From Atang Izang, Jos
The Senate in University of Jos held a valedictory session to honour the Late Professor Punyit Diket Plang whose demise was announced by a family source. Plang, a Professor of Sociology and Anthropology is reported to have been diagnosed with breast cancer, leading to her demise despite several medical interventions.
The Late Professor Plang until her demise was the wife of Chief Diket Plang, the Senator representing Plateau Central in the National Assembly, she was described by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Tanko Ishaya and colleagues as a person who stood out both in academics and endearing character. In his personal tributes, the VC said the late Prof Plang was a leading light in all aspects that make a decent person and regretted that the University will certainly not be able to replicate her due to her unique academic prowess and the impactful interpersonal relationships she maintained and nurtured with colleagues and her students. As a University, we are condoled by the fact that she left footprints of excellence in her contributions to its reputation, we therefore pray that her families will be comforted that she lived well, the VC Said.
Other Professors in her Faculty, the Faculty of Social Sciences and beyond poured encomium on the Late Plang, describing her simplicity and diligence as a rare gem to find. Colleagues from the different associations she belonged such as the National Sociological and Anthropological Society of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities while pouring encomium on their late colleague recognised that her sterling qualities transcended the University community and prayed for the repose of her soul.
Her husband, Senator Plang while reflecting on the times spent together as a couple hinted how she was diagnosed with a malignant cancer in 2023. Following the diagnosis here in Nigeria, they headed to the Cancer Centre in London in the United Kingdom where it was confirmed to be at the 4th stage. Since then, they continually accessed medical as much as they could, till she breathed her last. He then, thanked her colleagues and the entire university community for the role they played in her life.
There was a procession of Professors; members of the University of Jos Senate at the UNIJOS Senate building, venue of the Valedictory Session in commiseration with the Senator and her three daughters and grandchildren.
