The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State, Prof. Olajumoke Abidemi Olayiwola, is a professor of Analytical/Environmental Chemistry and one of the few women to have emerged as vice-chancellors in Nigeria. She spoke with GBENGA ADERANTI about her style, family, the goings on in the education sector and other issues.
Where were you before you became the Acting VC of Oduduwa University?
I had opportunities of working in the pharmaceutical industry where I learnt the practical aspect of chemistry. I also had the opportunity of teaching in a polytechnic where I started my career as a lecturer. I was exposed to academic and administrative works here.
If you were not in academics, what would you have been doing?
I think it should be academics. Well, if it were not academics, I would have preferred going into business. But you know it would be painful for someone to do her best while in school to become an academician but unable to see her way through. She would feel that life is cruel to her.
My dad was an academician before he died. And you won’t believe it that my siblings are all into academics except one who is into an education-related business. It is funny. I discovered that when parents are academicians, they always put their children through the path to follow.
How do you cope as a mother, wife and VC of a private university?
I told you that when you are bent on doing something, you would not allow anything to distract you. My husband is not an academician but a business man. He had opportunities to work in many government establishments, coming first in most of the interviews he attended, but because he never knew anybody to help him, all efforts to get employed failed. He finally became a business man and he is happy today.
He is not an academician but he has the blood in him because his dad was an academician. He sees nothing wrong with my being an academician. At home, I am a loving, caring and well disciplined mother to my children. I give them all the attention they need. They know I don’t tolerate nonsense. I communicate a lot. Even when I am not at home, I call my children to know what is happening. It is not always the best for a woman to be a full-time housewife. One should think of the children; their present and future.
You will also agree with me that men don’t want to marry liabilities. As a wife, I am a submissive, loving, caring, peacemaker, faithful and diligent woman to my husband. I do everything expected of me as a wife. My husband too is a workaholic. My being a vice-chancellor does not disturb him. In fact, he is my mentor. He supports me and I am who I am today because of my parents and my husband. When a woman is submissive to her husband, the sky is the limit. Most husbands would not want their wives to progress. My husband is one in trillions.
As the Acting Vice-Chancellor of this great university, I think I am doing my best and God knows this. The President/Pro-Chancellor of Oduduwa University, Chief (Dr.) R.A. Adedoyin, would be able to say much about me. I am a person that is easy to work with I don’t tolerate laziness because I was brought up to be hardworking and well comported. I received a prize for this in my secondary school days. If I see people who can work with me positively and in line with my vision, we become friends.
What are the secrets of your marriage?
I don’t have any secret than submissiveness. This is supported by the two holy books, the Quran and the Bible. It is something that men cherish a lot. These days, women are not submissive and that is why you have unsettled marriages. One thing we should always teach our female children is that they should learn how to be submissive to their husbands irrespective of their family backgrounds. It is a secret that cannot be bought.
Has there been any time you felt like quitting your job?
No. And I give glory to the Almighty God for that. There is no day I would wake up and would not read. There is no day in my house where you will wake up and will not read when it is even compulsory for you to recite the Holy Quran. I have never taught of quitting lecturing except the time comes to quit.
How do you relax?
When I am not doing anything, I like reading the Quran and any book that comes my way. I watch movies, inspirational ones, once in a while. I don’t have friends. I have office colleagues. I learnt many lessons when I was young on why it might be bad at times to keep friends. Friends can make you or mar you.
What is your wardrobe like?
Perfect. Not too expensive. It is moderate. I like some colours.
Tell me your beauty routine
You want to know my secret (laughs). It is simple. I have a bath before I go to bed in order to have a sound sleep. I join my husband to go out and jog on Saturdays and Sundays. I watch what I eat; I don’t just eat anything. Anything that is going to affect me adversely, I will not eat it. I don’t drink alcohol. I discuss politics but hate being into it.
What informs what you wear?
I sometimes look at the event of the day and the weather before I wear anything. Most of the time, my husband chooses for me. And when he is not around, my children take over. I choose for him at times too. It’s funny.
How would you define your fashion sense?
It is moderate and I blend with time.
What are those things you would not be caught wearing?
Any clothe that is not decent for a good Muslim, I will never wear it. I cover my head all the time. The Quran taught us this.
How do you define an African woman?
An African woman is a decent, well cultured, well comported, caring, loving, submissive, easy going, God fearing, cool, calm and collected person. The African woman looks in a direction where everything will be positive irrespective of the situation or circumstance she finds herself.
It must be pretty difficult for a bookworm like you to have time for ‘trivialities’. How did you meet your husband?
It is true I am a bookworm. They called me Efico when I was in school. I don’t want artificial distractions. I don’t want anything that would disturb my reading. I told you my dad was an academician before his death. He was a disciplinarian. He must not see you with any man. We didn’t just go out. He would give you one assignment or the other. Even when he was travelling, he would give you an assignment you would not be able to finish till he returned. We thought that he was wicked. This developed into me and made me to have the choice of man that I would marry.
I never had a liking for medical doctors because they are exposed to female parts. My dad read engineering and was a lecturer, and I married an engineer. Although it took some time before he succeeded, he knew what he went through and so would not want to take me for granted. He went through so many quarantine tests before passing. Good things are not easy to get. I never regretted marrying him and we are blessed with children.
What was your growing up like?
I grew up as a well trained girl. My dad and mum were disciplinarians when they were alive. I went to Township Primary School in Jos and Obaseeku High School, Eruwa. I had my B.Sc, M.Sc and PhD degrees in Chemistry from the University of Ibadan. I got married to Engr. Rahman Tunde Olayiwola and we are blessed with children of inestimable values.
Tell me your good, bad and ugly experiences as a university teacher?
One of the good things as a university lecturer is that I have been able to impact knowledge on people and contribute to the development of education through the various scientific research works I have carried out. The bad things are that some people challenge your authority out of envy. It is one of those things anyway. The ugly one is when people lie against you.
If you had a choice, would you still have worked in a private university?
Yes. Private universities prepare you for the future. They don’t tolerate laziness, and this is what one needs for the future. It teaches people on how to be realistic in whatever they are doing. A lazy person cannot work in a private university. I had opportunities to work in other private universities nearer to me than Oduduwa University, but I prefer Oduduwa University. Most lecturers in public universities in Nigeria are cultured to be lazy. No private university’s vice-chancellor would allow their lecturers to get engaged in other activities.
Many professors in Nigerian universities are politicians parading themselves in Abuja at the detriment of the students that paid millions for their education. Public schools should charge like private schools, but government should sponsor them. All these ASUU, NASU strikes will not be in existence if more discipline is introduced in public universities. The government must treat public schools like private schools.
What is your attitude to polygamy?
It is not acceptable even though I am a Muslim. But to comply, my husband is free to marry another wife when he is 99.
People complain that there are too many private varsities in the country, what is your take on this?
Actually, private universities are there to help students that federal and state universities cannot admit because of limited access. More universities, more access. This is part of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan on education. When the President assumed office, only about 400,000 students had opportunities of getting admission into universities in Nigeria. But with the approval of more private universities in Nigeria today, about one million students have access to quality university education. This has been one of the many advantages of private universities.
Private universities also assist the federal and state governments on employment. Since the inception of private universities, the issue of under-employment for our graduates, especially the Ph. D holders, has reduced drastically. Private universities are not too many. We still need more because there is a limit to which you can admit. Where will the students go? The Federal Government has promised again that more universities will still be established.
One would notice that there is nothing like strike in private universities. A student that was given a four-year course programme will spend exactly four years. Most of our federal or state universities have been given nicknames; that when you are given admission for a five-year programme, you must add one or two years or more due to internal crisis in public institutions. I think this is not the best for us, and it is one of the major reasons why some parents prefer to send their children to schools overseas. We can do better here, I know. The private universities are changing the tempo.
You only assumed office recently. How has it been since you started?
It has been fine. One does not expect everything to be straight though. Through the help of God, there is unity among us in the school and there is support from the staff. We are a family at Oduduwa University. We work as a team and there is this spirit of togetherness. God has made this possible through our President/Pro-Chancellor, Chief (Dr.) Ramon Adegoke Adedoyin. He is an educationist to the core with years of experience. He has been into this ever since his undergraduate days. His love for education and his country made him to establish this giant university. Let me also tell you that he is the first Nigerian to establish a private polytechnic, The Polytechnic, Ife. He started as a remedial school teacher.
Nigeria has very few female VCs. What could be responsible for this?
We all know the role a mother plays in the home. Women are trustworthy and hardworking. They are caring and they are peace lovers. It is not only in schools that you would find a female as the head. Because of the nature that God created us, we seem to achieve wherever we are. I know that the present Vice-Chancellor of University of Uyo is a woman and she is doing well. The former Vice-Chancellor of the Covenant University, Ota, is a woman and she did well.
There is always one thing with female vice-chancellors, we want the best for the school as the head of academia and as administrators, because only the best is good enough wherever we are. The issue of gender discrimination is everywhere. Ever since I assumed duty, any woman in academics that comes into my office would say: ‘You will be the next vice-chancellor because the men don’t want a female to be there.’ That means it happens everywhere.
What are the challenges you face as a female VC?
There have been so many challenges, but God has helped me to conquer with good team work and sound organisation. I believe it is natural and human. I have always been supported by colleagues, students and the trust that the proprietor has in me.
How easy has it been to manage the institution?
Managing the institution has not been a problem. I told you my President is an educationist. He is an experienced person in this field, so no constraints. I believe when you have the interest of a place at heart and you see that thing as your own, you will not think it is a constraint, because if it is your own, you will definitely find a solution to it. Our President has not been disturbing me in the general administration of the school. Salaries of staff are paid as and when due and the students are being taken care of.
What edge does Oduduwa University have over other private universities?
Oduduwa University is a private university that is known for quality. We don’t compromise quality at all. We cherish our students. We don’t tolerate nonsense. The students know that they cannot just misbehave. There is a disciplinary committee for students and staff. We treat these students as if they are ours because we are here because they are here too. We also have students’ advisers in all departments. We understand the general situation in the country and the President/Pro-Chancellor has been so magnanimous to introduce scholarship scheme in different categories for students that need help, for the best students, for students whose parents are retired and they find it difficult to pay school fees and for students who cannot afford to pay the full fees. If the reasons are genuine, they will get scholarship ranging from 25% to 100%, many thanks to the proprietor.
Your e-library is regarded as one of the best around. What is it all about?
Yes it is. The e-library is managed by intellectuals. The e-library allows you to get information by surfing the internet. There are so many merits to be derived by students and staff through the use of e-library. This is a common thing in the ICT world now. Students get information in their areas of study through this. Our President/Pro-Chancellor and I visited the number two university in the United States, the University of Chicago, and we are trying to import the idea from their university on how you can sit down in the library and get a book physically on your table. In other words, you don’t have to stand up to pick books. This looks like the only university that has this concept. We have started and Allah helping us, we must achieve it. Other universities in Nigeria will come to see ours as a model.
The school is now introducing computer-based test for courses in General Studies. Oduduwa University was one of the centres used by JAMB for the 2014/2015 UTME, and JAMB commended us for this. We thought we were wasting money when JAMB asked us to prepare our centre for CBT for UTME. It is now useful to us. Our school has now been chosen by JAMB as one of the centres where students will register for JAMB because registration at cyber café is about to be cancelled.
Moreover, the next UTME will be by CBT throughout the nation. The library is fully equipped with so many systems that can accommodate a large number of students. We made it mandatory for our computer students to be IT compliant by registering them for many of these certification examinations before they leave school.
The school will be producing another set of graduates any time from now. What are you doing to prepare them for the future in terms of employment?
We will be producing our second set of graduates very soon. This year marks our fifth anniversary. Before graduation, our students are exposed to different vocational trainings which can help them when they are out of school. We strongly uphold our vision and mission. We also have centre for leadership training, Institute of Cultural and African Studies, centre for sports, and so on. Our vision is to provide a well-balanced university education without discrimination, for the production of versatile graduates with capacity for entrepreneurship for the development of the nation. Our mission is to create a learning environment for students as well as cultivate and nuture the qualities of human beings with a view to contributing towards meeting the economic, scientific and technological needs of humanity.
Most of them practise this when they resume after the three months entrepreneurial training exercise. We have students who have sewing machines with which they sew for some of their colleagues and make money. Oduduwa University has a school of vocational studies for students and outsiders, for those who wish to learn one trade or the other. This will make them not to be idle after school. We don’t want our students to look for jobs, we want them to be employers of labour too.
What has been the focus of your administration since you assumed office?
When I assumed duty, I actually looked at things that were yet to be put in place by the former vice-chancellor. The former vice-chancellor was also a good administrator because he finished from the University of Ibadan. University of Ibadan products are always good administrators wherever they are. I am also a product of the premier university, University of Ibadan. I focused on staff welfare and so many things have been put in place.
It was when I assumed duty that we made it mandatory for staff to always wear their ID cards. Students too were mandated to do the same and must be corporately dressed. Before I assumed duty, visitors came in and out of the school without being properly identified. Since I assumed duty, there have been so many ways of identifying visitors. So many innovations which were not in existence before have been made. I have also tried as much as possible to make sure that qualified and experienced lecturers with PhD are employed. We are just five years old. By the time we are 10 or 15, no university will compare to us.
When private varsities started, many parents could get their children into these schools and go to sleep. But today, things are changing. What are you doing as an institution to make sure these students do not stray?
As I told you earlier on, discipline is one of our core values. We cherish discipline very well because we see these students as if we gave birth to them. Our members of staff have children in this school. Even if some staff don’t have children here, their cousins, nieces and some family members are in Oduduwa University and so we will not want to do something that will be shameful to us in future.
Private universities are still the best because students’ welfare is the sole responsibility of staffers. Parents rely on we staff for the welfare of their children. Here in Oduduwa University, we have hostel mothers (for female hostels) and fathers (for male hostels), who see to the day-to-day activities of these students. They sleep with them and take care of them. These hostel mothers and fathers are also monitored by the hall chairperson who happens to be an academic staff.
It is a big family and indiscipline is not tolerated. Riot in a private university recently witnessed was traced by me as lack of attention to their students and some obnoxious rules. A Yoruba adage says if you push a goat to the wall, the goat will turn back at you.
When is your Law course likely to take off?
As you can see, the faculty of law is under construction. We are getting prepared to start law programme. By the special grace of God, before the end of next session, we will invite the National Universities Commission to come for resource verification of our law programme.
Where do you see this institution in the next 10 years?
It is going to be great by the special grace of God. I see Oduduwa University turning into an Harvard University, all things being equal. International linkage programmes to bring the school into limelight are in the pipeline. When we got the licence to run this university, instead of just starting like others, we questioned ourselves on what difference we wanted to make. Why is it that no Nigerian university has a good position in the committee of universities in the world? Even in Africa, only two of the seven oldest Nigerian universities managed to have positions. We then went to the best seven private universities in the world to case-study them. We visited Harvard University and Horward University in Washington DC. Very soon, Oduduwa University will be the best in Nigeria. With the way we are moving in Oduduwa University, the sky will be our limit by God’s grace.
There is a rush for foreign degrees among Nigerians. What could be responsible for that?
Well, I think it is because of the strike action embarked upon by most of our federal and state universities. I think that should come to an end very soon with the implementation monitoring committee that the Federal Government has set up to monitor the special intervention fund given to government-owned universities. People will not go outside the country to earn foreign degrees again.
Private universities would have been of help but they are not enjoying the TETFUND enjoyed by government universities. The Federal Government should see the proprietors of private universities as saviours and lovers of education and their countries, because if they decide to diversify the fund used in establishing universities to other sectors, where will these students not admitted by federal and state universities go to? How will about one million students get admitted into the universities? I wonder what would have happened to these innocent souls.
The only way that the Federal Government can commend them is to let the students enjoy TETFUND. If they allow private universities to enjoy TETFUND, school fees will be reduced. You know private universities don’t go on strike. So a four-year programme will be four years and no extra years. Most people going outside the country will still come back and look for employment in Nigeria and they are not better than our students here. TETFUND money should be given to university students who want to study in private universities but they could not afford it. The money may not even get to private universities as cash but infrastructure.
