This piece is about Professor Christopher Goson Piwuna, the newly elected President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), but permit me to digress a little to drive home the point that Piwuna's family, Ngas Nation, Plateau State and University of Jos, have got assets and 'the man in the mirror', is just a specimen of what these conclaves (the family, the Nation, State and University) could offer to Nigeria and the world.
Growing up as a child, names like Sam Piwuna, Emmanuel Jankanwa, Emma Manassah, Haruna Dabin, Gideon Barde, Danladi Shemu, Sunday Girma, John Gozheng and a couple of others, who are now great title holders, and some sadly deceased, were larger than life for me. I never knew these people live amongst us but another planet.
Legendary stories, for instance, were told about Nde John Gozheng's climbing to the top of popular Wase Rock. Also, Nde Emmanuel Jankanwa, will pass through our neighbouring Community (Tabulung) to his village, Gyangyang, with a white Toyota Benz, and the elderly ones amongst us will tell us, from distant hills where we tending flocks that, Emma Jankanwa is the one passing. There were so many legendary stories about these people mentioned. In the course of time, however, I began to realise they live amongst us too.
It was when i started a degree programme at the University of Jos, that I learnt more about Piwuna family and understood that, Nde Sam is not the only one: There are other Piwunas and, interestingly, all of them are resourceful. Anyway, Professor Christopher is the topic here for obvious reasons.
Professor Christopher Goson Piwuna, was elected ASUU's President at the just concluded 23rd National Delegates Congress (NDC) which took place on 10th May, 2025, at University of Benin in Benin City, Edo State. The biography of the President does not matter here but the trajectory of his ascension. To start with, the Psychiatric Consultant and Dean of Students Affairs, University of Jos, was one time ASUU's Chairman, University of Jos Chapter who delivered successfully. He became Vice President before his subsequent emergence as President, a prove that, he has discharged his previous responsibilities satisfactorily!
Given this trajectory above, also, it can be deduced without mincing words that, the new President is not venturing into an unfamiliar terrain, but has experience and exposure that made his election a well deserved one!
To be elected ASUU President is no mean feat considering that the union is one of the most vibrant and influential unions in Nigeria. As the Union President, the scope of his responsibility has widened. He the status symbol and first anchor of ASUU!
Suffice to state here that the immediate predecessor, Professor Victor Osodeke, Department of Soil Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, was loud. Therefore, Professor Piwuna is expected to be louder. He was courageous hence the new is expected to be more courageous. He was strategic hence the successor is expected to be more strategic. The Soil Science Professor, was visionary hence Piwuna is expected to be more visionary. The successor has alot more to do, in terms of performance, to make a difference.
In that Office, Professor Piwuna, is looked up to as an ambassador for his family, Community, Ngas nation, Plateau State, University of Jos and, indeed, a new face and voice of ASUU. He has no option but to reinvent the feats that made the Union settled for him, in the first place. He must justify why the Union opted for him, and not his main challenger, Prof Adamu Babayo of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, during the Congress election.
There is no doubt that, the journey that culminated into this victory could never have been a one man affair, but a collective one. Therefore, the new President is counseled to leverage the power of his wide contacts and energies that made him successful at the poll. He is a force for good but leadership can only be successful through reliable think thank.
A renowned journalist, Friday Olokor, of Arise News, in a Publication, on Monday, May, 12, 2025, outlined the key issues the Piwuna's Presidency will face to include "ongoing discussions surrounding funding, Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) of academic staff, mass labour migration from the Universities (brain drain), issues of autonomy, and improved welfare for academic staff." These concerns are not new but hard to resolve.
The President and his team must have a working Blueprint towards resolving existing and emerging challenges but, more importantly, is the unity of ASUU members.
The challenges of the ASUU are urgent hence the need for the new leadership to hit the ground running immediately. The tasks are weighty but, with stamina and tact, the Union will pull through under Professor Piwuna's charismatic and pragmatic leadership.The responsibilities at hand have no winning strategy than power of visionary leadership, teamwork and lobbying. The leadership cultivate the power of successful negotiation while insuring that the interest of the is protected at all cost.
The education system in Nigeria needs closed and concentrated attention. The problems confronting the system are myriad with dire implication for poverty reduction, economic growth, development and the future of our civilisation. The ASUU and its leadership is one of the critical stakeholders in the drive towards making the system and Nigeria develop.
An opportunity has come for Professor Christopher Piwuna and his team to reinvent their can do spirit in the leadership of ASUU. The new leadership cannot afford to fail the Union and the education system. Congratulations and May God empower the new President and his team to succeed for the good of all.
Ayuba, Yilgak'ha. loisayuba420@gmail.com
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