Ex-UNILAG VC, Scholars publish book on tertiary education management

By Oluwaseun Abubakare

A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Tolu Odugbemi, along with more than 25 scholars from various Nigerian universities, has collaborated on a book titled “A Practical Approach to Contemporary Tertiary Education Management in Nigeria.”

Sponsored by Dr. Daniel Olukoya, the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, the book delves into the comprehensive aspects of tertiary education in Nigeria.

Edited by Odugbemi and Prof. Taiwo Ipaye, the book covers critical areas including administration, financial equity, library services, challenges in postgraduate research, ethical issues, and the current state of the health sector.

In his foreword, Olukoya highlights the book’s significance in contributing to the discourse on improving Nigeria’s educational system to meet global standards in the 21st century.

The pastor emphasizes the crucial role of tertiary education in facilitating socioeconomic growth and overall development worldwide. Despite the challenges faced by the industry, he urges stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector to continue their efforts in strengthening the nation’s educational system.

“It is therefore, against this backdrop that this book, ‘A Practical Approach to Contemporary Tertiary Education Management in Nigeria’, should be celebrated for the laudable contribution it makes to the discourse on repositioning Nigeria’s educational system for global relevance in the 21st century”

He added that the author of chapter nine, of the book, “Strategic Marketing Plan to Enhance Tertiary Education Institution in Nigeria for Patronage by Others Countries,” argues that tertiary education should be marketed like any other product.

He further added, “For tertiary education institutions in Nigeria to attract the patronage of other countries, it is important that they adopt the right marketing approach to meet the needs of their users and meet up with global educational standards.”

Olukoya said, “Chapter two emphasizes the crucial role of university administrators in the effective functioning of the University system. It highlights their contributions in policy formulation, planning, organization, and implementation.

Additionally, Chapter three raises the question of what education should look like in the postcovid-19 era?

“The author suggests that the syllabus and learning journey should be more immersive, with a focus on application and cross – fertilization rather than theory.

Chapter four, delves into the critical processes of staff selection and appointments in universities. It focuses on these processes, revealing the unfortunate challenges of ethnicity, nepotism, institutional and state politics, and outright corruption that have hindered the effectiveness of these processes.

The newly published book provides a platform for productive discussions and actionable solutions to address these significant challenges, offering a roadmap for the transformation of Nigeria’s higher education system.