National policy on education should be reviewed -- Professor Adedoja

A seasoned educationist and former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the Federal University, Dutse (FUD),  Jigawa State. In this interview with DOYIN ADEOYE, he shares the achievements of the institution, its prospect, and the challenges facing the education sector in Nigeria, among other issues. Excerpts:
How has it been since your appointment at the Federal University, Dutse?
I consider it a major responsibility to be one of those who would champion the cause of educational development in Nigeria, particularly in university education. I also consider myself to play a key role because of my background and experience, and also because I always find myself highly challenged if given any public responsibility. I have never failed in the past and with this assignment, I want to be seen as one who would champion the cause of good governance in higher education.
For me to be at FUD, I see it as a familiar terrain because it is quite easy for me to relate with the environment in which the university is situated. It has also been worthwhile because I met on ground a very visionary Vice Chancellor, Professor Jibril Dahiru Aminu, who was the VC at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), where I started as a lecturer. I also met a very committed Registrar of the university with whom we worked together at the Bayero University, Kano. Also, the Emir of Dutse, Dr Muhammed Sanusi, happens to be a friend and my senior while at Kano’s Teachers College. The environment is really conducive for me and more so, Jigawa is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

I have fun when I talk to presidents —Zuriel Oduwole

Zuriel Oduwole is an achiever compared to many children her age. At 12, she has interviewed 15 heads of state and she has four films to her credit. The Global Ambassador for the Ethiopian Airlines shares, in this interview with DOYIN ADEOYE, her passion, inspirations, projects, among other things. Excerpts:
 What exactly drives you?

I really don’t know, but I know that I have the opportunity to do something and I am doing it. I see young children, especially girls, on the news, or whenever I travel across Africa, to countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Egypt, on streets hawking and I think that they should be in school just like me. So, I’m doing what I can to tell older people to do something about this, because I can’t do it all by myself. I’m only 12.
What did you have in mind when you started your advocacy?
I was nine years old and even though we were born in Los Angeles, my parents who are from Nigeria and Mauritius, always tell us about our African heritage and who we are; the kind of history our continent has.
So, I knew that I had to tell my friends and other people at every opportunity, about the African continent, especially the positive things there, because usually on the foreign news, they show only the negative things in Africa, like wars, corruption, famine and disease, but Africa is much more than that.