#CAMPUSNEWS:: Benue varsity’s inaugural lecture focuses on students’ empowerment

Penultimate Thursday will remain indelible in the annals of private universities in the country as the University of Mkar, Benue State held its third public lecture. Welcoming participants to the forum, the host vice chancellor, Prof. Hemen Agba said the lecture was to impacting the students and other crop of younger generations with the knowledge that would make them becoming economically relevant now and in future.

On his part, the chairman of the forum and former Director-General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Prof. Tseaa Shambe, blamed the falling standard of education chiefly on the teachers, saying many teachers in the country have deviated from the norm and values which the teaching profession was known for in the country. He noted that the vogue nowadays, especially among lecturers in tertiary institutions is for them to make quick money from the sales of hand- outs to students.

He said it was therefore unfair to blame politicians every time for woes in the education sector in the country as some of them also obtain degrees and passed through the tutelage of teachers.

The SON boss, however, said it was possible for one to deceive the whole world but to deceive oneself, is to be heading for doom.


The guest speaker, Prof. Akise Ada, on his part, said the poor rating of Nigerian universities globally was a demonstration that something is wrong with the entire educational sector and that efforts should be intensified towards addressing the issue. He said the Vision 20:2020 of the Federal Government may end a mere dream if drastic efforts are not taken to develop the education sector.

“Frankly speaking, the educational evolution in the country is foot- dragging. Many secondary school students cannot read and write simple sentence in English language. Universities also produce half-baked graduates,” he pointed out.

“However, one of the challenges confronting the sector is that of poor funding and something drastic needs to be done to curtail the seemingly hopeless situation.” The university don therefore advocated private partnership participation, saying such will also help in driving the sector to a greater height.

The forum has many high profile academicians and students in and outside the university in attendance.

They included the former Vice- Chancellor of Benue State University, Markurdi, Prof. David Keri; former Director-General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Prof. Tseaa Shambe, as well as the current deputy Vice-Cchancellor of Benue state University, who was also the guest speaker.

Browse More Articles

Tweet

Written by Unknown

We are Creative Blogger Theme Wavers which provides user friendly, effective and easy to use themes. Each support has free and providing HD support screen casting.