February 17, 2025

Unilagsun

Serving the university community

Education is the Mother of All Professions – Dean, Faculty of Education.

By Mercy Oluwadimimu, Ameerah Junaid, Fathia Omotosho, Oluwayemi Mighty.

The Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Bayo Oladipo has reacted to the stereotypes about education students being the least intelligent in the university. Expressing the superiority of education and the Faculty, he said, “Education is the mother of all professions.” 

The Dean emphasised the vital role of education for humanity while discussing his achievements, challenges, and future plans for the faculty in an exclusive interview with UNILAG Sun. He acknowledged that the faculty is one of the largest within the university, comprising eight departments, each with no fewer than a thousand students. 

The Dean also pointed out the need for more staff in the department due to a significant increase in lecturer migration. “It is important to note that we have fewer faculty members managing these departments and a large number of students,” he said.

Prof. Oladipo highlighted the need for education students to be properly trained.“They are supposed to be globally trained and competent teachers. We are not preparing teachers for Nigeria alone. We are preparing teachers that will be able to teach anywhere they find themselves across the globe because education today is beyond your environment,” he said.

He discussed his challenges and achievements as dean of the faculty, highlighting the importance of enhancing the existing infrastructure to create a more conducive environment for students. 

“We have this infrastructure, but it is insufficient in both quantity and quality. The University of Lagos is the best in Nigeria regarding these facilities, but we must work to improve them,” he stated.

He further cited an improvement in the teaching-learning process, renovation of classrooms, in-house training for Heads of departments and improvement in staff welfare as a few of his achievements since being appointed as the Dean of the Faculty. 

He also revealed that the faculty has tackled financial constraints by networking with organizations, alumni and philanthropists to support indigent students and improve resources, noting that the government cannot supply all that they need.