- Hails Achievers University, Owo’s Giant Strides
By Banji Ayoola
The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, on Saturday made far reaching recommendations to tackle the problems rocking Nigeria’s university system.
Specifically, he called for a change of strategy involving complete reorientation and paradigm shift for universities to fulfill their mission as citadels of learning.
He spoke as the Guest Lecturer, at the 11th Foundation Anniversary of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, where he also identified the myriad of challenges and impediments to accessible university education in the country.
In his 28-page lecture, which was entitled “University Education in Nigeria: Matters Arising,” he also listed strategies for improving access to university education in the country.
Noting that the rot which affected public and secondary schools is rapidly creeping into the public tertiary institutions, he regretted that this aberration should never have been allowed into the universities.
Improving on the position of the National Planning Commission in 2004 on revitalising the system, he recommended that all Nigerian educational institutions, at all levels, should undergo fundamental and critical reforms and restructuring for them to make meaningful contributions to national development.
He underpinned his recommendations withthe golden words of former American President John F. Kennedy, of June 1963 that:‘I do not deny the value of hopes and dreams but we merely invite discouragement and incredulity by making that our only and immediate goal. Let us focus instead on a more practical, more attainable series of concrete actions and effective agreements which are in the interest of all concerned.’
Prof Ogunbodede recommended: “Solution will start with the articulation of the rationale and goals for change. Three essential ingredients for effective structural and operational changes in our educational system are: performance measurement, process improvement and teamwork. Unfortunately, these are currently lacking or at best very weak.
“We must now think less of the vehicles and refocus on the outcome. We must redesign and implement our educational system at all levels such that it will be less about form and more about the work to be done. There will be large shifts in the design of the current systems if this ambition is to be achieved.
“One major obstacle is that people often hold on tenaciously to what they are familiar with, and act only on things they know. They are understandably wary of breaking new grounds and venturing into the “unknown”. Unfortunately, what we know doesn’t seem to work anymore and the educational system before us requires that we take a different approach, and include all stakeholders in the rescue mission.
“A value-oriented, performance driven system cannot be achieved without the universities and other education experts adapting or even rejecting some traditions currently in our educational practice.”
He said: “Education must support the developmental needs of the society, and open channels between the education sector and the broader social, political, economic and physical determinants of growth and development.
“For tertiary education to improve in Nigeria and for Universities to make the required impact, there are certain essential socio-political requirements: an environment free from local hazards including ethnic, political and religious strife, droughts and floods; satisfactory standard of living and quality of life that ensures adequate food supply.
“The government alone cannot effectively promote education and contributions are necessary from non-governmental sources including individuals, families and communities.
“It must be noted that though the general mission of all universities upon establishment is to be citadels of learning and development, each must carve a niche for itself, achieving some level of uniqueness, if it must enjoy national and global recognition.
“In a fast changing and challenging world ruled by vision, clarity of mission and creativity, developing efficient, relevant and functional education system has become the linchpin of socio-economic development.
“The rapid proliferation of universities has enormous implications for the present and future relevance and survival of the Nigerian higher education system. It requires the introduction of new methods to achieve optimum generation of revenue that will enable the universities meet their ever-increasing obligations, especially in the face of dwindling national resources and economic recession.”
The intervention measures he gave to redeem the university system from the rot, include adequate attention to institutional leadership and management, whereby the appointment of Vice-Chancellors and other Principal Officers should be based on merit, among others.
He said that initiatives such as the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE), Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) and the various interventions by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will go a long way in further improving the quality of teaching, research and graduate output.
Prof Ogunbodedealso proposed key strategies to improve access to education in the country including Policies and Strategic Plans whose implementation requires a purposeful, experienced, highly knowledgeable and consistent leadership, should now become the norm.
Other are:
- Regular and Credible Accreditation of Programmes and involvement of International observers on the accreditation teams;
- Centres of Excellence should be established;
- Prompt Attention should be given to Industrial Disputes to Avoid National Strikes;
- Maintaining a Regular Academic Calendar;
- Attaining the Status of World-Class Institutions;
- Need for Linkages, Collaborations and Networks;
- Need to Strengthening Research and Research Policies in Tertiary Institutions;
- University Industry Linkage whereby Universities should partner with industry and serve as an engine for wealth creation, employment generation, poverty reduction and value orientation;
- Staff Discipline, Conflict Resolution and Work Ethics; and
- University Autonomy.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of Achievers University, Prof Tunji Ibiyemi, spoke of the giant strides made by the university since it took off in 2008 with two colleges – College of Natural and Applied Sciences and College of Social and Management Science and 12 undergraduate programmes.
He said that today, the numbers of colleges and undergraduate academic programmes have doubled, with additional College of Engineering and a College of Law.
He also spoke of the feat in Mechatronic Engineering, noting that the university is one of the three private universities in the country offering the programme.
According to him, the university has NUC accreditation in 24 programmes including Nursing Science.
Prof Ibiyemi said: “Today, the university can boast of 13 professors and three readers. The student’s population stands at 2,700. And today the university has matriculated 12 sets and graduated eight sets. The university has started postgraduate programmes in Accounting and Business Administration.”
On the N100 million chapel building fund launched at the occasion, he said that Achievers University, Owo is founded on Christian faith for inspiration and operation.
He thanked the Council for its efforts at providing a conducive environment for learning and research from meagre resources.
In his own speech Chairman of the occasion, the retired Archbishop of Ondo Ecclesiastical Province, the Most Revd. Prof Latunji Lasebikan believed strongly that Achievers University would make a difference in view of its foundation on Christian faith.
The University has so far admitted consecutively matriculated 12 sets of students, turned out eight sets of graduates, well grounded in their specific academic or professional disciplines and entrepreneurial studies, who are making exemplary contributions to grow Nigeria’s economy.
It was established with the vision to be the best university in Africa and indeed among the best in the world, Achievers University, Owo aims to produce a total person, morally sound, properly educated and entrepreneurially oriented, who would be useful to himself and the society.
