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ON THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY (Personal Reflections)
Prof. Emmanuel N. Kwofie CUD, Covenant University on 26/1/07.
 Our beloved Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and other Principal
Officers of the University. Dear Academic Colleagues, I greet you all in the
wonderful name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith,
One with the Father, the First Great Cause and mover of the Universe, who was
and is and is to come a second time.
On Wednesday 23rd January 2007 at about 4 p.m., I was called by the secretary to
the Dean of the College of Human Development on phone and told that the
Vice-Chancellor wanted to see me. I was filled with trepidation. I wondered what
the matter could be. Had I, within just three weeks of my arrival as a new
member of faculty, done something wrong to warrant a reprimand?
The air conditioner in my office had just been serviced and was working full
blast. The cold which had seeped into my bones coupled with my trepidation took
my voice away: I was hardly audible when I greeted Mrs. Salami as she showed me
a seat in the waiting room of the Vice-Chancellor's office. Within seconds (not
minutes!), our amiable VC came to the door to welcome me as I knocked and
entered.
The meeting was not long. The Vice-Chancellor wanted me to reflect on "The Idea
of a University" at the Friday Faculty Fellowship of 26/1/07, that is today. I
thank the Vice-Chancellor for the honour you have done me by inviting me to make
a presentation, though I am probably the last arrival on the list of Faculty.
May your shadow, as the saying goes never diminish in Jesus' name!
Now this is how I intend to present my reflections:
I shall first comment on the traditional university. I shall then briefly say
what I consider distinctive about Covenant University and by way of conclusion
provide "words of exhortation”.
The Traditional University
For a fuller presentation of my view of the traditional university, it would be
necessary to provide an account of the evolution of universities throughout the
world. Apart from the fact that that would be a daunting task, there is no time
for such an enterprise here. (For those interested, I provide the following
reference: Encvclopaedia Britannica vol. 18 (macropaedia) 2005 pp IH- 90:
"History of Education").
Permit me to observe simply that the Idea of a University has
a long history: from the medical school of Salermo in 9th century Italy to the
University of Paris in the 12th century through the universities of the 18th
century, the Age of Enlightenment, to the present-day universities.
Universities have changed in their character from what they
were at their establishment. What has not changed is the fact that they are all
CITADELS OF LEARNING. The university is thus a place where knowledge is sought,
a place where people from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds,
deemed qualified for admission, gather for the common purpose of seeking
knowledge.
But what is knowledge?
Knowledge is defined as "facts, normal skills and understanding that you have
gained through learning or experience", "familiarity (familiarness) with",
"information about" (see Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, 2001; 1984;
612). Knowledge is multifaceted; it has numerous branches or is
compartmentalized. It can be variously described as scientific, technical,
historical, cultural, religious, artistic, linguistic, common or general,
specialized or expert, etc. Knowledge may also be described as "open ended". (cfEncyclopaedia
Britannica. 2002 pp 479 - 521).
This is why universities make a selection of the branches of
knowledge they wish taught or for which they have competent teachers. Whether
cast in the traditional mould or invested with a new vision or mission due to
changing circumstances, a university is expected to be a place where wisdom and
knowledge, understanding and truth (note that wisdom, understanding, and truth
are seen to be related to knowledge) are pursued and nurtured, where those
operating the system (Le. the university) are knowledgeable, have skills
(aptitudes, abilities, discernment, understanding etc.) they are able to impart.
There are today literally hundreds of universities worldwide.
Each of these universities, independently of its location, strives for
excellence in its search for and propagation of knowledge (truth, facts,
etc...). But as a public agency each university has "a cultural function" to
perform for the "greater good" of the general society.
My experience of universities in Europe, America, Canada,
Britain and Africa, at least these I know excluding Christian mission
universities, is that they tended to focus on academic excellence to the
detriment of moral excellence or morality; the latter was in fact assumed to be
a natural "outgrowth" of the former. That was unfortunate as excellent scholars
were produced but many of them tended to be and were morally bankrupt.
I would like to observe here that academic and moral
standards in "foreign" universities as well as in African including Nigerian
universities have varied widely principally as a result of qualitative
differences in socio-economic conditions and the moral climate. Priorities of
nations have changed in the fast changing world. Universities must change "their
ways of thinking and doing things", that is design new programs and change their
philosophies if they want to survive and be relevant to their immediate
communities and humanity at large.
Covenant University: A New Vision
The vision of Covenant University has been slated by the Chancellor in his
address of
11th January 2007 at the 5th Matriculation Ceremony as follows:
" …to raise a new generation of leaders who will restore the dignity of our
great nation and the dignity of the black race. Covenant University is therefore
a royal academy as it were a birthplace of God-fearing and people-based
leadership"
This vision re-expressed "aims at producing leaders who fear God, who will be
concerned about the welfare of the people they lead and who will win back the
dignity of Nigerians and Negro Africans". These are commendable ideals!
The fear of the Lord is not only "to hate evil"(cf Prov. 8: 13a), it is also "to
keep His commandments" (Eccl. 12:13) which is the whole duty of man. The fear of
the Lord, that is wisdom (see Job 28:28) as well.,Covenant University is
committed to academic excellence, and moral strength judging from the quality of
its staff, programmes and religious activities.
If, as John Henry Newman says, a university is a seat of wisdom, a light of the
world, a minister of faith, an Alma Mater of the rising generation" (cited by
Prof. Aize Obayan in her address as Vice-Chancellor at the 2006/2007
Matriculation ceremony of Covenant University), then Covenant University can be
seen to be undoubtedly fulfilling its vision or on the right path. The course it
is charting is commendable.
How then can we as faculty help or what should we do to
ensure the full realization of the University's "ideals"?
Words of Exhortation by way of Conclusion
Having endorsed the vision of Covenant University by becoming members of
faculty, we must be models of righteousness, people who eschew evil, who fear
God and keep His commandments. In order words, we ourselves must provide
God-fearing leadership for our future leaders.
Covenant University is not only unique for its infrastructures; it is unique for
its TOTAL MAN CONCEPT, its focus on the development of the spirit, the mind and
the body of the student. We as faculty are workers in the vineyard of the Lord
here at Covenant University, members of the same body. We must co-operate, "synergize",
bear one another up our common task of "building up" the University for we are
workers together with God. (Consider the VC's presentation "Lessons from the
Geese").
Let everyone wherein he/she is called therein abide with God
(cf 1 Cor. 7:24) The foundation of the University has already been laid and we
can no more than build thereon. But let us take care how we build for if our
work abides we shall receive a reward (see 1 Cor. 3:10-14).
Thank you, beloved colleagues, for your attention and may the
Good Lord bless you all. Amen. |
