DELSU Convocation Lecture: Former Vice-Chancellor Urges Nigerian Universities to Reclaim Lost Respect
ASABA/Nigeria: In a poignant address at the Delta State University (DELSU) 16th convocation, former Vice-Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, has implored Nigerian universities to reevaluate their trajectory and reestablish their standing in the academic community.
Nwajiuba’s candid assessment of the state of Nigerian universities resonated with many as he declared, “Popular opinion suggests that Nigerian universities are failing God, man and themselves.”
Addressing a gathering at the Faculty of Management Sciences Auditorium, DELSU Abraka Campus, Nwajiuba emphasized the need for a return to moral rectitude and the restoration of dignity within academic circles. “We must seek to return to the path of moral rectitude and to regain our lost respect by the quality of work we do and the character we exhibit,” he urged.
He stressed the importance of maintaining academic integrity, stating, “We must not eat every food we come across, just because we are hungry.”
Highlighting the decline in admission standards, Nwajiuba questioned the admission of candidates with low scores, stating, “What are people with 140 doing in the university?” He lamented the deviation from past practices where admission was competitive and based on merit.
Nwajiuba called for a reevaluation of the role of universities, advocating for a return to excellence in teaching, research, and community service. He criticized the trend of absentee lecturers and disengaged students, urging a recommitment to the pursuit of knowledge.
In his commendation of DELSU for maintaining individual convocations, Nwajiuba condemned the practice of combined convocations, describing it as “anathema.”
Furthermore, he urged the revival of initiatives aimed at sending top graduates to prestigious international universities, emphasizing the importance of developing a highly educated workforce to drive national development.
Expressing concern over the growing number of non-academic staff, Nwajiuba underscored the centrality of academic staff in the teaching and learning process. He called for accountability, stating that lecturers who neglect their duties should be dismissed, and students who skip classes should be sent home.
In response to Nwajiuba’s lecture, Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Prof. Andy Egwunyenga, praised the thought-provoking discourse, calling for introspection within Nigerian universities.
Egwunyenga reiterated DELSU’s commitment to merit-based admissions, affirming that 75% of student admissions are based on merit, reflecting the university’s dedication to academic excellence.
