The Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University, Professor Tor Iorapuu, has drawn attention after sitting on the floor of a male hostel to share a meal of beans with students.
The unannounced visit, which took place in February 2025, surprised students, who said it was the first time a university leader had engaged them so informally.
Witnesses said Prof Iorapuu accepted an invitation from one of the students to join their meal, sitting cross-legged on the hostel floor and chatting with them.
Shortly after the visit, he directed that renovation work should begin on the hostels, which students had long complained were in poor condition. Workers were mobilised within hours to carry out assessments.
The gesture sparked wide discussion across the university, with students describing him as “approachable” and “a father figure.” On social media, photos of the visit circulated widely.
Prof Iorapuu, who became Vice-Chancellor of BSU in 2021 after serving as Dean of Arts at the University of Jos, has prioritised student welfare and infrastructural upgrades during his tenure.
Education analysts described the hostel visit as an example of transformational leadership, saying it helped bridge the gap between university management and students at a time when strained relations often led to protests in Nigerian universities.
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