Anambra University now COOU holds 3rd inaugural lecture as Prof Okafor warns on school politics

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, has admonished students and lecturers in the university to take their academic endevours seriously and to shun school politics that is capable of swaying their minds from the main goals of being in the system.
          The VC made the call on Tuesday, July 12, at the Igbariam campus of the university during the institution’s 3rd Inaugural Lecture conducted by Prof. Walter Chukwuma Nwafia, Professor of Clinical Physiology of the university.
          “The main objective of being in the university system is to achieve academic excellence. It is worrisome that some students and lecturers, instead of focusing on the main goal that brings them to the university, decide to pursue shadows and engage themselves in all sorts of political activities.
          “Some of the students stay in the system beyond the stipulated time because of campus politics. Some of the lecturers feel so relaxed and comfortable with their present attainment that they see no need to pursue further studies and add value to the system; but rather immerse themselves in school politics.
          “I refused and rejected being a Head of Department (HOD) when I supposed to occupy that office because of my desire to pursue further studies. For instance, I spent one year in Japan doing research. There is no part of Europe that I have not toured in my quest to acquire knowledge and certificate.
          “Therefore, any lecturer in this institution that is comfortable with his present academic attainment and is not eager to pursue his studies up to the Phd level has no need being here because, he will be deceiving the students”, the VC said.
          He praised Prof. Nwafia for exhibiting professionalism in his field and for making the university proud through his research works, and called on others to copy his example.
          Earlier in his Inaugural Lecture titled: “Foot Prints on the Sand of Time: the Journey of Physiology so far”, Prof. Nwofia x-rayed the history of Physiology, developments in Physiology as well as the past and the present day challenges of the discipline.
          As a way forward for the discipline, he suggested that curriculum formulators should re-design it in order to equip students with skills that will make them employable and specialists. He also called on government to come up with intervention funding for research and conferences in the field; adding that awareness should be created for Physiology as a subject.
          Speaking to newsmen after the event, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Emma Nnubia, commended the school for its giant strides that saw the institution to its present rating among other universities in Nigeria and Africa by extension. He also commended the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Okafor, for taking the institution to a higher pedestal.