NAN-H-38
Curriculum
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Dec.13, 2017 (NAN) The present curricula being run in most higher institutions in Nigeria does not reflect the present economic realities, the Vice-Chancellor, Crawford University, Prof. Olurotimi Ajayi, has said.
Ajayi spoke on Wednesday at the 9th convocation of the university held at Igbesa, Ogun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the faith-based Crawford University, Igbesa, was established in 2015 by the Apostolic Faith Church Mission.
Ajayi said that the nations’ economic revival should start from the ivory towers where the personnel needed for economic prosperity were being trained.
“Most of the curricula in operation now are obsolete and cannot produce anything tangible for the economic revival.
“What we need now is curricula that are practical-based; that can address the entrepreneurial challenges and self-sufficiency.
“We need to train our graduates to be self-sufficient and contribute their own quotas to the economy, and not those that will depend on the economy for survival.
“One of the cardinal achievements of Crawford University is to produce graduates that can stand on their own; I mean employers of labour and not dependant on labour,’’ he said.
Ajayi, on the strides made by the university during the year under review, said that the institution was able to get all its courses accredited by the National University Commission (NUC) in June, 2017.
“Crawford University remains on track in its commitment to the continuous improvement of its academic standing in teaching and research through its regularly updated curricula and resourceful faculty.
“The university has maintained its deliberate culture of excellence and high quality teaching, integrity of our academic programmes and inculcates in our students high order skills of academic independence, critical thinking and self-confidence.
“The preparation for the accreditation was indeed tasking and vigorous for every staff, but God Almighty was gracious in seeing us through,’’ he said.
Ajayi said that the university’s achievements also include the rating by African Quality Rating Mechanism (AQRM) and the accreditation of the university’s accounting programme by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
“It is an initiative funded by the European Union in partnership with the African Union.
“The experts visited the university in June, 2017 and declared that the university institutional quality as satisfactory.
“Crawford University is the only university in Nigeria selected to participate in the 15 institutional evaluations in Africa, using the AQRM as a key evaluation tool,’’ he said.
On the breakdown of the 2017 graduands, Ajayi said that 230 students were awarded First Degrees, while 40 were awarded Postgraduate Diplomas.
“Seventy-eight are from the College of Natural and Applied Science, while 152 are from the College of Business and Social Sciences.
“Twenty-two students got first class, while 88 graduates have Second Class Upper Division, 83 finished with Second Class Lower Division, and 37 had Third Class.
“The statistics of those graduating today shows that 22 graduands (9.7%) made first class, 88 (38.3%) made second class upper division, 83 (36%) are graduating with second class lower division.
“The other 37 (16%) of the graduands fall into other categories,’’ he said.
Ajayi said that Mr Samuel Ogunlana, from the Department of Political Science and International Relations emerged as the best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.94.
In his remarks, Ogunlana said that his determination for success made him to go extra mile to achieve the feat.
“I was determined to work in my pursuit. Fortunately, my strong desire paid off and I was privilege to be among the leading students to gain admission into this institution in 2013.
“To accomplish great things, we must not only ask, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.
“Upon resumption, I was made to picture what I wanted to achieve, and also know who I want to become in the next years.
“I draw a plan; I started making diligence, hardwork, prayer and watchword. This I knew from day one for a successful academic pursuit,’’ he said. (NAN)
KOJE/GOK
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Edited by Olagoke Olatoye