The national president of the University of Jos Alumni Association (UJAA) Worldwide, Dr. Gad Shamaki, has described Prof Christopher Piwuna’s election as president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as a well-deserved victory.
He was elected as ASUU president at the just-concluded 23rd National Delegates Conference of the union in Benin City, Edo State.
Shamaki made the commendation while speaking to our correspondent in Jos at the weekend.
According to him, Prof Piwuna’s unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and consistent advocacy for academic excellence and staff welfare have earned him this prestigious recognition by his colleagues.
He stated that over the years he has been an upright comrade and very progressive in his thought process, adding that he has been the Dean of students affairs at UNIJOS, providing stability in the process.
Shamaki further argued that it was during his tenure as dean of students affairs after 35 years that a female student union’s president had emerged . “So that is very progressive, the way he managed the elections without crises is also commendable.”
The president also stated “It will interest you know that he was the deputy president of ASUU before he was elected as President. So the victory did not come to us as a surprise. He has proven himself over the years and it is that confident that made his colleagues to elect him as their president during their national delegate conference in Benin Edo State. “
The UJAA national president worldwide also stated that “My expectation is for him to provide leadership in the true sense of the word and to ensure that not only the interest of ASUU’s members are protected but even that of the students because there will be no ASUU without students.”
Dr. Shamaki also argued that there is an urgent need to ensure that the quality of education in terms of research, welfare of students and facilities in Nigerian universities are also part of what he will be pushing for .
