Unizik History and International Studies HoD, Dr. Chuka Enuka sets new record, trains new staff

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu

Encomiums poured in yesterday for the Head of Department of History and International Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Unizik for mobilizing resource persons to speak to the new Lecturers in his department on expectations from them on work ethics , mentorship and best practices.

The encomiums came from different Professors in the faculty of Arts and beyond including Dean Faculty of Arts, Rev. Fr Prof BonaChristus Umeogu;
former Dean of Faculty of Arts, Prof Alex Chinwuba Asigbo, and Dean Students Affairs,Prof. Chinonso Achebe among others who said Dr Enuka’s training session was unprecedented in the history of Unizik as the new lecturers have been exposed to the demands of their vocation.

Some testimonies from speakers at the event showed that new lectures were not brought together for training on the expectations from them as they blindly learn in the process.

www.odogwublog.com reports that the speaking session aimed at improving productivity on part of the students and Lecturers alike will reduce redundancy and boredom in service delivery for Unizik’s growth and development in line with Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone’s vision 200.

Thus, improved hardwork and self development were the key take home from a workshop organized by the department of History and International Studies of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka geared towards enhancing the skills and productivity of new lecturers in the department.

The event drew creme de la cremes of the department and beyond, including Professors and seasoned scholars who mentored new lecturers deployed to the department through the rigorous steps of attaining high productivity in their careers in the institution.

www.odogwublog.com reports that the event was an initiative of the Head of the History and International Studies, Dr. Chuka Enuka, clearly in line with the vision of the Unizik Vice Chancellor, Prof Charles Esimone to deliver qualitative teaching and learning in the institution.

Declaring the workshop open, the Head of the Department, Dr Chuka Enuka said the workshop is aimed at positioning the new staff to grow professionally and to serve the university expectedly, stressing that the department is concerned about the level of noticeable ignorance of the newly employed lecturers on a number of very crucial issues

He said the essence of the workshop was to retrain and equip the lecturers with the requisite knowledge to succeed in the job adding that the knowledge obtained from the workshop will be a guide to what they face in their lecturing career in the institution as well as a source of motivation in their job.

Prof Ify Emejulu in her lecture titled ‘ Preparation of Marking Scheme and Marking Guide,’ said good marking scheme provides equal playing ground for students. She urged the lecturers to build course outlines leading to course contents, adding that the new lecturers must be versatile to cope with the demands of the classroom performance.

While Prof Emejulu urged them to embrace hard work, she said the job is not about salary but a vocation. “It is not something you trivialize but demands devotion.”
She took the lecturers to the steps of making a good marking scheme and reeled out the importance of good marking scheme warning the new lecturers to be mindful in handling student’s scripts.

Meanwhile, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Chinonso Achebe in his lecture on “overcoming obstacles in Academics development,” blamed lack of qualitative academic publication as impediment that hinders lecturers from academic growth.

He urged the new lectures to shun wrong priorities and abstain from prioritizing financial benefits and quests for cheap popularity, adding that the pursuance of money hinders lecturers from developing academically. He urged them to devote their time and resources in carrying out qualitative research that will aid their growth.

He also reminded them that weak background is never a barrier in academic development but maintained that the panacea to weak academic background is ‘self development’ urging the young lecturers to either utilize their youthful age for development of themselves or risk experiencing redundancy.

Prof Chinonso blamed poor self motivation, absence of mentorship as the reasons lecturers stall in their academic development calling on them to be wary about gifts from students.

Also speaking, Barr Sam Okeke urged the new lecturers not to overlook local journals even as he advised researchers to endeavor searching for local topics that could make international relevance.

Also contributing, Prof Greg Obiamalu noted that one of the ways to improve in the job is by networking and attendance to conferences. He urged the new lecturers to “come out and develop sound interaction” with colleagues saying conferences will avail lecturers opportunity to associate and showcases their qualities.

Additionally, Prof Charles Nwadigwe while extolling the department led by Dr. Enuka said the workshop will provide lecturers with opportunity to interact with senior colleagues. He urged them to engage in collaborative output to enhance their chances of growth while also introducing different types of grants and urged them to be patriotic to their calling.

In his remarks, Former Dean of Faculty of Arts, Prof Alex Chinwuba Asigbo, urged them to work hard as nobody will promote them without hardwork. He said promotion cannot come from being liked by the students but by hard work and qualitative research.

While he described lectureship as an exciting vocation, he opined that teaching, research and community services should form the tripod of every lecturer who wants to excel in the academic field stressing that time is right for lecturers to build their careers for according to him, a time will come when they will hardly have time for themselves.

In a goodwill mesaage, Prof Maduabuchi Dukor encouraged lecturers to indulge and exhibit their level of productivity, creative spark as well as get to level of visibility through collaborative research.

Earlier, Dean faculty of Arts Rev. Prof BonaChristus Umeogu who extolled the Head of the History department, Dr Enuka for the initiative, said the event was an opportunity for new staff to tap from the wealth of knowledge from the older staff in the faculty and the University in general.

Prof Umeogu who was represented by Dr. Kanayo Nwadialor said that mass employment in the university has led to claims that many employed lecturers are not classroom materials but argues that the event provides avenue for new lecturers to build solid foundations for their career.

At the event, Reverend Kingsley Chukwukamma led in the opening prayer while Dr Nwachukwu Obiakor delivered a vote of thanks to the attendees on behalf of the department. Former University Director information and Public Relations, Dr Emma Ojukwu among others attended the workshop.