Why First Class is easier in private varsities —OAU lecturer

You have spent 32 years as a lecturer in the Department of Political Science of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, could you please share your experience so far?

It has been a wonderful experience. I loved to become a lecturer right from my undergraduate days at the University of Ibadan (UI). With determination, I did my first, second, and third degrees and I have not looked back ever since.

And I must say that I have more of positive than negative experience on the job. On the positive side, I can proudly say today that I have produced many well-to-do in the society including professors. This is the pride of any lecturer.

I am destined by God to be a teacher and that is why I teach with ease and without any regret whatsoever. On the other hand, Nigerian lecturers are not well-remunerated and that is why at times, when we see those whom we had taught in school becoming ministers, legislators and occupying other big positions and realise the benefits accrue to them, one will begin to wonder that lecturers should have been better rewarded.

We cannot count up to 10 people who have graduated with First Class so far in the history of this department and likewise in many other first generation universities in the country, why is it that other universities especially privately owned that are running the same curriculum are producing many first class in the department?

Every university has its own mode of operation irrespective of curriculum. If you say OAU Ile-Ife is tough for instance, I do tell people that UI Ibadan is tougher. Ile-Ife is tough because of its mode of operation. Students must have to pass any course they register for even if such course has no unit in Ile-Ife before they can graduate. OAU doesn’t overlook or wave any course and that is Ife for you. But UI is a bit liberal. If a student fails a particular course but still has the number of required units, such student will still be allowed to graduate. But graduating with first class in political science and in any other course in both institutions is not by bread and butter.

It requires a lot of effort on the part of students. You must also know that in political science, courses are not like mathematics where 1+1 becomes two any day, anywhere in the world. You only express views analytically in political science and a student who will do that and score 70 per cent must be a very brilliant one. So, that private university producing many first class graduates in political science is not surprising. I know what I am talking about because I am a member of the governing council of one of the private universities in the country. We have some of these institutions whose head of departments are masters’ degree holders.

So, we may be running the same system but the operation will not be the same. Students of these universities pay a lot of money as tuition fees. In OAU for instance, a student can remain in the university for 10 years or more for a four-year course. Can any student do the same in a private university? Who will pay the fee? So, comparison should be done with care as system may be the same but the operation differs. On this note therefore somebody may make first class in another university and find it very hard to have third class in Ife and that is the truth.

How would you compare lecturing in the past with what we have today?

Lecturing is easier now compared to what we used to in those days. Computer has made everything easier. In the early 80s, you wouldn’t get up-to-date textbooks in the library. I can still recollect when we used to do everything manually. We recorded and summed up our marks manually but the story has changed today. I upload my students’ results from my computer and this makes things a lot easier. I belong to the two generations but I can say boldly that the modern day is better than yester-years.

How do you feel seeing your former students now in the same rank with, or above you in the same department?

Only a bad father will say that his son should not rise above him. Rising above does not in any way relegate the father. It only shows how much he has invested in the child. I have produced many who are today professors and whenever I see them, I feel very happy knowing that I have contributed to their academic career. And to the glory of God, none of them has ever relegated me, they greet me with respect. If it demands prostrating, they do so anytime they see me.

How fulfilled are you now?

I’m almost 60 years old now. I started from the scratch as a graduate assistant in 1982. Between that year and 1990, I rose to become a senior lecturer and currently by the grace of God I am an associate professor. I thank God for everything. It has been many days, many years well spent and I have no regret whatsoever. I am blessed with many children of whom my first daughter is a PhD holder like me. Four others have graduated and I still have two more who are undergraduates. I have personal buildings both in Ile-Ife and in my hometown. I started with a car in 1983 but I have four now. These are the measures that one can use to determine success. I am contented and fulfilled in what I have been able to achieve.

How do you relax after a day’s work?

Most times, I am in the midst of my family members. I don’t go to club. I prefer to go home and read newspapers and crack jokes with my wife and children as well as study the Bible. On weekends, I engage in religion activities more than social outings.

What is your advice to young lecturers? They should all be dedicated to their duties. I always tell my younger colleagues here in OAU that some of us older have paid our dues and therefore they should teach passionately and impact their students meaningfully

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