Be asset, not liability to academic system, Abdul Rahman advises professors

Academics bearing the title of a professor have been advised against constituting themselves into liabilities for the career and system they serve.

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, who gave the advice, called on his colleagues to, instead, be assets to the entire academic system.

“Add value to the system, be approachable to the younger academics and students and passionate about the career you choose to profess,” the vice-chancellor said.

Abdul Rahman spoke during a recent event tagged: “Professors’ Roundtable Discussion,” held at the Old Senate Chamber of the University in Lafia.

The event was organised to welcome 13 newly promoted academics to the professors’ rank in the University.

Abdul Rahman said that it required hard work to attain the rank of a professor, adding that the position “comes with a lot of responsibilities.”

He reminded professors that both the University community and outside world expect them to provide credible answers to problems plaguing the nation, adding that “professors are expected to be role models and development oriented people.”

He decried situations where professors neglected their responsibilities and lack wherewithal to make positive contributions to societies’ development.

He said: “A professor should always be clean, clear, thorough, transparent and just in all his or her dealings with others. As professors, we’re supposed to be knowledgeable, have good character, soft skills and wisdom just as we’re supposed to serve as moral compass for the world.”

The event was witnessed by the principal officers of the University as well as other members of staff.