Mr. Thomas Gangumi is the registrar of the Federal University Wukari, Taraba State. In this interview with TAIWO OGUNMOLA-OMILANI, he speaks on the plan of the institution to liaise with some NGOs and individuals for support to establish a flour industry. The excerpts.
What is the university doing to tap the abundant resources in the state to improve its internally generated revenue?
We are lucky to have the university sited in Taraba State. This university has a lot of resources to boost its IGR. That is why the Consult Unit was set up by the university. The unit has identified some areas and resources that can be tapped. Apart from the academic programmes such as the pre-degree/pre-JAMB that add capital value to the university, abundant natural resources are also available to us. We are trying to liaise with some NGOs and individuals for support so that we can establish a flour industry. We also see need to encourage farmers to go into more cassava farming and production so that they can feed our Consult Unit where it can be milled, packaged and sold within and outside the country. These can immensely improve our IGR. We also want to reposition our existing bakery. With these and many more, we won’t have to rely on the Federal Government at all times. In this way, I think we are on the right track.
Is the University thinking of partnering Taraba State government on some of these plans?
The state government is our host state, so they will have interest in everything that happens here in Federal University Wukari. We try to involve them in order to make the atmosphere conducive for us to operate. We have, indeed, been receiving maximum cooperation from the state government. The vice chancellor has indicated interest to partner the state government in tackling environmental degradation following the massive plundering of the state forest reserves.
What are you doing about your staff welfare?
In any organization, human resources are valuable, so I have to ensure that the working environment is conducive for the staff in order to enable them perform maximally. When we came here, there were very few offices and efforts were put in place to provide more offices. We are not there yet, but at least we have a good starting. The former registrar had to sit in an office with all his staff. But today I am here in the registry where we have more than four offices under the department. We are trying our best to provide adequate furniture. Allowances that are due to some officers are being paid and we hope to improve on that.
Many staff who are due for confirmation have been confirmed. We plan to ensure that those who merit certain privileges are given them accordingly. At the end of each year, we organize and give awards to deserving staff in appreciation of their efforts; and we will continue to do that. With the building projects on-going, we are sure that we will soon have enough office and residential accommodation. These are some of the things put in place to ensure staff welfare.
Are there plans for in-service training for staffs?
Of course, we have non-academic staff that are on studies as well. In the university setting, teaching staff are given more privilege to study. They have 70 percent while the non-teaching staff have 30 percent. That is why you may not notice a lot of non-teaching staff undergoing further studies. However, it is their privilege as far as it is within the lawful provision of a university system.
How are you coping with the high expectations of the host community?
In every society, there are expectations and you cannot meet all of them. Everybody wants Federal University Wukari to employ him/her, and no matter how much we try in that direction, we cannot employ all. Again, we have a budgetary provision that guides our spending which we cannot go outside it. That is why we have been pleading for understanding from people that look unto us for one benefit or the other. We do everything within our powers to make sure that people understand our situation. Our staff also want to get promotion or go on further studies and as I speak, so many of them are undergoing their studies within and outside this country courtesy of the management.
How do you ‘perceive’ your personnel?
We came on board and met the work. Management hired so many people and we know that some are coming from backgrounds that are not academic in nature. Such staff are trying to learn on the job with our support to assist them grow. Some others find it so challenging but they have to key in and that is why they are sent on workshops so that they can be trained in some specific areas.
What is your expectation of Prof. Kundiri’s administration?
The person, Prof. Kundiri, has been in the Nigerian university system for a long time. I am hopeful that he can bring his wealth of experience to bear on the Federal University Wukari. We expect much from him including facilitating full accreditation of academic programmes, completion of ongoing projects in the university and on the whole total transformation of our university. Already, he has shown concern in various vital issues affecting the institution such as accommodation for students and staff. For instance, some staff especially senior academic staff do not have office and residential accommodation. Just as other staff and students think in this direction, I expect the management under the leadership of Prof. Abubakar .M. Kundiri to give adequate attention to these problems with a view to addressing them.
Who is Gangumi?
I was born to the family of Magaji Gangumi in Kwesati, a village in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State. I went to a missionary primary school in Lupwe in the then Benue Plateau State now Taraba State. I came down to the former St. Paul’s Secondary School, Wukari now Government Secondary School, and then proceeded for my A level in the university. After my NYSC, I started a working career at the College of Agriculture, Jalingo and was transferred to the Federal Character Commission where I served as the Adamawa State director, from where I joined Federal University Wukari.
How do you relax?
As a registrar, I don’t really have the time to relax so I create some little time to stay with my family. I also attend to my small farm.
You have been the registrar for more than a year, how do you find the job?
My acquaintance with this nature of job spans over 25 years. I was an assistant registrar in 1992, and progressed to the rank of deputy registrar somewhere before joining Federal University Wukari. So, it’s a very familiar terrain. As a registrar you are a servant. If you choose to be a boss, you are likely to have problems. The general personnel and I are all part of this system working in harmony.
What message do you have for your staff and perhaps the public?
I will enjoin staff to take Federal University Wukari as a family and give the vice chancellor who is the head of the family necessary cooperation. As members of one family we have to work without division of any kind whether ethnic or religious. The vice chancellor is endowed with many ideas to develop this university, so let all of us (staff), Wukari community and Taraba State support him.