COVID-19 presents opportunities for Nigeria Universities — University Don
A University Don of the Department of Oral and Maxilogical Surgery University of Maiduguri, Prof. Hector Oladapo has called on the medical academic in the county to see the present COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity rather than threat to curriculum delivery in the university academic system.
The Don made this call at the Lagos State University College of Medicine 3rd Faculty of Dentistry Biennial Lecture with the theme “Impact of COVID-19 on Quality Standards & Curriculum Delivery of Dental Education” held recently in Lagos.
According to him, the present pandemic situation has afforded University authorities a wider variety of channels for teaching and learning, especially in the form of blended learning which is the future of curriculum delivery in dental education, he said.
He affirmed that due to changes brought by COVID-19 pandemic, universities in the country would need to devote more time, effort and budget to academic development activities which would focus on teachers, research, administrative staff and students to master new technology in teaching and learning.
He said to remain relevant, higher institutions would need to reinvent their learning environment by including flexible approaches to students admission, registration, learning, progression and graduation stressing that innovation and dynamic initiatives would be required to manage challenges highlighted by COVID-19 pandemic.
“Teachers in the dental education have to consider and adopt ways to think about teaching and learning and their relationships with students. Learning offers new approaches to realise our mutual goal of preparing learners effectively for practice in the 21st century,” he noted.
In his remarks at the event, the Ag Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine Prof Abiodun Adewuya, who was represented by the Dean Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Prof. Bolaji Oludara highlighted some of the efforts of the College in steaming the spread of the virus to include the production of hand sanitizers by the College technologists, Covid-19 test by the College Molecular laboratory and various Covid-19 related researches being embarked on by some of the College academic staff
He expressed appreciation to the Faculty of Dentistry for their contribution in the development of science.
He noted that in the midst of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the entire world, which has left its effect on the education sector, a better topic could not have been chosen.
He thanked the State Government for its continuous support for the College.
