NUC trains lecturers on new curriculum

By Temiloluwa Olowoyeye

The National University Commission has trained lecturers from about 206 Universities across Nigeria in a new curriculum workshop.

It was a series of programmes that involved coaching University teachers and administrators; primarily focused on the implementation of the new universities’ curriculum.

The main purpose of the session was to ensure the effective delivery of the new curriculum, the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), established by NUC.

Prof. Emeritus Peter Okebukola who coordinated one of the segments of the exercise, stated that the objective of the training “is to strengthen the knowledge and skills of all university staff in the effective implementation of the CCMAS.

While speaking to newsmen in Abuja, he mentioned that the overall training was coordinated by Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, former Minister of Education and currently a member of the NUC Strategy Advisory Committee.

He went on to state that the “four-month training had two components: the first was the training of the Directors of Academic Planning and three staff members of each university nominated by the Vice-Chancellor.

The first phase of the programme which lasted for three weeks, had an onsite and an online component and was coordinated by Professor Yakubu Azare of Bayero University, Kano.

While, the second phase of the training session dwelt on the “Practical Skills for Delivering the CCMAS in an Online Environment”, which comprised Directors of ICT and two staff members of each university, nominated by the VC.

Several notable individuals in the University academic sphere including the Chairperson of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, Professor Lilian Salami, and the Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities, Professor Olusola Oyewole, gave speeches during the training exercise.

In commemoration of the efforts of the University academic staff, a graduation ceremony was held.

During the event, Distinction Plus certificates were awarded to 90 participants.

A total of 92 distinction grades, 57 credits, 40 merits, and 27 passes were awarded. Additionally, 290 participants received the Basic Proficiency in Moodle certificate.