‘Education goes beyond schooling’

updated: Thursday 18-06-2009

From left, Deputy Vice Chancellor,University
of Ibadan, Professor Adigun Agbaje,
Professor Pai Obanya, who celebrated
his 70th birthday and his wife at the event.Recently Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Adigun Agbaje, led staff of the Institute of Education of the university to celebrate Professor Pai Obanya, a retiree and former director of the institute. Kehinde Adio whio was at the event, reports.

 IT was a solemn forum that drew Professor Pai Obanya’s close friends and other dignitaries from business and education circles within and outside the country to witness the event.

Some of the dignitaries, who spoke with Education Tribune about Obanya’s philosophy of life, said many good things about him.

For instance,Mr. George Igelegbai, Education Specialist, UNICEF, Abuja, described Professor Obanya as a man of many parts, who believes that nothing is impossible to achieve. “He is friendly and is always ready to contribute his quota to national development as he is ever willing to contribute to other people’s progress. He is a good man to work with,’’ he said.

Similarly, Professor Olagunju Odubunmi from Lagos State University, who attributed his academic success to Professor Obanya’s support for his research work, stated that, Professor Obanya encouraged me to write books.

“Today, I make bold to say that Professor Obanya deserves national recognition in view of his contributions to education development not only in Nigeria but also in Africa.”

Similarly, Dr. Olagunju, the Executive Secretary, National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), stated that Professor Obanya is a man to be reckoned with in the field of education.

“He is a man whose knowledge and experience in education cannot be ignored in this country’s attempt to reform education sector,” he said.

Professor Obanya presented a new book on education as part of the activities to mark his 70th birthday. The new book, entitled Dreaming, Living and Doing Education was reviewed at the event by Professor Shehu Jimoh from Kwara State.

In his review, Professor Jimoh stated that Professor Obanya’s contributions to the development of education in Nigeria and other parts of the world assumed higher dimension after his retirement from the service of the University of Ibadan.

Professor Jimoh, who confirmed that the book was one of Professor Obanya’s 240 publications, stated that it is a must read for all stakeholders in education.

Professor Obanya is happy writing books,” he said.

Professor Obanya in his latest book, observed that Nigeria in its education reform seemed to be taking one step forward and two backward.

According to him, university education should now be broad-based and learning to learn skills should replace mere accumulation of scattered pieces of information.

” Let us re-start the process of educational development from level zero,” he said.

Obanya is of the opinion that education is different from schooling although it could include schooling, it goes beyond it. According to him, “Nigeria does not plan well for the future; we merely drift into it hence, our education has not succeeded in achieving the goal of moving the country forward,” he said.