In this interview with the Communications and Brand Strategy Unit (CBSU), the Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Prof. Osondu Akoma says that the capacity of the youths to think for themselves maybe be terribly hindered by the political system that has made it difficult for them to enjoy school because of the economic hardship in the society.
Excerpts:
Do you think universities give students the privilege to express their feelings and thoughts on issues, be it academic or non-academic?
The concept of university education is hinged on the universality on knowledge. The university is usually described as an ivory tower simply because it is a community that breeds intellectual prowess. It is a specialized environment where creativity, knowledge and experience are allowed to run wide. In other words, the university provides opportunity for the highest level of intellectual expression. You may recall that the first generation universities were the hotbeds for real intellectual discussions and radical change of the society. From the point of engagement in the class room to extracurricular activities within that confined environment, the whole essence is that young people are given the opportunity to express themselves to the extent that they would make positive change. The youths in every society are the vibrant demography, which is where the strength of any society is. If at any point in time that energy is tie fold, the society suffers, so apart from the general society, the university environment promotes excellence and unhindered intellectual activity. The capacity of the youth generally to think for themselves maybe be terribly hindered by the political system that has made it difficult for the young people to enjoy school. This is as a result of the economic hardship that is in the society, which university is not isolated from.
The university system provides fertile ground for intellectual discourse, innovation and betterment of the society. The university environment gives space to young people to develop their skills, intellectually, politically and in other extracurricular activities.
The vibrancy in Nigerian university system still resides in the public university system. Private universities are totally different from secular universities or government owned universities. Benson Idahosa University as a matter of fact is a private Christian University. There is an article of faith and code of conduct that every student must subscribe to for the good governance of the university. Based on the concepts and ideals of the founder of the university, student unionism is totally ruled out but in its place we have student leadership. This student leadership tailors students’ capacity to acquire leadership roles amongst their peers without getting political with strong emphasis on spiritual growth and development from the background of a Christian university.
The faith component of the university put strict regulation and they are not put in place to discriminate against anybody but you subscribe to it at the point of entry.
Student leadership here is not student political leadership unlike we find in public universities but it is geared towards having students develop leadership skills and make positive impact. Our experience is such that those who have excelled in the student leadership program on campus here have gone ahead to be better people and more established in life.
What is the impact of cordial relationship among students and lecturers?
I have over 14years experience in the private university system and for me because we are a Christian university; we are admonished as staff to be Christ like. Secondly, every staff in this university has the responsibility to take care of the students as locos parentis in the sense that you are not just seeing them as students but as our children, who we have the responsibility to take proper care of them, so that relationship is super cordial.
In Benson Idahosa University, we go all out to seek the interest of our students both in their academics and personal life. Starting from the President of the University to the Vice Chancellor, students have unfettered access; the doors are open on certain days of the week for students to approach Management. From the Proprietor to the Vice Chancellor, to all the principal officers and then at the faculty and departmental levels we pay particular attention to the needs of our students. The present Vice Chancellor has actually taken it a step further by intensifying the fact that the students are actually our customers and we should treat them as customers. From that angle you can be sure that we are expected to listen them, take care of their problems, prioritize their needs, so as to be build excellent student experience.
We treat our students as our customers and at every point in time we want to be sure they are happy and their interest is well catered for and whenever they have any challenges and they come to us, we provide solutions and give them succor
Sir, you double as the ICT Director, Benson Idahosa University. How do you think modern technology can help enhance the easy running of the university system?
The way forward in university system generally is the fact that ICT is the infrastructure on which the university is built. If you have to set up a university today, first and foremost, it has to be on the Web and all you do must be showcased there for the world to see. You set up your website and you set up your eduportal to run the business of the university from admissions to payment of fees, to academic aspect and then graduation. Bearing this in mind, ICT is indispensable. The whole business of the university, there is infrastructure with which it can be run effectively and efficiently, that is ICT. The tools available are such that you can run a university seamlessly if you develop your ICT backbone to the extent where from your account to administration, to academic content, to being in touch with the students, Online Real-Time in a virtual environment through the use of ICT.