Q: What is your take on government paying WAEC fees for secondary school students?
A: Looking at the Nigerian population, especially from the rural areas, I believe that many parents can’t afford the fee. For now, I suggest that the government shouldn’t pay less than 75 percent of the fee. Apart from that, government should provide infrastructure in the schools, provide necessary books for students, make learning environment to be conducive and be committed to teachers’ welfare without undermining training and re-training.

Q: What is your expectation from the President Muhammed Buhari-led administration?
A: A well-educated and enlightened society is a successful society. I will expect this administration to focus on rural education, education for women, education for the physically challenged, and education for the youths in the various levels. I am quite excited to know that the government will be feeding the students in school. That is a good development. How it can be sustained is another issue entirely. The content of education and infrastructure should be looked into.

Q: Considering the endemic nature of corruption in Nigeria, do you think corruption can be eliminated in this country?
A: I strongly believe that together we can fight corruption. I believe if the current action against corruption is sustained, corruption can be brought to the barest minimal. Total elimination is our goal. For total eradication, we need to train and change orientation of people. This requires lots of training, persuasion, information dissemination and making known to the public the consequences and punishment that await corrupt people. Corrupt people should be punished for dipping their hands into public fund. The punishment should commiserate with the level of corruption discovered.

Q: What is your perspective on how to resolve the insurgency and militancy problems in Nigeria?
A: Insurgency or militancy is not a good practice and it must stop. Those in it, I call for their rehabilitation, and integration into the society. They should not be rejected. They should be rehabilitated through education, entrepreneurship and provision of basic needs of life. Above all, leaders should lead well.

Q: Why do you advocate for the inclusion of entrepreneurship in the school curriculum?
A: We should stop being bookish. I believe the curriculum should be conscious of the peculiar needs of our society. It should be done in a situation that after graduation, you don’t need to be looking for the job that is not there; rather, be an employer of labour yourself.

Q: Are our universities producing for the corporate world?
A: They are trying their best but there is always a room for improvement. One thing I don’t like is the fact that space is not enough for university aspiring students and that is why I will advise those seeking admission to look at the direction of distance learning.

Q: How do you feel about UIDLC?
A: For me it is the best in Nigeria. It is improving on a daily basis. What is key is to maintain high standard so that an average student will be convinced that the quality of regular students and that of the DLC is the same. To do that, there is a need for great professionalism. Materials must be made available to students. The system must be well controlled. The fundamental issue is to ensure quality and to ensure that all that are required is sent to the students and students are constantly supervised.

Q: There is a controversy about the recognition of the law course of distance learning programme by Nigeria Law School. What is your take on this?
A: Apparently, there is a claim that there is a gap between Open University and Law School. The best way to resolve this is to go through dialogue. Let the Law School take a look at the curriculum of Open Distance Learning. Where the Law School feels there is a deficiency, let it be pointed out for improvement. Law school must appreciate various ways of learning and that learning doesn’t take place alone in the classroom. I have known people that have studied law from the London School of Economics. I therefore call on the Law School to have a dialogue with the Open University with a view to resolving what problem that is stopping them from admitting students who pass through distance learning for further legal studies and accredit the law course of open distance learning so that the students will not be left hanging without clear future.

Dr. Umar Musa Mustapha:
“A well-educated and enlightened society is a successful society. I will expect this administration to focus on rural education, education for women, education for the physically challenged, and education for the youths in the various levels. I am quite excited to know that the government will be feeding the students in school. That is a good development. How it can be sustained is another issue entirely. The content of education and infrastructure should be looked into.”

Q: Things are changing. What do you feel about the erosion of our cultures?
A: A number of reasons are responsible for this. First, training in the early stage of our children; two, society influence; three, globalization in terms of what people watch today, internet accessibility that its content is uncontrolled. Parents must be concerned about their children, know what they do and watch on TV and the internet. Elders and parents must dress well. We parents must set standard, we must not show an ‘I don’t care’ attitude.

Q: What kept you going back to school for different Masters and PhD programmes?
A: I keep acquiring new knowledge, which is to me a basis for success. If you look at my work background, I am working in diverse fields and I want to be recognised where I am. I believe in having total knowledge of what I am doing. That is the motivating factor responsible for going back to school for different programmes.

Q: Are you still intending to have another PhD?
A: Not at all. My plan now is to concentrate on religious learning which is of interest to me. That will be helpful to me now and later.

Q: I learnt that you are a successful farmer. Sir, how far do you think we have fared in that sector?
A: I believe that farming is one of the lucrative and successful businesses around. It is a sustainable venture. Sustainable in the sense that you can feed yourself, your family, the community you live and probably part of other places. As a result, the government should begin to change people’s orientation towards farming by letting them know that farming is an occupation that can make one live a very comfortable life. Government should provide necessary support to farmers. I believe that if Nigeria can concentrate on agriculture, we will be able to feed ourselves and some other parts of the world.

Q: How do you unwind?
A: I am a family man. I enjoy staying in the midst of my children, wives, and friends.

Q: What is your best food?
A: Do I know it? I am flexible and I appreciate food from any part of the country. Here in Ibadan, I like to eat amala and egusi; up in Kano, I will like to eat tuwo and alkama and miyan kuka.

Q: Is there anything else you wish to achieve in life?
A: I thank Allah for where I am now but I believe I have not reached the point of retardation. I believe in hard work. I believe I have not reached the end of my career. I wish to continue to serve my nation till I die.

Q: What is your advice to the Nigerian youth?
A: Our youth both in UI and other places in Nigeria should show respect to elders and parents and be free from drugs and other social evils. They should be ambitious and creative and believe in themselves.

Q: What UI will you like to see in the next five?
A: I will like UI to be the leader in research. I will like UI to commercialise its research from the research desk to the end product. I will like UI to continue to lead, not only in Nigeria and Africa but to be a global leader. I want to see a lot of innovation, and creativity in this university.