By Adeyinka Adeniran
A professor of Economic History and Development Studies at the Benue State University, Markudi and Secretary General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Yakubu Ochefu, has charged stakeholders in the country’s education sector to consider “flipping” the current national situation by turning problems into opportunities.
He gave the charge while leading the 81st Interdisciplinary Research Discourse of the Postgraduate College of the University of Ibadan.
The topic was “Rethinking the Philosophy of University Education in Nigeria in the Era of Education 4.0”
Professor Ochefu in his lecture sought to take a hard look at the triggers, disrupting the nature and character of higher education in Nigeria and how to translate them into opportunities in an effort to reform and transform the education sector.
He suggested that we must foster collaboration and teamwork, pursue and encourage interdisciplinary partnerships, and break down the silos within the academic environment.
He also called for the efficient and effective management of resources, adding that resources must be allocated strategically, effectiveness must be prioritized, and transparency ensured in decision making.
Professor Ochefu said Vice Chancellors must possess the emotional intelligence required to build conflict resolution skills and address difficult situations head – on, with fairness, objectivity, and firmness.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, in his address as the Chairman at the Discourse, stated that education remains an important instrument for growth and national development.
He stressed the need for a periodic review of the nation’s philosophy of education, saying that when one considers the dynamic nature of society, the ever-changing challenges must be creatively tackled if society would remain functional.
Professor Adebowale noted that Education 4.0. comes with a hybrid model that empowers students and lecturers to think critically in a manner that challenges traditional boundaries to learning.
He said this model of education aligns and synchronizes with the emerging fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0.
The Vice-Chancellor concluded that rethinking the philosophy of university education in Nigeria requires a shift in mindset and approaches to teaching and learning as well as leveraging digitalisation to enable learning anywhere at any time in the world.
