Vibrant Students support services is Paramount for STABLE ACADEMIC CALENDER IN Nigeria campuses - TFK

No Comments


*Can we meet you?

I am Titilayo Femi Kings (TFK), a Student Information Officer at Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and an internationally certified Student Affairs Professional. Titilayo Femi Kings is happily married with two great kids. He is the President of Titilayo World Outreach; Lead Facilitator, L.E.A.D Initiative; and Associate Partner, Peace Building Development Foundation. He is also the author of the fast selling book Parental Breakthrough.



*Congrats! It's your Birthday. We understand that you are dedicating it to FUTA management and the past Union Leaders of FUTA in a bid to advocate for stable Academic Calendar in Nigeria and better Student Support Services. What exactly is your burden?

Well, today I can say that my mess has become a message I can preach with enthusiasm. In 1997, I was one of the student leaders in Yaba College of Technology, I was involved in various destructive acts of 'unionism' popularly called "ALUTA" which involved rioting and what have you. I did all these in the name of fighting for students' rights. I remember spending the night at Ilupeju police station on my birthday just because a petrol attendant mistakenly poured petrol on a student's face while trying to insert the nozzle into a car tank. The student slapped the attendant and he returned the slap because, according to him, he had already apologized and there was no reason for the slap. The said student ran to the school to inform the "Aluta Forces", on campus, and I was just leaving Hollywood (the name of one of the students' hostels) to get M.E.E. Sheets (a course sheet that involved drawing) in Bakassi Hall (another hostel), when I heard the ALUTA parade noise. Two buses were soon packed full with student activists and we rushed down to Ilupeju under the command of AROLEKE our Welfare Director to avenge our comrade. Unfortunately for us, as we set about locking down the petrol station and destroying things, we were rounded up by MOPOLs (Military Police Officers). 

Some escaped but I was among the unlucky ones. Oh, what a night that was! My birthday night was spent in the police custody. 
Another incident was when we fought against increment of school fees which led to closing down off the school., , because the Rector was taken hostage and carted away in a wheel barrow, properties were destroyed while we chanted "SOLIDARITY FOR EVER". This Aluta struggle was led by a promising young man, with an impeccable diction and great oratory power. He was fondly called OBESERE. This happened in the 90's, but I was shocked to see the same OBESERE on FUTA campus in 2012 while we were managing the aggrieved and raging FUTA students who had just lost their darling Students' Union President, DAPO AWOPEGBA D.P.O., in a ghastly motor accident. They needed to show solidarity and also demand that the Federal and state governments show some concern. 

We advised that it can be peaceful and I am proud to tell you that the students had the protest and it was very peaceful, and though some hoodlums wanted to hijack and make it destructive, FUTA-trained Students Leaders stood their ground and insisted on a peaceful solidarity march. 
How can I forget the M.K.O. ABIOLA's death saga which claimed students' lives, including that of my friend and brother, a 300 level student of University of Lagos? I saw him lying lifelessly in a pool of his own blood, but my ALUTA willpower could not bring him back. I fought riots, slept in a cell, participated in more than a fair share of ALUTAs, because we thought that was the way out to solve problems, but it didn't work out well. Most times we still had to come back to the dialogue table, after paying for damages and wasting endless months at home. 

It pains my heart to see institutions close down because of student unrest. I spent over 4 years doing a 2-year course (Industrial Maintenance Engineering) at Yabatech. Looking back now, I regret most of these actions and have critically analyzed this situation which is still rampant in our tertiary institution till the time of this interview – Lagos state university, Obafemi awolowo university , Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo University of Porthacourt students are all at home due to students' unrest.


Having researched for 17 years (1997 - 2014) which started from my cell room in Ilupeju Police station, I have some sectors to blame, some critical recommendations to make, as well as a product to offer. Parents, Government policies, Students' Union leaders, School managements, and most importantly, all Students' Affairs Division of all higher institutions.


Yes, my birthday is here again, and I thank God for the opportunity I have to correct my wrongs on campus (Yabatech) in another campus (FUTA). I have therefore decided to dedicate it to the persons God used to make it possible and tell other institutions that stable academic calendar and peaceful coexistence with students is possible. In fact, they can be partners in progress if certain things can be put in place some of which I will list here.


Today's Parents seek Financial, Career, Academic breakthrough at the expense of their children (our students), but many end up getting PARENTAL BREAKDOWN which is characterized by the social vices students perpetrate all around the campus. I have lots of story to tell because the story of my life is one of such coupled with my experience as a Students' Affairs staff. Many parents are to be blamed for what is happening in Nigerian campuses as a result of their negligence at the home front (get my book parental breakthrough for more details). 

More so, government policies and funding are not favourable which is what is giving the management of higher institutions of learning really tough time with their students, because students of today deserve and are demanding the kind of welfare package their fathers and uncles enjoyed which seems unobtainable. And management of the various schools have not been able communicate these in the right way to their student leaders; some have not been making good use of the resources available, while others are not conscious of the importance of students welfare. 



Greatest Nigerian student leaders! This is the voice of Comrade Titilayo Femi Kings, aka tfk. IT'S HIGH TIME WE FACE REALITY AND STOP CHASING SHADOWS. Make your requests known within the confines of what you know that is available and what you can generate for yourself. Your style of approach and request must change, if you can learn this you will always achieve your aim and even get more than what you request for. (My visit to the SUGs of Greenwich University, University of East London, Capetown University of Technology South Africa,etc. proved this to me. I call it the P.I.P strategy. (Partners in progress)


Lastly, the STUDENTS' AFFAIRS DIVISIONS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS should be STRATEGICALLY STRENGHTENED AND REPOSITIONED TO MEET GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES AND ALSO SATISFY THE IN-LOCO PARENTIS NEEDS OF 21ST CENTURY NIGERIAN STUDENTS. We need to be proactive in finding solutions rather than wait for all these problems to come before we respond. Managements need to invest hugely in their Students' Affairs Division and student leaders if they wish to attain the much desired stable academic calendar.


I was opportuned to be admitted back to school, FUTA, in 2003 with the mindset to start all over again, right my wrongs and create a new style of student unionism. Since 2007-till date, FUTA managements had at its helms of affairs the right men who created the right atmosphere for my vision to be realized by , Prof. A.M Balogun, former VC, Futa 2007-2012, and our present Amiable Vice Chancellor Prof Biyi Gregory Daramola 2012- till date. STRATEGICALLY STRENGHTENED their students support services TO MEET GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES AND ALSO SATISFY THE IN-LOCO PARENTIS NEEDS OF their students. 

This is a prototype of what a 21st Century VC should look like. The Former and present Dean of Students' Affairs, Prof. E.A. Fasakin (now Deputy VC Acad.) and Dr. B.K. Alese (Ag. Dean Students Affairs, have imprinted their feet in the sands of time as regards student affairs management in FUTA. This new innovation has helped in Building Good character formation ,Peace on campus ,Stable academic calendar ,Better web metric ranking ,Quick information retrieval Partnership in progress, Mental and emotionally stable students, where our students now embrace what they call "INTELLECTUAL ALUTA (constructive dialogue and negotiation with facts and figures) in place of the "DESTRUCTIVE ALUTA" in resolving issues within themselves and with managements . 

It is a thing of joy to see students who did not make first class or second class upper credits win the prestigious Student Leadership Award and Branding FUTA Award. Such students also go ahead to launch their business start-ups immediately during and after school according to the counsel they received in school thus disregarding the labor market. Students who have approached our office in a confused state because of the conflict between their academic pursuit and their passion have been able to strike a balance; many of them are great innovators today, and many more are still incubating.


Futa Managements made sure students served in every committee. They internationalized student leaders and Students' Affairs staff gave awards to deserving student leaders and staff. 

All these and more changed the atmosphere in FUTA and coincidentally, Prof Balogun and I are birthday mates. Sir, I specially dedicate this year's birthday to say a big thank you to you and Futa managements since 2007 till date. And also to the student leaders of FUTA who have kept this record Reevo-2007,Hollubantee-2008,x-Ray-2009,Delove-2010,Sama-2011,Dpo/Mercygold-2012,Seeker-2013,Daniel-2014- till date – 7 years and still counting yet no students unrest in FUTA. 

There have been issues but the management's strategy is still intact and working perfectly. Kudos to the present Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Prof Biyi Daramola who have now upgraded the vision. He has increased the number of students and Students' Affairs staff being trained both locally and internationally, and service delivery is now the watchword in Futa


*Your wife is also in on this. What is the passion all about? 
The Good Book emphasized on a wife being a "help meet". 


Marriage is simply having a purposeful team mate who is forever committed to the vision of life that you both see. She was the Vice Presidents of the Students' Union while I was the proprietor of Kingsrealm Chambers under the aegis of FUTASU Bar Association, we were dating at this time. We both won the prestigious Student Leadership Awards, which every FUTA student leader looks forward to and works hard to receive. This award has created a healthy rivalry on our campus; every student leader wants to solve a problem that he or she will be remembered for. Today, we are both graduates of FUTA and members of staff in the same school. 


*While FUTA is enjoying peace, what do you think other schools can do to enjoy same?

The secret of champions is in their stories. Other schools should come to FUTA to learn its strategies and structures, especially the Students' Affairs Division, which is the office that works directly with the Union leaders.


All tertiary institutions should reposition the Students' Affairs Division to meet up with the in-loco parentis needs of their students.


One of the challenges of higher institution in Nigeria is information gap. The students are not being carried along in the decision making process; they don't have a sense of belonging hence they lack a sense of responsibility.
Students should be allowed to be members of boards and committees. It's no longer the days of virtual VCs and Deans. 

The students want to identify with the Vc, Rectors, Provost, Deans, Hod etc, see you, mingle with you and relate with you. Student matters should be taken seriously, and given top priority. In addition, they should get mutual respect and involved in decision making on campus.



*As an internationally certified Students' Affairs Professional, what are your expectations for a vibrant Students' Affairs Division?.

The student management should become proactive rather than being intervention conscious, thus should manifest as the following: 
Student friendly dean
Efficient registry
Customer service minded administrators to handle specific schedules that concern students
Proactive Guidance and Counseling unit 
Strategic Student Information Centre to ensure quick and responsive information flow, ‎Team work‎, Regular briefing.


These structural modifications would in turn facilitate the following changes:
Meeting felt needs of the students
Students getting home away from home ambience in school.
Students' talents will be discovered, developed and displayed.
Students' enterprises will be patronized by the school management.
Information will be circulated with ease.
Students will get regular motivation and mentorship.



*Student Information Center, this is new in the Nigeria educational system. Tell us more about this.



Working under a proactive dean like I have
Strategic end users of online registration and biometric ID card data 
One stop office for all student information
Student friendly staff
Strategic involvement during orientation of new students
Top-notch information management
Coordinating of all religious and social groups functions, which guarantee a well-coordinated and purposeful social re-engineering process.
All these and more help support the academic, social, and enterprise life of students. SIC motivate and mentor to students as well.




*Any last words?

I want to sincerely appreciate the Director General of National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, and his directors for the campus focus vision with an objective to create a stable academic calendar in Nigerian higher institution. All the following organizations which I have trained with are willing to train staff and student leaders to meet international standards Worldview International UK, Nigerian students in united kingdom, Peace Building Development Foundation South Africa , Reengage Nations Leadership Centre, Greenwich SU, University of east London students union .I know PBDF is presently in partnership with NOA and they are working out something special for Nigerian tertiary institutions.



Titilayo Femi Kings , 07034489898 kingsrealm7@yahoo.com , fatitilayo@futa.edu.ng,www.tfkonline.net , HYPERLINK "http://www.parentalbreakthrough.com"www.parentalbreakthrough.com, @tfkspeaks
2A3E6FD1.


Thank you for your time; happy birthday sir.

Powered by Blogger.
back to top