It is indubitably factual that the Education sector in Nigeria requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders to attain the development target of the government as designed by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO. It is in this light that the Nigeria education sector becomes a child of necessity that must not be allowed to assume the role of retrogression by the major key players at the sector as well as stakeholders.
It was this gigantic effort at repositioning education in Nigeria to address the present challenges bedeviling the nation in virtually all the sectors that led to the historic visit of the management of Chrisland University, Abeokuta led by the Vice Chancellor Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola to former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at his Green Legacy Obasanjo Presidential Library on December 12th, 2017.
In her speech, the Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University informed the former President that they were in his place to pay him homage as an elder statesman and a major stakeholder in Nigeria. Also, tapping from his wealth of experience was yet another major reason for their visit. The former first female Dean of the faculty of pharmacy, University of Ibadan used the opportunity to intimate Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the vision and mission of Chrisland University.
According to Prof. Chinedum, Chrisland University is a vision driven institution which is poised to become a world class university synonymous with intellectual freedom, ethical standard, research inclined, community service and distinct training of new generational leaders with sound minds who can make the difference. Also, providing an enabling learning environment capable of breeding sound moral and intellectual culture which on the long run would serve as a magnetic tool of excellence even across the globe is yet another sacrosanct vision of the school
In furtherance of her speech, the University of Ibadan first female pharmacist professor intelligently noted that the academic programmes of the school are designed to reflect creativity, flexibility and uniqueness, thus offering students lifetime opportunities to acquire lifelong intellectual and moral growth, global awareness and career choices which are deep rooted in both traditional and emerging professions, government, business, industry et cetera.
As part of Chrisland University efforts in creating the right mindset driven towards self-employment, Prof. Chinedum stated that, part of the school’s programmes is geared towards promoting and encouraging entrepreneurship prowess, through this, students will have an uncompromised access to vocational skills. To this end, the school has made it more appealing to students by presenting two certificates which are to cover their academic performances and their vocational training within their years of study in the school.
In a nation where economy diversification and human empowerment seem to be the only language of both societal and human development, Chrisland University has been able to key into this vision by working assiduously to ensure that the students develop passion and interest in agriculture through research and innovative skills which according to the Vice Chancellor will lead to maximum food production within and outside the school environment. Also, part of the school';s agricultural innovative plans is to ensure that herbal and medicinal plants are planted while young farmers in the state will be trained in order to excel in modern and innovative farming.
On his part, former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo thanked management of Chrisland University for the historic visit and the fulfillment of the promise of the school';s Chancellor, High Chief Winifred Awosika who had earlier promised to pay him a visit about two years ago.
Continuing, the Chancellor of Bells University of Technology noted that the education sector is an important aspect that requires a lot of investment. Obasanjo went further to posit that education is more of a service than business. He declared that even though Bells University is focused only on technology, there is the need to partner with Chrisland University in the area of agriculture because it offers wide varieties of benefits to the people in areas of health, job creation, food sufficiency and revenue generation.
While appreciating the Vice Chancellor';s unalloyed commitment and contribution to the educational sector, the former president also used the opportunity to promise the management of Chrisland University of his resolve to reciprocate the kind gesture and honor they bestowed on him by visiting Chrisland University.
The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of gifts brought by management of Chrisland University to the revere former President.
