Former VCs React, as NUC Moves To Regulate Ceremonies in Varsities

The Guardian

The slipshod management of some ceremonies in public tertiary institutions over time has stirred the need to return to standard practices and recover some dignity that the Nigerian university system has lost. The move, spearheaded by the National Universities Commission (NUC), is not without questions over the commission’s remit to perform such roles, IYABO LAWAL reports.

Diverse reactions are trailing the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) decision to set minimum guidelines for the conduct of a host of ceremonies in the Nigeria University System (NUS) including matriculations, convocations, special lectures, and the like.

While some argue that the NUC, by the Act establishing it, has no power to censor the activities of these institutions, others insist that the decision was in order.

The acting Executive Secretary of the commission, Chris Maiyaki, recently lamented the decline in the quality of these ceremonies, which he noted, constitute the hallmark of a university system.

Maiyaki noted that ceremonies such as matriculation, convocation, and lectures that traditionally precede them, as well as, inaugural, distinguished, faculty and valedictory lectures, have not only declined in quality but also lost the aura for which they were once known and cherished largely because of the adoption of unsavoury local mismatches.

To correct the anomaly, Maiyaki said the commission has resolved to work with relevant stakeholders to establish minimum guidelines for the conduct of university ceremonies, stressing that there was an urgent need to enthrone a legacy of good governance, values, principles, standards, and best practices in tertiary institutions.

The NUC was established as an advisory agency on higher education and charged with the responsibility of advising the government on the financial needs of the universities. It also handles the planning of a balanced and coordinated development of university education.

These functions were further expanded with the enactment of Decree No. 1 of 1974, which transformed the commission from an advisory capacity to a statutory body.

By virtue of the Act setting it up, the NUC is empowered to set minimum standards for all programmes taught in Nigerian universities, and also ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and qualitative learning.

Between 1975 and 1998, the NUC’s involvement in the administration of universities gradually grew as it became influential in the appointment of vice-chancellors, and members of university governing councils, and managed the establishment of new faculties and course offerings.

It is also saddled with additional responsibilities of setting minimum academic standards and inspecting and vetting course offerings in universities. Although academics admitted that there’s been a progressive decline in the quality of these ceremonies over the years, they, however, insisted that it is not a justification for the NUC to take over the regulation process.

Despite the absurdities in the university system, the scholars maintained that the internal organs of each institution should handle such issues. Distinguished Professor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), AyodejiOlukoju, lamented that dignified, time-honoured ceremonies of the 1970s and 1980s have been bastardised, while the award of honorary degrees has become a bazaar in many cases.

He alleged that managers of public institutions and private enterprises often indulge in abuse of power and short-circuiting of established systems and norms, leading to infractions.

For instance, Olukoju recalled that in the 1970s and 1980s, matriculation was a brief ceremony with only the vice chancellor’s admonition as the speech of the day.

“No motivational speeches, musical interlude, or fanfare. Deans wore the ordinary black academic gown and mortarboard, and the ceremony lasted just an hour and a few minutes. It was brief, solemn, and dignified,” he said. As for convocation, the scholar noted that graduands filed out for the VC’s handshake, while faculties took turns to present their graduates.

“I do not recall that the Valedictorian spoke. No goodwill messages from anyone. All merriment followed outside the precincts of the convocation venue.”

Unfortunately, Olukoju noted that the institutions, especially private universities, have innovated ways of conducting these ceremonies. For instance, introduced a guest speaker at matriculation, which he described as superfluous. He also identified poor time management, arbitrary adjustment of advertised programme, and introduction of goodwill messages as some of the problems.

The former vice chancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, further lamented that the convocation halls are often overcrowded and poorly ventilated, causing restiveness and avoidable noise.

While it may be difficult to put private universities in check, Olukoju said public institutions should return to standard practice and recover some of their lost dignity.

For inaugural and other interdisciplinary lectures, the former vice chancellor noted that the procession is expected to be short, while the lecture should not last more than 70-75 minutes.

Olukoju said a situation where lecturers inject unnecessary song, dance, and excessive acknowledgments in his paper remains uncalled for.

“It is odd that the entire Senate joins the procession in some institutions. I do not share the view that we should ‘banalise’ serious events in the name of giving our universities an African character, whatever that means. That is merely excusing frivolity,” he said.

While emphasising the need for standards to be raised in the conduct of these ceremonies, Olukoju, advised that the internal organs of each university should be empowered to handle issues.

Olukoju, who is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), stressed that university events must be restored to what they used to be – sober, dignified, time-conscious, and edifying.

“I share the view that standards need to be raised. I once saw an advertisement for a joint inaugural by two lecturers. That is odd. I have observed that some of the titles are quite bizarre, to say the least. The volume of lectures should be in the 30-55-page range, but the abridged version to be read should be delivered in 60-90 minutes. The ceremonies should be focused on the lecture and no more, “Olukoju emphasised.

While the external intervention being proposed by the NUC might seem odious, Olukoju said it is the direct consequence of the failure of governance systems and operations within the university system.

On claims that the action of the commission violates the principle of university autonomy, Olukoju noted that there is no absolute autonomy for the institutions, wondering why universities need accreditation by the NUC and various professional bodies if they are truly autonomous.

He said: “To restore sanity to the system, we need to have uniform minimum standards of decorum, and that begins by clarifying what the Nigerian university system is- is it British/European or North American, or what? If we are evolving a Nigerian brand, we should define it. Whatever the case, we should let the universities be dignified entities, cities on a hill beaming the light of knowledge, liberty, and learning across a vast landscape.”

On his part, Prof.SheriffdeenTella, of OlabisiOnabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, insisted that the NUC has no mandate to regulate ceremonies as such is within the purview of the Senate of each university. He, however, noted that the commission could offer suggestions to the institutions if it noticed a decline in the quality of ceremonies.

“The NUC could offer suggestions publicly after showing evidence of monitoring. It can’t be for all the institutions, and therefore, no generalisation,” he stated.

Rather than getting involved in the internal management of universities, Tella said the commission should be concerned about proper funding and quality management of public and private universities.

However a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Abel Olayinka, sees nothing wrong with the NUC setting minimum guidelines for ceremonial activities in the institutions, especially when the tradition is being violated.

However, Olayinka noted that whatever guidelines the NUC can come up with would, at best, be advisory, and cannot be binding on individual universities as to how they should conduct their business. The former VC clarified that it is the Senate of each university that should look into such matters and not the NUC.

“When the vice chancellor of a federal university is appointed, his letter of appointment states clearly that he is responsible to the Senate and Council. This, in my opinion, settles the matter,” Olayinka stated.

Rather than saddle itself with internal management of activities within the purview of the Council and Senate, Olayinka said the NUC should be concerned about proper funding and quality management of public and private universities.

However, former Vice Chancellor of the Bells University, Ota, Prof. Adebayo Adeyemi, said the decision by the NUC to regulate ceremonies in the institutions is in order.

Adeyemi recalls that one of the functions of the commission is to ensure quality assurance of all academic programs offered in Nigerian universities. “I see convocation ceremonies as the apex of universities’ academic programs during which certificates are awarded and must be conducted qualitatively.”

He noted that the recent pronouncement by Maiyaki, would not be the first attempt at restoring sanity during convocations, as the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) in 2012, came up with a document known as the “Keffi Declaration,” which stipulated guidelines for the award of higher degrees to stem the tide of arbitrary award of honorary degrees in Nigerian universities.

He, however, noted that the CVCNU does not have the big stick to enforce adherence to the guidelines, which the NUC can do through the mandate of quality assurance to cover all aspects of activities, including special lectures, convocation ceremonies, and award of honorary degrees.

As a watchdog in enhancing academic excellence in tertiary institutions, Adeyemi said that the NUC must go the whole hog in ensuring that standards and quality are maintained during convocations.

“So, it should not be seen as an unwritten duty or a term of reference for the NUC to ensure academic excellence. If it has to be formalised, so be it.”
In going about the regulation, the Professor of Food Science and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) advised that the NUC could initially set standards for some components such as the award of honorary degrees and inaugural lectures, without infringing on the much-desired autonomy of universities.

Besides, he said the commission could also institute prizes and recognition for universities that conform with set standards. On the quality of some of the programs, Adeyemi agreed that there has been a progressive decline in the conduct of these ceremonies over the years.

While it is expected that all graduands, parents, and guests should be seated well ahead of the commencement of the ceremony, Adeyemi said in the last couple of years, timely arrival has not been observed by most graduands.

The former vice chancellor lamented that convocation ceremonies have become political jamborees, with distractions and disturbances from notable individuals who attend the ceremony with praise singers and drummers.

Stressing that time management is essential, Adeyemi pointed out that a deviation from the university-approved convocation program and long speeches, make the ceremony uninteresting.

“Walking to the podium, shaking hands with the vice-chancellor, and collecting scrolls all form the apex and honour of any convocation ceremony, which has been relegated to the background.

“Unfortunately, in most public universities, either due to the number of graduands, delay in commencement, waste of time in the course of the programme, or inability of the Visitor to stay till the end, graduands would be admitted jointly on a faculty basis except first class graduands, who would have the honour of the traditional handshake,” Adeyemi stated.

He lamented that over the years, the university system has bowed and allowed the values of the “town” component to override the ideals of the “ivory tower” on which the system thrives.

Adeyemi recalled that there was a time when the university system dictated core national values, governance, service delivery, and priorities. He pointed out that due to interference, the values that were highly cherished in the universities have been corrupted when degenerating values of the town surreptitiously crept into the institutions.

He reminded me that the university system is a self-regulatory one, as there are checks and balances through policies, laws, and committee systems, which have been instrumental in sustaining the institutions.