Day: 11 Month: May News Commentary:
Infrastructure upgrade at UNN and need for preservation
It was Peter Drucker, a renowned management consultant, who once said that "Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, and building of a personality beyond its normal limitations"
This expression finds relevance in the current administration of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bartholomew Okolo, whose undaunted commitment to the growth of scholarship and infrastructure development in the University has lifted the vision of the Institution to global heights and improved its brand equity in the global community.
From inception of his administration, Prof. Okolo had a clear understanding of the requirement for a viable university education in the 21st century. His dream for the University of Nigeria was clearly articulated in his administration's vision statement which reads: " to create a functional, globally competitive and research focused University of Nigeria which is not just an Ivory tower, but responsive to the needs of society while delivering world class education and knowledge"
With the vision as its driving force, the university administration has embarked on cleaning up of the Institution's environment to create an ambience befitting of a world class university. The result of its effort is evident in the construction of new buildings and the rehabilitation of structures that had been battered by age. Many laboratories have been refitted with state –of –art research equipment. More than ever, the University has entered into collaborations and exchange programmes with other renowned universities in the world, to facilitate the growth of its young faculties.
Recently, the University administration embarked on the installation of electronic smart boards and fire proof chairs in lecture theatres and classrooms across the campuses of the Institution. This latest developments have no doubt made teaching and learning more enjoyable and rewarding. The boredom, sometime associated with long hour lectures, will be eliminated as PowerPoint displays and relevant animation would be employed to aid the concentration of students and enhance their ability to assimilate lectures. The modern chairs have also provided the comfort needed in a world class learning environment.
As we savour the benefits of these facilities, it is important to underscore the need to protect and preserve them for future generations. The chairs should never be converted to a platform for "makosa" dance and other destructive activities. The baskets provided at the base of the chairs are meant for bags and books and should not be converted to foot stools. The laboratory equipment should be handled with utmost care and the smart boards guarded jealously like a private property.
It is therefore expected of every staff and student to serve as a watchdog over the facilities by confronting and reporting to the relevant authorities, any attempt to abuse or subject the equipment into an unhealthy use.
Furthermore, fairness demands that we safeguard the equipment we are enjoying today for future generations the way our fore bearers conserved the facilities we met on ground. As the University continues its march to global excellence, all hands should be on deck to build the University of Nigeria that will be the pride of Nigeria and the entire African continent until the dignity of man is restored.
Inya, Agha E.
Via: University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)