Varsity teacher raises alarm over low quality of graduates

Vice chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra state, Prof Joseph E, Ahaneku, has raised alarm over the quality of our university graduates, blaming the trend on the failure of students to embark on extensive research and innovative learning.

who disclosed this during the 55th meeting of the Committee of Deans of Post Graduate Schools (CDPGS) in Nigerian universities pointed out that research is all about expansion of knowledge in the effort to encourage the socio-economic development of the society.He lamented that students are not doing enough and have not proved their worth to justify the results earned at the first and master’s degree levels.

Ahaneku said, “Sadly enough, some university teachers are now making devious use of the internet to manufacture research publications which have neither broken new grounds nor expanded the frontiers of knowledge.

“This could be attributed to their poor research competencies, arising from the poor supervision they received during their post graduate studies from teachers and supervisors, while also lacking in necessary skills”

The vice chancellor subsequently challenged post graduate schools to articulate appropriate curricular for in-depth studies, formulate necessary rules and regulations and enforce same for the training of post graduate students.

According to him, the university should play a distinctive role in the number and quality of work produced by its faculty as well as students who hopefully will drive research in universities, research institutes and in business organisations.

Earlier, Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies, Prof Ike Odimegwu described the school as an arm of the university where scholars develop and apply the best methodology of research to inquire, invent and innovate.

In a lecture presented at the event, former vice chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof Ikenna Onyido accused lecturers who engage in plagiarising materials of ruining the university system and dragging the image of the country in the mud.

Prof Onyido in the lecture titled, ‘The knowledge paradigm in the age of sustainable development: The relevance of the Nigerian postgraduate school,’ said our institutions are full of ‘internet professors’.