The Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke, has identified the ability to speak and write good English as a major challenge to many Nigerian graduates.
Anieke spoke when officials of the National Universities Commission (NUC) visited the university recently.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that NUC officials were at the institution to assess its postgraduate programmes.
Anieke said the GOUNI had identified the use of English as the major weakness of many graduates from other institutions, stressing that some first-class graduates found it difficult to write or speak correct English.
The VC noted that the face of every university was its postgraduate school and as such showed the university’s research strength, saying it reflects the quality of research of the institution.
“This is why we introduced a course called “Communication in English“. This is because a student’s inability to use the English language correctly could be due to their background.
“In the PG School, we ensure that when you write your thesis, it will be strong enough to be published in a journal and if not publishable, then you have not written a good thesis,” Anieke said.
He explained that the university was doing many things to ensure that graduates of the institution’s PG School were strong, stressing that the policy was now yielding fruit in the school.
“You may not have a lot of students here because a lot of them want it easy, but the quality is very important to me,” he emphasised.
He made it clear that the NUC visit was not a witch-hunt but “a peer review that makes a university more transparent and effective.”
“NUC is championing national integration by sending those in charge of academics of the universities to institutions outside their regions.
“I see this as very important for the growth of our universities,” the vice chancellor stated.
Anieke, however, urged the officials to see the assignment as a sacrifice for the development of Nigeria, adding that the GOUNI had never done anything without involving NUC.
Responding, Prof. Kabiru Dandago, who spoke on behalf of the team, gave the assurance that there would be no witch-hunting during the team’s visit to universities.
Dandago assured them they would maintain a high level of objectivity in the discharge of their duties.
