- By Sunday Saanu
The 14th Registry Annual Lecture of The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), which was recently held at Obafemi Awolowo hall of the university, was not only picturesque in form, scrumptious in taste, but spectacular in substance, with a cultural group welcoming guests with drums, songs and dances, thus, generating hype, hoopla, and hysteria! The carnivalesque lecture which saw both staff and students of the university; turning out in resplendent corporate outfits, with their ties and scarfs adorning their enviable appearances, spoke to the seriousness they attached to the event.
The well decorated hall, with effective sound system, as well as the courtesies with which the organizers welcomed and ushered guests into the venue of the event was amazing-a tell tale of proper planning and preparations. FUTA Registrar, Mr. Charles Olusegun Adeyeye had proudly informed the gathering that the idea of Annual Registry Lecture started in 2009 at Akure before other universities in Nigeria jumped on the bandwagon. Excellent! FUTA deserves kudos for mooting a novel idea, but it can not monopolize it. There is nothing bad in copying a good idea.
However, this 14th edition of the FUTA’s Lecture series was entitled “The Conundrum of Leadership Emergence in Nigerian Higher Education Institutions: The Missing Links”. The guest lecturer was a one-time Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, and a former Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole. FUTA would not just invite anyone to mount the rostrum, rather, it carefully selects its guest lecturers mainly consisting system administrators, including Vice Chancellors , Registrars and influential Nigerians from diverse backgrounds.
In her welcome address, FUTA Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Temidayo Oladiji had observed that certain salutary traditions in the university system in Nigeria “are beginning to evaporate, hence, the need to interrogate not just the nature of leadership in our universities, but also the processes and principles that inform its emergence”, adding that “FUTA as a university remains committed to building a culture of principled leadership, rooted in integrity, professionalism, and academic excellence. According to her, “Our processes continue to evolve to reflect global best practices in university governance. The Registry, in particular, remains central to this transformation as it anchors the administrative life of the university and ensures that due process is kept in focus in the scheme of things”
Mounting the rostrum to deliver the lecture, Prof. Adewole, a cerebral scholar of uncommon standing, called on government to stop establishing new universities until the existing ones are on sound footing. In his words: “There should be a moratorium on the establishment of new universities by the government until established ones are on sound footing. Let us expand the first-generation universities first in a phased strategic approach to increase access to higher education. To buttress his argument, Prof. Adewole in his flowing sky-blue agbada; cited The University of Cairo, which he said has a student population of 207, 853, the figure he noted; was at least six times that of the University of Ibadan.
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Traveling through the past, Prof. Adewole whose lecture was intermittently punctuated by applause from the appreciative audience also condemned the continuous interference of the federal government and its agencies in the administration of university system, saying “National Universities Commission (NUC) should restrict itself to accreditation and quality assurance only”. He recommended that campus unions should negotiate with the governing councils, and not the federal government, pointing out that autonomy must be complete and total in words, spirit, and actions.
The former Health Minister who was brilliantly emitting knowledge like the sparks given off from the welders’ oxyacetylene lamp argued that as long as the salaries of full-time university lecturers cannot support a middle-class lifestyle, the development of universities may be impossible in Nigeria and most African countries, stressing that most governments pay university lecturers salaries that can hardly cover their households. According to the former UI boss, “In Nigeria, for example, the highest- paid professor earns less than USD 500 per month. The workload for university lecturers is so heavy that they have little time to conduct thorough research” He added: “Teaching at satellite campuses or participating in revenue-generating activities that divert attention from academic and research priorities cannot foster the values that support and sustain Universities”
On weak infrastructure and policies in the university system, Prof Adewole who kept the audience spellbound by his brilliant oratory, delivered in measured cadence stated that “Many Universities lack essential academic and research infrastructure, including laboratories,specialized equipment,spacious libraries with current journals and books ,and effective systems for storing, retrieving and utilizing information. He also noted that “Continuous access to high-speed internet is another critical support that most institutions, unfortunately, lack. Additional barriers include the absence of policies that promote academic and research activities, including efficient research management systems, and a shortage of suitable incentives to recognize and reward high-quality research”
On funding the university, the guest lecturer who was accorded all the accouterments of a celebrity asserted that “Each university must actively seek diverse ventures to increase its internally generated revenue, thereby enhancing resilience and sustainability”. In Nigeria, according to him, “nearly all internally-generating enterprises are inactive, and they need to be reactivated and improved with more viable and internationally recognized money-making ventures. Such strategies include forming economic partnerships with the private sector”
To restore standards and quality in university education, he advised that “African countries must depoliticize education, reintroduce it, and deregulate it, pointing out that what costs nothing is worth nothing, and what carries a price has value” In his words: “Universities should receive an annual grant from the Federal Government based on their student load and the number of courses offered. The Governing Council should therefore determine salaries as they deem fit and charge appropriate fees, subject to a particular ceiling. Loans and scholarship should be restored and sustained”
Speaking on the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adewole remarked that the process of appointing Vice-Chancellors was a complex one, maintaining that statutory guidelines exist, the reality often involves a combination of strict selection procedures and behind-the -scenes lobbying. “Successful vice-chancellors are typically those who can balance academic excellence with political acumen, resource mobilization, and effective stakeholder engagement. Sometimes, the process becomes unpredictable, leading to the appointment of an acting Vice-Chancellor. The appointment of an acting vice-chancellor has also become problematic, often requiring intervention from the Ministry of Education”, he said.
“The Governing Council should carefully review the appointment of Vice-Chancellors and other key officials. This role requires creativity, energy, and tact. In all these areas , adopting a new approach is crucial. The time between the appointment and the beginning of duties should be dedicated to orientation and training, helping the new VC perform effectively in a role they may not yet be fully prepared for. This period should also focus on developing a strategic plan with clear, measurable objectives”, he added.
Clearly, his arguments were breathtaking in their range and reach, as his delivery was magisterial and compelling. Indeed, the truth got told. But will the authorities listen? Only time will tell. The lecture which drew representatives from the neighboring universities including University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun state university among others later saw the participants treated to a quality hospitality. It was indeed a well organized event.
- Saanu, Ph.D in Cultural and Media Studies is with University of Ibadan. He can be reached on 08034073427. Email: sundaysaanu@gmail.com
