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Ukwueze, a lecturer at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), said despite academic counselling’s contribution to students’ success, many institutions still fail to prioritise it, leading to poor performance, misguided career paths, and high dropout rates.
Ukwueze, a lecturer at the Department of Educational Foundation, stated this at the 31st inaugural lecture of the university held at its headquarters in Abuja.
In the lecture titled: ‘Academic counselling: A dark horse in education industry,’ the don noted that academic counselling is a powerful but overlooked force capable of driving significant improvements in educational outcomes and students’ well-being.
According to him, while academic counselling has always been a critical component of education, its potential is yet to be fully realised.
Ukwueze argued that effective counselling not only improves academic performance but also equips students with necessary skills needed to navigate life’s complexities.
Reflecting on his personal and professional journey in counselling, the don shared how his passion for academic counselling was ignited during his early years as an educator and recounted his experiences working with students from diverse backgrounds who, with proper academic guidance, overcame educational challenges and achieved outstanding results.
Ukwueze also identified several threats to effective academic counselling, including inadequate funding, shortage of trained counsellors, students’ reluctance to seek counselling due to misconceptions and stigma, and the lack of awareness about its importance among policymakers and educators.
He warned that neglecting these challenges could undermine the potential of academic counselling to drive educational excellence.
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To address these challenges, he recommended increased investment in counselling services at all levels of education, integration of technology to enhance counselling delivery, sensitising students and parents about the benefits of academic counselling, professional development programmes for counsellors to keep them updated on best practices, and public awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of academic counselling.
Earlier in his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, said despite its importance, academic counselling remains undervalued and underutilised, often overshadowed by conventional teaching and examination processes.
The vice chancellor noted that academic counselling is a crucial support system that helps students navigate the complexities of their academic journey, enhances their performance, and prepares them for the workforce.
Peters further highlighted NOUN’s commitment to strengthening academic counselling services, especially within the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) framework, where students require personalised academic guidance to succeed.
He called on educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to prioritise counselling services in all educational institutions, ensuring students receive timely and professional academic guidance.
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