Welcome to the world of Professor Ignatius Onimawo, current Vice Chancellor of the Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma, in Edo State.
In this exclusive interview the ever busy Vice Chancellor granted Isuosuo Precious Gift recently, Professor Onimawo bares his mind, candidly, on wide ranging issues as it affects the sector, his institution and also proffers solutions to redress the seeming imbalance. He also scores the Nigerian Education System high, noting that they have fared well in the faces of challenges.
Happy reading.
Q: May we meet you formally sir?
A: I am Ignatus Onimawo, Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry and presently the Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, by God’s grace.
A: I am Ignatus Onimawo, Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry and presently the Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, by God’s grace.
Q: Vice Chancellor Sir, how long have you been in the education sector?
A: Thirty four years. I started as Lecturer 111 at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, in Benue State. I left the Polytechnic Sector in 1999 and since then I have been in the University Sector.
A: Thirty four years. I started as Lecturer 111 at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, in Benue State. I left the Polytechnic Sector in 1999 and since then I have been in the University Sector.
Q: How long have you been the Vice Chancellor of this great citadel of learning?
A: We just two years in May this year. I am in the third year now. I was appointed VC May 11 2016.
A: We just two years in May this year. I am in the third year now. I was appointed VC May 11 2016.
Q: What is your assessment of the Nigerian Education System.
A: This is a broad question and it depends on the perspective from which you are looking at it. Generally, there have been ups and downs over the years with the system in terms of policies, quality of products, and quantity of services that the system renders.
But in all these, it is not as bad as painted, sometimes by the press. It depends on who is assessing us, looking at the facilities with which the students are trained and yet they are able to excel the extent they have done, I can say that we have not done so badly but definitely we are not at our best.
Because in those days when we had the state of the art and workable facilities like laboratories, well stocked libraries, well maintained hostels, manageable students population of students on campus the standard of education was higher. You will agree with me that naturally when the quantity is high, the quality is bound to reduce. So Nigeria is battling with how to maintain quality and then quantity. A lot of Nigerian youths are looking for higher education and the facilities available cannot accommodate them. Every year we have so many students passing their JAMB, but at the end of the day, maybe less than a million gain admission. So what happens to the balance? It still needs to be recycled so generally, I believein some aspects, we are trying. The conduct of the JAMB for instance has improved significantly, the conduct of examinations in some Universities like Ambrose Ali University has generally improved very tremendously. To remove this human error element, most of our 100, 200 and even 300 level courses are computer based, to assess and grade students.
So we are producing better graduates. So generally I see a lot or hope and improvement of the education sector in Nigeria.
A: This is a broad question and it depends on the perspective from which you are looking at it. Generally, there have been ups and downs over the years with the system in terms of policies, quality of products, and quantity of services that the system renders.
But in all these, it is not as bad as painted, sometimes by the press. It depends on who is assessing us, looking at the facilities with which the students are trained and yet they are able to excel the extent they have done, I can say that we have not done so badly but definitely we are not at our best.
Because in those days when we had the state of the art and workable facilities like laboratories, well stocked libraries, well maintained hostels, manageable students population of students on campus the standard of education was higher. You will agree with me that naturally when the quantity is high, the quality is bound to reduce. So Nigeria is battling with how to maintain quality and then quantity. A lot of Nigerian youths are looking for higher education and the facilities available cannot accommodate them. Every year we have so many students passing their JAMB, but at the end of the day, maybe less than a million gain admission. So what happens to the balance? It still needs to be recycled so generally, I believein some aspects, we are trying. The conduct of the JAMB for instance has improved significantly, the conduct of examinations in some Universities like Ambrose Ali University has generally improved very tremendously. To remove this human error element, most of our 100, 200 and even 300 level courses are computer based, to assess and grade students.
So we are producing better graduates. So generally I see a lot or hope and improvement of the education sector in Nigeria.
Q: What do you think are the challenges militating against the educational advancement in Nigeria?
A: The major one like I just hunted is the facilities available. The carrying capacity of every institution is low compared to those who want those services. For instance the kind of state of art facilities we need in courses such as for engineering, science and all that which the school wants is not there. In other parts of the world, industries fund, universities by supplying these equipments. And also, the use of ICT is not fully integrated in the system though we are gradually getting there. And then, all these items I have mentioned cannot be possible without adequate funding for education in the country then there is also one thin g that we are glossing over and this is a major challenge. It is the influence of social media on the students.
A lot of students spend a lot of time on their handsets and browse non academic things which of course affects their performance.
I had a particular incident where a lady came to me and said her daughter failed a particular course which I taught her. I asked for her daughter’s particulars and found out that the girl wrote virtually nothing in the script. I then asked the mother to bring her daughter and when she came, I discovered she had a cell phone. Upon enquiry, she opened up that she browses with her phone in the week hours of the morning and misses class because of fatigue. The mother later agreed that even when her daughter comes home, she does not sleep at night...
A: The major one like I just hunted is the facilities available. The carrying capacity of every institution is low compared to those who want those services. For instance the kind of state of art facilities we need in courses such as for engineering, science and all that which the school wants is not there. In other parts of the world, industries fund, universities by supplying these equipments. And also, the use of ICT is not fully integrated in the system though we are gradually getting there. And then, all these items I have mentioned cannot be possible without adequate funding for education in the country then there is also one thin g that we are glossing over and this is a major challenge. It is the influence of social media on the students.
A lot of students spend a lot of time on their handsets and browse non academic things which of course affects their performance.
I had a particular incident where a lady came to me and said her daughter failed a particular course which I taught her. I asked for her daughter’s particulars and found out that the girl wrote virtually nothing in the script. I then asked the mother to bring her daughter and when she came, I discovered she had a cell phone. Upon enquiry, she opened up that she browses with her phone in the week hours of the morning and misses class because of fatigue. The mother later agreed that even when her daughter comes home, she does not sleep at night...
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