Deans, Student Affairs: We Hold Key to Crisis Resolution on University Campuses

Association of Deans of Student Affairs in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria (ADOSATI) has said that it holds the key to the resolution of crisis on university campuses in the country.

The group stated this during its just concluded annual national conference held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka.

Prof Chukwuemeka Ezeonu, the INEC resident electoral commissioner in Imo State who delivered the association's keynote address called on the deans of students affairs to develop a strong relationship with students on their campuses, as that was the only way to earn their confidence, which he said was key to resolution of conflicts involving students.

Ezeonu who was himself a former dean of student affairs while speaking on the theme; sustainable peace building and crisis management on our campuses; listed some of the ills bedeviling the country's education system, saying that chief among them were poor funding and emphasis on paper qualifications.

He said that emphasis on paper qualification among students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria was killing the country's education system.

He said, "There is too much emphasis on paper qualification in Nigeria, rather than knowledge, skill and competence. Most students with requisite knowledge, skill and competence but lack the ability to reproduce what the teacher taught often feel frustrated."

He said such emphasis on qualification usually frustrated most students to the level of taking solace in bribing lecturers for marks, while the female among them resort to offering sexual gratification to lecturers, just to acquire certificates, thereby abandoning the skills and competence they earlier acquired.

He said the burden of managing crisis in tertiary institutions rest squarely on the shoulders of Deans of students affairs, and that the deans must try to establish interpersonal relationship with students..