Government should disburse into the Educational sector- Rotn. Mrs. Olufisayo Olukemi Fakorede
Rotn. Mrs. Olufisayo Olukemi Fakorede is the Registrar of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo. She spoke with Ayodele Ologunola on education and other national issues. Excerpts.
You’re the Registrar, Adeyemi Federal University of Education Ondo, can you intimate us about what it is a registrar entails?
The position of a Registrar is not a day job. I’ve been in employment at this college for over thirty years. To become a registrar, you would be employed as an administrative officer at first. Then you will be in that position for several years before you would be promoted to the position of Deputy Registrar. And if there is a vacancy, the deputy registrar can apply for the post of registrar. Then, one will be interviewed ranging from questions about the activities of the Students, college, and staff.
Also, as a registrar in a higher institution, we have the assignment of being the registry as it is. The registrar’s office is usually referred to as the engine room for the institution. The registry keeps records. In other words, the registrar is the head of administration. Although the Provost is the general overseer of the institution, the registrar is answerable to the Provost. When it comes to the certification of staff and students, the registrar is also involved in that. The registrar is also the secretary to the council, either in the college council, polytechnic council, or university council.
Adeyemi College Of Education is one of the best colleges of Education in Nigeria, what is the secret?
Well, the feat wasn’t achieved in a day. Adeyemi College of Education has come a long way. The institution celebrated its 59th year two months ago. The institution is affiliated with Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, it’s situated in the South West of Nigeria. Majority of the people inhabiting the southwest value education a lot. The citadel produces NCE graduates and also produces bachelor’s Degree graduates in affiliation with Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.
Over the years, we have been to come up with curriculums and different activities so that the college can be one of the best. The students are disciplined, and the staffs are diligent and hard-working. These have helped the institution to excel.
The issue of cultism in higher institutions is prevalent, how has the college been able to curb and manage this issue?
Over the years when I was still a young officer, there were a few cases of cultism, which were dealt with.
During orientations, we invite some principal bodies such as police officers, FRSC, and so on. They talk to the students. In the matriculation oath form, it is indicated there that you cannot be involved in immoral vices such as Cultism. We also have student bodies, such as the Para-military, Man O War, Cadets, etc that help in curbing the excesses of the students.
As the President of the Rotary Club, Adeyemi College of Education, can you please tell us about your achievements during your tenure?
The Rotary Club was ten years old by the 23rd of June which was last month, and I happened to be the 10th president. I handed it over to my successor on the 30th of June of this year.
During the year, under the leadership of my predecessor, we realized there are physically challenged students in our midst. We found out that these students need assistance. We initially started by giving them palliatives such as foodstuff, provisions, etc.
Our district governor visited the college sometime last year and was impressed that we were doing things like that. He encouraged us that we can expand our scope concerning those students on whatever they can get, not necessarily food items. It may be like visiting the opticians and so on. Things they cannot forget and we should also extend our focus on such a thing and this idea was hatched last. We created an E-library for physically challenged students. We gathered money and reached out to people who can support the birth of the idea. But we were unable to commission the project last year. The college gave us a building and we realized that the building needed renovation. We renovated all that needed to be renovated. We had people who donated laptops and the college also gave us laptops. We are still expecting more. The Rotary Club was also able to buy some laptops. The building was commissioned just recently.
The students now are not academically motivated, what do you think the government can do to salvage this situation?
Starting from the government, the government should disburse funds into the educational sector.
Also, in some school, the buildings are dilapidated, the laboratories are not well equipped, libraries needed to be improved upon, student hostels are nothing to write home about, and so many amenities within the school that needs to be renovated to make teaching and learning easy and interesting.
Another thing is the accreditation exercise that the government has now embarked on. The government should also find a way of creating more employment opportunities for the youth. We have numerous graduates out there with no job to show for it. If this keeps happening, the youths are bound to be discouraged.
We should also have it at the back of our minds that government can not fund the education sector alone. But government can subsidize to an extent.
In conclusion, what are your words of advice for the students of Adeyemi College Of Education?
In terms of academics, the students should keep up the good work they have started.
Our products are outstanding both in and outside the college. In terms of morals, the students should always remember the child of whom they are, they should endeavor to always be of good conduct.
