Dr. Grace Aina, the first female HOD in Accounting Department in McPherson University. In this interview with Timothy Sogaolu, Goodness Olugbuyiro & Aanu Atanda, she shared her thoughts on her tenure as HOD, drug abuse among other important matters. Excerpts:

1. Ma, Congratulations on your appointment as the first female HOD in Accounting and Finance Department. What was your grand vision for the Department?

Ans: Thank you. I am grateful to God and the Management of the University for appointing me. I just completed my tenure in October. It was a great privilege to be the first female HOD in the department. The Department of Accounting and Finance has always been one of the best departments in McPherson University. I appreciate all the faculties members who joined hands with me to raise the bar of academic excellence at the Department.

2. Recently, one of your former students, Precious Adukpe emerged top in global ACCA examination. How would you describe this development?

Ans: Yes, but I don’t want to actually use the word “development” because our students (both undergraduate and. graduate) have been doing excellently well within and outside the University. So, permit me to use “achievement”. It was another great achievement and we are not surprised at the department because most of our students are doing excellently well in the corporate world. They are able to stand tall with their colleagues outside because we have impacted excellence into their lives. Most of our students have been winning prizes and they have been awarded as the best in others professional exams. So, It is not only Precious Adukpe. You will soon hear about others. We are proud of them all.

3: Ma, your department has produced more overall best graduates in McPherson University than most Departments. What do you think lecturers must do to bring out the best in their students?

Ans: Firstly, I want lecturer to know that they are in McPherson to impart into the lives of this students and not just to earn monthly income alone. Secondly, the University has a vision, we (lecturers) are to ensure that we achieve this vision which is ” building a People of Excellence and Integrity for service”. So, we should try our best to build the excellent spirit into the lives of our students by constant encouragement. Some of these students are passing through a lot emotionally, phycologically, academically and even spiritually). They need guiding, counseling, motivations and mentorship, some of them don’t even know their ability until they see someone to drive them and bring the best out of them. Some of them get negatively influenced, lose focus and get distracted and they need somebody to talk to them. So, lecturers should not just think that their duty is to teach and forget about the students. But lecturers should see themselves as counselors and guardians to the students. At the end, if the student performs excellently well, the achievement of excellency is for the student, lecturers in the department, the department itself and the University.

4. Ma, the VC has reiterated his decision to fight drug abuse to stand still. In what ways do you think academic staff can be of help in the fight against the scourge?

Ans: The VC has made a good decision to fight drug abuse to stand still. Drug abuse should not be encouraged at all. Substance abuse is a dangerous pathway to self-destruction. It can destroy glorious destinies. Regret and pains are awaiting addicts in future.

Academic staff should keep on telling the students about the negative effect of drug abuse not only outside the classroom but also in the classroom when lecture is going on by giving examples of people’s life that have been damaged through drugs abuse. Lecturers should let the students know that “it is not only cigarettes smokers that are liable to die young” but also drug addict are liable to die young too.

5: Thank you for your time ma.

Dr. Aina: You are welcome.