At a recent meeting of the TETFUND book development committee in Abuja, its chairman, Professor Charles Aworh, frowned at the quality of thesis written by postgraduate students in Nigeria’s universities. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE takes a critical look at the available remedial steps
At the recent convocation ceremony of the Nigeria Turkish Nile University Abuja, where he represented President Jonathan, the executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, canvasses imbibing sound cultural values as a way out to the several challenges facing Nigeria. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE takes a look at the import of his campaign.
While interacting with news men after presenting the president’s speech at the Turkish Nile University ‘s convocation arena, the TETFund boss emphasized the role quality education can play in building up value chains that can in turn contribute in addressing our present security challenges.
According to the TETFUND boss ‘’we give certificate for character and learning, so if we miss the point which values represent, we have missed all because that is where character is expressed. Character expresses value because it expresses what you are as a person; you will have knowledge but if you don’t have the right character, value, then the society surfers’’
He further opined that it is value that shapes the society and defines it, and that it should be a challenge to everyone to inculcate those relevant values that the society can be proud of.
He said ’’ we talk about African values and culture that we are proud of, that we are our brother’s keepers, we have values and respect elders and others for what they are worth even when we may disagree with their opinion, we respect them for who they are, and respect their rights to their different opinions’.’
Professor Bogoro also lamented a situation where the future of Nigeria can be endangered by the simple fact that tertiary institutions produce students with first class materials that do not have character and values that every member of the society can be proud, of.
The Professor further commended the launching of the safe education projects in schools by president Jonathan by the setting aside of huge money ‘’only a few days to launch operation keep safe our children in the north east, as it were, as a starting point, for the purpose of securing our tertiary institutions and schools’’
He said ’’we believe that nothing is too much to invest in ensuring that our children in these schools, their lives and future is secured in whatever it may take government to do’’.
In the opinion of the Professor, Nigeria can use education to win the present war on insurgency
He insisted that education is one of the most important instruments for the promotion of peace and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria and cited the recent Ufok dialogue foundation which conducted a tour of Istanbul by 10 Academics from the Northern part of the country. He said that they were taken to learn the philosophy of Dr Fatula, an Islamic scholar and a global intellectual who believes in cross cultural understanding, dialogue and peaceful co-existence.
Stakeholders in the education sector were of the believe that a restructured education curriculum that elevates cultural values can help re-order the society and position it for greater development. Nigeria’s education should inculcate relevant aspect of values under general studies from the tertiary institution to enable it refocus on proper acquisition of knowledge and address the challenges around us
Another participant at the convocation activities is the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo who while delivering the convocation lecture identified opportunities in education and civic participation as two critical factors that would position Nigerian youths at the centre stage of nation building.
He said “Knowledge through education unlocks the potentials of youths, education broadens opportunities and builds capacities, and it is therefore the key and the bedrock for sustainable transformation”
“Youths must demonstrate a capacity to become leaders by becoming active learners and people of character, commitment and drive”
He urged the Nigerian populace to be agents of change and become the transformational leaders needed for the transformation of the nation.
“the onus is on each and every one of us to be change agents and become the transformational leaders that is needed for our national transformation”
Earlier at the convocation lecture, the Vice chancellor of the Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Professor Huseyin Sert said 181 graduals are been celebrated out of whom are 10 first class honors, 76 second class upper , 83 second class lower and 12 third class.
