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ICMCS institutes award for science teachers

Published: 4th May 2008 at 08:53:21 PM

From this year,  teachers of Science and Technology in Nigerian universities will have  their best efforts rewarded by their peers as the International Centre  for Mathematical & Computer Sciences (ICMCS), Lagos launches the  Ford Foundation Teaching Innovation Awards Programme (FF-TIAP).

The award, as its name implies, is being  sponsored by the Ford Foundation office for West Africa, with the ICMCS  coordinating the process leading to the awards. It would be the first  time that a competition of this kind is being organised in the Nigerian  higher education sector.

The award, according to the project  Co-ordinator, Prof. G O S Ekhaguere, seeks "to recognise individuals  who are making outstanding contributions to the quality of student  learning and the quality of the student experience of higher education  in Science and Technology at Nigerian universities, and to provide a  forum for such persons to disseminate their innovation to the entire  Nigerian higher education system."

The Awards Committee defines teaching broadly,  to include superior performance in classroom teaching; innovation and  creativity in course design and delivery; and commitment to the  advising and mentoring of students and peers.

Twenty Nigerian universities are eligible to  participate in the award process. These include the Obafemi Awolowo  University, Ile Ife; the University of Lagos; Ladoke Akintola  University of Science and Technology, Ogbomoso and the Covenant  University, Ota.

Others are the Federal University of  Technology, Owerri; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Enugu State  University of Science and Technology, Enugu; Madonna University, Okija;  University of Benin; the University of Calabar and the Rivers State  University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

Also on the list are the Federal University of  Technology, Yola; the University of Maiduguri; Abubakar Tafewa Balewa  University, Bauchi; Katsina State University; Ahmadu Bello University,  Zaria; Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto; Benue State University,  Makurdi, University of Abuja and Federal University of Technology,  Minna.

To be eligible for nomination, a person must  have been employed in a full-time teaching position at any of the  listed institutions for at least three years; have attained the rank of  senior lecturer; and belong to either the Faculty of Science or the  Faculty of Technology/Engineering.

Each of the eligible institutions could then  submit the names of two nominees to the National Selection Committee  (NSC) - comprising one nomination from the Faculty of Science and one  nomination from the Faculty of Technology/Engineering.

The National Selection Committee (NSC) is  headed by Prof. Emeritus Ayo Banjo as chair. Others on the committee  are Dr Reuben Abati; Dr Eugenia Abu; Prof. Dan Ado-Isa; Dr Babatunde  Ahonsi; Prof. Naomi James-Rugu; Dr Tony Marinho; Prof. Peter Okebukola;  Prof. Anthony Osagie and Prof. Bobboi Umar.

Since the process seeks to strengthen efforts  by Nigerian universities to produce graduates who enter the global  marketplace with the right mix of critical thinking skills,  technological knowledge, and a self-reliant approach to acquiring new  knowledge, FF-TIAP award winners are expected to "share, present and  promote good practice within their own and other institutions in the  country. This may take the form of, for example, speaking at workshops,  seminars, and symposia; delivering lectures to fellow academics;  granting videotaped interviews; or acting as a source of support or  advice for others involved in pedagogical development activities."

A FF-TIAP award winner will receive a trophy,  in the form of a plaque, with the inscription: "The Ford Foundation  Award for Teaching Innovation/Year/Recipient's Name", as well as a  grant.

"The awards are granted on the condition that  they will be spent on activities and/or initiatives designed to enhance  the recipient's teaching career and promote best practice," the  brochure says.

Source: The Guardian Newspaper (Thursday, April 24, 2008)