NUC, UNT Train Gerontology Experts The National Universities Commission (NUC), in collaboration with the Dave Omokaro Foundation (DOF), is set to commence the training of relevant academic staff of selected Nigerian Universities in Applied Gerontology, leading to the award of the Specialist in Ageing Certificate of the University of North Texas (UNT) Denton, USA. The Summer II Faculty Training programme, which is scheduled to begin on 8 July, 2013, with registration of students and commencement of lectures, will be declared open by the Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, OON, on 9 July, 2013, at the NUC Secretariat, Abuja. This is the first phase of the 11-month Certificate Programme, meant to develop Faculty for the delivery of Postgraduate programmes of study in Ageing in Nigerian Universities. The selected institutions, each of which had presented two lecturers for admission into the UNT Toulouse Graduate School for the training, are: University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Benin, University of Jos, University of Calabar, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Bayero University, Kano; University of Lagos, University of Uyo, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto and University of Port Harcourt. NUC Visiting Scholar, in charge of Capacity Building Initiatives for the development of Gerontology and Geriatrics for Nigerian Universities, Dr. Emem Omokaro, explained that, the training was the specific component of the Supplemental Agreement I of the MoU signed between UNT and NUC on collaborations for programme and faculty development, staff exchange and research in Applied Gerontology and other fields. According to Dr. Omokaro, Specialist in Ageing Certificate requires 15-semester credit hours in Gerontology, including nine credit hours in core-courses and six elective credit hours in Gerontology. The programme will therefore run for three semesters; Summer, Fall and Spring. A team of five UNT Faculty, led by Dr. Keith Turner, would be in Abuja to teach components of the required courses offered, as part of a blended online course model, where at least 51 percent of the course is offered online. The beauty of the hybrid delivery mode of training which allows for a blend of on-line and -face-to-face modes, Dr. Omokaro explained, is that it checks long term disengagement of the academic staff from their teaching assignments in their various Universities. It is cost effective and also provides the opportunity for face-to-face exchanges of experiences between UNT and Nigerian Universities System faculties in Nigeria during the Summer Semester and in United States of America during the Spring Semester, when the Nigerian academic staff will be invited to UNT as Visiting Scholars to conduct research. The hybrid structure, allows for integrated and richer understanding of global ageing, socioeconomic, health and regulatory systems. Dr. Omokaro affirmed that her desk is working in close collaboration with the Department of Academic Standards, especially the Curriculum Development Division, to cease the opportunity of UNT faculty visit for the Summer Classes to finalise Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) for Postgraduate Programme in Applied Gerontology. The objectives of the Programme are to: • Commence implementation of MoU signed between NUC and UNT for the development of Graduate Programmes, Faculty and Research in Applied Gerontology and other fields; • Train relevant academic staff of Nigerian Universities for the UNT Specialist in Ageing Certificate in Applied Gerontology; • Build sustainable capacity for high quality programmes in ageing and the production of Postgraduates with passion, knowledge, skills and innovative vision for new and globally competitive approaches to policy and service delivery to older persons; • Strengthen linkages and collaboration on ageing research between UNT and Nigerian Universities; • Take advantage of the cohort of selected academic staff to promote research clusters in ageing in Nigeria and • Finalise Benchmark Statements and Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) in Applied Gerontology. The capacity building initiative includes exploring for partnerships with Centres of Excellence, bearing in mind, the peculiarities of Nigeria’s Socio-cultural challenges with regards to ageing and older persons. UNT has an enviable reputation as having the oldest and most community-oriented and integrated programme in Applied Gerontology coupled with its record of productive collaborations with Universities in Developing Countries like Mexico, to develop Ageing Programmes. The Programme content with a unique inter-loop of theory, research and community services is to be very strong. Its policy formulation, needs assessment, programme design and evaluation, development of regulatory strategies as well as health and Social Security systems are fundamental requirements for Nigeria. On how the UNT was chosen, Dr. Omokaro said since Gerontology and Geriatrics as a standalone field is a relatively new area in the country, “we needed to take advantage of international synergies and partnerships with reputable institutions which have been in Gerontology and Geriatrics, with their own Centres of Excellence. We also looked for programmes that could fit into our own peculiar challenges and UNT stood out, because it is strong in policy development, programme design, needs assessment, among others.” Dr. Omokaro commended the Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Julius A. Okojie, for being so passionate about the development of ageing studies. According to the Visiting Scholar, the MoU signed between NUC and DOF had resulted into tangible results with the inclusion of relevant stakeholders. She said, “There are many MDAs with mandates on pursuit of sustainable development, translated to quality of life for all Nigerians. Unfortunately the operational programs for the realisation of these mandates, mostly exclude the perspective of older persons.” She added that the traditional paradigm of care for older persons as sole concern of the family is gross misconception. Population ageing and provision of medical and social services to this category is also a development agenda. Policies and actions she said are to be well informed and well guided. Everybody would want to be active, healthy, secure, dignified and included in social circles at old age. The global momentum on ageing is a call on nations to pay attention to demographic shifts and prepare to turn challenges into opportunities. NUC has signalled that human capital development is pivotal in this venture. Dr. Omokaro concluded that “the template of NUC/ DOF Public Private Partnership, in developing ageing studies is innovative and the Foundation appreciates the platform extended by the Management of NUC to be part of history.”
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 20:13:07 +0000
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