participation.”
Prof. John Igoli, who welcomed the new alumni members, urged them to see JOSTUMAA as their mother who wants to see them grow. He advised them to listen to advice, dream big, and work hard towards achieving their goals, to be reliable, submissive, teachable, and eager to effect change in the university system and environment.
Also speaking, Prof. Simon Ejembi said the university environment is a social system and a vibrant ecosystem where knowledge and ideas flow for the good of humanity and society.
Ejembi urged the new members not to work in isolation but in collaboration with others, to be committed to their duties, avoid excessive assumptions, respect hierarchies, be reliable, show initiative, pursue new skills, and uphold integrity and accountability with a high sense of responsibility. “JOSTUM is your alma mater, your mother—develop her,” he further advised.
In her welcome address earlier, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr. Rachael Duche, said the event was not only a formal welcome but also a celebration of continuity—a moment where former students return to serve the institution that contributed significantly to their academic and professional development.
She said, “Your transition from students to members of staff represents a full circle of growth, responsibility, and commitment to excellence. The University has entrusted you with the noble responsibility of shaping minds, advancing research, and contributing to institutional development, and we are confident that you will justify this.”
She encouraged them to approach their new roles with dedication, integrity, and a passion for continuous learning, reminding them that they are not only employees of the institution but also ambassadors of its legacy.