Pro-chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council University of Calabar, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has advised the federal government to stop establishing more universities, but enhance the standard of existing ones.
Iwuanyanwu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Atta Ikeduru, Imo state.
He said that instead of frequently approving new universities, government should focus on improving standards in the existing ones in order to produce quality graduates.
He said that the standard of education in Nigerian universities had dropped when compared with what obtained 40 years in the past.
“During our days in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before the outbreak of the civil war, Nigerian universities were rated among the top universities in the world but the situation today is something else.Government must do something to change the university system,” he said.
The quality of education, he continued, was central to the advancement of any nation, adding that emphasis must be placed on specialisation by universities for expected gains in the education sector.
The statesman expressed support for the restructuring of the country with a view to tackling corruption, repositioning the local government administration and power sector.
“I must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his courage in embarking on anti-corruption fight. Buhari embarked on War Against Indiscipline as Head of State and now fighting corruption as a civilian president.
“All I want Buhari to do is to extend the anti-corruption fight to all sectors not at the level of leaders alone because a policeman collecting N50 from drivers on the road is involved in corruption. The one giving gift to somebody in office is also involved,” he said.
The pro-chancellor said that there must be ethical revolution in order to eliminate corruption in Nigeria and get things right.
On the lingering petrol scarcity, he advised the federal government to construct refineries in all the 36 states as a way of ending the recurrent challenges associated with short supply of petroleum products.
Errors that ruin first class ambition
Nigerian suniversity students desire to come out with distinction, but most of them often finish with second class in the upper or lower division. The Nigerian academic environment might not be as friendly as needed but many students only wish to graduate with first class without working for it.
Reports said students’ inability to actualise their academic desires is attributable to the lack of determination and plans in their educational pursuits. First class is achievable by lazy students if only a university or polytechnic is full of roguish lecturers.
Campus distractions usually steal students’ time, yet there are five major mistakes that play a major role in scuttling a student’s dream of graduating with first class.
Under-rating two-unit courses
Many Nigerian students take three-unit courses more seriously than lower unit courses. A two-unit course can ruin a flourishing grade if the student overlooks its importance. To get a first class degree requires a student to have ‘A’s in all courses without underrating any of them from the first semester of the first year to the final year.
Mishandling projects and Internship
University students are expected to go for an internship programme at 200 level while their polytechnic counterparts go for their Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) before getting to 200L to expose and prepare them for life after graduation. After which they go for another internship programme for one year. However, it is believed that some students don’t take these internship programmes seriously, believing that it is just for the experience and has nothing to do with their grades.
Depending on the course and the institution, internship and project work are worth 12 to 15 units. So, imagine the harm a ‘C’ would do to the cumulative grade of a student desiring first class.
Partying
For many students, night clubbing or partying is an escape route from academic rigours. partying deprives them of the means to enjoy life as students. But this is very erroneous and counter-productive if done excessively. Partying has helped no one to become the best graduating student. Therefore, any student who aspires to become one would have to be moderate with partying or shun it to avoid a drop in his or her academic goals.
Missing classes
You cannot afford to pursue your first-class goals and at the same time staying out of lectures. You know some lecturers like it word for word, giving it back the same way they gave you. Therefore, missing such lecturers’ classes is like waving goodbye to your own goals.
Missing classes can, apart from affecting your continuous assessments, also reduces your lecturer’s estimation of you if class attendance matters in your school.
Helping course mates during exams
Most students consider helping their course mates during examinations an act of goodwill for someone in need, but this kind of act is not recognized in academic community as a positive behaviour. It is a negative kindness that could destroy everything a student has been trying to gather. Imagine yourself a final year student with a strong CGPA but caught assisting someone during an examination.
This act constitutes examination malpractice and all students aspiring to graduate with distinction must as a matter of obligation refrain from it. Any academic assistance you have for your friend must have been done before the examinations start, not during the examinations.
Generally, every would-be first-class student has to study hard with an unflinching determination.
Technical University opens Jan 2018
Technical University in Ibadan is set to begin operation in January 2018 five years after the National Universities Commission (NUC) officially recognised the institution.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ayobami Salami who disclosed this to journalists, announced that the university would commence academic activities with 15 courses.
“I wish to underscore the point that some of the 15 courses are relatively new in Nigerian universities. Take Cyber security for example. We want to be foremost in providing solutions to the aches of cybercrime in all its variegated colourations.
“Similarly, our Biomedical Engineering seeks to fill the yawning gap evident in the lack of technical-know-how for the repair of high-tech hospital equipment. We intend to train the requisite manpower to help stem the tide of abandoned broken hospital apparatus,” he said.
Apart from these, Salami also listed Software Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering as part of the accredited courses the university would offer its pioneer students.
He further said that the institution has added additional two faculties to the existing ones: Centre for Entrepreneurial and Vocational Studies and the Centre for Language and General Studies to provide a well-rounded education.
