The Acting Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University Bokkos Prof Shadrack Best, unveiled a brand-new signature that proudly announces the university to the world through a stunning transformation.
Prof Best said the facelift is part of his vision to elevate the University to the global stage, reflecting its pedigree and dignity.
He said the transformation process had some without its challenges that he had to negotiate with the owners of an electric transformer which warranted them paying seven million naira to relocate it, making way for the new signage.
He expressed gratitude to the team that facilitated the relocation and the management of NESCO.
The University’s appearance has undergone significant changes, including the removal of a tree that obstructed the view of the University’s name and gate, restoration of the university’s name, illumination of the area, and installation of new flags. Professor Best emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness around the grassy areas to prevent attracting cows and urged the Directorate of Works and Physical Facilities to keep the area tidy.
At the Faculty of Law, a new statue of ‘Lady Justitia’ was unveiled, symbolizing blind justice and the university’s commitment to training judges who uphold the ethics of the legal profession without engaging in corruption.
The sports complex, however, was deemed non-existent and unbefitting of a university, prompting Professor Best to direct the school coach to develop a master plan for a new sports complex .
The Registrar, Yakubu Ayuba, praised Professor Best’s foresight and commitment to transforming the University, pledging the administration’s support in ensuring the best for the institution.
He further remarked, “I was not pleased with the presence of an electric transformer located where we are standing, so we began discussions on how to address it. The owners of this transformer, despite it being on university land, charged me eight million naira to relocate it. I negotiated with them, and while they were unwilling to budge, I eventually paid seven million naira. I will not pay the remaining balance,” he joked as he proceeded to cut the tape announcing the new signature.
He believed it was a fair deal, noting that since the university pays the electricity bill, there was no need to be overcharged for moving the transformer, which has now made way for the new signage.
The Vice Chancellor noted, “When you come to Plateau State University, whether you’re leaving or arriving, this will announce the University. Let me also thank those who worked hard to make this possible—from those who facilitated the relocation of the electric transformer to the management of NESCO. After many months, I believe this work could have been completed earlier had the transformer not been in its original location. I want to thank them and the technical team in the Directorate of Works and Physical Facilities.”
Professor Shedrack Best expressed appreciation for the committee led by Architect Richard, who conceptualized the design. He stated, “The entire design, bill of quantity, and construction is one hundred percent internal. ‘I commend the technical team from the Directorate of Works for creating this edifice for PLASU. It confirms that, given the right support, we have people who can make PLASU beautiful, and I will continue to promote these efforts.”
Reflecting on his assumption of office, he mentioned that his administration aimed to improve the university’s appearance. “When you look around, you will see that we have made significant changes; we removed the tree that obstructed the view of the university’s name and gate. This ensures you can clearly see that this is Plateau State University without struggling to read the signage.”
He continued, “We have taken down the tree, restored the University’s name prominently, illuminated the area—only those who visit at night will truly appreciate the lighting—and we have installed new flags.”
Professor Shedrack Best sincerely thanked his management team for their support in making these changes possible. He urged Architect Vivian’s team from the Directorate of Works and Physical Facilities to maintain cleanliness around the grassy areas to prevent attracting cows, emphasizing, “If cows start coming here, lured by the grass, it will diminish the value and quality of what we have achieved.”
He stated, “We must distinguish ourselves from surrounding communities as a university. When visitors come here, they should come to learn something. We cannot import inferior habits and bring them to the university; instead, they should learn from us how to live decently in a modern world.”
At the Faculty of Law, where a new statue of ‘Lady Justitia’ was unveiled, Professor Shedrack Best remarked, “We have also made efforts to clean the surroundings after erecting the statue. This work was also done entirely by our internal staff at the Directorate of Works and Physical Facilities; we did not contract anyone else.”
While unveiling the Lady Justitia statue, he highlighted that the previous statue was too small, stating, “We needed to create a statue that would not only represent the Faculty of Law but also Plateau State University.” They sourced sculptors to create an imposing statue, resulting in the current ‘Lady Justitia’, who symbolically represents blind justice, unaffected by bribery. “We hope to train judges in this faculty who will uphold the ethics of the legal profession without engaging in corruption.”