Czech partners UI on development of education model

The Czech Republic has expressed its readiness to partner with the University of Ibadan [UI], Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria, to evolve models that will engender development in various sectors, especially, in education in the West African country.

The Deputy Head of Mission, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Nigeria, Mr. Martin Čech, and Prof. Jan Záhořík from the University of West Bohemia of the country disclosed this during a colloquium organised by the Embassy in collaboration with the premier university.

The colloquium, which took place in Trenchard Hall of the university, had many personalities in attendance. They included officials from the Czech Republic; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor [Administration ], Professor Peter Olapegba; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor [Academic], Prof. Aderonke Baiyeroju; the Registrar, Ganiyu Saliu; the University Librarian, Dr. Mercy Iroaganachi; the Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. Temidayo Ogundiran; the Dean of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Prof. Adejoke Akinyele; the Director, Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies[IPSS], Prof. Ruth Adio-Moses, the Deputy Registrar in charge of the Directorate of Public Communication, Mrs. Adejoke Akinpelu; the Deputy Registrar in the VC’s Office, Mr. Oluwole Dada, and a host of others.

The colloquium featured seasoned and internationally acclaimed scholars from the University of Ibadan. It involved discussions on the Czech Republic and Nigeria in the context of European Union [EU]- Africa Relations and collaboration with the Czech Republic and the EU universities for a better future.

In his remarks, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Czech Embassy, Mr Čech, said the motivation for the programme was to birth mutually beneficial collaborations that would engender development. While saying the colloquium was apt, Cech said more discussions that would preserve diversity and strengthen development would be initiated.

On his part, Záhořík, who is a Professor of African Studies at the University of West Bohemia, said the education system and development models of the Czech Republic could be transplanted into Nigeria.

Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert and Prof. Francis Egbokhare of UI, who were resource persons at the colloquium, said Nigeria could learn a lot from the Czech Republic.

Albert, a globally renowned scholar, said the colloquium was to forge partnerships between Nigeria and the Czech Republic and learn from its development models for sustainable development.

“The world is tired of the old relationships and looking for new relationships. We have problems to solve. To what extent are we adjusting our education to the problems? If you want to strengthen a system, you must invest more resources in the education of the system,” Albert said.

On his part, Prof. Egbokhare, a towering literary icon, said there is a lot to learn from the Czech Republic. The professor, who said the informal sector is the biggest in the country, called on the European country to look into the sector for a sustainable relationship.

Also speaking, Prof. Olatunji Oyeshile of the Department of Philosophy, who facilitated the event, urged Nigeria to learn the Czech Republic’s example by looking inward rather than looking elsewhere.

“The country looks inward, the law works there. They don’t have energy crises. Education must be in line with our needs. Let us have something developed within our culture and take it to the whole world. Let us think in that direction. This is one of the things we have to learn from the Czech Republic,” Oyeshile said.

Earlier, while declaring the colloquium opened, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the university, Prof. Olapegba said no entity could be an island unto itself.

DVC said: “You will have to look for people or entities to collaborate with. If you want to go very fast, go alone, but then if you want to go very far, then go with others. This is the reason for creating this platform with the Czech Republic so that there can be discussions on issues of mutual benefit and how people can overcome challenges.”