Education
Don decries intellectual misplacement in governance, deprivation
***Advocates meritocracy, social justice in polity
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
A Clinical Literary and Publishing Studies lecturer DR Abba Abba, has decried the intellectual misplacement in governance with “The Lesser Read Leading The Better Read” and stunting the much desired advancement and growth of the country.
Abba stated this at the 2nd Annual Coloqium of the Federal University Lokoja organised in honour of Prof. Olu Obafemi, a Professor of English and Dramatic Literature who retired from the University of Ilorin in 2020.
Dr Abba of the Department of English and Literary Studies at FUL said the 2nd Annual Coloqium is themed, “Olu Obafemi’s Post-Feminist Vision: Drama, Materialist Aesthetics, and the Nigerian Woman.”
He said that retrieval efforts at restoring the near lost relationship between the Town and the Gown, which had been the foundation on which tertiary institutions were built jow poses a huge challenge.
Abba revealed that the once robust relationship, dating back to monasteries as far back as in the 14th century when Louis XIV had to shut down monasteries believing that they were the causes of the uprisings within the kingdom, has nosedived.
“Today, under the Military, we saw that happened to ASUU. We saw what happened to many academics who had to enlighten society on what we call “invidious and insidious subversion” by mobilizing students intellectually to engage.
He said that rather than constructively engaging the leadership, “we get into the mundane part of sex and sexuality.
“We even legitimize such crimes that have now become a culture about cross-gender. We will try to legitimize it with modernity. And in all that, captured in the works of Prof. Olu Obafemi”, he pointed out.
On the advocacy for the rejuvenation of the female gender, he said, “I do not agree that our women at any time have been marginalized. I imagine that they went to sleep and suddenly got up.
“And as you are getting to the eve of the dismissal of that notion that the woman’s place is in the other room, the reminder of what our women are, should be and ought to be, become rife.”
In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor of FUL, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi described Prof. Obafemi as somebody the Academia in Kogi and beyond were proud of.
Prof. Akinwumi said, “He is somebody that we are proud of in this state and we are proud of in this country. The University deserves giants in the academic world on whose shoulders to stand and attract more development to the institution.
“We still need other people, giants that we can stand on their shoulders to advertise the University and standing on their shoulders not only to advertise ourselves but also to attract many things to the university”, he explained.
Speaking on Prof. Obafemi’s literary works, Prof. Gbemisola of the Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in his presentation titled: “Killing Two Stones With One Bird: Reflection on Class and Gender Ideation in Olu Obafemi’s Drama.
He said that due to the ideological consciousness of Prof. Obafemi, his plays deploy African traditions of story telling, music, dance and drama while his Marxist ideological consciousness inspires a sense of fairness and social justice that encompasses emancipation of the oppressed, regardless of gender and social Class.
Prof. Mabel Evwoerhoma, a Professors of Theatre Arts at the University of Abuja also made a presentation on Prof. olu Obafemi’s Drama on “Post-Feminist Vision, Materialist Aesthetics And the Nigerian Woman.
Abel Joseph, a professor of African and Post-colonial Literary Studies at the Federal University, Lokoja also presented, “Women And Power Beyond The Rhetoric Of Difference In Olu Obafemi’s Naira Has No Gender, And Near And Distant Cries.
Prof. Obafemi a playwright, poet, biographer, literary and theatre scholar, novelist, an author, member of Nigeria Academy of Letters and Nigerian Media Merit Award among many other accomplishments has several works on Feminism.
In the citation of Prof. Obafemi read by Prof. M.S. Audu, the retired professor had made so much contributions to the growth and development of English and Literature in Nigeria and impacted the global literary community. (Ends)
The Managing Director and CEO of the Bank of Industry (BOI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi, has called for a comprehensive curriculum overhaul in Nigerian universities to better align with global trends and equip graduates with practical skills. Speaking at the 10th special convention of the Ekiti State University Alumni Association in Abuja, Dr. Olusi highlighted the urgent need to bridge the gap between theory and practical application in Nigerian higher education.
Dr. Olusi noted that while Nigeria is rich in human and natural resources, progress in technology and economic development remains slow due to universities’ focus on theoretical knowledge over hands-on training. He emphasized that significant investments in research and technical skill development are essential for positioning Nigeria as a competitive force in the global economy.
Echoing this sentiment, Ekiti State University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ayodele, called on alumni to contribute to their alma mater, emphasizing that alumni support plays a critical role in building a strong academic foundation and fostering innovative research. The institution’s Chancellor, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, similarly urged alumni associations to prioritize initiatives that support university growth and student success.
Global President of the Ekiti State University Alumni Association, Dipo Bamisaye, stressed the need for Nigerian universities to continuously pursue excellence to remain competitive globally. Dr. Wale Jegede, Chairman of the institution’s Board of Trustees, commended the state governor for his dedication to quality education, particularly through the appointment of capable academics to guide the university’s progress.
The convention also honored notable alumni who have made significant contributions to the university’s development. Among those recognized were Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, former presidential aide Mr. Kingsley Kuku, Chancellor Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, Vice-Chancellor Professor Joseph Ayodele, and BOI MD Dr. Olasupo Olusi.
Reinforcing its commitment to the institution’s advancement, the Bank of Industry recently proposed a 2.5 billion Naira development fund to Ekiti State University, underscoring its dedication to driving growth in Nigeria’s educational sector.
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have announced a nationwide indefinite strike beginning Monday.
This decision, coordinated by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non-teaching university staff unions, is in protest of unpaid salaries withheld during a past strike involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) under the previous administration.
The JAC, in a circular addressed to branch chairmen of NASU and SSANU, stated that the strike, initially set for October 23, was postponed to October 27 to align with the Trade Group Council meeting held in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The document, signed by NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, cited delays from the Ministry of Finance in implementing President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to release 50 percent of the outstanding four-month salaries.
The unions expressed frustration over the government’s perceived lack of commitment to resolve the issue, emphasizing their readiness to maintain the strike until all withheld salaries are released.
The JAC’s circular read: “We express our deepest appreciation for your steadfast commitment to the leadership and we affirm our determination to persist in this struggle until ultimate victory is secured.”
The decision highlights ongoing labor tensions in Nigeria’s education sector, as non-teaching staff urge the government to uphold previous agreements and fulfill financial obligations.
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
A professor of Political Science and former Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akoko Akungba, Prof. Nahzeem Olufemi Mimiko, has advocated reimagining as the only way to overcome challenges bedeviling Nigerian universities.
He said that reimagining was requisite to make the institutions to be competitive, and capable of driving wholesome national development
Prof. Mimiko made the remarks in a lecture at the 8th Convocation Lecture of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) on the the topic: “Reimaging Nigeria’s (University) Education For Wholesome National Development” held at Felele Campus, Lokoja.
He also identified poor funding and corruption in the system as some of the major obstacles to the nation’s university education system
Mimiko noted that corruption has assumed endemic proportion requiring reimaging, radical rethink to reposition Nigeria’s university education system away from the negative status quo.
The foremost Nigeria. Educational Administrator and the only Vice Chancellor delegate at the National Conference in Nigeria held in 2014 under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan decried what he called mediocre level of funding of universities in Nigeria.
According to him Nigeria remains one of the countries in the world that are yet to meet the UNESCO-recommended threshold for education funding, at 15 to 20 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (UNESCO, 2015)”
Prof. Mimiko noted that physical facilities for teaching and learning in the Nigeria’s tertiary education were inadequate, dilapidated, overstretched/overcrowded and improvised.
The Professor of Political Science and International Relations reiterated his stance that the dearth of basic learning resources could equally be attributed to corruption adding that majority of the universities in the country were grossly understaffed.
“I reference corruption here not just in the narrow sense as financial corruption, but also reflected in inanities like provincialism; and cultivation of crop of indolent staff.
“The only way to overcome challenges bedeviling Nigerian universities is the reimagining requisite for making these institutions to be competitive, and capable of driving wholesome national development”
Comparing university education with that of Polytechnic, Professor Mimiko recommended that university education in Nigeria should remain focused on the more conceptual dimension of the knowledge enterprise.
He said that technical education as being administered by polytechnics should be devoted to producing middle level manpower in technical competencies.
Prof. Mimiko also maintained that the nation must adopt learning and teaching in local languages for it to grow and develop adding that teaching in the local languages remain the panacea.
He stated that the nation’s present educational system where learning is done in foreign languages was counterproductive urging Nigeria to take a cue from China, India, Japan among others that teach in their local languages.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi said that the lecture is geared towards providing intellectual discuss and described the guest lecturer as erudite scholar who knows his onions.
“We are committed to celebrating our academic excellence as the topic of the lecture is very relevant to our future career and guidance
“The lecture no doubt will contribute immensely to Nigeria’s educational and economic landscape” Professor Olayemi Akinwumi said. (Ends)
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