In a major symbolic move, political scientists at Nigeria’s University of Jos have named an office after Prof Bonaventure Haruna. Prof Haruna died about three weeks ago. UNIJOS lecturers in politics unveiled the signpost Monday, June 23rd, 2025 after a short meeting to that effect.
Intervention missed the moment of the unveiling but it was a fairly crowded event, by Departmental size. It was understood that all academics of the Department who were on ground that day attended the meeting.
The Executive Committee (Excos) of the Gamai Workers Association, Professor Haruna’s cultural roots had previously credited him with exceptional guidance, wisdom, and calm demeanor which they said made him a pillar of strength to the University of Jos community, the association and the Gamai community at large. The communal and the academic tributes suggest that Prof Haruna must be an evidence of the idea that we each inhabit our own world, with our own mourners and solidarisers.
UNIJOS might not be unaffected by the decay in the Nigerian university system, it still retains its uniqueness in neither being a member of the first generation of Nigerian universities nor of the second generation into which it is classified. Rather, it stands alone between the first and second generations. It has to be so because it had started as a campus of Nigeria’s premier university – the University of Ibadan. Intervention stands to be corrected on but, until then, this does not apply to any other university in Nigeria.
The naming of the former Departmental Boardroom is thus a major symbolic move, given that the Department is where the Ali Mazruis, the Isawa Elaigwus, the Ganas, Tyodens and Allis among others, once lectured, leaving proteges and successors who are carrying on the flag!
