A Professor of Education Technology at the University of Ilorin, Mudathir Olalere Yusuf, and Dr. Tunde Oke of the Nasarawa State University, Lafia, have counseled young academics and Ph.D. students to reach for their utmost potential by complementing their talents with soft skills, noting that talent alone is never enough.
The duo spoke last Monday (January 6, 2025) at the commencement of a three-day Workshop organised by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) in collaboration with the Centre for Research Development and In-House Training (CREDIT), University of Ilorin, themed “Strategic Networking for Researchers: Building Connections and Maximising Productivity.”
In his presentation, titled “Strategic Networking for Researchers: Combining Networking and Time Management for Career Success”, Prof. Yusuf, who is the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Education, noted that an academic has to engage colleagues in networking, and urged participants to keep in touch with their old and foreign classmates, noting that collaborative research is better rated than solo research in addition to the fact that collaboration could also give research a wider reach.
While emphasising the importance of mentorship in academic practice, Prof. Yusuf, who is also a former Director of Computer Services and Information Technology COMSIT, University of Ilorin, pointed out that no level of brilliance can replace experience.
In his own presentation, titled “Time Mastery for Productive Research Career”, Dr. Tunde Oke, of the Nasarawa State University, Lafia, noted that time is not infinite and so it is precious. He, therefore, urged participants to keep track of how their time is spent.
Dr Oke said that it is important for the young scholars to identify their most productive time of the day and ensure that they make the best of their most productive time so that they do not become what he referred to as “professional Ph. D. students”.
While declaring the workshop open earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, congratulated the organisers, noting that the training justifies the University’s payment of six thousand pounds membership due of the Association of Commonwealth University (ACU ).
The Vice Chancellor also congratulated Dr. Mulikat Mustapha of the Department of Education Guidance and Counselling, for winning an ACU grant and for facilitating the training.
He then urged the participants to take a cue from her by winning more grants and replicating such training.
On his part, the Director of the Centre for Research Development and In-House Training (CREDIT), Prof. Abdulkareem Oloyede, appreciated the Vice Chancellor for his unflinching dedication to staff training, noting that the Vision 1: 10: 500 of the Egbewole Administration is within reach as far as research is concerned in the University.
Prof. Oloyede, who was represented by the Facilitator of the workshop, Dr Mulikat Mustapha, observed that the leadership of Prof. Egbewole has continued to inspire groundbreaking initiatives.
She also appreciated Prof. Yusuf and Dr Oke for availing young scholars with their wealth of experience.
The Ambassador of the ACU at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Yahya Oyewole Imam, who is also the Director of the Centre for Affiliated Institutions, urged the participants to maximise the opportunities at their disposal to become Commonwealth Scholars.
The event was attended by other Principal Officers of the University and the Director of the Centre for International Education (CIE), Prof. Ibrahim Onireti. and the Coordinator of the Organising Committee of the Workshop, Prof. Nafisat Adedokun-Shittu.
