By Peter Xlaver
Many academic staff in Nigerian Universities abandon students to themselves without necessary guidance because everyone wanted to be a Professor, a Catholic Priest, Fr Evaristus Bassey, has said.
Bassey, Parish Priest of St. Mary Pro-Cathedral and former National Director of Caritas Nigeria, also challenged the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to strive to become a world-class University.
He however commended the University’s administration for the infrastructural developments, improvements in student results and prompt issuance of certificates and transcripts amidst many other developments.
Fr Bassey threw the challenge during an inter-denominational service to mark the golden jubilee of UNICAL and the 37th convocation of the institution with the theme, “Spes Nostra non Confundit – Our Hope Does Not Disappoint”, moderated by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Duke.
The cleric called on the staff to eschew corruption and concentrate on the formation of mind and character of students as this was a core obligation.
According to him, the fact that because Universities placed a high premium on published papers, many academic staff were abandoning students to themselves and not giving the necessary guidance, because everyone wanted to be a Professor.
He told all to embrace the advice of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to overcome cynicism and work towards Nigeria becoming a great nation despite the disappointments of the past.
For UNICAL to become world class, he suggested that the method of students evaluating staff at the end of every course as is done in some Universities abroad should be emulated, so that there are consequences for lack of staff performance.
He urged everyone to do their utmost in matters that were under their sphere of control so as to ensure world-class outcomes.
The Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof Florence Obi, thanked all who were able to make it to the event and expressed the hope that with God on their side the University would continue to move ahead in great strides.
