By Abdulfatah Babatunde
A University of Lagos Don, Prof. Ismail Ibraheem, has advised Nigerians to explore the opportunities inherent in the new Transnational Education Policy (TEP) to align with the Federal Government’s efforts to re-engineer the education system.
Ibraheem gave the advice on Wednesday in Lagos, while delivering the institution’s fifth Inaugural Lecture for the 2024/25 academic session.
TheNewsZenith reports that the title of the inaugural lecture is “Casino Journalism And The End Of History”.
It is the first of its kind delivered by an alumnus of the Department of Mass Communication of the university.
“We must explore how this (TEP) can be beneficial and strategically align our efforts.
“This is, especially, considering the plan by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to stop funding overseas scholarships,” Prof. Ibraheem noted.
TheNewsZenith recalls that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Jan. 17 approved Nigeria’s Transnational Education Policy (TEP).
TEP encourages collaboration between Nigerian educational institutions and foreign universities to enhance academic standards, foster innovation and exchange cultural and intellectual ideas among others.
TheNewsZenith also reports that the policy aims to increase access to tertiary education by facilitating collaborations between Nigerian and foreign institutions.
It hopes to ease admission placement pressures and promote the exchange of ideas and research.
Describing education as a strategic national asset, the Professor of Journalism and Communication Studies said the time was ripe to harness opportunities to use education as a strategic foreign policy tool.
“Education has become an invaluable resource we can use without the environmental concerns typically associated with resource extraction.
“Over the past few decades, significant investments through TETFUND have enabled many Nigerians to study abroad while inadvertently sacrificing our strategic national resources.
“While we seek to address knowledge injustices, we risk permanently trading our intellectual capital away.”
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Ibraheem also frowns at what he called the proliferation of tertiary institutions in the country.
He advised the National University Commission (NUC) against the continued proliferation of higher institutions.
“The proliferation of the country’s education sector is already taking a heavy toll on the country’s socio-economic and political state.
Dwelling on the topic of the lecture – “casino journalism” and “end of history”, Ibraheem said this was his critique of the evolving media landscape where “randomness, sensationalism and profit-driven motives dominate the journalistic enterprise”.
According to him, Casino Journalism describes a style of media reporting in which sensationalism, entertainment and spectacle overshadow thorough investigation and factual accuracy.
The “end of history”, he said, reflects the existential risk that this style of media reporting poses to journalism’s role as a cornerstone of democracy.
“In any society, the media are indispensable in shaping public discourse, influencing societal attitudes and framing historical narratives.
“Casino practices that are now endemic in the media industry in Nigeria deprive us of important value addition to society by journalism,” the Rights activist turned academic, said.
According to him, casino journalism has several adverse effects on public discourse.
“It dumbs down complex issues like economic policies, healthcare and education which are often reduced to simple and sensational soundbites”.
He, therefore, called on media practitioners to uphold journalism that educates, informs and elevates society.
In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, echoed Ibraheem’s call, saying media practitioners to embrace journalism that remains steadfast in truth, equity and justice.
“Let us, therefore, heed Prof. Ibraheem’s call to protect and promote a free, responsible and resilient media system.
“For, doing so will safeguard the future of our democratic ideals and support the growth of a fledgeling Nigeria.
“Prof. Ibraheem Adegboyega, now that you have successfully paid your academic debt to the University of Lagos.
“With today’s excellent inaugural lecture, with immense contributions to improving our world. On behalf of the Senate, you are thereby discharged and acquitted,” Ogunsola said.
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