24-02-2022Protocols.
It is with much pleasure and high sense of responsibility that l welcome you all to Kwara State College of Education, Oro. We are very delighted to host the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) education summit particularly when moral decadence has ravaged our entire society most especially our campuses. We thank NANS whose members have put together an engaging educational summit. I am extremely satisfied to see such a variety of distinguished guests in this theatre from all different sectors and backgrounds. Let us recognise the fact that we shared common interest in promoting quality education and are concerned about the increase moral decadence in our society.
Let me foremost extend our sincere appreciation to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, for his unflinching support to the college. His Excellency has been considerate to the college and this can be deduced from his immeasurable support to the college. Worthy of note, is the giant financial support received from the His Excellency towards Accreditation of 12 Regular Degree Courses by National Universities Commission (NUC) Abuja. We are indeed grateful to His Excellency for paying more attention to education and investing heavily in the future, development and growth of Kwara State. We pledged to deliver the world-class teacher training, transform the College into a centre of academic excellence and enhance the status and ranking of the college above its contemporaries.
I am also proud to welcome the Hon. Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Barr. Ibrahim Senior Suleiman and the Commissioner for Education & Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Moddibo-Kawu to our college. I felt honoured to host this two distinguished Commissioners in the state. l also welcome Hon. Omotayo Felix Awodiji and Hon. Gbanga Yusuf, members Kwara State House of Assembly and second keynote speaker Prof. Wale Sulaiman, fouder RNZ Foundation into our college. Our distinguished guests, your presence here today is crucial because education is now a topical issue as expected; on top of the political agenda of our dynamic Governor. And I count on your support to make sure it stays there! As education is the bedrock of development. The theme of this summit is ‘‘Imperative need of Reviewing Educational Curriculum in order to Address Moral Decadence in Nigeria Society’’, could not be timelier, after years of crisis in our campuses, NANS has decided to tackle one of the major societal challenges ravaging our campuses – Moral Decadence! We are now looking at a new world where we are set to address our problem.
Dear Nigerian Students
We have much to be proud of in Nigeria, but we have a lot of task ahead to improve our moral values. But, despite our challenges and deficiencies, we can be morally uplifted as a nation if we take the bull by the horns. I think the issue before us today is not accountability but rather responsibility. We need to become emboldened as agents of education to take responsibility for the decadence and consider reviewing our educational curriculum to address this menace. For this fundamental reason, I am pleased to host this summit. We all have today the opportunity, as agents of national development, to discuss the decadence of moral values in our society vis-à-vis our campuses, you have the power to consider the need to review our educational curriculum to address the moral needs of our society. But most importantly, as the mouth piece for over 40.1 million Nigerians students, strive to be the agent that will accept and respect our moral values in all ramifications.
I am not sure to what extent Dr. Yesbit must have left his busy schedules to attend this summit, but l wish to sincerely on behalf of the students appreciate your attendance and also, anticipatory lecture of the day. Dr. Yesbit’s lecture, I am sure will no doubt provide the catalyst for us to reflect not only on our campuses context, but also in the broader societal factors that contribute to the menace.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Sometimes last year, the House of Representatives urged the Federal Government to introduce moral instructions to school curriculum and to develop an effective orientation for the school system in Nigeria. l equally agreed with the law makers, and state here that, this action should be encompassing. It should involves every one of us. Therefore, government officials and politicians are not exempted. However, if education is the bedrock of modernisation, then l agreed that the school system should be used to inculcate moral values and sound attitudinal principles in our learners who will take over the society in future Practical courses to test morals and behaviours should be introduced. For instance, students can be engaged to support traffic wardens on the roads to test their moral values against the hostile environment of drivers, environment officers against the market women, and the rest.
Hence, today’s summit is the start of the process, the commencement of a journey that hopefully can lead us towards the promise land.
Our Vision
Since l came on board, we have significantly increased and improved the productivity of the College. While we brought the world to the College, We have also taken the College to the world. We are committed and focused on highest quality teacher training academic programme guaranteed to produce exceptional teachers for the state and Nigeria basic education through well designed and appropriately resourced pre-service and in-service programmes. We fortified our students to develop into responsible, successful, reliable, competent and confident adults. We also develop excellence in every aspect of our students’ lives: academically, mentally, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. That is why, here, it is far better with knowledge.
A couple of weeks ago, Kwara State College of Education Oro in line with the current trend, successfully hosted accreditation team from National Universities Commission (NUC) Abuja for the accreditation of our 12 Regular Degree programmes. We have also commenced since last year, training and retraining of Academic Staff, and this month, arrangements has concluded to train over 220 senior staff academic and non-teaching staff of the college. This is to improve our service delivery to our students, with focus on:
Teaching development
Academic leadership
Scholarship
Effective service delivery
E-registry, and
Commitment and dedication
In conclusion, let me thank and congratulate the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) for deciding to take the bull by the horn and for choosing Kwara State College of Education Oro as the venue for the summit.
I sincerely welcome you to the most beautiful and peaceful college of education in Nigeria, WHERE WE LEARN TO TEACH OTHERS. I hope we all have a productive education summit.
Thank you for your rapt attention.
