By Victoria Okpanachi
At the 20th inaugural lecture held at Federal University Lokoja, Professor David Omole, a distinguished scholar and the Dean of Education, charged students to make good use of available opportunities in their search for knowledge.
Professor Omole made the statement while delivering the 20th Inaugural Lecture of the University with the Topic: Making The Best of Available Opportunities in search of Knowledge on a Windy Path.
According to the inaugural Lecturer, his search for value and relevance in life necessitated the application of the concepts of research measurement and evaluation on a windy and rough path. He stressed that research is a systematic lookout for knowledge, truth, similarities and useful relationships in promoting human progress.
He noted that research and findings are the best means of selecting candidates for university education using their processes of selection as performance into the university as data. He emphasised that performance in public examination at the end of secondary education is a basic requirement in placing candidates into various courses of study in the Nigeria universities.
Prof. Omole stressed that many stakeholders in the education sector have argued that the glorious days of high academic standard and enviable achievement among Nigerian youths have reached a diminishing point. He added that the foregoing presents a gloomy and worrisome picture considering the fact that Nigerian universities have previously been judged to produce world class graduates having distinguished themselves in different fields and countries.
To restore these glorious days, the inaugural Lecturer recommended that the examination bodies should continue to improve on the quality of development of examinations, stressing that aptitude test should replace achievement test, while encouraging the younger ones that, once given an opportunity, they should make the best use of it.
Also speaking at the inaugural lecture, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, described the inaugural lecture series as an unprecedented and commendable achievement which marks a significant milestone in the university community. He stated that the Inaugural Lectures serve as a platform “for our distinguished professors to share their research, insights, and contributions with the wider academic community and the public.
The Vice-Chancellor used the medium to celebrate the 20th Inaugural Lecturer, Prof David, for his excellent lecture.
