Ahead of his Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday, July 27 2022, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, former Dean of Students Affairs and current Director of ICT at the Rivers State University, has said that Nigerians should be able to elect leaders who value education in next year’s election.
The traditional ruler and Head of Ogulacha War Canoe House in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, made this known in a chat with Elanhub in his office on Monday.
Prof. Zeb-Obipi, a former President of the National Union of Rivers State Students, stated that those who should run the affairs of the country, ought to be well-educated persons who have gone through the process of learning and absorbed its values.
According to him, education not applied to solving problems is no education, adding that those elected should be able to demonstrate that their education is “functional education”.
He stated that despite the fact that Nigeria is blessed with individuals who can properly manage her affairs, the system is designed in such a way that scholars are hardly allowed to participate in elections. “Even when the system turns them up for election, we end up not being able to vote them into power”.
The professor who has been described by many as “one who is larger than life” also said Nigeria must have a system where people can be held accountable for the things they have done in the past, as it should not be business as usual.
He explained that one of the dangers of business as usual is the fact that we continue to perpetuate the inadequacies we have in our leadership.”If we refuse to elect those who have failed to deliver, we will be sending signals to those who we elect that they could also be punished if they don’t deliver”.
Prof. Zeb-Obipi further opined that it does not make sense why the country should have her students out of school. He said those who have kept students out of school should not be given another chance to govern the country.
He called on Nigerians not to give failed leaders another opportunity to deceive them again, ahead of next year’s general election.
Professor Isaac Zeb-Opibi of the Rivers State University is a Professor of Management with research interests that cut across Organisational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, and Industrial Relations. Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi will be giving his inaugural lecture on 27 July 2022 at the New Senate Building, Rivers State University at 3:00 pm. He will speak on People Management Tripod and Worker Productivity: The Solute, Solvent, and Solution.
