The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Ilorin, Prof. (Mrs.) Sidiqat Yetunde Ijaiya, has said that teaching profession should not be a place for academic layabouts but a place for those who have distinguished themselves in their chosen subjects.
Prof. Ijaiya stated this recently while welcoming some officials from the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, led by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council of the NTI, Alhaji Mahmud Usman, who visited the DVC in her office.The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who stressed that teachers are critical to national development, maintained that no stone must be left unturned in the training of teachers, adding that only the best should be recruited to produce quality manpower for the nation.
Prof. Ijaiya pointed out that the University of Ilorin, realising the critical role of teachers in nation building, has provided the Faculty of Education with one of the most befitting structures on campus.
“We attach great importance to teachers’ education and education in general. We have a solid Faculty of Education and a befitting structure to complement the Faculty”, Ijaiya said, adding that “no profession can claim superiority over teachers because they are the mothers and fathers of every other profession”.
Prof. Ijaiya described the relationship with the institute as “partners in progress”, assuring that the University is delighted to collaborate with the institute.
Earlier, Alhaji Usman, said that the Institute was established in 1976 primarily because of the pressing needs in the country for trained and qualified teaching staff at all levels of the educational system.
He added that the single mode distance education institution dedicated to teachers’ training had obtained permission from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to affiliate with a university each in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
While thanking the management of the University of Ilorin for agreeing in principle to partner NTI, Usman assured that partnering the institution would not soil the good name and reputation of the University.
