Describing a professor as highly cerebral, in certain circumstances, may sound redundant. Otherwise, some may ask, why is he/she a professor? This becomes tenable however, when you are in the midst of men and women of letters and the need arises for you to try differentiating between ‘six and half a dozen.’ So it was, Thursday, October 31, 2024, at an Events Centre tucked in the Asoko Military Zone where de crème de la crème of the nation’s academia gathered to honour one of their own: Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, a pivot of the Col. Anthony Ochefu clan.
Professor Ochefu is essentially a Historian with historical significance. He is a professor of history and the son of the former Military Governor of defunct Eastern State. Professor Ochefu is a man of tremendous stature; physically and otherwise. He stands above six feet with a huge frame that passes him for a typical American Basketballer. No wonder, he was an avid sportsman who represented his alma mater in Judo, cricket, hockey and basketball at the Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA).
Ochefu is a professor of Economic History and Development Studies. He is a unique historian with a penchant for perplexing inquisition into the sciences. His recent intellectual pursuits include “researching disruptive technologies,” “Artificial Intelligence,” “Virtual/Augmented/ Mixed Reality” and “Quantum Computing.” He is truly a man of many parts. A thorough academic and prolific administrator who has traversed the halls of many University Senates, either as Dean, Deputy Vice Chancellor or Vice Chancellor. Thursday’s gathering was actually a Sent-Forth Ceremony in commemoration of the end of another tour of duty as he clocks out as the Secretary General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, marking the end of a term of five years.
It was an occasion that was truly worth its billing as the huge hall brimmed with friends, family, colleagues and associates. In short, there were dignitaries from all works of life who took turns to eulogise Professor Ochefu. Phrases and words like, “record breaker”, “goal getter”, emotionally stable, humble, amiable, cheerful, caring, kind, spontaneous, etc were deployed repeatedly to describe the one I refer to as a ‘gentle giant.’ Professor Ochefu is that proverbial giant upon whose shoulder one must stand to see further than others.
Of particular note were goodwill messages by Arc Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Educations Trust Fund (TERTFund). Arc Echono recounted how Prof. Ochefu helped out when the Fund needed help regarding the deployment of technology to achieve the Fund’s mandate.
Also notable were the vivid accounts given by Professor Tijjani Morah, immediate past Chairman of the Conference of Alumni Association of Nigerian Universities (CANNU), Professor Patrick Akase of the Historical Society of Nigeria and Professor Adaji. The list is longer. Not to mention the inspiring recollections by staff of CVCNU who took turns to update the audience with Professor Ochefu’s uniquely motivating work ethic and mentorship acumen.
Fireside with Prof Ochefu
Fireside with Professor Ochefu was a brief chat shop that enabled the audience to have a taste of the pudding. In crisp, clinical elocution, the the professors did a troubleshoot of some nagging challenges that currently buffet the educational sector, especially tertiary institutions. The celebrant, for instance, expressed concern about the lack of preparedness of Nigerian universities for the incoming Generation-Alpha. “So far its been a heck of a time accommodating Generation Z,” he argued. He therefore thinks that the Nigerian University system has not been adequately configured to manage the incoming generation alpha.
“Gen-Alpha are born with iPhone in their hands and AI enhanced, etc,” he said, He wonders if the current technological milieu prevalent in the nation’s universities is enabled to accommodate this group.
Professor Tijjani Morah, one of the panelists at the fireside with Professor Ochefu lamented the lack of willingness by members of Alumni Associations of Nigerian universities to give back to their alma mater. To further compound the problem, even where they attempt to intervene, Prof. Tijjani argued, some Vice Chancellors do not offer necessary cooperation but view the alumni as competitors.
