The Head, Department of Management & Accounting, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof Grace Akinola, on Friday, said plans were ongoing for the establishment of OAU Business School.
She said the school was being processed alongside the Doctor of Business Administration programme and would commence after Senate approval.
Akinola, who stated these when she led a delegation on a visit to the Punch Place, the headquarters of Punch Nigeria Limited, disclosed that a site had already been earmarked for the project by the university. She added that the department currently offered 11 programmes.
The OAU team was received by Punch’s Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr Adeyeye Joseph, the General Manager, Digital and Publications, Mr Ademola Oni, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mrs Omolara Ogunleye, and the General Manager, Corporate Services, Mrs Olufolakemi Gbemuotor.
Akinola stated, “The OAU Business School is in the pipeline. It is going pari passu with the DBA programme. A place has been earmarked for the building on the premises of the university but we are still looking for sponsors. It will start immediately after an approval is given by the Senate.”
While speaking on the issues surrounding curriculum development in tertiary institutions, the don stated, “There is no synergy between what is happening in the society and the curriculum. If you notice, the moment a curriculum is prepared, it will be there for years, and you know society is changing every second. What is expected is for lecturers to teach using practical examples and allow students to contribute.
“The problems we are having at the university level started from the foundation; nursery and primary, the syllabus at that level was just to teach pupils not how to engage critical thinking. That critical thinking aspect is very important. If schools can incorporate the old method of teaching subjects at the grade two level into the Nigerian Certificate in Education syllabus, I think that will help a lot.”
The HoD felicitated the MD/EiC, who is an alumnus of the institution, on his appointment, saying, “We are proud and glad that one of us was appointed to the helms of affairs of such a reputable organisation.”
The MD, who appreciated the team for the visit, advised the institution to seek collaboration with other business schools locally and internationally in the process of establishing its own. He added that there was a need for tertiary institutions to focus on specialisation of students in specific areas and unbundle some academic programmes.
Others in the delegation were Dr Inneh Godwin, Dr Oladejo Abiodun; an associate professor of accounting; Dr John Ayoola, and an associate professor of Business Administration, Dr Agbaje Toyese.
