For decades, the Faculty of Education at OAU has been regarded as the “Mother of All,” with thousands of successful alumni spread across the globe. A mother she had been, but now?
Considering the state of the “Mother,” should we say she doesn’t tend to be a mother? Or lacks the quality required of a mother? Shouldn’t the “Mother of All” be foregrounded among others? Shouldn’t her style be unique and pedagogical to others?
Perhaps her style is to clog hundreds of hungry and thirsty babies in a tight space and feed them from her saggy bosoms. Maybe her uniqueness is in “the act of instructing,” not in “the act of practising.”.
The “Mother of All” has given birth to a generation of students adept at dodging broken bannisters and leaky restrooms, purging the faculty floors with their vetiver scents. In a faculty that prides itself on pedagogy, it is ironic that most pressing lessons seem to be on “how to make do with limited resources.”
In a conversation with Oyindamola, a part four student of the faculty of education, she made her grievances known. “Faculty of education is not in a good condition at all because it cannot be the mother of all faculties. Firstly, the Faculty of Education needs to stand their ground because other faculty don’t rate us at all. And probably change the paint and fix where there are loopholes around. The broken banister is a threat not only to the students but also to the lecturers. They should try and fix it and not wait until one of us is hurt.”
Ire, a part two education student shared, “The faculty doesn’t look good like other faculty. First, the water around the toilet…that shouldn’t be..it makes it smelly and disorganized. Also, the paintings are faded, and the faculty looks old, unlike others.”
The library, a conducive and comfortable abode for learners is slowly turning into a luxurious spa, complete with sneaky, leaky faucets. Mother has lost her glow, her hands can no longer hold; It has broken in places. How will she have us in a warm embrace if her hand can no longer stand strong?
In addition, , lost louvers, leaking restrooms, broken bannisters, and sinkholes have reshaped the identity of this faculty. The deteriorating state of this faculty might, in the long run, reduce her reputation or lead to decreased student satisfaction if not checked.
In an interview with the faculty’s President, Adelakun Damilola, he noted, “The truth is that we are planning to do all these with the management, but finance is impeding us greatly. About the toilet leakage, the ESAN executives are even writing to philanthropists to help with the renovation.”
“Also, about the painting, it is a concluded deal already, and possibly the work will commence this week. We are trying to make necessary adjustments to the dilapidated segment before we paint the building. A temporary solution will be done on the toilets before the permanent one. Trust us, your welfare and esteem are our utmost concerns.”
Olubunmi, another student, added, “Honestly, I think the general state of the Faculty of Education could be way better. The building really needs renovation it should be repainted and made more vibrant. We also need more seats and tables for students to sit, read, or just hang around comfortably. Right now, the environment doesn’t really invite students to stay. A lot of people would rather be in the Faculty of Administration because the atmosphere there just feels better.
But to be fair, I think the executives in the Faculty of Education are doing a great job with the little they have. You can tell they’re trying. Still, there’s so much more that can be done. One thing I feel would help is organizing more student-focused events that help us get to know the executives better and feel more connected to the faculty. Even if many students don’t show up, I believe the few who do will gain something. More fun, more engagement, and more people proudly repping EDUCATION. You know the vibe.”
“If we want to restore the faculty’s former glory, then the space itself should inspire learning and belonging. Education should be leading by example as it is not a small feat to be the Mother of all Faculties. And yes, I definitely think the broken banisters on the second floor of the faculty are a big threat to students. It’s honestly dangerous. Imagine if someone is in a rush or just not paying attention and leans on it, it could lead to a really bad accident. Things like that shouldn’t be ignored.
We can’t be in an academic space worrying about basic safety. It’s not just about the look of the faculty anymore, it’s about protecting lives. That should be a top priority, not something we leave until something bad happens.”
These problems affecting the faculty are not merely physical, but a symbol of deeper problems affecting the very foundation of education. It is time for stakeholders to restore the glory of this faculty.
“The facelift of our faculty infrastructure is paramount to both the faculty management and ESAN executives. We are trying our best but you know funds are needed to do all of these. We trust God that our unseen efforts will be crowned and we will have tangible success to show for it soon.
About the topmost rear staircase, it has been something of an emergency, and many letters and reminders have been sent to the school Management on that and many other needs of the faculty, but no response so far.” The President added.
Don’t mind the management, they’re the cause of it all.