CALEB VARSITY VC, IN LONDON FOR GLOBAL FORUM ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibe, Vice Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota.

By Kazeem Jimoh

 Vice Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, South-West, Nigeria Professor Nosa Owens-Ibe, Friday, joined other global thought leaders at the University of Leeds, England to brainstorm on the challenges, innovation and opportunities in higher education.

 The two - days conference brings together international thought leaders and reformers in higher education and will provide a unique platform to discuss and compare emergent ideas.

 Practices, with the aim to formulate a framework for new, inclusive, agile and visionary higher education pedagogies that address the challenges of 'new times,' and envision the university of the future.

 In a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Protocol and Marketing, Caleb University, Dr. Elvis Otobo, and made available to our correspondent, stated that the Vice Chancellor, is expected to address participants on, "The Higher Education Pedagogies In Africa: Looking Back To A Prosperous Future."

 According to Owen-Ibe, "The British roots of higher education in Nigeria were evident not only in its context, but also in the logic that drove its initial expansion."

 "From 1932, when Yaba Higher College, was established in Lagos, as the first higher institution in Nigeria to 1948, when the University College, opened in Ibadan, as an affiliate of the University of London," he continues.

 "The progression has been inextricably linked to its roots in the British system, although, there have been significant incursion in recent times by the United States. The developments in any other African countries basically replayed the Nigerian script."

 "More recently, there has been a proliferation of institutions and higher education development has been heavily impacted by the politics of development."

 "The heavy investment in higher education at that time reflected the potential that the political class showcased. The progress in the higher education sector, was complemented by rapid advancement in social infrastructural development."

 "Epitomised, for example, by the establishment of Africa's premier television broadcasting station in Ibadan, in 1959 - earlier than many European countries," Owens-Ibe, asserted.

 The Professor of Communication, Media and Development, is expected to use Nigeria as a case study, as his presentation will chronicles phases in the development of higher education institutions in Africa and interrogates the political and intellectual contexts of the development.

 It will also examine the legal and policy provisions that paved the way, for the private sector to intervene in higher education provision and will argue that this intervention, has opened wide the door to creativity and innovation, despite the challenges that still dot the higher education landscape.

 Others thought leaders participating at the conference are Professor Andrew Azzopardi, Dean, Faculty of Wellbeing, University of Malta; Dr. Pamela Barber-Freeman, of Prairie View A&M University, Texas; Professor Laurette Blakey Foster, Executive Director, HBCU Faculty Development Network.

 Others include, Professor Chang Heng-Hao, National Taipei University; Dr. Claire Brown, Victoria Academy of Teaching and Leadership; Dr. Yap Meen Sheng, Dean of Students, Student Success Centre, Singapore University of Social Sciences and Dr. Jeremiah Shipp, of the Winston Salem University, among others.