UNN Convocation: Pro-chancellor tasks higher institutions in the country on ethics

By Agency Report

Prof Obiora Ike, the Pro-chancellor, Plateau State University Bokkos, says higher institutions in the country should imbibe ethics so that their students will be find worthy in character and learning in thee society.

Ike said this in Nsukka on Thursday while delivering the 50th convocation lecture of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) titled "Purpose-Driven and  Value-Driven Higher Education".

He said that the key for radical change of the society was through ethical education and leadership  whereby people act according to what they know is right.

"When institutions imbibe ethics in teaching and training  their students, they will be found worthy in character and learning not only on graduation but also in the society.

"It's useless and make no sense that one graduated with first class without without value and ethics, such graduates is disgrace to the society.

"Ethics is good in everything we do in life because, it helps one to do right thing at the right time,"  he said.

The Catholic Monsignor said that quality education and ethics remained the only solutions to solve the problem of humanity and change the narrative.

"There is no need establishing more universities in the country when existing ones are not equipped to offer quality teaching and learning, in education what matters is not quantity but quality," he said.

Ike who is also the Founder of Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace said that, it was an irony that African countries that had rich natural resources were far behind  in development to countries like China, South Korea that had little or no natural resources.

"There is because African countries do not pay attention to quality of education, this limit their graduates in achieving breakthrough in science and technology.

"Many governments in industrialised world have realised that new scientific knowledge hold key to our future wealth and health," he said.

According to the Pro-chancellor, there was urgent need to fill the global leadership vacuum in order to address the complex challenges confronting humanity.

Ike expressed appreciation to UNN management for finding him worthy to deliver the 50th convocation lecture of the university.

In a remark Prof Charles Igwe  the Vice-Chancellor of UNN,  said that  the institutions would continue to sustain the tradition  of convocation lecturer because of its importance to the university community and the general public.

"The honour of delivering UNN convocation lecture has been reserved for men and women of exceptional intellectual accomplishment.

"Ike is an internationally acclaimed speaker and scholar, known across the world as champion of ethical thinking, policy and behaviour" ,he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Monstow Onuoha, Emeritus Professor, said that he was excited to chair the occasion when he heard  that Ike would be the convocation lecturer.
(NAN)