By Emmanuel Onoja
Teachers were celebrated globally few days ago as the world marked world teachers’ day.
It is a day set aside to acknowledge the efforts as well as sacrifices teachers make to build the society.
Aside the non-challant attitudes of government to prioritize education in Nigeria, some teachers are not worth their salt.
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Anybody that schooled in a public university in Nigeria will agree with me that they have had their fair share of the ignoble shenanigans exuded by some lecturers.
By default, learning is very difficult in our public as some lecturers see themselves as demi-gods who expect students to worship them through their highhandedness, impatience, victimization, unfriendliness, pomposity, among other despicable attribute that stinks to high heavens. I could go on and on.
However, in my academic voyage in Bayero University Kano, there some lecturers that have distinguished themselves. These few academic instructors are not just teachers, they are role models.
They have chosen to make life easier for students regardless of their colleagues’ indifference.
They believe in gentility and simplicity. For them, students and lecturers are partners in progress.
Hence, they do not see it as master-and-servant relationship. Such breed of lecturers are willing to go extra mile just to ensure the success of a serious student.
They are patient with students. They are happy when their students are doing well in the class.
They are rare species. I marvel and wonder if the typical blood of a Nigerian lecturer blood flow through their veins.
One of such lecturers is Professor Umar Pate. He is the current Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Bayero University Kano. He embodies all the virtues aforementioned.
Our path crossed during my postgraduate studies in the institution. After embarking on a twelve hour night journey to see my then supervisor one day, I was very exhausted, I felt dejected and frustrated as I could not get a topic approved for my dissertation whereas my colleagues were already preparing for their proposal defence.
I was seating on the pavement that day when I saw Professor Pate walking towards his office, I stood up and greeted him.
We exchanged pleasantries as though we were friends. He asked if I was one of the students that would be presenting in two days’ time. My response was not in the affirmative. He probed further as he was amazed that I was still struggling to get a topic six months after completing my coursework. I told him everything and he told me he was assuming my project supervisor. I felt wow!
He quickly printed some materials from his laptop and handed them over to me including some books. He asked me to read them and come up with three topics the next day. I had a rigorous intellectual vigil that night. I returned to his office the next day and we agreed on the topic. I was so elated.
He assisted me with countless journals and material in the course of writing my dissertation. He made me to believe in myself. He guided me and was very patient with me. He was willing to teach me over and over again despite his tight schedule. He would call me back whenever he missed my calls. I could not ask for more. He saw me through until I had my external defence. In fact, as if he knew I would be tense and anxious on that day, he sent me text messages wishing me the best as well as reposing confidence in me. I could not be more thankful. Others can testify to his rare virtues.
So, I was not surprised when he was unanimously and equivocally elected as the President of Association of Communication Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria (ACSPN) lately. I wish you the best sir. This is a toast to a greater height.
Emmanuel Onoja wrote this From Lagos
