International Week highlight: a lecture by a lecturer from IBADAN University (Nigeria)
From 5-9 May, during the International Week, lecturers from various partner universities visit VMU University and give lectures to VMU students. The third-year students and lecturers of the Primary Education Pedagogy and Early Foreign Language Teaching programme of the Academy of Education, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Estela Daukšienė and Dr. Daiva Urmonienė, had a great opportunity to meet a lecturer from the exotic country Nigeria. Lecturer Matthew Taiwo Oni came from the prestigious IBADAN University (Nigeria), working at the Faculty of Education, Department of Early Childhood and Basic Education. IBADAN University is the oldest and one of the leading universities in Nigeria, founded in 1948 as a college of the University of London. It became an independent university in 1962 and remains one of the most prestigious in the country. It produces the largest number of postgraduate students in Africa, reflecting the university’s importance in the field of science and research on the continent. It is renowned for its strong academic tradition and its significant contribution to the country’s education and research.
In addition to introducing IBADAN University, Lecturer Matthew also gave a presentation on Bridging the Divide: A Comparative Analysis of AI Literacy among Public and Private Secondary School Teachers in Nigeria, where he presented his dissertation research. During his presentation, he shared his insights into the Nigerian teacher education system and revealed some important nuances. The research was of interest to the students listening, but it was even more interesting to hear about the work of teachers and their preparation in Nigeria in general. There was a strong emphasis on practice. Teacher education programmes in Nigeria place a strong emphasis on practical preparation. Prospective teachers spend a lot of time in schools, observing experienced colleagues and delivering lessons themselves under the supervision of mentors. The challenge of multilingualism is highlighted. Nigeria is a very diverse country with hundreds of different languages spoken. Teachers often face the challenge of teaching children whose mother tongue is different from the official language of instruction (English). Teacher training programmes therefore try to develop the skills to work effectively in a multilingual environment. Community involvement is also an important factor. Nigeria has a strong community role in education. Local communities are often actively involved in the management and support of schools, which is essential for educational achievement, and teachers are seen as important members of the community. Teacher training programmes encourage prospective teachers to develop close links with the community and to involve it in the educational process.
The lecture was useful for both students and Lithuanian teachers to understand the values Matthew conveyed about the importance of learning and the motivation to develop competences as an educator.
