Greenland University Seeks NUJ Partnership for Growth

Greenland University Seeks NUJ Partnership for Growth

Greenland University, Jalingo, has moved to strengthen its relationship with the media as the institution seeks greater public awareness of its academic programmes and its ambition to produce graduates equipped for entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation.

The university’s pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ojo Sunday Isaac Fayomi, made the institution’s position known during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Taraba State Council, where he led a delegation to engage journalists on the university’s vision and development plans.

The visit formed part of efforts by the institution to introduce itself more broadly to the journalism community and establish a working relationship that could help prospective students, parents and other members of the public receive information about its programmes and activities.

Fayomi said Greenland University was established with an educational philosophy that seeks to go beyond the conventional approach of preparing graduates primarily to search for existing jobs. Instead, the institution intends to equip students with knowledge and practical capabilities that could enable them to create employment opportunities and contribute to economic development.

University Targets Job Creation

The emphasis on entrepreneurship and self-reliance represents a major component of Greenland University’s emerging academic identity.

Fayomi explained that the institution wants to produce graduates who can apply their education to solving problems, developing enterprises and creating opportunities rather than depending entirely on government and private organisations for employment.

The approach is particularly relevant at a time when many Nigerian graduates face considerable competition for limited employment opportunities.

For universities, the situation has increased attention on the need to combine academic knowledge with entrepreneurship, technology and practical skills that can prepare students for a changing economy.

Greenland University is seeking to position itself within that space.

The institution has about 16 programmes available for admission, covering areas including Computer Science, Cyber Security, Accounting, Management and different branches of Engineering.

Admissions are already underway, while academic activities are expected to commence later in the year.

University Highlights Learning Facilities

Beyond its academic programmes, the university is also placing emphasis on infrastructure and the learning environment available to students.

Fayomi said Greenland University has invested in facilities designed to support modern teaching and learning.

Among the facilities highlighted are internet connectivity, accommodation and digital learning resources.

Access to digital infrastructure has become increasingly important in higher education as students and lecturers rely on online academic materials, research databases, communication platforms and technology-assisted learning.

For an institution seeking to establish itself around technology, entrepreneurship and innovation, the availability and reliability of such facilities could play an important role in determining the quality of students’ academic experience.

The Vice-Chancellor also indicated that the institution intends to promote greater inclusion of women in higher education.

Another area receiving attention is affordability.

Fayomi said the university intends to keep its tuition relatively moderate compared with some other private institutions.

Affordability could significantly influence the institution’s ability to attract students, particularly as Nigerian households continue to balance education expenses with other financial responsibilities.

NUJ Partnership Could Expand Public Awareness

The university’s engagement with the NUJ reflects the importance it places on communication and public visibility.

Fayomi urged journalists to support the institution by providing accurate coverage of its academic programmes, activities and achievements.

For a new university, effective communication can help prospective students understand available courses, admission requirements and institutional objectives.

However, building a strong reputation will ultimately depend on more than publicity.

Academic quality, programme accreditation, qualified lecturers, research performance, student welfare and graduate outcomes will remain important factors in determining how the institution is perceived over time.

The leadership of the NUJ Taraba State Council welcomed the university delegation and expressed willingness to maintain a working relationship with the institution.

Council Chairman Matthew Eliud Jen encouraged the university management to maintain an open communication system with journalists.

Regular engagement, he indicated, would make it easier for the media to obtain accurate information and communicate developments within the institution to the public.

The Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel also welcomed the initiative and supported stronger engagement between the university and journalists.

Calls for Scholarships and Affordable Education

The meeting also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss how more students could gain access to the institution.

The Chief Executive Officer of Taraba News and SUM TV congratulated Fayomi on his appointment and welcomed the university’s focus on entrepreneurship and skills development.

He urged the institution to ensure that its tuition remains reasonably affordable.

He also suggested that political leaders, philanthropists and other financially capable individuals could sponsor students from disadvantaged backgrounds to study at the university.

Such scholarship arrangements could provide opportunities for academically qualified students whose families may be unable to finance private university education independently.

Access to scholarships could become particularly important if the university wants to attract talented students from different economic backgrounds.

Another suggestion raised during the engagement was collaboration between Greenland University and established higher institutions in Taraba State.

Such cooperation could involve academic expertise and human resources, potentially allowing institutions to benefit from specialised lecturers and other professionals.

Collaboration can also extend to research, academic conferences, professional development and other initiatives that strengthen higher education.

Pioneer Vice-Chancellor Faces Major Task

As pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Fayomi carries significant responsibility for establishing the academic and administrative foundation of Greenland University.

He is a scholar in Mechanical Metallurgy of Materials and Production Technology and has academic qualifications that include postgraduate studies in Metallurgical Engineering.

His academic career has included teaching and research responsibilities in Nigeria and abroad.

Leading a newly established university presents challenges that differ considerably from managing a long-established institution.

The pioneer administration must build institutional systems, recruit qualified academic and non-academic personnel, establish a strong academic culture and attract students while ensuring compliance with relevant higher-education standards.

The administration will also need to develop partnerships and build confidence among parents, students, professional organisations and the wider public.

How effectively these foundations are established could significantly influence the university’s development in the years ahead.

A New Institution in Taraba’s Education Sector

The emergence of Greenland University expands the higher-education landscape in Taraba State and potentially creates additional opportunities for students seeking university education.

Its stated focus on entrepreneurship, technology and job creation could become a defining feature if those objectives are effectively incorporated into teaching and practical training.

For students, the real measure will be whether the university can provide education that combines academic knowledge with skills relevant to contemporary economic realities.

For parents, issues such as affordability, safety, accommodation and academic standards are likely to remain important considerations.

And for the wider society, the institution’s contribution could eventually be assessed through its graduates, research activities and involvement in solving social and economic problems.

The decision to seek a partnership with journalists therefore represents an early step in building public awareness and establishing relationships outside the university environment.

As admissions continue and the institution prepares for academic activities, attention will increasingly turn from its stated ambitions to their implementation.

Greenland University has presented a vision built around technology, entrepreneurship, innovation and the production of graduates capable of creating opportunities.

The challenge ahead will be translating that vision into measurable academic outcomes and demonstrating that its graduates can acquire not only university qualifications but also the knowledge, creativity and practical capabilities required to contribute meaningfully to Taraba State and Nigeria’s wider economy.