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Nigerian universities will never reach world class – IBK
Maude Rabiu Gwadabe
Ibrahim Bello-Kano (IBK), a professor of English literature at Bayero University Kano (BUK) says Nigerian universities have degenerated into ‘Super Secondary Schools’ and there is no hope for recovery.
Mr Bello-Kano asserted this a roundtable program on reviving the culture of debate and critical thinking in the Nigerian university system.
The event was organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in Kano.
“Nigerian universities have declined irretrievably and will never be better than they are now”, said IBK.
The radical professor lamented that Nigerian lecturers have become mere civil servants with a teaching function rather than academics pursuing knowledge.
He recalled with nostalgia the intellectual ferment in Nigerian universities during the 70s and early 80s when inter-disciplinary scholarship was the norm.
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Four factors
Mr Bello-Kano attributed the decline in the quality of Nigerian universities to four factors.
These include poor quality of students entering the university, lack of diversity in the academic staff, poor quality of university administrators, as well as dubious processes of recruitment and promotion of lecturers.
According to him, these factors have combined to rob Nigerian universities of their former glories and will never allow them to recover.
He therefore argued that the university system is beyond recovery and all hope is now pinned on “spirited and committed intellectuals within the system” as well as independent research centres to produce cutting edge knowledge.
Overhaul basic education
In his submission, head of the MacArthur Foundation, Africa regional office, Kole Shettima urged for the total overhaul of Nigeria’s basic education system.
Mr Shettima, who has a PhD in Political Science said the universities cannot be revitalized without reforming primary and secondary education.
He argued that the current system does not allow children the chance to grow critical minds but is targeted at developing their capacity to pass examinations through memorization.
“My son who attends primary school in Canada is learning four subjects while his counterparts in Nigeria are grappling with 16,” he said.
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In his remarks, chairman of the occasion, Ibrahim Mu’azzam of the department of Political Science, BUK cautioned the National Universities Commission (NUC) against its plan of transforming Nigerian universities based on a market model.
Mr Mu’azzam said treating students as clients is a sure recipe for the demise of Nigerian university system.
He added that Latin American countries have tried it in the past and have failed woefully.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Home-based Super Eagles coach, Augustine Eguavoen has invited Kano Pillars legendary midfielder, Rabiu Ali, and 29 players for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Ghana.
KANO FOCUS reports that the 8th edition of the continental championship – reserved exclusively for footballers plying their trade with clubs in their country’s domestic Leagues with standard contracts – is scheduled to take place in February 2025 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Kano Pillars’ evergreen midfielder, Rabiu Ali, who has scored eight goals this season, is among the players called.
The 44-year-old Ali has been a key player for Kano Pillars this season alongside Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa.
Other Kano Pillars players invited are Aminu Adam Sani and Nelson Abiam.
All the invited players will arrive at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State on Wednesday, 4th December 2024, where the team will train ahead of the first leg of the qualification fixture against Ghana’s Black Stars B, billed for the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 22nd December.
The second leg will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 28th December.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Isa Haladu, the director, Planning, Research and Statistics Office of the Kano State Ministry of Health, has emerged as the co-chairperson, representing the government in the Kano State Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM).
KANO FOCUS reports In a letter signed by Pharm Maimuna Yakubu, the Co-chair (CSOs) to Haladu, “the DPRS is recognized as the automatic Co-chairperson of KanSLAM.
“As a key player in this process, the DPRS’ office co-chairmanship will play an instrumental role in ensuring success of this partnership,” she said.
While officially presenting the letter to Haladu on Saturday at a KanSLAM review meeting at Joclarif Hotel in Zaria, Safiyanu Bichi a member of KanSLAM stated that Haladu’s emergence as the govt. co-chair will bring more development and opportunities for the SLAM.
In his remarks, the newly appointed government co-chairperson expressed his delight for being part of KanSLAM.
He stated that immediately he received the notification letter via email, he shared it with the Kano Commissioner of Health Dr Labaran Yusuf.
“I fully accept this responsibility and I am optimistic that this will facilitate in continuing the good work that KanSLAM has done in the past,” he said.
Haladu recalled how the SLAM transformed from Accountability Mechanism for Maternal and Child Healthcare in Kano State (AMMKaS) to KanSLAM, stressing that the SLAM is now enlarged and much more effective.
He added: “KanSLAM has contributed in the establishment of Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA), Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), and Kano State Health Trust Fund (KHETFUND) and I believe more achievements are on the way.”
KanSLAM is a coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Civil Servants and Journalists advocating for improved service delivery in human capital development sectors.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has joined the Board of Directors of TMT advocacy body of the International Institute of Communications(IIC).
KANO FOCUS reports that currently serving as the EVC/CEO at NCC, Dr Maida plays a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape. Under his leadership, the NCC continues to advance connectivity, foster innovation, and promote a competitive and inclusive telecommunications industry.
Dr Maida’s career includes significant contributions to leading global organizations such as British Telecom, Cisco Systems, and EE Ltd. He was also a pioneering engineering team member at UbiquiSys Ltd, a groundbreaking small-cell technology startup acquired by Cisco Systems in 2013.
Prior to his current role, Dr Maida was the Executive Director of Technology and Operations at the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems PLC (NIBSS). There, he spearheaded the modernization of Nigeria’s central digital payments infrastructure, reinforcing its role as a critical enabler of the country’s financial ecosystem.
Dr Maida holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath, an MEng in Information Systems Engineering from Imperial College London, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship from the Cambridge Judge Business School.
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