FULafia V-C charges staff to be security conscious …Awards N1m to Faculty of Arts

The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, has advised the staff of the University to be security conscious and report any act of suspected criminality to the appropriate authorities.

This is just as the vice-chancellor has awarded the sum of N1 million to the Faculty of Arts for doing things in the right ways.

Abdul Rahman gave the advise, recently, during the Staff Forum Meeting of FULafia.

The meeting, which took place at the Adamu Adamu Lecture and Office Complex, essentially, dwelt on security matters.

A paper on how staff can improve their level of security awareness and response to emergency security situations was presented by the Chief Security Officer of FULafia, Wing Commander Umar Muhammed Awe (rtd), was presented during the meeting.

The presentation was tiled: “Tackling insecurity and other social vices in university campus.”

While commending the security personnel for their display of gallantry in the face of challenging security situations, the vice-chancellor said security was the responsibility of everyone in the campus.

He said that: “It is the best way to keep the University community safe and secure. It is also desirable that staff and students report all cases of security threat and breach to the authorities as doing so is in the interest of all.”

Abdul Rahman, who maintained that the University attached high premium on safety and security matters, commended the chief security officer for organising the security meeting, describing the initiative as a proactive approach to ensuring effective security and safety of staff and students on the campus.

Abdul Rahman frowned at the practice of farming engaged in by both workers and outsiders within the premises of FULafia, saying that the practice, if not stopped, could lead to “an unwanted security situations.”

He, therefore, said that “as part of measures to minimise the security challenges, I have directed that, henceforth, all farming activities on the University’s land should be stopped.”

He said that wearing of identification card by workers would, soon, be made mandatory for both staff and students while indecent dressings would not be tolerated.

The vice-chancellor expressed his hope that these measures would help to improve the already good security situation in the University.

He thanked the security unit for adopting a holistic method in dealing with issues and working with experts from diverse areas of security management to address security and safety issues in the University.

In his remark, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idris O. O. Amali, commended the vice-chancellor for his zeal and commitment to address issues pertaining to security and safety of lives and properties in the University.

Describing the vice-chancellor as a good listener, Amali pointed out that “we are not only concerned about the academic wellbeing of our students, but also with how safe and secure they are in and around the university,” adding: “This is because without safe and secure environment, learning and teaching will be impossible.”

In his presentation, the Chief Security Officer of the University, Wing Commander Muhammed Umar Awe (rtd), who highlighted the importance of sensitisation of the security programme, thanked the vice-chancellor for his support and concern about the safety and security of the University community.

He advised staff to desist from associating with criminals, warning that “if anyone gets caught, he will face the full wrath of the law.”

Shortly before the meeting commenced, Abdul Rahman called on the staff of the University to rededicate themselves to the task of improving the beauty and hygiene of the University, saying that he was happy with developments at the Faculty of Arts.

He, subsequently, awarded N1 million to the faculty for their outstanding performance at the August sanitation exercise.

The vice-chancellor, who said that the award was in fulfilment of his promise to the faculty, advised staff to be punctual, responsive and dedicated to their duty at all times, explaining that, “henceforth, the best performing faculty, directorate, as well as unit will be rewarded to boost moral of staff.”

Other top University’s staff that attended the event included the Bursar, Mr. Daniel Wilson, University Librarian, Dr Abiodun Iyoro, and Barr. Effiom, who represented the registrar, deans, directors and heads of units.