By Ikechukwu Odu
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Prof Charles Arizechukwu Igwe, has advised scholars to focus more on researches and publications that exert positive impact on our local environment and rethink the contemporary research and publications efforts driven by the exigencies of Impact Factor requirements.
Prof Igwe spoke while welcoming staff of the Department of Linguistics, Igbo and Other Nigerian Languages of the institution on a courtesy visit, led by the Head of Department, Prof Chris Uchenna Agbedo.
The Vice Chancellor observed that his advocacy for homegrown research and publications explains his support for Nigerian languages option as part of the appraisals criteria for assessing teaching staff for promotion in UNN.
For him, it makes little sense to insist that a scholar whose area of specialisation has to do with local languages, literature, cultures, history and the like must publish his research findings in a journal domiciled somewhere in Europe or America because it is being indexed by big publishers but which editorial policy does not reckon with issues relating to Africa.
He reiterated his readiness to support indigenous knowledge creation as it affects Nigerian languages literature and cultures and encouraged the Department to take full advantage of the University’s central library and laboratory resources and leverage on them to enhance teaching and learning of Linguistics and Nigerian languages.
He also appreciated the kind gesture of the Department and extolled the giant strides it recorded during the three year tenure of Prof Agbedo as the Head of Department.
Related Posts
Earlier in his speech, the Head of Department, Prof Agbedo informed the Vice Chancellor that they were on the courtesy visit to express their gratitude for a number of positive developments recorded by the Department since the inception of his administration, especially in the key areas of appointments, staff promotion, career development, and full accreditation of the linguistic programme of the Department.
Highlights of the occasion were presentations of gift to the Vice Chancellor by the Department, the award of honour on behalf of the Department to the former Head of Department and current Director, Center for Igbo Studies, Prof Roseline Ijeoma Okorji by the Vice Chancellor.
The event had in attendance, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, Administration, Prof Pat Okpoko, DVC Academic, Prof Johnson Urama, a representative of the university Registrar, Acting university Librarian, Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Omeje, Director of University Press Limited, Prof E S. Ikeokwu.
Others were Supervisor Presidential Lodge, Prof E. E. Mbah, other professors, and senior academics and administrative staff of the university, the university PRO, Dr Okwun, management staff of the university, and staff of the Department of Linguistics, Igbo and Other Nigerian languages, UNN.
