CU Parley Identifies Obstacles to Nation Building

A panel of discussants at the Covenant University staff/student parley held on Monday, October 2, 2006 to mark the nation’s 46th independence anniversary has identified major obstacles to the country’s development efforts.

These obstacles are inept leadership, poverty, illiteracy, disease, technological backwardness and a breakdown of social values.

On leadership, the speakers agreed that lack of visionary leadership was the greatest problem confronting the nation. Quality leadership, the parley explained, would have given focus and direction to the nation’s developmental efforts, appropriately enforcing credible benchmarks that would have greatly increased the standard of living of its citizens.

On the issue of the twin evils of illiteracy and poverty, the parley expressed regret that after 46 years of independence, the bulk of the nation’s population could still neither read nor write, and that majority of them were still living below the poverty lines without access to basic amenities like portable water, electricity and good roads amongst others.

The parley also believed that technological breakthrough, especially in the area of information technology (IT), would help to fast-track the nation’s development as proved with nations like China, Japan and India.

The panelists also decried the declining moral values in the society; especially among the youths who daily ape anything western, embracing without caution the hippie culture of the West that has continually eroded our age-long tradition of respect, morality and decency.
As solutions to this myriad of challenges, the panelists recommended the following:

that since the absence of credible leadership was at the root of the country’s problems, there was the need to ensure the sacredness and sanctity of the election in 2007, so that leaders with vision and integrity could emerge;
 

Some of the student speakers at the event

that there was also the need to enthrone servant-leaders who will have the interest of the ordinary people as uppermost in the execution of government policies;

that the mass of the people need to be educated so that they would be conscious of their rights and therefore be able to check the excess of leaders;

the country also needs to invest in technological development as a way of enhancing the wealth of the nation and its citizens as well as also appreciate and encourage the development of indigenous technology;

that Covenant University should be at the vanguard of efforts at technological development through intensive research and development (R & D).

that there’s the need to strengthen the reading culture in the primary and secondary levels of education through the development of effective literacy system, and

that Nation building is a continuous process that requires collective teamwork hence Nigeria needs to strengthen its domestic unity especially among various ethnic, cultural and religious groups.

In her remarks at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Aize Obayan, said that 46 years of the country’s independence had been eventful but cheaquered, adding that for the country to achieve success in its developmental strides, there was the need to look inwards by creating home grown solutions and blueprints for growth. She said that was why Covenant University was out to drive and leverage the capacity building of the nation, as well as develop local paradigms and theories that would proffer solutions to many bogging issues in the polity.

Prof Obayan, who was obviously delighted by the quality contributions at the parley, especially by the student panelists, declared that indeed "the beautiful ones are now born" as CU students portend great hope for the nation.

Also, in his closing remarks, the Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo, stressed on the issue of leadership, which he said has always been the real problem of any society.

Dr Oyedepo, who gave the parameters for good leadership as capacity, conviction, integrity and contentment, said leaders are so fundamental as they determine the direction of the led. He, however, lamented that the present crop of leaders in the country has not been able to deliver their electoral promises to the people because they lack the capacity to lead in the first place.

He urged Nigerians to brace-up and take responsibility of determining who will lead them in 2007, noting, however, that there was hope for Nigeria.

The staff panelists were Prof Cyril Ige, a Professor of Economics (College of Business & Social Sciences), Dr. Taiwo. Abioye, a senior lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication (College of Human Development) and Dr Victor Mathews, a senior lecturer in the Department of Electrical & Information Engineering (College of Science & Technology). While the student panelists were Sanya Oluwasijibomi Oluwagbemiga, a 400 level Economic (CBS), Obafemi Adeniyi Oluwaseun, 300 level Pschology (CHD) and Igweze Chidera Ndidiamaka, 100 level (CST).

Professor Mathew O. Ajayi, a Professor of Political Science and Dean, College of Business & Social Sciences and Dr Patrick A. Edewor, Head of Department of Sociology, co-moderated the discussions while Dr John Ayam, Dr (Mrs) Shobola and Mr Christopher Nkiko served as rapporteurs.

Other dignitaries at the event were Pastor (Mrs) Faith Oyedepo, the Registrar, Yemi Nathaniel, Deans of Colleges and other Principal Officers of University.