Unearthing the truth about Sebastian Maimako

Unearthing the truth about Sebastian Maimako

By Katdapba Y Gobum

Initially this was not what I had intended to come up with since I mooted the idea in April. The first title: Sebastian Maimako: The vilification of the Plateau man’ was conceptualized to address the outcome of that video sometimes in April, which the Federal Character Committee of the House of Representatives was alleged to have made disparaging remarks about his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos.

That video was in the main, a sour seed, premeditated by whatever standard. Had a few of the committee members; who have universities in their backyards with more disturbing infractions which needed to be investigated, taken time to see what transformation the university has witnessed in the last four years; they would have had a rethink. What is the use of the university if their infrastructures are not developed to accommodate the increasing number of students that have continued to make Jos their first choice for admission?

The video may have gone viral; as there were several comments questioning why the man was given a raw deal. While we have maintained elsewhere that we cannot take away the Committee’s oversight functions, it won’t be out of place to investigate other federal universities to enable them establish the composition of their management as well as their admissions. We may not need to waste our time, for what is on ground should explain the capacity of the man running the university.

In the last one week of the celebration of his fourth year in office, the one thing on the lips of stakeholders of the university, and particularly those who love development, are the amount of work already executed; for which encomiums deservedly were poured on him during the celebrations. If you are one who loves the university to experience some fresh air, there cannot be a better opportunity than now; when all progressive forces are united to ensure its survival to compete favourablly with its peers.

The fact that the university has arrived at this point is an indication that he has not stopped working since he put his plough to work. Whatever distraction there were, four years ago, on June 23, 2016 he made up his mind on assumption that this citadel of learning would make wave to the point of being envied. In the process, he earned a deserved sobriquet: ‘Prof Taimako’ what with a slogan that has dictated what his administration wanted to achieve since it came on board; Performance, Prosperity and Happiness in the second generation university.

I came close to meeting the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof  Seddi Sebastian Maimako; only last year when someone who had worked with me had asked that I put in a word for him to be employed. When I eventually did; I found out that he was polite and courteous, and told me there was no vacancy. I didn’t push my luck further. 

Rather than get discouraged that I did not succeed, I remained interested in the activities and programmes of the university and was more determined that any legacy of JD Gomwalk was worth promoting if I had the opportunity. That opportunity however has provided itself, and we can do all to let the world appreciate the giant strides he has made in the last four years of his stewardship.

Late last year, I had cause to intervene through an article on the battle Prof Angela Miri, Vice Chancellor, Federal University; Lokoja had to wade through having been accused of employing some people from the state she comes from. I am aware that she came out stronger and determined to be more focused in her administration no matter the level of acrimony directed at her administration.

In the real sense, considering what a former vice chancellor, Prof Nenfort Gomwalk went through in the past; it is apparent for the suspicion. The character and name that was beginning to be ascribed for the University of Jos was frightening just as whoever has motives for its existence must know that such cannot succeed, given the level of the understanding of the politics involved.

Since the 12th Governing Council of the University of Jos approved the appointment of Professor Sebastian Seddi Maimako, then the Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Jos as the ninth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution which started as a campus of the University of Ibadan in November 1971, a lot has happened to the consternation of those who may not have given him a chance to succeed.

Anyone in this position would need to create the wave and be allowed to drive the university to where it should be. Like some ‘slave master’, unleashed on the campus, he has ‘infected’ staff and students with the spirit of service.  Before long on assumption of duty on June 23, 2016; he had clear cut ideas on how he would change the landscape and make all want to belong; and ‘to be a globally rated university providing an excellent educational experience with high impact on society.

Despite the daunting challenges which heralded his administration, nothing exemplifies his determination to succeed other than how he has excelled in human resource development and in various areas that the university can compete favourably with its peers.

‘The University of Jos has placed itself on the pedestal of strength, character and discipline. With a vision to be a globally rated University providing an excellent educational experience with high impact on society, the University of Jos until recently, shared the fate of other Nigerian Universities in declining infrastructure and inadequate funding to cater for the increasing turnout of prospective students who want to study in the institution. However, today this is becoming a thing of the past’.

There have been numerous challenges along the way, ‘despite the huge successes recorded so far, the University has been confronted with several challenges along the way, one of which is issue of security. This has continued to be a source of concern, with the increased demand to protect lives and property of the University’s resilient and hardworking staff and students but without the commensurate financial resources to adequately and comprehensively do so. Similarly, encroachments on the land earlier earmarked for the University’s development as well as ecological issues have also posed a daunting challenge’.

For learning to be conducive, the new promotion policy that took into consideration the absence of staff on study leave went well with them as the Governing Council approved that they would not be excluded from promotion as they were not on ground. ‘By this new policy, any staff who returns from study leave is promoted once he meets the criteria’.

As it stands, there is a difficulty in knowing the number of projects that were embarked upon due largely to their sheer number. It has been stated that Prof Maimako had about 126 of such projects and was able to complete 90 of those. The others are on-going. The infrastructural development in the University of Jos, since Maimako came on board has been made possible as funds were accessed through TETfund, Needs Assessment Interventions, Alumni of the University, well-meaning donors and Internally Generated Revenue.

The Senate/Administrative building on the Naraguta Campus which was started several years ago and outliving the tenure of two Vice Chancellors for instance was completed and occupied. This was celebrated during the third year anniversary of his been in office as Vice Chancellor. The development is a sign-post of the never-ending pieces of development; had the appointment been statutorily designated for two tenures, it would be certain for the university to make its final relocation to the permanent site feasible.

The appointment of the Professor of Accounting and Finance, Seddi Sebastian Maimako who has held several administrative positions in the University including Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Head, Acting Head, Department of Management Sciences, all in the University of Jos. Professor Sebastian Maimako is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN] and Associate member Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria (ICPAN).

The major plank of what he has been able to execute should swallow the pains of the vilification he was made to go through and move on. Indeed he has moved on, what with, and has changed the story of the infrastructural deficit that had been a major challenge for the university for a long time; and for a fact, it is not surprising that it became a ‘hub of infrastructural development with several projects springing up on the various campuses’.

In the following areas: Academic programmes; admissions; infrastructural development; library; ICT development; health services; student matters; staff development and welfare; research security; accountability and transparency in governance; linkages and affiliations and alumni relations; the challenges have been daunting, yet he has proved his mettle that with a dedicated staff, students and finance, nothing can be insurmountable.

For the last lap, he requires all the goodwill he needs to undertake the journey of expanding the frontiers of the university’s ‘most preferred destination for achieving “Performance, Prosperity and Happiness”. 

Also to have helped succeed, the home front has been well-managed by his heart throb, Mrs. Lucy Maimako and are blessed with five children.