Hosting national events like the NUGA Games and the GSAN International Conference, respectively, has clear benefits, including facility development, high visibility, delivery of policy declarations, and research outcomes.
These were the positions taken by Professor Tanko Ishaya, FBCS, FNCS, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, when he recently hosted a delegation from the Plateau State Chapter of the Gender Studies Association of Nigeria (GSAN) at his office.
For the first time since the Association’s founding in 2016, Professor Ishaya complimented the team for successfully securing the hosting right of the GSAN conference.
In a related development, the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) inter-university games, which have been held annually since 1965, would be held in Unijos. In 2024, the university of Jos will host the games and conference for the first time.
According to the VC, the significant conference will further magnify discussions around gender and gender discourse.
Additionally, the management is eager to welcome GSAN and make sure that their time in Jos is unforgettable.
The VC pledged that Unijos is committed to making sure that GSAN meets all of her predetermined goals while in Jos by emphasising the necessity for good synergy between the University Centre for Gender Studies and GSAN.
Earlier, in a speech, Prof. Emeka Ozoji, a Fellow of GSAN and Chairman Local Organising Committee of the 8th International Conference, assured Management that his committee is ready to host a bumper conference unmatched in the country’s history of GSAN conferences, hence the need for the visit and other preliminary publicity.
Professor Ozoji informed the VC that the purpose of the visit was to officially inform him that the University of Jos has been given the permission to host the GSAN 2024 international conference and that he will serve as the conference’s Chief Host.
He added that the two GSAN Fellows from Unijos, Profs. Ozoji and Saidu, were largely responsible for bringing this conference to this university. He claimed that in the eight years of GSAN conferences, this will be the first time they are being held in the Northern region of the country and at the conference-friendly University of Jos.
The renowned gender activist and director of the Centre for Gender Studies, Prof. Irene Agunloye, was also a benefit of choosing the University of Jos to host the GSAN 8th international conference.
The chairman pleaded for the VC’s assistance in crucial areas, such as accommodations, transportation, and other logistics, in an effort to fulfil the agreement in the MOU directing the hosting right and provide a memorable conference.
The conference, which is expected to be historic, has begun to accept abstracts and issue matching acceptance letters so that authors may pursue funding and promotion as necessary.
The conference chairman reassured potential attendees that accepted abstracts and papers will be published in the Conference Book of Abstracts and GSAN’s impact journal, respectively, after being subjected to blind review.
He also guaranteed that potential conference attendees would take part in the life-changing session on academic writing that was planned for them.
In his reaction to the Chairman’s remarks, the Vice Chancellor (VC) expressed his wish for the Plateau State chapter to host the international conference successfully and pledged that the university would support it within its means.
