The government at both state and local levels should see to the revitalization of the art of storytelling by incorporating the oral delivery of traditional tales and stories into the school curriculum.

A Professor of African, Oral and Biblical literature, Prof. Mark Ighile, made this recommendation while delivering the 13th Inaugural Lecture of Benson Idahosa University with the title ‘The Poet-Prophetic voice in the wilderness of our time: An oral, literary and biblical prognosis’.

According to him, in the revitalization of the art of storytelling, professional storytellers should be commissioned to go around schools, especially at the primary level, in order to narrate important tales to pupils in these schools with a view to producing morally strong future leaders that we will all be proud of. He added that there is also a need for all stakeholders to draw attention to the fact that literature and religion are crucial parts of the culture of a given people.

The University don further added that there should be a reawakening of the cultural heritage of contemporary Nigerian society. He lamented that social media is fast spreading a subversion of African traditions, and it becomes increasingly important to counterbalance this trend with the art of storytelling.

He further added that oral and biblical literature is now faced with a scarcity of relevant reading materials.

In his words: “African, Oral and Biblical literature is faced with at least two basic problems: relative scarcity of relevant reading materials and the fact that most available works and documentations especially those authored by critics who have commanding orientations towards Western theories or proponents of Western theories and their African adherents are believed by many to be fraught with contestable assumptions.”

Furthermore, he mentioned that the complexity of the definition of oral literary teaching is another challenge.

“Another challenge facing oral literary teaching and research in Africa is the string of complexities in the definition of its boundaries. The oral literary materials are essentially the same for anthropology, folklore, oral history, traditional music, and other components of oral tradition.

According to him, it can be argued that oral literature’s interdisciplinary existence has further compounded the problem of working out a set of critical criteria that would help to distinguish it from other studies.”

He recommended that oral arts, especially storytelling, should be revived and given adequate attention to counterbalance the growing influence of cyberculture.

The Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Prof. Sam Guobadia has charged the newly admitted students of Benson Idahosa University to embrace the virtues of excellence, desist from all forms of misconduct, and focus on why they are in school.

Prof. Sam Guobadia made this known while speaking during the 22^nd Matriculation Ceremony for the 2022/ 2023 academic session.

He said: “ My dear matriculating students, I welcome you on board to key into the vision and mission of this university, I charge you to make the most opportunity afforded you by your parents/guardians. Ensure that you attend classes, shun all forms of deviant behaviours and other vices, and focus on why you are.”

He further reminded them that the school has zero tolerance for any form of misconduct and do not hesitate to sanction them. He added that Benson Idahosa University will continue to focus on its core purpose which is to CHANGE NIGERIA. According to him, this will be achieved by instilling the vision and mission of the university on the students.

“At Benson Idahosa University, we have zero tolerance for any form of misconduct, and do not hesitate to sanction them. Be modest and decent in your dressing, and adhere strictly to the rules and regulations in the students’ handbook,” he said.

The University don noted that 1387 is the highest enrolment ever recorded in an academic year in the history of the University. Prof Guobadia also added that the university had all its programs fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

In his words: “The University at the moment has all its programs fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), including our Postgraduate School programs. We award higher degrees up to Ph.D. in most disciplines.”

The matriculation oath was administered to the students by the Registrar, Benson Idahosa University, Mr. Itoya Vinton- Okoedo