Don tasks leaders on patriotism

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

Provost, National Defence College, Abuja, Prof. Adam Okene Ahmed,has called on leaders to inculcate patriotism in Nigerians through exemplary leadership and concern for the citizens rather than Civic Education and laws.

Prof. Ahmed made the call while reviewing the book: “Intergroup Relations, Strategic and Security Studies: The Future of Higher Education in Africa” a Festschrift in Honour of Olayemi Akinwumi”,Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja,.

The book edited by Prof. M.S. Audu, Prof. Harrison Adeniyi, Prof. Gbenga Ibileye and Dr Tosin Olagunju, was launched as part of activities to mark the 60th birthday anniversary of the Vice Chancellor on Saturday in Lokoja.

Ahmed described Patriotism as essential and critical to nation building and national reconstruction as he reiterated the need for leaders to teach their followers through exemplary leadership.

Represented by Dr Kabiru Kaka, the Professor of Economic History said:
“Patriotism is not taught through Civic Education. Patriotism is taught through leading by example, through showing concerns for the citizens.

He said that when the government of Japan had to maintain a train route service because of a poor girl (one citizen) that was always taking that route to school, it showed the level of concern and patriotism on the side of government.

“How else can you teach patriotism, if not something like this? You don’t have to teach it through the laws, reading all the laws, civic education, as we have it today. It is about leadership by example.

Prof. Ahmed, a specialist in Economic History and Middle East Studies also urged stakeholders in the Education sector to start rethinking the philosophy of Education in Nigeria with emphasis on social, cultural and economic development of the country.

He said that the role of higher education in the social, cultural, and economic development of Nigeria should continue to include maintaining adherence and loyalty to the world academic standards.

The Don commended the FUL for its struggle towards academic excellence saying it it is doing its best to align as a student of computer science in the university is a recipient of the Microsoft Award.

On public perception of human rights abuses in Nigerian police, the book reviewer agreed with the recommendation that the police should strive to protect from corrupt tendencies and brutality and meet the public’s expectations of civil policing.

He held that rights abuses are perpetrated as a result of deficit in patriotism saying, “As far as I’m concerned, criminality, crisis, conflicts and everything you can think about is everybody’s business. I am not patriotic. We are not patriotic.”

On the future in of Higher Education in Africa, Ahmed said it remained the responsibility of teachers to adopt the WIKI-L experimental learning model that subsumes various learners – Willing, Interactive, kinetic, Intra-active and the Lazy, to attain the goal. (Ends)