Sun News - November 19, 2012 by The Sun News

Progress report:

UNN students convert stadium to lecture room PAGE 32

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

EducationReview EDITED BY CHIKA ABANOBI

PEOPLE•PLACES•PROBLEMS•PROSPECTS•PROGRESS

PAGES 26 – 28

N I G E R I A’ S V O I C E O F E D U C AT I O N

ALVAN IKOKU Our pioneer educationist Nigerians don’t know

1st Respondent: “He is a Calabar man”

2nd Respondent: “He is from Southern Cameroon”

3rd Respondent: “He is the former Governor of Central Bank”

4th Respondent: “He is Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe”

5th Respondent: “My broda, I tire for dis your question”

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Education Review/COVER “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example” – Disraeli, Benjamin

One question Nigerians find difficult to answer:

Who is Alvan Ikoku? Akinola

Temitope

Esther

Deji

Alvan Ikoku

By ORI MARTINS Adenike

Chigozie

elcome to Alvan Azinwa Ikoku memoriam. Born on August 1, 1900, he died on November 18,1971. Unarguably, Nigeria’s pioneer educationist, but while Nigerians east of the Niger know much about him through a school named, after him, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State, the rest of us do so through the N10 currency note which bears his image. In fact, before General Murtala Ramat Muhammed displaced it in N20 note in 1977, it used to be the highest currency note, following the change from British currency in the early 70s, after the Civil War. On the 41st anniversary of his death (which fell on Sunday), Education Review decided to do something crazy. We gave N10 notes to our reporters’ and sent them out to the street to find out, from the educated and uneducated, what they know about Alvan Ikoku. Talking about the educated, we purposely asked them to go after students reading Education courses. We were sure that even if others failed, they will not.

But our discovery was as interesting as it was shocking. We found out that whereas respondents could easily identify and say something reasonable on personalities like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (on N500 note), Alhaji Ahmadu Bello (N200), Chief Obafemi Awolowo (N100), General Murtala Muhammed (N20) and even Alhaji (Sir) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (N5), they couldn’t say much about Alvan Ikoku. Shown the N10 note, Akinola Komolafe and Arowobusoye Temitope, both post-graduate students of the Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, described Ikoku as a “Calabar man.” On hearing, “is this not a Calabar man?” from Akinola and, “Yes, I think he hailed from Calabar, judging from his looks and name,” retorted his friend, Arowobusoye, our reporters exchanged glances with each other before bursting into laughter. At this juncture, the duo needed no soothsayer to tell them that they were dead wrong. In spite of their embarrassed looks, Akinola and Arowobusoye sheepishly joined in the laughter. But no sooner they did that than they quickly recovered their wits. “I do not really know him well because he was not a great or good politi-

Taiwo cian,” Akinola said as he shrugged his shoulders. “I can only talk about Chief Obafemi Awolowo because he gave the South-West free education. I do not know much about the Ikoku of a guy.” “I do not even know where he comes from but the main issue is that he was not a political big fish like Awo or Zik, the two men who made things happen in Nigeria both before and after independ-

•Continued on Page 27

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DAILY SUN

COVER/Education Review “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity” –Ellen Parr

From VAL OKARA, Owerri

n March 15 (known as “the Ides of March”), 44 BC, Julius Caesar, the famous Roman Emperor and warrior, was attacked by some Senators, including Marcus Brutus, his closest friend, much like the late Captain Thomas Sankara and his bossom friend, President Blaise Compaore, of Burkina Faso. Initially, Caesar resisted the attackers, but when he saw Brutus, he was helpless and devastated So shocked was he that he allegedly exclaimed: “Et tu, Brute?,” meaning: “You too, Brutus?” You can also say the same thing to students of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State. When people we asked the “Satanic” question didn’t seem to know much about Alvan Ikoku, we turned to the college named after him in 1973. Established in 1963, it used to be called Advanced Teachers Training College (ATTC), Owerri. Surely, we reasoned, the students must know. But we were shocked to discover that some of the Alvanas, (as students of the college, like to call themselves), we asked, were as blank as the rest of us, while some were not. Stephen Mba, an NCE graduate and first year degree student of the Department of Economics says that he was told by his father that the late Dr. Alvan Ikoku “a foremost educationist from the defunct Eastern Region. In fact, that is why our college of education was named after him. My father told me that he (Ikoku) moved from house to house, forcing people to enroll in schools in those days. On my own, I know that he is the one on the N10 note.” Chidinma Okere, second year NCE student of Accountancy, said: “I learnt that he was one of the leaders from the former Eastern Region. He was an administrator in the zone. His profile I read indicated that he was among those that established the Nigeria Union of Teacher (NUT) and he contributed so much in the education sector. As a result of his excellent performance, this college of education was named after him.” Unlike the first two respondents, Lilian Okafor, first year student of Physical and Health Education, could not say much about Ikoku. She

•Continued from Page 26

Nwosu

Monsuru

Et tu, Alvanas?

How some students of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, the institution of higher learning named after him, failed the test told Education Review, that: “I don’t know him very well and nobody had cared to tell us why this institution was named after Ikoku, not even during our orientation programme.” However, Eberechukwu Uzoma, NCE final student of Political Science says that the late Ikoku was an astute politician who made his marks in both the former Eastern Region and

Federal level at large. “We were told that he was involved in championing the growth of education in the country”, she remarked. A female student, Angela Eze, of Biology Department turned the question into a big joke when she answered: “Oga, I don’t know why our institution was named after the late Alvan Ikoku. I was told he was a popular man.”

Dr (Mrs) Blessing C. Ijioma, Provost

The guessing game ence.” His friend, Arowobusoye, agrees. “I tell you, if not that his portrait is on the N10 note, by now nobody will be talking about him. You know I am from the West and Ikoku is from the East; you cannot expect me to know or say much about him, especially when he had no record of achievements.” Some minutes after leaving them, our reporters ran into another student, who simply identified himself as Yinka, (he refused to disclose either his surname or course of study). “Is that not the former CBN governor?,” he asked when shown the N10 note. This time around, the reporters tried very hard to suppress their urge to laugh but it was too late. Asked to say what he knows about Alvan Ikoku, he repeated his earlier statement though hesitantly, “I think the man on the N10 note was a CBN governor.” But looking a bit puzzled after looking into the faces of the reporters, he added, “I am not too sure, any way. The problem is that the man is not popular because he did not contribute much to the development of Nigeria like Tafawa Balewa, Zik, Awo, Murtala Muhammed and others did. Another point is that the man’s image is on the N10 note, that is not well-circulated as other denominations of our currency, in fact that denomination (N10) is usually given to school kids to buy biscuit. Assuming his image were to be on the N100, N200 or N500 notes, then he would have been more popular and all of would have known him without much difficulty.” Like others, Tunde Alabi of the Department of Geography/ Education, had no problem correctly identifying Ikoku but he was at a loss when it came to saying something tangible about him. “My sisters, you know, very well, that this man you are talking about was not popular,” he said,

when pressured to do so. “Thus, I have not read much about him as I read about other nationalists. Again, the institution you said that was named after him is a college of education. If it were a federal university, all of us would have known who this man is.” But unlike Akinola, Arowobusoye, Yinka and Tunde, Esther Emefe, of the Department of Computer Education correctly identified Ikoku as an educationist and a nationalist, but she could not go further than that, to mention any of his achievements that made the Federal Government, through the Central Bank, chose to honour him. So, leaving her, our reporters moved on, still clutching the N10 note. Some minutes later,, they ran into Deji Odunuga, final year student of the Department of Microbiology. Without caring to take a second look at the personage on the note, he remarked, offhandedly, that it is “Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.” He was, obviously deceived by the glasses that Ikoku put on. But the prolonged laughter that followed even from his fellow students who were around, made him feel embarrassed as to take another look. This time around, he got the name right but caused more laughter when, in stating what he knows about him, said he is from Southern Cameroon. “You know that Southern Cameroon was part of Nigeria until they left to join their kit and kin,” he said in self-defence after the laughter had died down. “So, it may be difficult knowing much about Ikoku because he might have come from Cameroon.” But Miss Adenike Aliu, a graduate of Guidance and Counselling, from LASU, got the answer

Afariogun

•Continued on Page 28

Omolade

DAILY SUN Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Education Review/COVER “A man can be a hero if he is a scientist, or a soldier, or a drug addict, or a disc jockey, or a crummy mediocre politician. A man can be a hero because he suffers and despairs; or because he is cruel. Virtually any circumstance in a man’s life will make him a hero to some group of people” - Andrea Dworkin

We don’t know him, say traders •Continued from Page 27 correct when she said: “the person on N10 note is Alvan Ikoku. He was a nationalist and an educationist and I think that was why a college of education was named after him in Imo State.” At this juncture, our reporters felt that they had heard enough from the Faculty of Education, LASU, and turned their attention to students of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCED), Ijanikin, Lagos, which is some 10 to 15 kilometres away from the university. Like others, Samuel Blessing, a final year student of the Department of Political Science Education correctly identified Ikoku on the note, but thereafter, he drew blank on further details about him. “What really amazes me is that this man was not well-known when I was in secondary school,” he said. “I read Government and Social Studies but none of my teachers spoke much about him, so it is not my fault.” Mrs. Taiwo Oluwayemisi of the Department of Nursery and Primary Education, agreed. “I always heard his name being mentioned occasionally, so I cannot say much about him because he was not a great politician, a governor, a minister or a president,” she told Education Review. But one thing I know is that he was a nice man and a good Nigerian as to make the Federal Government put his image on our national currency.” Like Oluwayemisi, Bassey. O. N. from Cross River State, but of the Department of French Education, correctly recognized him as an educationist but could not go further than that to talk about his contributions to education. “Only those who are into politics will be able to say much about the man,” he said. Oluwayemisi and Bassey are even better off. Unlike them, Christiana Adebayo, 300 level student of Economics Education, confessed to Education Review, that she had no idea of who is on the N10 note, nor his contributions to the growth of education in Nigeria. Neither did petty traders and businessmen who use that denomination in financial transactions, from time to time, fare any better. From our reporter, Oluwaseun Adeworan, who was given

By ORI MARTINS

e was an accomplished educationist, yet, not many people seem to know who he is, what he did and what he represents in the academic circles. He played heroic roles in the establishment of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), still today’s teachers hardly know him. He floated a memorial college in his hometown to facilitate the secondary education of young Nigerians, yet most youths of his constituency and, indeed of the country, do not have much to say about him, as evident from the random enquiries carried out by Education Review. Born in Amanaguwu, Arochukwu, Abia State, Alvan Azinwa Ikoku came from a wealthy merchant family and received good education at Government School and Hope Waddell College all in Calabar. In 1920, he got his first teaching appointment with the Presbyterian Church of Scotland at Itigidi and two years later, he became a senior tutor at St. Paul’s Teachers’ Training College, Awka, in today’s Anambra State. It was while at Awka that he earned the University of London degree in Philosophy in 1928 through private correspondence. In 1931, he established, the Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu, named after James E.K. Aggrey, the eminent Ghanaian educationist. Following the constitutional changes in 1946 which allowed for more Nigerians to be in the leg-

that task, said that one Ernest Joseph who hails from Edo State and who trades in clothing materials, uses the N10 note often but does not bother to know who is on it. “I don’t know him and it is not my business to know him,” he said. “All I am after is to spend the money to transact business. I have heard of that man before now but I don’t know much about him; maybe because he died before I was born.” Miss Chukwu Chigozie, a petty trader in foodstuff, who hails from Imo State, finds herself in the same shoes with Joseph. “Honestly, I don’t know the man and I have not heard about him before,” she said. “I am surprised that he is the one on the N10 note.” Mr. Adeniyi Owolabi, a businessman from Ogun State, professed ignorance of the man as did others. When showed the N10 note, he initially did some guesswork by mentioning many other names as the ones whose image is on the currency, before eventually mentioning the name of Alvan Ikoku. But when asked to say something about the educationist, he looked our reporter in

‘My broda, I tire for dis your question. If I say I know much about him, I would be lying. I know about Awo, Zik, Ahmadu Bello, Enahoro and others, not Ikoku. But he must have been a good man for government to put his face on our money.’

the face, and exclaimed, in pidgin English, “My broda, I tire for dis your question. If I say I know much about him, I would be lying. I know about Awo, Zik, Ahmadu Bello, Enahoro and others, not Ikoku. But he must have been a good man for government to put his face on our money.” Other respondents who confessed ignorance of Alvan Ikoku’s identity and achievements include Mrs. Rhoda Nwosu, a trader from Abia State, Mrs. Afariogun Funmi, from Lagos State (“I don’t know the person on the money because the money has no much value for me,” she said, a bit harshly, “I only use it to buy biscuits for my children”). Others include, Mr. Monsuru Abdulahi, (a dealer in building materials, he is also from Lagos State), Miss Esther Jona, a petty trader from Rivers State, Mrs. Omolade Akinubi, an aged woman from Ondo State and Mr. Victor Ogobuegwu, from Delta State. “I don’t know anything about Alvan Ikoku,” Ogobuegwu said. “I only heard of a school called Alvan Ikoku College of Education in the East.” with reports from EBERE EGEKWU, CHIOMAAGBA and OLUWASEUN ADEWORAN

Joseph

Owolabi

Esther

The Ikoku you didn’t know Introducing a man of steam and steel

islative chambers, he was nominated to Eastern Nigeria House of Assembly and assigned to the Ministry of Education. In 1947, he went to the Legislative council in Lagos as one of the three representatives of the Eastern Region.

A founding member of NUT, he worked tirelessly to persuade the Lagos branch of the teachers’ association to expand its activities to accommodate other members of the profession scattered in other regions. To realise his dream of bringing Nigerian teachers under an

umbrella, Ikoku moved from Lagos to Calabar where he led others with like minds to build a regional secretariat for teachers. In view of his hard work, meticulous leadership and genuine love for learning and teachers, he was elected second Vice President of NUT in 1940. After, the colonial masters gave NUT a full national recognition, Ikoku was one of the three officials appointed onto the Board of Education for what was then known as Southern Province. In 1955, he became the national president of NUT. During his presidency the, NUT became stronger and made recommendations for a uniform system of education in Nigeria that became operational in 1960. Upon retiring from government, he served on various educational bodies in the country. He was a member of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Council of the University of Ibadan as well as Chairman, Board of Governors of the Aviation Training Centre. Honours for his contributions to education in Nigeria include an honorary Doctorate in Law (1965) at a special convocation of the University of Ibadan, the renaming of Advanced Teachers Training College, to Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, and his commemoration on a bill of Nigerian currency, the Ten Naira note.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DAILY SUN

CAMPUS SQUARE Where students report happenings on their campuses... with Sam Otti ( campuseditor@yahoo.com/08038829740)

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe” – Abraham Lincoln

Rector, Okopoly, Prof. Onu with Dr. Ekwueme, others during the procession preceding the annual lecture

Chukwumerije, NBTE support upgrading of Okopoly to university By ULASI CHIDINMA

gitation for the upgrading of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Anambra State to a Federal University of Science and Technology assumed another dimension recently at the third edition of Dr. Alex Ekwueme Annual Lecture, which marked the 80th birthday of the former Vice President. Various speakers repeated the call for the upgrading of the institution based on convincing evidence of facilities at the polytechnic. Guests at the lecture said the polytechnic, which started as College of Arts and Science in 1979 and later Anambra State Polytechnic, could be upgraded and renamed a federal university in honour of Dr Alex Ekwueme. The Senate Committee Chairman on Education, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije, who was the Guest Lecturer at this year’s event, said the upgrading important and necessary. Chukwumerije, who had earlier visited the polytechnic with some members of his committee, expressed satisfaction with the pace of development of the polytechnic.

– As Offor, others demand renaming institution after Ekwueme He argued that as part of the rehabilitation of the South East, ravaged by 30 months of civil war, the polytechnic should be upgraded to a federal university of science and technology and renamed after the founder, Dr Ekwueme. The senator described the polytechnic as the fastest developing tertiary institution in Nigeria. According to him, among other tertiary institutions in the country visited by his committee, Federal Polytechnic, Oko distinguished itself in terms of physical infrastructural development, notwithstanding the paucity of funds. He described the call for the upgrading of the polytechnic to a university of science and technology as a step in the right direction, noting that with the spate of development recorded by the management of the polytechnic, such vision would be actualized. Similar support came from the National

Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the regulatory body for polytechnics and colleges of education in the country. The NBTE Director of Finance, I.A Sulaiman, who led bursars of federal polytechnic to a meeting at the institution recently, said from the facilities available there, efforts should be made to upgrade the polytechnic to a degree-awarding institution. Sulaiman assured of NBTE’s support to actualize the vision, as he commended the management for the development of the school. He said he was particularly impressed by the introduction of innovative courses by the polytechnics like the Departments of Aeronautic Technology and Mechatronics Engineering, promising that NBTE will give the necessary support to upgrade the polytechnic. He said with the industrial city of Nnewi,

upgrading of the polytechnic would enhance Nigeria’s industrial development. Earlier, the Rector, Prof. Godwin Onu, said that by upgrading the polytechnic to a degree-awarding university, the institution will not be running away from the production of middle manpower as the polytechnic will retain its National and Higher National Diplomas but will, in addition, award Bachelor of Technology. He recommended that the polytechnic, when upgraded, will be under the watch of NBTE and called for transformation of federal polytechnics to polytechnic universities to meet the education need of the country. He noted that such move will curb the disparity and dichotomy between the polytechnic and University graduates in labour market, adding that it will encourage staff of polytechnic to go into more research. Also speaking, Chairman of Chrome Group, Sir Emeka Offor, who was represented at the annual lecture by Chief Innocent Anoliefo, urged the Federal Government to hasten the upgrading and subsequently renaming it after Ekwueme.

•Continued on Page 30

DAILY SUN Tuesday, November 20, 2012

CAMPUS SQUARE Where students report happenings on their campuses... with Sam Otti (campuseditor@yahoo.com/08038829740)

“Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength” – Henry Ward Beecher From KASSIDY UCHENDU AND OLADELE OGE

hortage of lecture room has hit the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), prompting the students of the various departments in the Faculty of Social Sciences to hold classes either in Sir Akanu Ibiam Stadium or under tree shades. The Dean of Social Sciences, Prof. C.O.T Ugwu, who disclosed this in his address at the opening of the faculty’s Annual Public lecture attributed the anomaly to the increase in student population in the advent of the new millennium. Prof Ugwu said the shortage in classroom spaces became acute in the turn of the new millennium as a result of the increase in student intake, a situation that has forced the faculty lecturers to hold lectures either under the tree or the University Stadium The Faculty of the Social Sciences is said to be the oldest and the largest in West Africa with nine departments including Economics and Political Science. The Dean also disclosed that Faculty staff are not left out in the accommodation problem, saying that “while more staff have been employed since the new millennium, existing classroom spaces do not meet the National Universities Commission (NUC) standard,” Prof. Ugwu said, adding that “our students and staff are in dire need of accommodation”. “In line with the general vision of the university administration to transform it into a 21st Century learning centre, our great faculty faces major challenges” said the don. Saying that “the growth in our responsibilities is not commensurate with available funds to tackle the challenges, Prof. Ugwu noted By Amosu Oluwaseyi and Makinde Tobi

he tragic end of Cynthia Osokogu, a beautiful young lady that was recently murdered in cold blood by her Facebook friends, was enough to exorcise the spirit of amorous adventure among youths in the country. Sadly, a dog destined to die does not listen to the hunter’s whistle. Miss Nkiruka Akabugu, a 21year-old student of University of Lagos escaped death by the whisker when she was allegedly dropped from the third floor of a building over disagreement on sex from her Facebook lover, Obiora. Akabugu alleged that Obiora, aged 26, pushed her down from the building for denying him sex, as she was observing her menstrual cycle. She sustained multiple injuries from the incident and is receiving treatment in

Shortage of lecture rooms hits UNN –Dean

UNN students receiving lecture at the Akanu Ibiam Stadium of the university

that the students admitted into the nine departments of the faculty have increased in the new millennium without increase in classrooms”. He called for assistance and increased funding in keeping with the administration’s vision of

transformation. The dean listed other needs of the faculty to include a bus, office equipment, a 5 KVA power generator and a 21st Century computer centre.

Love-gone-sour How Unilag student crashed from storey building over sex with Facebook lover an undisclosed hospital. Akabugu sustained multiple injuries, including a pelvis fracture, and was undergoing surgery at the General Hospital, Marina, Lagos. The young lady, in her quest for love, met Obiora on Facebook barely a week before the November 1 incident. According to her, Obiora invited her to a night club in Apapa from where they ended up in his family house at 1004 Estate, Victoria

Island, Lagos. She said that the young man had earlier talked about sex on the phone prior to the outing but she told him she was menstruating. She said on getting to the house, the man forcefully tore her dress and tried to rape her. But her stiff resistance angered Obiora, who allegedly pushed the lady out of the house. However, Obiora’s mother, who was at home on the night of the incident, said that she was

Earlier, during a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Batto. Okolo, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba commended the university administration for the tremendous transformations that had taken place in the university. The Senate Majority Leader who was a Guest Lecturer, said he was delighted to be associated with the cause of the institution and expressed his commitment to the institution’s aspiration to attain its goal of becoming a 21st Century centre of learning . The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof Malachy Okwueze, accompanied by his counterpart, Prof Isaac Asuzum received Sen. Ndoma on behalf of Okolo. Senator Ndoma-Egba’s lecture was entitled; “Legislative oversight and public accountability”. Meanwhile, several weeks after the resumption of the new academic session, many classes are empty. Some lecturers, who spoke with our reporter expressed concern over the unfortunate incident. Most students complained of the gradual increase in fees, while others based theirs on the sacking of business centres around the campus. Oladele is a 400 level student of Mass Comm, UNN not aware of what happened. She denied allegations that her son pushed the lady down, as she claimed that she might have jumped from the height during the scuffle. The mother said she paid part of the hospital bill immediately after Akabugu was admitted, and even tried to transfer her to a private hospital. She insisted that her preliminary inquiry indicated that Akabugu was not pushed by her son as alleged, but that she jumped on her own in the ensuing fray. Meanwhile, the police have commenced investigation into the incident. Attempts made by our reporter to speak with Akabugu’s course mates in school failed, as they declined comments on the issue, pending the conclusion of investigation by the police. Amosu and Makinde are 300 level students of Mass Comm, Unilag

UNIZIK VC, Egboka, also calls for Okopoly upgrading •Continued from Page 29 Similarly, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Prof Boniface Egboka, told the reporters, that Okopoly has gone a long way and thanked Ekwueme whose foresight and vision had brought the institution this far. “Let me be very frank with you, Nigeria is a very good and progressive country. I have this feeling and vision that soon, Okopoly will become Dr. Alex Ekwueme University of Technology. There is no reason that can’t be. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka wants a neighbouring federal university in this part of the world to give opportunity to our young men and women who require high education. I have no doubt that with the progress Federal Polytechnic Oko is making now, the Federal Government will deem it fit to convert it to university of technology”. The institution has relevant infrastructure. It has enough Masters and Doctoral personnel who can run university curricula to give opportunity to our teeming population of young men and women who seek admis-

sions. So, with the speed of the Rector, Prof. Godwin Onu, this polytechnic will ºmaterialize into the dream of the founding father”. In his address, Prof. Onu said the Polytechnic university status, if granted,

would retain its National and Higher offer lecturers at both institutions an opportuNational Diplomas but would also offer nity to maximize their potentials. Bachelor of Technology. He said the new status would help in resolving discrimination Ulasi is HND 11 student of Mass Comm, among graduates of both institutions and Okopoly

Onu leading the bursars on a facility tour at the polytechnic

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DAILY SUN

CAMPUS SQUARE Where students report happenings on their campuses... with Sam Otti ( campuseditor@yahoo.com/08038829740)

“A man travels all over the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it” – George Moore

ABU: VC promises laptops to students By MIJINYAWA MOHAMMED AWWAL

he Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, has promised to make affordable laptops available to the students. He disclosed this during the inauguration of the newly-elected members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the school. The ceremony was held at the Senate Chambers. The Vice Chancellor further expressed his determination to give necessary support to students, assuring that before the end of 2013, half of the students would own laptops. He said he had commenced discussion with a computer company to manufacture laptops for ABU students at affordable prices. The university, according to him, will enforce dress codes that reflect Nigerian cultures. Mustapha urged the new officers to be law abiding and contribute their quotas to the celebration of the university’s golden jubilee. The council officials were inaugurated at a time the

institution had commenced full preparations for its 50th anniversary celebrations. The Vice Chancellor urged the student leaders to be of good character and remain ambassadors of peace. He said prizes would be given to outstanding students to encourage intellectual activities. He expressed joy on the brilliant performance of an ABU student, who emerged as the overall winner in the just-concluded computer competition across Nigerian universities. He called on students of different faith to be their brother’s keepers and respect each other’s religions. His words: “Sardauna (Sir Ahmadu Bello) had wanted us to be together. That is why he had many Christians in his cabinet”. In his speech, the new president, Comrade Rafindadi Abubakar Aliyu, thanked the Vice Chancellor for his tireless effort to move the institution to a greater height. “I undertook a facility tour of the hostels and when I got to Ali Akilu and Tafawa Balewa hostels in Kongo Campus, my eyes saw what

Aliyu

than 80 per cent completed and the facilities therein for our student usage is comparable to an executive suite in Nicon Hilton, Abuja”. He appealed to the VC to build more hostels to meet the students’ demand. Earlier, the Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. M.F Isiyaku, who was represented by the Deputy Dean, Kongo Campus, Dr. Hamza Yusuf, said the Student Affairs division would remain grateful for the support of the Vice Chancellor. The SRC was introduced following the proscription of the Student Union Government (SUG) following violent demonstration in 2007. The SRC is a representative government wherein every member will first be elected from his constituency (faculty) before being elected by those that emerged from different faculties to contest for various positions. The highlight of the event was the presentation of certificate of appointment to the members.

gladdened my heart as I can equally confirm Awwal is a 400 level law student of Ahmadu that the renovation works in the hostels is more Bello University, Zaria

Declare emergency in education, FUTO don tells FG By ORI MARTINS

university teacher, Prof. Emmanuel Enyioma Anyanwu, has called on the Federal Government to urgently declare an emergency on the education sector. Almost sounding like a political scientist or a veteran politician, Anyanwu, the Head of Department (HOD), School of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), noted that Nigeria’s education standard had suffered neglect and unimaginable decline in the last 25 years. ‘I wish the Federal Government in conjunction with the Ministry of Education can, without delay, declare an emergency on the education sector. This is one of the moves that can be done to invigorate the fallen standard of education. It has never been this bad and I think the last 25 years should go down in history as the worst era since Independence, Anyanwu stated. He recalled that shortly before and after independence, Nigeria used to be an academic destination for Ghanaians, Gambians, Liberians; Cameroonians; South Africans and

Prof. Anyanwu

Eastern European students who flocked the country’s universities in search of the proverbial golden fleece but the reverse was now the case. According to him, ‘imagine the revelation that Nigerians now spend billions of

naira in some countries in Africa for the university education of their children and wards. This is sad because in the 1950s and 1960s, Nigerian universities admitted students from Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Liberia; Cameroon; South Africa and even some East Europeans. Are we going forward or backward’? Anyanwu revealed that unless urgent steps are taken to address the rot in the education sector, the poor ranking of Nigerian universities by the annual global rankings would continue unabated. According to him: ‘The whole reason for Nigerian universities not being properly ranked in the world or even in Africa stems from the fact that little or no research is going on and it is a problem of inadequate funding and a major reason I want emergency declared on the education sector so that we can get it right. It is only when you devote money, I mean, so much money to research that you can now reap the benefits. Otherwise, you cannot do anything and you cannot patent. What you patent is the result of your research. And, let me ask, how much is devoted to research in this country? Why universities overseas are properly funded by the

UNN: Prof Okeke wins UNESCO award for Women in Science By OKALI UMEH

senior lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof Francisca Nneka Okeke, is among the five winners of 15th L’Oreal – UNESCO Awards for Women in Science. The ceremony would be held in France on March 28, 2013, where the winers would be honoured and awarded laureates. The winners were chosen for their research, which the organizers said “demonstrated “exceptionally original approaches to fundamental research in Physical Sciences” Prof Okeke was selected for contributing to the understanding of daily variations of the ion currents in the upper atmosphere

which would further stengthen understanding of the climate change. She emerged the sole winner in Africa and Arab states among the five winners of the awards. Other winners include Prof. Pratibha Gai of the University of York (UK), Prof. Reiko Kuroda of Tokyo University of Science (Japan), Prof. Marcia Barbosa of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and Prof. Deborah Jin of National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA). Okeke, a scholar of international repute, has demonstrated excellence in her research work and brought honour to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria and Africa in general. Okali is a 400 level student of Mass Comm, UNN

Prof. Okeke

government and the private sector, we depend only on the paucity of funds from the government and it has not been enough. Research does not operate in a vacuum; it takes shape when the system works normally. The government does not fund education very well because the annual budget for education here is a far cry compared to the 20 per cent minimum as specified by United Nations Education Fund. It is unfortunate.’ He noted that the quality of a university’s library was some of the standards used by the compilers in the annual global ranking of universities. He said: ‘You can see that when I demand for an emergency to be declared on education I really know what I am talking about. Universities are also ranked based on quality of its library. You can confirm that most of the books in our universities are outdated. The new books are not enough and they come in trickles. Therefore, for our universities to get good ranking, authorities in our higher institutions of learning must update the libraries up to international standard. For instance, how many of our libraries are computerized? How many of them have modern books and so on? It still goes back to poor funding.’ The professor said that poor library would surely lead to poor research, pointing out that quality research was another factor that endeared universities to the world ranking bodies. ‘I must not fail to inform you that another factor that the world ranking bodies take seriously is quality research work. In the last 30 years, how many Nigerian universities have come out with a research that caught the attention of the academic world? It is not as we do not have the theories, our problem is the materials to be used in developing our theories and this, again, goes back to lack of funding. Now, how much is a lecturer or professor paid in Nigeria that he will abandon his family responsibilities to expend his hard earned salary on research? You see, Nigerian universities are poorly funded. This is why ASUU had been fighting the Federal Government all these years. It is the problem of government not recognizing the role of adequate funding, especially at the tertiary institution level. ASUU has continually battled the government on the need for our government to make our universities to operate like others elsewhere. Poor funding leads to poor ranking’, he enthused.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Education Review/FOCUS “I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work” - Thomas A. Edison

By GABRIEL DIKE and GBENGA ADESUYI

ne of the ways Nigeria can tackle major challenges in telecommunications is to embrace mobile phone technology in the teaching and learning process. So said Mr. Muyiwa Bamgbose, a foremost mobile learning expert, while delivering a lecture entitled: “Educational Revolution in Africa, Mobile Learning Options: Prospects and Challenges” at this year’s Annual Distinguished Personality Lecture of the Obafemi Awolowo Hall of the University of Ibadan. Bamgbose, who was adjudge ninth Best Educator in the World’ through mobile learning by an England-based agency, two months ago, explained that with the erratic power supply, high cost of computers and ineffective Internet supply in the country, the mobile phone, whose acceptability and popularity in Nigeria had stunned the world, is the available option that can be applied to overcome learning challenges in the country and Africa. Exploring the theme of the lecture, he said that today’s mobile phone is a mini-computer that can perform a lot of task including surfing of the web, storing of large data as well as writing of examination and revision, among others. He noted that from villages to cities across Nigeria, the failure of the land phone and crashing prices of call charges have made the possession of mobile phones a must for over 70 per cent of citizens, thereby offering enormous opportunities for educators to pass on learning materials to students through mobile phone. Bamgbose, who developed MOBILEARN, a product that helps students attempt past questions, get assessed and study more in their weak areas, all on mobile phone, pointed out that education is the key factor for development. He, however, noted that the type of education currently offered in Africa is not the kind that can bring development. Faulting our education system, he lamented that it does not teach students to think and solve problems. He called for not only its re-examination but also its refocusing to solving our immediate and potential national problems. He recalled that many years ago, China sponsored a great number of its youths for university education in the United States of America (USA) noting that, today, the growth of the Chinese economy is largely dependent on yesterday’s training of its youth in the USA. “The objective of our education must be to transform. We must tailor our education to helping our students to think, not to remember. We must teach them to deal with issues, to solve problems. Government should not be the solution providers but people that passed through the educational institutions. Our lecturers must also lead in this way by solving problems rather than consuming what others produced.” Bamgbose said. Though he acknowledged that students sometimes use mobile phones to cheat and do some other negative things, the educationist insisted that its advantages far outweighed its disadvantages. If properly explored, Bamgbose said that mobile learning will effectively

How to know whether the teacher or student is the problem th

- Bamgbose, the Nigerian, ranked the ‘9 Best Educator in the World’ for developing MOBILEARN, the mobile telephone product that helps students to engage in remedial studies and overcome their academic weaknesses and the ninth in 2012. “It was a surprise. I didn’t even know until I got a mail from a colleague in India who sent congratulations,” he said concerning the ranking. “Unknown to us, some people were watching and checking, taking notes of what we were doing. But you know, we are in the information age; there is no gap any more, there is no hiding place. People can check up on you, on the Internet, Google you and find out what you are up to. I don’t know the process; they just said they have judges. I don’t know who the judges are. They just came up with that but as for me, it’s not yet celebration time because there is much more to do and it is not something I have done single-handedly. We have a team and any success we achieve is a collective one.” Next, MOBILEARN, his e-learning innovation comes in for discussion. What is it really all about and how did it come into existence? “Well, it is not really an invention, invention is slightly different from innovation. Some years ago, we did some mock test for students in SSS3 in Oyo State and we found out that they were in very bad shape, like the kind of results we get from WAEC and NECO. So, we started thinking of what we could do about it. The kind of test we do is to diagnose the problem, to go into details. We don’t just say ‘this student is not good in Maths;’ we find out whether his problem is solving simple equations, quadratic equations, Algebra, Geometry or Trigonometry. “So, if every student in the school has the same kind of deficiency, it points to the teachers. But if the deficiencies vary, if one child is not good in one area while another is not good in another area, then you can blame the students. So, we started looking at solutions, how we could proffer a solution that will help

help Africa become a foremost technologically advanced continent. The managements of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO) and others involved in the conduct of examinations should be looking for this Nigerian ranked as one of the best educators in the world. While many schools have banned the use of mobile phones by its students because of distraction, Mr. Bamgboye, the Chief Executive Officer of Education Advancement Centre (EAC), has developed a programme students can use to download educational materials on their phones or handsets to assist them. In fact, he has successfully used it to conduct test for them in Ibadan. It was based on this achievement and also for being a strong advocate of e-learning that a UK firm ranked him the ‘10th Best Educator in the World’ in 2010

Bamgbose

•Continued on Page 33

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DAILY SUN

FOCUS/Education Review “It is questionable if all the mechanical inventions yet made have lightened the day’s toil of any human being” - John Stuart Mill •Continued from Page 32 the kids. We know that students fail because they didn’t know how bad they were by the time they were preparing for their examinations. So, if somebody is able to tell them their weaknesses, I believe most of them will work hard to pass. We have some people who unfortunately look the other way, they try to use dubious means. When we take to applying penalties and all that, we are just treating the symptoms; we are not looking at the cause. The root cause is that the students are not well prepared. They don’t see themselves as capable of facing the examinations; so, they try to use whatever is in their means to pass. “But if we can provide an educating medium such that students can address their deficiencies properly, then there will be no need for cheating or examination malpractice. In trying to find a solution, we came up with the idea of using a few good teachers to deliver materials to hundreds, thousands of students and that’s what took us to electronic learning. Now, the obvious tool that is available all over the world is computer, so you put computers in place and you put Internet in place, but unfortunately in Nigeria and in Africa computers are expensive. Internet is erratic and also expensive. What’s more, you have power problem. When you put the computers in schools, you’ve got to think of generators to power them and you’ve got to think of breakdown, maintenance and running costs. “All these made us to look at something which everybody had been overlooking or some people have been fighting against its pervasive use - that is, the mobile phone. You know, mobile phone is so common that over 100 million Nigerians have it. We found out that the modern phones are actually computers, people do sums with them, they calculate. That means, those who used to sell calculators have gone out of business because people don’t buy calculators any more; they use their phones. But you can use the phones to do much more than just calculate or talk to people; you can also use it to take very good and sharp photographs and even to upload and send them across to others online, from where they could be downloaded and even printed out. That is how we started looking at systems of delivering tutorials and assessments through the mobile phones and came up with MOBILEARN, the programme everybody is now talking about. That is, to say, we

Bamgbose (L) receiving an award at U.I

Who takes blame for mass failure

Muyiwa Bamgbose (R) and a team of other experts

were able to convert something that is almost a vice into something positive. I guess that’s what those who gave us the ranking found interesting and innovative. “What we are doing basically is to treat the mobile phone as a tool. We are able to use the phone to test students, straight forward testing like multiple choice questions; you can automate the mobile phone to mark scripts so the students can know how well they did and you can also put reading materials into them and track them, that is, know

when the student has opened them to read. We are all familiar with Bible and Koran in mobile phones. If we can have those in mobile phones, we can also store textbooks and other academic reading materials in them too. Instead of providing paper books which is contributing to deforestation, you can convert the books into something digital; you can put the books into mobile phones so that students can study wherever they are and whenever they like. The mobile phones can store hundreds of books; some can take thousands, depending on the capacity. So, instead of

going about carrying a big bag with you, you can carry with you, one small phone capable of doing everything.” Finally, you asked how MOBILEARN can assist in the newly-introduced JAMB eexam and Bamgbose answers: “We test students to do up to 100 multiple questions per subject on a mobile phone. It is possible and very easy to configure; we can also randomise it so that the number one question for candidate A is different from that of candidates B and C. All these are very easy. I don’t know how JAMB can leverage on that but I am happy to say we are willing to see how it turns out. If they have a forum to bring us together to talk, we will be willing.”

‘What we are doing basically is to treat the mobile phone as a tool. We are able to use the phone to test students, straight forward testing like multiple choice questions; you can automate the mobile phone to mark scripts so the students can know how well they did and you can also put reading materials into them and track them, that is, know when the student has opened them to read’

DAILY SUN Tuesday, November 20, 2012

CAMPUS SQUARE Where students report happenings on their campuses... with Sam Otti (campuseditor@yahoo.com/08038829740)

“Great things are done when men and mountains meet” – William Blake By ODOGWU OBINNA

hairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, has called on Nigerians to step up the fight against corruption and social ills ravaging the country. He made this call at the 17th national conference of the Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Association held at the university. He decried the level of corruption and general insecurity in the country, describing them as hydra-headed monsters which must be collectively dealt with before this country could achieve its goals. Speaking on the topic: Societal Values, Corruption, and Security; he said corruption in the country must be understood as a dysfunction that affects the proper functioning of all parts of the society and by extension incapacitates the state’s ability to meet certain vital needs of the people. According to him, “corruption is condemned everywhere in the world because it

UNIZIK: Obi, Lamorde, others task students on re-orientation erodes moral values and if not stopped; it breeds evil such as violence, poverty, disease, and other disasters that can destroy the society”. The EFCC boss, who was represented by the Principal Detective, Mr Chibuzor Eze, stated that “in countries where corruption is systemic, anti-corruption efforts that start from the assumption that corruption is an individual problem will not produce significant results because the actions, values, norms, economic relations and behaviour that uphold the existence of patronage systems will actively seek to undermine reforms”. He said that when armed with ethics and virtue, a nation can reduce personal gains from corrupt behaviour by institut-

ing effective sanctions against such tendency. He called on the National Assembly to enact a whistle blower law, as well as fast track the review of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, Anti-terrorism Act and other legislations that will enable Nigeria imbibe current global trends in legislation. Similarly, the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, lamented that some traditional rulers and church leaders give titles and knighthood to criminals because of their wealth. To him, such has contributed largely to the loss of moral values in the country. “Some traditional rulers and church leaders are giving titles and knights to criminals who have contributed to the moral decadence and loss of moral values in the coun-

try”, he said. The governor who spoke through his Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Economic Planning, Prof Stella Okunna, blamed the society for pouring accolades on dubious individuals. On the role of media in the fight against corruption, the Managing Director of Nigerian Compass Newspaper, Sina Kawonise, lashed journalists for failing in their duties. He described media men as compromised watchdogs, adding that corruption has permeated the media industry. He blamed it on the low patronage of media products, which he said, has made media houses to seek external help from governments and politicians who in turn exploit them.

Group unites African students on interactive site By EBERE EGEKWU

consortium of African professionals has launched an interactive site, EmeritusAfrica.com, to unite staff and students from higher institutions in Africa. The Co-founder of the project, Esona Onuoha, said the initiate was to promote continental connectivity through an enhanced social networking site. According to him, the site would give students and academics in

The Students Union President, Comrade Augustine Oriakhi, appealed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to fulfill his promise to enable the management reimburse the students the N5, 000 reduction in their school fees

ing a site that promotes and accelerates the development of academic and social collaboration between Africans and African Institutions and with the rest of the world,” he said. He said EmeritusAfrica.com has unique features by which members would explore and exhibit their academic communities. Members could post relevant pictures and videos, participate in discussion fora, post and search for academic conferences and events, upload and publish academic papers and projects, and create groups and blogs to explore academic/research interests and expertise. “While patterned on the familiar social network model, EmeritusAfrica.com aims to add value to the social networking experience for students in Africa, and to change the academic landscape on the continent, through special projects and collaboration with other partners in the development of higher education in Africa”, he said.

Olorioke is an HND 1 Mass Communication student of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State and also President of Critique Press Club

Egekwu is a 200-level student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos.

institutions of higher learning across Africa an opportunity to connect with each other, share knowledge, research, opinions and promote academic and cultural integration and understanding. “EmeritusAfrica.com is a streamlined, userfriendly platform with features that focus on, and promote academic interaction within a familiar social context. Special enhanced features have been incorporated into the site while keeping things simple. Our focus is on deliver-

Edo COE reopens after protest By DELE OLORIOKE

neasy calm has enveloped Edo State-owned College of Education, Ekiadolor, as the school reopens after one-week shutdown over students’ protest. The college was shut, following tension arising from protest that greeted the allegations that the management of the school was holding on to the N5, 000 refund from their school fees promised by Governor Adams Oshiomhole during last July governorship campaign. Sources from the institution had said the continued tension at the college forced the management to ask the students to vacate the campus to douse tension. The protesting students barricaded major streets of Ekiadolor and environs to press home their demand. The incident disrupted the take-off of the semester exams of the

school that was scheduled to commence penultimate Monday. The students were paying N25,000 before government’s decision to reduce it last April by N5, 000. Students who spoke to our correspondent at the college said they had to sheathe their swords to enable peace reign and to settle down to write their exams.

CONTRIBUTORS THIS WEEK

Awwal

Ebere

Odogwu

Okali

Oladele

Olorioke

Oluwaseyi

Chidimma

•EDITOR’S NOTE: We welcome reports of happenings on your campus. Send them to the above e-mail address, accompanied by your name and recent photograph, and photographs of personalities/ event you are reporting.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DAILY SUN

NEWS/Education Review “If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers” – Edgar W. Howe

Baliz Schools Trust dazzles in academics, social activities, charity F ollowing a successful summer school programme and extensive renovation of its buildings and facilities, Baliz Schools Trust (BST) began a new school session in September. Extensive renovation carried out in the school located at 174, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja included work on classrooms, laboratories, library, and the newly, dedicated nursery garden. Established in mid-90s in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Bassey Inok, a teacher trainer for Holy Child Schools in Lagos, Baliz Schools Trust started as a crèche and with support and encouragement from the parents, has grown to include an academy. Centrally-located on Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja (close to FERMA), the Schools Trust school provides a rigorous curriculum with teachers that boast of over 35 years experience. To show the standard and quality of learning in BST, its alumni are across the globe most especially the United Kingdom and Ukraine, studying for in Medicine, Engineering, Accounting and Architecture. Mimi Bakari Marwa, Director, Board of Trustees, says: “Baliz Schools Trust is a great illustration of the Nigerian education system.” This indeed cannot be farther from the truth as

By EBERE EGEKWU

he Administrator of Holy Childs’ Girls College, Ikoyi, Lagos, Rev. Sister Ify Atuegbu, has described education as a major key in uniting the nations. She stated this at a ceremony organized, recently, to mark the International Community Day of the college. Talking about the event, she noted that it was the day they celebrated values of harmony and international mindedness and make students believe in other cultures, knowing that although they come from different places, they are one. Sister Atuegbu said that the International Community Day which has its theme as “Education: Key to Global Peace” is intended at promoting the culture, food, dressing, dance, economics, politics and anthem of 13 countries, Nigeria, Brazil, France, Spain, China, Ghana, India, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland, England, Scotland and United States of America. The school administrator disclosed that the main reason for choosing the theme is because of the violent terrorists campaigns ravaging the country as well as global unrest and insecurity. Noting that the “Community Day” was meant to expose the stu-

Baliz Nursery Schools pupils

education at Baliz Schools Trust goes beyond academics, as pupils are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities and join groups like Jet’s Club, Young Farmers’ Club, Classical and Traditional Music Club, French Club, Debate and Drama Club, Soccer Club, Home

Makers Club, Taekwondo, Swimming and many more. These clubs encouraged pupils to attain confidence while working individually and in teams, also building their character and exposing them to other aspects of life. Last year, BST pupils published their annual

school magazine, GEM, which was produced by the Literary and Debating Club. Aside this, the school participated in a variety of events and competitions including programming for NTA, AIT, Aso and Kiss FM. The pupils also staged some spectacular performances at the Aso Villa in Abuja. Not quite long ago, BST children trained for a French certificate examination conducted by the French Institute. The summer school, which ended recently, was full of fun, including baking, music, taekwondo and refreshers on core subjects like Mathematics, English and the Sciences. A visit by China’s Cultural Counsellor, Mr. Jin Hongyue, to the summer programme marked one of the high-points. The ambassador was to donated books, movies and documentaries on Chinese culture and traditions. He equally pledged to support the school in setting up a Chinese Cultural Information Centre, culminating in offering Communicable Mandarin to the pupils. While preparing for a new school year, the children of BST remembered their friends from disadvantaged backgrounds through the (Na’ima) Foundation. The foundation worked with the school early this year in raising over 500 books, school bags, stationeries, clothing and food items that were distributed by the children to their friends at a primary school in Dawaki, Abuja.

….As Holy Child Girls College exposes students to different cultures on ‘International Community Day’ dents to what is obtainable in other countries. She advised that relationship with one another should be encouraged through National and International Day, given our cultural diversities. She advised parents to always guide their children in the right path, knowing that teachers will only do their best and leave the rest to parents. The Faculty Adviser, Nigerian Model United Nations, Abuja, Mr. Chika Nwaozuzu, also said that the importance of exposing students to other culture is to enable them think locally but act globally. Technology, he says, is very important for this generation, especially in our country where international community is promoted. Nwaozuzu commended the school authority and students for representing the college well in Abuja and urged them to put in more efforts for the progress of the college and the country at large. He advised students to always work hard, to act as global citizens and to remember that “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their

dreams.” To the school authorities, he challenged them to keep up the good work they are doing. Mr. Segun Oladipo MD/CEO Learn Africa Nigeria PLC, described education as the only thing that can

take the nation to the promisedland and that can bridge the gap between the majority and the minority in our country.

Rev. Sister Atuegbe, Mr Oladipo & President Holy Child College Alumni Association, Princess Odedina during the event

UNILAG students flex muscles over new fees, as school resumes By AMOSU MIYONSE OLUWASEYI

tudents of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) are, again, up in arms, but this time around not against the renaming of the university to Moshood Abiola University, but the inclusion of the Tertiary Insurance Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) in the school fees they are expected to pay, as they resumed on November 12. Some students said they could be forced to take to protest if nothing urgent is done to address the situation. Following the veiled threat, our reporter sought clarifications from the Dean of Students Affairs (DSA), Prof. Kayode Amund, who denied speculations that the management increased the school fees without proper consultation with students union leaders. He said that the additional N5,000 to be paid by students Prof.

before the commencement of the 2012/2013 academic session was a Federal Government initiative introduced in universities across the country. According to him, the fee was a medical insurance plan that covers the cost of the Health Management Organisations (HMO) through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This, he said, would secure free medical services for the students. Amund who blamed the students for being mischievous with the way they reacted to the report, reiterated the fact that the additional fee was not initiated by the management. “The insurance is not an increase and it is not part of the school fees,” he said. “It’s a medical insurance package. So the students are just trying to turn the whole thing around. Nobody has increased any fee. It is an introduction that came from R.A. Bello the Federal Government and not

from the University of Lagos. All universities are involved,” he noted. Education Review gathered that the discussion on the inclusion of the TISHIP fee had been on with the Federal Government before now. To facilitate the exercise, students would be issued an identity card and a unique number for their personal use. The medical package would see the fees increased to N14, 500 for non-science students and N15, 500 for science students, from N9, 500 and N10, 500 respectively. Amund also debunked the rumour about postponing of resumption to December 10, insisting there was no alteration in the school’s academic calendar. He expressed displeasure at the attitude of students’ leaders who spread the information capable of fanning embers of discord among students, without prior verification from the management. Education Review gathered that Prof. Amund had earlier had a closed-door session with Faculty Presidents, with the exclusion of Faculty of Arts Students’ Association (FASA) and UNILAG Engineering Society (ULES) presidents, to discuss some issues concerning the students, which include the resumption date and the increment in school fees. During the four-hour meeting, a source, who was

in the meeting, revealed that both parties recommended the postponement of the resumption date due to dangers and rigour attached to students receiving lectures from home since all the halls of residence on Akoka campus would be unavailable to students until December 10, due to the university’s preparation to host participants of the upcoming National Sports Festival. “I just had a meeting with the students’leaders and I haven’t even cleared the issue with the school management. Now the students are spreading it all over the place. We have a sports festival which is going to end on the December 9. So technically, are we going to be teaching students when the sport festival is going on? Why don’t they (faculty leaders) wait for the official notification? I don’t understand the way these students behave. I am not the official mouthpiece of the university. The matter has to be tabled before the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar before the school can make such declarations.” Education Review learnt that the senate did not quite share the sentiment with Amund as it cited the students’ tendency to misuse the opportunity to resume January, 2013 which could further disrupt the school’s academic calendar.

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Education Review/NEWS “You can’t learn in school what the world is going to do next year” – Henry Ford

Kano, Nigerien govt to construct mega secondary school in Niamey From DESMOND MGBOH, KANO

he Kano State Government and the Ministry of Education in Niger Republic are to construct a mega secondary school in Niamey, Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has announced. Under the arrangement, the Government of Kano State will build hostels, dining hall and other facilities while the Nigerien authority will construct classrooms and administrative block, the governor explained. Kwankwaso, who spoke while receiving a Nigerien government delegation led by a director in the state Ministry of Education, Alhadji Muhammadou Saidou, explained that during his recent visit to Niger, the two sides agreed to build the school, based on a mutual agreement that each side will present its design for the project, which will later be harmonized.

He said both parties have now finalized plans on the project, adding that the Kano State Government has gone a step further by contacting the government of France on how to get qualified teachers and facilities for the proposed school. Explaining that the school is expected to accommodate at least 1,000 Nigerien and Kano students, Kwankwaso said the aim is for students from Kano to learn French and to improve multi-cultural relations. He noted that money for the project had been set aside by the state government, even as construction work will start soon to enable academic activities commence soon. Governor Kwankwaso directed the state Ministries of Education and Higher Education to fashion out modalities for allotting a quota to Nigeriens wishing to study in the newly established Northwest University, Kano as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the citizens.

UI matriculates 6, 945 Distance Learning students From GBENGA ADESUYI, Ibadan

niversity of Ibadan (UI) recently held its 2012/2013 matriculation for Distance Learning Centre (DLC) students. At the ceremony, held at the International Conference Centre, involved 6,945 students. Speaking, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, disclosed that 9,850 students applied for various programmes at the centre, out of which 7,000 were offered provisional admission, but only 6,945 accepted and commenced registration formalities. “It is worthy to note that the Computer Based Testing (CBT) for the selection process introduced two sessions ago by the institution has improved the admission process. Now we have a fair and ultra-transparent admission process.” He advised the students to be IT driven, because the operations of the centre are basically technological based According to him, Distance Learning education all over the world involves self-paced and learnercentred study that enable a student to have the benefit of higher education from any location with minimal face-to-face contact. It entails sourcing for study materials from public or private libraries and through the internet and other e-learning sources. He said: “In view of the pronouncement and clamp down on part-time programmes in some Nigerian universities by the National Universities Commission, it is important to emphasize that we do not run any part-time programme of any kind.” He admonished the students to shun indiscipline, adding that the certificate of the institution is awarded strictly to those who are found worthy in character and learning. He said the university had built a reputation as an emerging institution of first choice and was fast

becoming the destination of parents who want an institution with integrity for their children. “Academic excellence is founded on the kernels of hard work and character. This university is getting noticed for its emphasis on hard work and high moral standard. We are committed to a truly distant learning provision and that is why the centre has embarked on various reforms apart from enhanced IT-aided learning. The students will benefit from two rounds of interactive sessions and a final revision as against one omnibus interactive session.”

Kwankwaso

Mahammadou

On the recent Kano–Niger Republic Trade and Investment Summit held in Kano, the governor assured that committees have been set up to actualize its recommendations for the collective good of both countries. Earlier, the head of the Nigerien delegation, Alhadji Muhammadou Saidou stated that the visit was to finalize agreement on the proposed school project which he said would facilitate consolidating Nigeria-Niger relations. Meanwhile, the Kano State Government will open 8,074 adult literacy classes across its 484 electoral wards Governor Kwankwaso has revealed. Under this arrangement, an estimated 403,700 people will benefit from the exercise which is aimed at attaining about 95 per cent adult literacy level in the state by 2015, in line with the Millennium Development Goals. The governor who announced this during this year’s International Literacy Day celebration at Government House, Kano revealed that already, government has recruited 16, 148 tutors while adequate teaching and learning materials have been procured for the exercise. The governor who said that no meaningful devel-

opment could be achieved without education, announced that a special arrangement to open up literacy classes for the uneducated workers in the state civil service had been made. He challenged the people to take advantage of this opportunity to improve their lot, adding that if other states can record breakthrough in education, there is no reason why Kano cannot achieve the same feat. The governor who spoke extensively on the investment of the state government in education sector appealed to local government councils, corporate bodies and civil society organizations to support his administration in making the goal of education for all by 2015 attainable. In their separate messages of goodwill, the Deputy National Programme Manager, ESSPIN Nigeria, Mr. Jake Ross and Mr. Vincent Nemieboka, who represented the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Adult and Non-Formal Education, praised Governor Kwankwaso for his giant strides toward enabling citizens to read and write, assuring of support and urging other state governments to emulateKano’s example.

NTI boss, minister make case for quality teacher education From NOAH EBIJE, Kaduna

ll roads led to the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, during its second national graduation held recently. During the ceremony, the Director-General of the institute, Aminu Ladan Sharehu and the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i made strong case for quality teacher education. The minister said that it has become imperative to establish National Commission for Distance Education (NACDE) despite the roles of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) in accrediting distance learning programmes in the country. The Director-General revealed that 44, 060 graduating students were awarded the National Certificate in Education (NCE), 878, Advanced Diploma in Education (ADE) while 13, 382 bagged the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). He noted that this brought the total number of graduating students to 58,320. He pointed out that since

the establishment of the institution about 36 years ago, it held the national graduation for the first time in 1994. He stressed that one of the future plans of the teacher training institute is to ensure that every student acquires computer education before he or she would pass out of the institute. He noted that our immediate future plans include, “the establishment of model computer laboratories nationwide, starting with the six zones and later in the 36 states and FCT for the use of teachers free-of-charge to improve their computer application and usage.” He called on the Federal Government and individuals committed to computer education of teachers to support “the establishment of a computer laboratory in each of the states of the federation using the N1 billion worth of computers already donated to the institute by an international donor agency.” He noted, however, that the institute is facing some challenges such as inadequate funding, inadequate financial support from states and Local Government Education Areas (LGEAs to sponsor specific projects. He added that poor public perception of Ordinary Diploma in Education (ODE) and

its immense potentials for education in Nigeria is another challenge the institute is facing. During the ceremony, fellowships of the institute were conferred on the president of the Commonwealth of Learning, Prof. Asha Kanwal, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, for their contributions to the development of education and teacher education in the country. Also honoured were Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Edo Etate Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), Prof. Adamu Baike and Prof Thomas Adeyanju who received the Ambassador of NTI award for their contributions to distant learning as well as teachers welfare. In the same vein, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the late Prof Babs Fafunwa received post-humous awards. Sharehu urged the awardees and the graduating students to continue to fly the banner of the institute wherever they might find themselves, describing the ceremony, “as a very great day in the history of this institute.”

Why international scholars shun Nigeria for fellowship programmes –Don By ADESINA OLANREWAJU

Prof. Adewole, VC UI

cting Director, Abadina Media Resource Centre, University of Ibadan (UI), Dr. Fadekemi Oyenusi, has explained why international scholars do not like investing in Nigeria’s education system through fellowship courses. Oyenusi, who was the chief host of this year’s 27th International Annual Conference organized by the Nigerian School Library Association (NFLA), tagged: “Role of effective school library in developing favourable reading culture in Nigerian Schools,” held in Ibadan, Oyo State, attributed international scholars’ lack of interest in taking up fellowship courses in Nigerian universities to incessant academic strikes resulting from industrial disputes between the government and university staff, teaching and non-teaching staff. “You are beginning to see that we do not have

many international students coming to Nigeria or international scholars coming for fellowship courses here because they are not sure of completing their programmes due to incessant strikes,” she noted. “Another issue is the funding system. Nigerian universities are still under-funded; government is trying its best through the introduction of Education Tax Fund (ETF) so that other sectors in the society are involved and become stakeholders in the education sector. Even with this, it still a far cry from what is required to adequately fund the education sector. Our lecture rooms are still grossly inadequate and in terms of criteria for rating universities in Nigeria, we are lagging behind. We have not been able to meet up with the bibliometric system of rating university through their research , where there is no electricity, you can’t be there online; our bandwidth is slow.” Bemoaning the effect of constant strikes on our students, she added that they have produced frus-

trated youths because “our students will go into the university system but do not know when they will graduate, due to repeated strikes. She maintained that despite the fact that the Nigerian education system is faced with repeated strikes which can be dealt with by the government and concerned unions, our students are still reckoned with in the international community. “In Nigeria, we have people that are brilliant,” she noted. “If we do not have people that are brilliant, we will not have the issue of brain drain. For the past 30 years, academics have been going out of the country to input their knowledge into other countries because our environment is not conducive for research. The issue of strikes is a major factor that government will have to work on”. Responding to questions, Oyenusi urged the government to embrace the idea of injecting vocational training in Nigerian school curriculum at all levels, adding that the Nigerian student must be cautioned on the use of social media.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 DAILY SUN

INTERVIEW/Education Review “If you partake animal food, you will develop animal qualities. As is the food, so is the head. So you should have regulation” – Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Prof. Junaid Muhammad, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) explains:

‘What we are doing to train enough high quality teachers’

BY PETER AGBA KALU

ince he came on board as the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) in 2007, Prof. Muhammed ibn Junaid has brought his wealth of experience to bear on the education sector by focusing on the production and training of well-motivated teachers with high personal and professional discipline, integrity and competence for all levels of the education system. The commission has also, under his watch, made positive impact on the preparation of teachers with appreciable expertise in curriculum planning development and delivery as well as competence in research, guidance and counseling. This also includes the production of professionals who can combine use of conventional teaching strategies and the world’s unfolding Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the generation and impartation of knowledge, attitudes and skills. Determined to prepare and train teachers who can stand out for their professional competence, sense of social responsibility and commitment to function effectively as constructive socio-economic, moral and spiritual change agents needed to promote goodwill, peace and progress. Indeed the Junaid administration has brought the NCCE into the forefront of the education sector through various workshops focused on human resource development and producing a workable NCE minimum standard towards effective implementation of the nine years Basic Education Policy. In this interview with Education Review, he talks

about his vision and mission. Excerpts: ONE OF YOUR MANDATES IS TO SERVE AS A GUIDELINE FOR A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION REGULATORY AGENCY TO PROMOTE QUALITATIVE AND FUNCTIONAL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION. HOW FAR HAVE YOU GONE IN ACCOMPLISHING THAT OBJECTIVE? To begin with, when I assumed duty, the first thing I did was to address the issues of relevance and quality of teacher education. In terms of relevance, we observed that there was a dissonance between the teacher education curriculum used in the initial preparation of teachers in the colleges of education and the basic education curriculum which the NCE

graduates are supposed to deliver at the end of their training. So, my first step was to harmonize the Teacher Education Curriculum with the new Basic E d u c a t i o n Curriculum that came into effect in 2007. And we did this through series of activities. The first one was an experts meeting which drew technocrats in teacher education from across the country to a meeting to discuss the future of teacher education. From the meeting we rose with two resolutions. Some argued for a generalist

teacher education programme while others believed that what the country needed were specialist teachers. We took these two resolutions to a stakeholders’ meeting - a stakeholders’ forum which held in Akwanga in 2008. For the stakeholders meeting, we invited education commissioners and chairmen of SUBEBs, education secretaries, lecturers from colleges of education and faculties and institutes of education of universities and a host of other relevant bodies or persons. At this forum, stakeholders deliberated on the two positions as well as other choices for the reform of the teacher education programme, necessitated by the rise in the minimum teaching qualification in the country

structure that is more inclusive and well defined in roles. The new NCE curriculum is informed by the need to cater for the teacher needs at the four levels of basic education recognized by the UBE law enacted in 2004 namely, early childhood and care education, primary education, junior secondary education and adult and non-formal education. The commission also recognizes the need to increase the training and production of teachers for children with special needs. Currently, there’s only one college of education (special) at Oyo that produces such teachers. I am sure you will agree with me that it is impossible for this college alone to produce adequate number of such teachers for the whole country. So we are confident that by encouraging all colleges of education to mount NCE special education, we would be producing more teachers for children with special needs than a single college of education could do. Thus, we have expanded the teachereducation curriculum in order to refocus our colleges of education to address the existing teacher needs in the basic education sector. And we are encouraging all colleges of education that have the facilities and the human resources to begin to mount the specialist teachers’ education without foreclosing the other NCE programme they have

from TCII to NCE following the 2006 decision of the National Council on Education. Previously, NCE was conceived as a programme for training teachers for the junior secondary level and all the efforts at training teachers in the colleges of education were geared towards producing teachers for this level of secondary education. Now with the rise in the minimum teaching qualification, all the NCE graduate teachers are expected to teach at all levels of the basic education programme, including the early childhood and care education, primary education, junior secondary and adult and non-formal education levels. Now this marks an important point of departure from the old NCE to a new one. A new

been running over the years. These elements of the old two-subject combinations NCE are still vital to the production of teachers for the senior secondary level. THE PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY TEACHING AIDS IS VERY CENTRAL TO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUR PROGRAMME. WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST IMPEDIMENTS TOWARDS ACHIEVING THESE GOALS? Well, the greatest impediment in the way of infrastructure provision is funding but already, government is doing quite a lot in this regard in its annual appropriation to colleges. There are

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DAILY SUN

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Education Review/INTERVIEW “But let me tell you what happens when regulations go too far, when they seem to exist only for the purpose of justifying the existence of a regulator” - Marco Rubio

FG is improving on annual subventions – Muhammed

•Continued from Page 37 also other federal funding agencies such as TETFund and PTDF that are providing huge resources to colleges of education to improve in their infrastructure as well as the training and professional development of their academic staff. So, a lot is being done to expand facilities of our colleges and thereby expanding the current carrying capacities of these institutions. SOME OF THESE THINGS YOU’VE ARTICULATED ARE LONG-TERM PROJECTS. IN THE SHORT-TERM HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE INADEQUACIES OF QUALITY TEACHERS IN OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS? We approached the quality issue in many ways. First, we reviewed the teacher education curriculum to improve both its relevance and

quality. Then we embarked on building the capacity of teacher educators in order to re-tool their knowledge and skills. Thirdly, we also reviewed our quality assurance instrument with a view to making them more comprehensive and effective. We have just established a quality assurance unit at the commission’s headquarters and have directed all colleges of education to establish quality assurance units. Together, the units shall have responsibility for defining benchmarks/standards for teaching and learning, building capacities for teachers on standards for teachers and students, monitoring and evaluating performances in these areas as well as serving as the clearinghouse for certification of NCE graduates. The units would assist the colleges in conducting internal institutional assessment of academic programmes and act in advisory capacities to col-

lege management, so as to enhance the task of external Quality Assessments. And we are moving away from the old one – the shot periodic accreditation exercise every five years to encouraging colleges to do their own internal self-institutional quality assessment on a continuous and annual basis. The commission will combine their self-assessment with the external assessment reports in order to arrive at a final accreditation score of the institutions. APART FROM QUALITY TEACHERS MANY STATES STILL MAINTAIN A VERY PATHETIC PROFILE IN FORM AND CONTENT OF THEIR CURRICULUM. HOW DO WE HANDLE THIS? All colleges of education and other NCEawarding institutions must follow the NCE minimum standards developed by the National

L-R: Kaduna State commissioner for Education, Hon. Muhammed Usman, Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and Director General, National Teachers Institute (NTI) Dr. Sharehu Ladan. During 3rd NTI National Teachers Summit, in Kaduna.

Commission for Colleges of Education. We ensure institutional compliance to this rule through accreditation and through annual monitoring of the implementation of the standards we have set in all the institutions. So, there is no college in the country that will run a programme that is contrary to the standards we have set for NCE. SO YOU MONITOR THIS NATIONWIDE, EVEN TO THE REMOTE AREAS? Yes, we have. AND THE REPORTS COME BACK TO YOU? Yes, they do. DO THESE INCLUDE THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TOO? Yes, every college of education and or NCEawarding institution, we go to every college of education, every NCE-awarding institution for accreditation, for resource visitation and for annual monitoring of the implementation of the NCE minimum standards LET’S GO BACK TO HISTORY. SINCE 1999 WHEN UBEC WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE BASIC MANDATE TO ENSURE UNINTERRUPTED ACCESS TO NINE YEARS FORMAL EDUCATION BY PROVIDING FREE AND COMPULSORY BASIC EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD OF SCHOOL GOING AGE, THIS HAS DRAWN A LOT OF UNQUALIFIED TEACHERS TO THE SYSTEM IN ORDER TO MEET UP AND OPEN THE DOORS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO BOOM. HOW DO WE BALANCE THIS? Well, to balance this, is to ensure that state and local government education authorities employ the right kind of teachers for the basic education schools. You know, the problem started even much earlier in 1976 when we started the Universal Primary Education (UPE). That was the beginning of the coming into basic education schools of unqualified

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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DAILY SUN

INTERVIEW/Education Review “In order to lead a country or a company, you’ve got to get everybody on the same page and you’ve got to be able to have a vision of where you’re going” - Jack Welch •Continued from Page 38 teachers because schools were established almost in every nook and cranny of the country and teachers were just not there. So, most local education authorities resorted to employing unqualified teachers to address the overwhelming teacher gaps created by the monumental expansion of schools and enrolments at the primary school level. But even now that there are more qualified teachers in the country, some local education authorities still prefer to employ unqualified teachers. SO, THEY WOULD PAY THEM LOW WAGES TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR UPCOMING LEADERS? Yes, they do. BUT IS THERE ANY MECHANISM PUT IN PLACE TO CHECKMATE THIS? The mechanism the government has put in place is the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) which is responsible for the registration and licensing of teachers across all levels of education. And by their law, we are not supposed to have any unqualified teachers at any level of education and they’re checkmating that. Ours is to develop the curriculum and to ensure that there is quality in the training and education of teachers. BUT, THE OTHER FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS THAT WITHOUT SPELLING OUT IN A CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL TERM THE PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES BEHIND THE EDUCATIONAL GOALS, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE A REALISTIC, REMEDIAL MEASURE TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES, NO MATTER THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS WE THROW IN AT IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE OUR GUIDING EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVE AS A NATION? Well, we already have one because we have a national policy on education which spells out both the philosophy and objectives of education and this had been in existence since 1977. Again, in 2010, the Minister of Education endorsed and presented to the public a National Teacher Education Policy. For the first time, we now have a comprehensive National Teacher Education Policy that addresses both the pre-service and in-service teacher education. So we do have all of these. We have beautiful documents. I think the problem is about the implementation of those documents. SO, HOW DO WE PUT THE CONTENTS OF THESE DOCUMENTS INTO PRACTICE? We have to be honest to ourselves. If we employ the right kind of teachers; we must provide the right kind of environment for teaching and learning to thrive. And we must insist on standards and quality. These are the issues we must address if we are to attain the laudable objectives we have already set in our National Policy on Education and National Teacher Education policies. These two documents contain everything the philosophy, the objectives even the guidelines and strategies- they’re all spelt out. You can’t fault any one of them. The implementation is the basic problem. FINGERS ARE BEING POINTED AT THE GRADUATES COMING OUT OF OUR UNIVERSITIES AS BEING, AMONG OTHERS, UNEMPLOYABLE. NO EDUCATION SYSTEM CAN RISE ABOVE THE QUALITY OF ITS TEACHERS AS THE STANDARD OF TEACHERS INVARIABLY AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PUPILS AND STUDENTS. AS A RESULT, ISN’T IT TIME WE EMBARKED ON MASSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE RETRAINING OF OUR TEACHERS? We’re already doing that because since 2006, the Federal Government had been providing funds for the continuing professional development of teachers. And this is being coordinated by the National Teachers Institute. I know when we started in 2006, N4 billion was spent on retraining of 1.4 million primary school teachers across the country. And since 2006, this continuing professional development of teachers has been taking place annually using

‘We now have in place National Teacher Education policy’ funds provided by the MDGs Office. NTI is some years before we can bridge the gap already gearing up for the 2012 training of between the number of teachers that we require teachers. and the number of teachers that we produce. And don’t forget that every year more schools WHY IS THIS NOT IMPACTING ON THE are being established in all the local education PUPILS AND STUDENTS BECAUSE WHEN authorities across the country. So yes, the THEY SIT FOR WAEC AND JAMB EXAMS, lamentation is about the level of productivity THEIR RESULTS KEEP GETTING POORER vis-a -vis the level of need for teachers at the EVERY YEAR? various levels of education. Yes. There is what is referred to as accountability in education. If the previous level had not ALL THESE PAPER CERTIFICATES PEOPLE prepared students well enough to take up the ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT. DON’T YOU next level, then you will find teachers in the THINK IT WISE THAT WE SHOULD SPREAD upper level will have to spend time training POLYTECHNICS TO ENABLE STUDENTS pupils on the previous level before they can get ACQUIRE BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND them started on the new level. This accounta- INTELLECTUAL SKILLS WHICH WILL ENABLE bility runs through the whole system of educa- INDIVIDUALS TO BE SELF-RELIANT AND tion. If the first foundation level has not been USEFUL MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY AND done effectively, the pupils would be found HELP TO DRASTICALLY CURTAIL UNEMwanting in the next level. And the teachers at PLOYMENT? the next level will find out they have to spare Yes, I think self-reliance should be a key time to do the primary school teachers’ job objective of education. You know, from the before they could do their own. beginning, there was a wrong notion that if you go to school you are guaranteed a job. Those THE ROADMAP FOR THE EDUCATION who went to school from the beginning, yes SECTOR THAT WAS OFFICIALLY UNVEILED they got jobs. However, the rapid expansion of IN MARCH 2009 BY DR. SAM EGWU, THE education has challenged the basis of the close THEN EDUCATION MINISTER, SET A TARGET association between schooling and employOF ALL UNQUALIFIED TEACHERS TO BE ment. The apparent mismatch between the supUPGRADED TO NCE BY 2011; TRAINING ply of school leavers and job opportunities in OF 900,000 TEACHERS OVER A PERIOD OF the economic sector has made it difficult for 30 YEARS. THIS IS 2012, WHAT IS THE others who have attained qualifications to get PROGRESS REPORT BECAUSE SOME TIME jobs. So, it is time we began thinking about LAST WEEK YOU WERE LAMENTING THAT education for self-reliance and to teach students YOU ARE NOT LIKELY GOING TO MEET UP? to appreciate the relationship between educaWhat I was lamenting about was the huge tion and self-empowerment. number of teachers that are required at the varEducation for self-reliance has its roots even ious levels of basic education vis-a-vis the pro- as way back as in the 60s when the then presiduction capacity of the existing teacher training dent of Tanzania, the late president Julius institutions. Mark you, not all of the over 100 Nyerere, started the move for education for NCE awarding institutions have reached the self-reliance. And if you look around now, you output level yet. In addition, there are not many will see that students, young people are even students that are presenting themselves to train bolting away from education. They can see that as teachers because teaching is not a very lucra- education can no longer bring jobs and there tive profession. And most people are shying are many dropouts from school, particularly at away from it; even those who trained to the secondary school level. So it’s time we become teachers are running away from the started emphasizing on technical and vocationprofession. So as a result, it will take us quite al education so that people that attain middle

level manpower industrial skills can now establish themselves through small scale industries and so on. CONSIDERING THE ROLE OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS IN OUR SOCIETY, IS THERE ANY PLAN BY NCCE TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN IN THE PURSUIT OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING SINCE THEY ARE THE BEDROCK OF THE FAMILY? Yes, there is. We have a college of education that is devoted to female technical education at Gusau – Federal College of Education Technical, Gusau, Zamfara State. The college as the name goes, is for female students alone. Notwithstanding, there is still apathy to technical and vocational education among women and we have just concluded a study on the causes of that apathy. If you go to that college, in fact, if you read the interview of the provost of the college in a recent Blueprint edition, you would have seen that 75 per cent of the vacancies in the college are not taken. This means only 25 per cent of the capacity of the college is filled up with students because women are not taking up to vocational and technical education. There are many reasons – some are cultural because in many cultures, it is odd to see a woman doing menial jobs or being a carpenter and so on. I remember the case of a youth corps member, who I think was a civil engineer who was supervising the construction of a roundabout in Sokoto. She immediately became a scene that even the media came taking video photographs of the lady. So, it was odd to see a woman doing the so-called man’s job. And you know menial jobs also develop the woman’s muscle and so on. And we do have this thing about beauty – what is a beautiful body in a woman – is it the muscular type or otherwise? You see, all these things are cultural and we’re trying as best as we can to attract more women to take up technical and vocational education so that we can develop the necessary critical mass of role models for other young females to take up technical and vocational education.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Education Review “When a noble life has prepared old age, it is not decline that it reveals, but the first days of immortality” - Muriel Spark

SPOTLIGHT: Human Interest Story

By SAM OTTI

alking away from school for lack of fund seems to be the longest journey that Rev. Williams Rufus Olatunji Ojo ever made. A minister with the Baptist Convention, he suffered a cruel blow during his early days when he lost his mother at an infant age and subsequently dropped out of college. Although momentarily set back by these developments, he refused to dump his books. Instead, without any teacher or private instructor, he studied for Cambridge examination and came out in flying colours. Today, he seats among men of letters with his latest conferment of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, during the seventh convocation and anniversary of the institution held recently. In an interview, Ojo recalled the travails of his early years, as he paid tribute to the invisible hands of providence that graciously lifted him from the dust to the throne. “Though I came from a very humble background, though I dropped out of secondary school and studied on my own, the Lord set me up in high places through the Baptist Convention”. According to him, unlike his peers, he never tasted the joy of a mother’s love. Instead, he grew up under his father’s guidance, where they spent their days in the farm together. So, while other children were studying at school, the young William was sweating it out on the farm. But providentially, it was on their way from the farm one day that he and his father ran into the headmaster of the village school, Mr. S.O Akinluyi, who persuaded his father to send the boy to school. “Mr. Akinluyi still would not agree until my father finally consented to me starting the following school term. So, my life’s journey began”, he said. On completion of his primary school education, getting admitted into college of his choice proved a nightmare. Although he was born and raised as an Anglican, he was denied admission to the renowned St Andrew’s College, Oyo, because his father was a polygamist. But he later attended Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, although his dream was almost aborted due to lack of fund. “Due to financial constraints, I dropped out after three years, instead of spending the required six years,” he recounted. “I worked as the first paid BBHS school librarian and studied for Cambridge examination on my own.” Studying for the Cambridge exam was tasking, especially in the absence of any teacher or instructor. But his perseverance won the day. He came out in flying colours and with exemption from London matriculation. His certificate became the master key that opened doors of opportunities. First, he worked with the Electricity Corporation, Lagos and later joined Nigerian Railway Corporation. It was during this period that he received the call to serve God. “I took the call to the ministry with excitement but it came with some costs, one of which was losing my then girlfriend who did not want to marry a pastor”, he recalled. Although Pa Ojo lost his beautiful girlfriend because of his call, heaven repaid him with Grace, a virtuous woman she had lived with for the past 57 years. “I could not have had a better wife and companion”, he told Education Review. Aside being blessed with a treasured wife, his call brought him more joy, as he later became the first Nigerian Recording Secretary for the Baptist Convention, the first Nigerian Sunday School Secretary of the Baptist Convention. He was later chosen by the Convention to become the principal

From zero to hero

Rev Ojo bags ‘Doctorate’, years after he dropped out of college due to lack of funding

Rev. Ojo displaying the award

promoter and fund raiser for the then proposed Baptist University, which became Bowen University. He also served as a Commissioner in Ondo State, among other enviable positions. Looking back at the task of raising fund for the new university, Rev Ojo said the assignment did not come with an extra income or benefit; rather, it was a cross he bore with joy. According to him, he traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria and Ghana, sowing seed that yielded generous donations for the new university. “It was a sowing time with a heart for God and His work. Thanks be to God, it has not lost its harvest”, he added.

‘Though I dropped out of secondary school and studied on my own, the Lord set me up in high places through the Baptist Convention’

Although Pa Ojo now stands on the mountain top of glory, he had not forgotten millions of young people struggling down the valley. In fact, it was for the purpose of lending a helping

hand to other distressed souls that the Grace William Foundation, founded by him and his wife, was launched. “God helping us, we intend to donate a minimum of N1 million every year to 10 Bowen University deserving students in dire need of financial assistance. The details are being discussed with the Bowen University authority.” The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Olagbemiro, said the award was bestowed on the recipient in appreciation of his faithful stewardship and contribution to humanity. He described Ojo as one of the founding fathers of the university, a man who the Lord used to solicit for funds from churches, individual members and organisations both in Nigeria and Ghana for the establishment of the university. While congratulating the recipient, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, said the award was a well-deserved honour. Speaking on behalf of his children and grand children, Supo Ojo, one of his sons working with Change Holdings, told Education Review that his father had an insatiable desire for education. “Dad worked so hard, tirelessly towards the take off of the university. I will say of a truth that no other person deserves this award better than him. I remember when I was in school, anytime I come home from the boarding house, my dad will read through all my notes. He read through everything and marked them. He is very good at Mathematics and language. He taught us with Lacombe Mathematics. My dad used to tell us that all he owed us was education and he gave us the best by sending us to the best schools in our days.” He said his father believed so much in due process that he nicknamed him, Makanjuola, which means ‘take your time, you will get there”. He always told us to “remember the son of who you are.”

Rev. Ojo with principal officers of the university

•Education Review is published weekly . Editor’s email: abanobichika@yahoo.co.uk Phone Number: 08034041645