Social problems: Don advocates shift in attitude, value reorientation

A professor of Social Studies Education, Omare Otote, has called for a shift in attitude and reorientation of values among Nigerians to foster problem-solving and contribute to a more prosperous and promising nation.

Otote made the appeal while delivering the 105th inaugural lecture of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo.

According to reports, the lecture was titled “Repositioning Affective Learning For Core Mandate Of Social Studies Education in Nigeria: Back To Basics”.

According to her, the Nigerian society is bedeviled by a myriad of problems, including social, ethnic, political, religious and economic.

Otote, who is the University’s first professor of Social Studies Education and the first female inaugural lecturer from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, said social studies encouraged a positive attitude towards problem-solving.

This, she said, was because the discipline believed social problems must come either society wants it or not.

“No one is relevant except by making a positive contribution to one’s environment, thus the advocacy for a synergy between the gown and the town,” she said.

The don, who provided possible solutions to prevailing social challenges in Nigeria, specifically explained how affective learning could be repositioned to achieve the core mandate of social studies education in Nigeria.

Otote recommended value reorientation among Nigerian youths to ensure a better future for the country.

She noted that the prevailing lavish lifestyle of Nigerian youths had made it so difficult for them to settle for a dignified vocation.

“Six months of revenue after basic expenses may not be enough to purchase a desired ‘iPhone’ as everyone appears to be in a hurry,” said the lecturer.

Earlier, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Asomwan Adagbonyin, said the inaugural lecture was a well-thought-out academic work that dealt with the realities in our nation today.

Adagbonyin, who was represented by his deputy in-charge of Administration, Prof. Theo Agweda, said the management was prepared to support both staff and students to excel in their chosen paths.

“The recent awards in technology received by our University as ‘Best in Use of Social Media among State Universities’, ‘Best University Portal of the Year’, and Excellence in Technology Deployment State University at the 9th Edition of Nigeria Technology Awards’, attested to the continued pursuit of excellence by the university.