• Govt Jeopardising Nigeria’s Future With Low Investment In Education
• Young Ladies Don’t Have To Cut Corners, Sleep Around To Make It
• Church Has Pivotal Role In Moulding The Future Of The Younger Generation

Professor Olajumoke Morenikeji is a scholar in the fields of parasitology, ecology and environmental biology in the Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan (UI). The Teen’s Pastor is Chair, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park and Chair, Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria (PCGN).

The former Director of Ibadan Zoological Garden (UI zoo), who just finished as visiting professor at the KolaDaisi University, Ibadan (KDU-I). In this interview with ROTIMI AGBOLUAJE, said Nigeria’s corruption status is demoralizing and fueled by some evil and selfish leaders.

Analysts have said the nation’s educational system needs to be tweaked. As an educational administrator, what can the current government do to reset the system?
Resetting and improving Nigeria’s educational system is a complex challenge that requires coordinated efforts and long-term planning. I’d like to make some recommendations for the current government to consider. First, increase funding. The Federal Government needs to allocate a larger portion of the national budget to education to address infrastructure deficiencies, hire qualified teachers, and provide adequate learning materials.

Second, teacher training and development are important. The government must invest in continuous training and professional development programmes for teachers to enhance their skills and keep them updated with modern teaching methods.

Curriculum reform must be undertaken. The national curriculum must be reviewed and updated to make it more relevant to the needs of the 21st century, including incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects and critical thinking skills.

Also, quality assurance must not be overlooked. Policy makers must implement rigorous quality assurance mechanisms to ensure that educational standards are maintained at all levels, from primary to tertiary education.

There is a need to develop strategies to improve access to education, particularly in underserved and rural areas, including the construction of more schools and the provision of scholarships or incentives for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Digital learning is pivotal. It is pivotal to integrate technology into the education system to enhance teaching and learning, especially in remote areas. This includes providing students and teachers with access to digital devices and internet connectivity.

Vocational, and technical education programmes must be embraced. This will equip students with practical skills that can lead to employment opportunities and entrepreneurship.

The government needs to encourage partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society organisations to jointly address education challenges, share resources, and innovate in education delivery.

Investment in research and development in the field of education to identify best practices and evidence-based policies for continuous improvement and establish a robust system for assessing student performance, teacher effectiveness, and school accountability to track progress and identify areas that require intervention.

Above all, the government needs to embrace international collaboration, inclusivity, stakeholders’ engagement, and a comprehensive long-term education plan that sets clear goals and resources in order to reform the sector. On the whole, it’s important to note that educational reform is a long-term process that requires consistent commitment and monitoring of progress. The government should involve education experts, stakeholders, and the public in shaping and implementing these reforms to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability.

As a country, are we making enough investment in education in this country?
No. We aren’t making enough investment into education in this country. Education is a mess. I don’t know what we are leaving for the next generation. The universities are not funded. Things have been watered down and so bad. For example, I will speak from the university angle; I feel so sorry for the students. It never used to be like this. The students are at the receiving end of the deplorable situation.

For example, if government does not pay staff, it is still the students who will suffer. There is no equipment, no funding. Sometimes, when you want to have some practical classes in the department, there is no allocation. I have had to personally buy some materials to use for teaching in my practical class in my federal government university, and I know some other lecturers have done that too despite the fact that we are not being paid well. In my department, we contributed money for indigent brilliant students from the peanuts we are receiving as salary. Notwithstanding that I am a professor; I’m earning peanuts compared to my contemporaries in other countries in the world. In fact, sometimes, when I look at the lecturers from federal universities, I wonder what breed they are. They sacrifice too much.

So, if our government can be better, we can get better. Any country with a terrible, weak educational system is playing with its future. These students are the future of the country. We want to jeopardise our future because we’re not investing in them.

Education is not receiving enough allocation. Once we lose it, we lose it all. We really have to wake up if we’re going to have a future for the country. So, the educational sector is still not properly funded.

You just rounded off as a leader of an institution. How was the experience of leading the Faculty of Applied Sciences in a university?
It was a rewarding experience being the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences in KolaDaisi University, Ibadan. It was an impactful, fruitful, and amazing experience.

What has been your experience as a woman in a leadership role, and what are the remarkable achievements you made as a Dean?
As the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, I bonded with my staff, and they were cooperative. Many structures were put in place in the faculty. Teaching and research were at the front burner. Innovative and out of classroom teaching methods were adopted.

Research was up-scaled with staff members winning grants, attending international conferences, and getting promoted.

We had faculty lectures, and we also had the first faculty conference. This was also the first faculty conference in the university. It was a four-day conference with very eminent scientists as speakers. The conference also featured a workshop for laboratory technologists. There was a large number of physical participants who attended the conference and over a hundred abstracts were received. The first faculty journal was also published.

Also, I ensured that the faculty student association was rejuvenated. Our students represented the university at international and local competitions. We made sure that the students were balanced academically and socially, and for the first time, we had the Faculty of Applied Sciences students’ week. They had a lot of academic and social programmes. This is now a yearly programme.

As part of our community service from the faculty, we started a science exhibition and quiz competition for secondary schools. We had secondary school students exhibiting their scientific innovations and creativity. These students also had a lot to learn from the scientific exhibitions from our faculty. The quiz competition was keenly contested. Winning schools emerged at the end of the competition. We were able to reach well over fifty schools in and around Ibadan in the first year we had the program. This programme was so successful in the first year and was replicated in the second year, even in a bigger way. I am hopeful that it will become a yearly event by the faculty.

We also had a faculty international symposium where we had two speakers from the UK and one from the University of Ibadan. The faculty newsletter was birthed.

Our animal house for research was upgraded and equipped. We got full accreditation for all our faculty programmes from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and so much more to the glory of God.

There are stereotypes about women in leadership. How can people get over this?
Well, I have been in leadership positions a number of times. I just want to say that I believe that there is nothing like a woman or man when it comes to working or getting the work done. My philosophy is that what is expected to be done should be done expeditiously without giving a gender-based excuse of being a woman. A woman can do everything because it is doable. If a man can do it; then that means that it can be done. I usually say a person who says it can’t be done is contradicted by the person doing it.

Having said that, it is good to speak about how women survive in an environment that is dominated by men. I will speak about myself; my principle is that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. I don’t give half measures and whatever is placed in my hands, I do it to the best of my ability. I don’t cut corners. I don’t know how to do that. I believe so much in hard work. Of course, everything is superimposed with the power of God; God is the ultimate. He will even magnify and bless the effort one puts in. It’s very bad if you don’t put any effort, because there’s nothing for God to work on. If one is hard-working, focused, and disciplined, then it is possible to achieve resounding success. When there is a will, there is a way.

These are my core values. So, when I find myself in leadership positions, it is always the same principles I apply. One that readily comes to mind happened when I was in the office of the Director in the UI Zoo. I keep on telling people that to have a good government is not rocket science. It is just that we need people who will deliver good governance. We did a lot of projects in the UI Zoo from the donations I sourced and monies gotten from the University Management running into almost a billion naira. I didn’t take a kobo. I wasn’t raised like that. If we can have people like that in government, then things can move around. Now, unfortunately, we are all tainted with corruption in Nigeria because so many people in the country are corrupt. Passion and selflessness are missing in leadership in the country. I’m so pained about Nigeria and its corruption status. Some years ago, we had some visitors from South Africa, and I think they had some visa issues. They were asking me if I was part of the people who collected visa money from them. I have never been more insulted. They made that statement because the whole country is tainted. It takes a lot to be greater than your corruption-tainted country. I have never taken anybody’s kobo or penny. So, I felt very bad. I had to warn these visitors sternly that the mere fact that you think Nigeria is corrupt doesn’t mean that every Nigerian is corrupt. I keep on wondering what I will do with someone else’s thing or money. My parents were disciplinarians who were God-fearing. So, I live according to the Bible, which says we should owe no man nothing except love. I prefer others owing me money than for me to owe anyone.

So, I really look forward to this country changing, because that would mean a lot of resources for all of us. We are so blessed as a nation and shouldn’t even be borrowing. Unfortunately, the nation’s wealth has been mismanaged by evil and selfish people. Our money is in the wrong hands.

Then, being a woman too, it is believed that for you to have a position or do well, you need a man to do something, or you have to look up to a man to do something. This is a wrong mindset. I’m a living testimony. I didn’t have to cut corners or sleep with any man or see any man because I wanted anything. These are the things I really wish I could pass on to young females. The way some institutions or organisations work, even the men there think they are the answered prayer for the women, you understand. Once you’re hardworking, focused, and Godly and determined, you will make it.

As a teen’s pastor, what is the role of the church in moulding the future of the younger generation?
As a teen’s pastor, the role of the church in moulding the future of the younger generation is both significant and multifaceted. The roles range from spiritual guidance, moral and ethical education, education and empowerment, service, counseling and mental health support, role modeling, parental support, and prayers.

Broadly speaking, the church plays a crucial role in providing spiritual guidance and nurturing the faith of young people. This involves teaching biblical principles, helping teens develop a personal relationship with God, and addressing their spiritual questions and concerns. The church can instil strong moral and ethical values in young people, teaching them about integrity, kindness, empathy, and the importance of making ethical choices in their lives.

Church communities provide a sense of belonging and support, and teens can find mentors, role models, and friends within the church that can guide and encourage them on their life journey. The church can offer educational programmes that empower young people with practical life skills, including financial literacy, technical and communication skills, leadership development, and conflict resolution.

Furthermore, teens are encouraged to actively participate in community service and social justice initiatives that help them develop a sense of compassion, empathy, and a commitment to making a positive impact in society. Addressing mental health concerns is vital for the well-being of teenagers. Adults demonstrating a life of faith, integrity, and compassion can have a profound influence on teens.

The church also supports parents in their role as primary educators and influencers in their children’s lives and provides resources, parenting classes, and a supportive community for families.

Encouraging young people to develop a habit of prayer and worship helps them connect with God and find spiritual strength and guidance in their daily lives. This atmosphere where teens feel comfortable asking questions about faith, life, and the world encourages critical thinking and deeper understanding. This will help teenagers explore their talents, interests, and potential career paths and can guide them in making informed decisions about their future.

Talking about the environment, why is it important to preserve wildlife, and how can the nation preserve its rich wildlife?
Preserving wildlife is crucial for several reasons, which include ecological balance, biodiversity, human well-being, and sustainable development.

First, wildlife represents the rich tapestry of life on earth. Preserving biodiversity ensures the survival of diverse species, which can have cascading effects on ecosystems. Wildlife plays a key role in providing ecosystem services such as pollination, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and pest control. These services are vital for agriculture and food security. Also, wildlife tourism and ecotourism generate revenue, create jobs, and stimulate local economies. A thriving wildlife sector can contribute significantly to a nation’s GDP.

Again, wildlife holds the keys to understanding biology, genetics, and ecology. Studying wildlife helps advance scientific knowledge and may lead to medical and technological breakthroughs. Many cultures have deep connections to wildlife, and ethical considerations call for the protection of sentient beings and the ecosystems they inhabit.

It is instructive to know that a nation can preserve its rich wildlife through the protection of habitat, establishment and maintenance of protected areas, national parks, and wildlife reserves to safeguard critical habitats; enforcement of regulations, education and awareness, community involvement, scientific research, habitat restoration, support of conservation organisations, sustainable resource management, ecotourism, climate change mitigation and public and private partnerships.

Preserving rich wildlife is not only an ethical duty but also an investment in the long-term health and prosperity of a nation. It requires a holistic and collaborative approach involving governments, communities, scientists, and conservationists working together to protect and sustain the precious biodiversity that enriches our planet.

How can we tackle perennial flooding and achieve a sustainable ecosystem?
Tackling perennial flooding and achieving a sustainable ecosystem requires a combination of proactive measures at the community, regional, and national levels.

The government needs to identify flood-prone areas and restrict or regulate construction in these zones, develop and enforce land-use planning and zoning regulations that consider flood risk and implement floodplain mapping and warning systems to inform residents of impending floods.

Also, a lot needs to be done in infrastructure and engineering. This involves building and maintaining flood-control infrastructure such as levees, dams, and retention basins, upgrading and maintaining storm water drainage systems to reduce surface water runoff and designing infrastructure with climate resilience in mind to accommodate increased rainfall and potential sea-level rise.

Flood-resistant building practices that would encourage or mandate the construction of flood-resistant buildings and flood-proofing measures should be encouraged, as well as developing building codes that consider flood resilience and elevate structures in flood-prone areas.

Others are climate-resilient agriculture, wetland conservation, food forecasting and early warning systems, emergency preparedness, erosion control, sustainable urban planning, water management and dam operations, research and monitoring, and others.

Tackling perennial flooding and achieving a sustainable ecosystem requires a holistic and coordinated approach that involves government agencies, communities, environmental organizations, and the private sector.