Nwafor Orizu College of Education Holds First International Conference

For any normal society to achieve reasonable standards of development, it is imperative for a sustainable stability. The stability that guarantees reasonable development today requires surmounting the challenges that possibly seek to preclude the conscious attempt to develop the character and skills of its citizenry.

This formed the basis of the first international conference of the Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra state. The conference was in collaboration with the African Graduate School of Leadership Accra, Ghana with the theme “Character and Skills Development in Africa”.

Delivering the keynote address, the proprietor and president of the African Graduate School of Management and Leadership, Prof. David Abdulai explained that character is paramount in the development of any nation as characters of political actors, workers and stakeholders could make or mar the development process. Prof. Abdulai listed the traits expected in a good character to include integrity, loyalty, honesty, humility, standing for justice. He further stressed the need for constant skill development. He asserted that skill development require some great deal of hardwork, discipline, dedication as well as continuous learning. The academic don advocated that 70 percent of the skill should be developed on the job, 20 percent should be from interactions with people while 10 percent should be from training and re-training. He posited that the problem with Africa is hinged on the fact that paper qualification is much appreciated and individuals who should be committed to self  improvement appear to be comfortable at their level. He urged Africans to enhance their skills to add values to their respective organizations in a bid to developing Africa. He further advised employers of labour to train and develop their employees.

On his part, the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Reko Okoye, a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka posited that there is every need for development in skills among academic scholars. According to him, “To become an acclaimed scholar is not an easy task; it requires conscientiousness, painstaking, dedication and perseverance; and one who perseveres must be disciplined, cool, calm, calculative and articulate. The belief is that with these attributes and qualities as a scholar, success is achieved academically, socially and economically.”

Earlier in her address, the provost of the college, Dr. Cordelia Ego Uzoezie explained that the goal of education is to not only teach and spread knowledge, but to promote character development and to educate the mind and spirit for skills development of an overall well-developed personality. On the need for the conference, Dr. Uzoezie said, “International conference such as this brings together academics, educators, practitioners, government and non-profit organizations and policy makers from different countries to deliberate on issues relating to character and skills development in Africa, and to evolve credible solutions”. She posited that the theme of the conference is very relevant in today’s globalized world, because such issues as youth unemployment, family disintegration, crumbling of time-honoured values, poverty and global economic recession are no longer restricted to developing world alone. The provost advocated that educational institutions must instill in their students such values that enhance good character and skills development such as tolerance, integrity, honesty, responsibility, justice, respect, solidarity, hardwork and fairness. According to her, these are values that remain true and universal across times and cultures. She expressed optimism that the conference will instill in the participants, many valuable insights into the development of character and skills in Africa.

Present at the conference were members of the college management, staff and students of the college.