University Don Attributes Poor Development In Africa To Inability To Transform Resources

The Albino Foundation Public Notice

The Dean, Faculty of Social Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Prof Ike Onyishi, has attributed the reason why most African countries lag behind in development to their inability to transform available resources into economic growth.

Onyishi said this in Nsukka on Friday while delivering the UNN 202nd Inaugural Lecture titled “Not-My-Job Syndrome: Getting Workers To Take Charge And Go The Extra Mile In A Challenging Work Environment”.

He said that Africa was endowed with abundant human and natural resources and as such needed adequate human resources that would help to exploit and harness the abundant natural resources.

“It’s no longer news that Africa lags behind among other continents in almost all indicators of developments.

“Africa is endowed with abundant human and natural resources but lags behind the rest of the world in development.

“The problem of Africa has been attributed to the inability of most countries in the continent to transform the available resources into economic growth.

“This points to the urgent need to develop adequate human resources that will help African countries exploit and harness the abundant natural resources seen in virtually every country of the continent,” he said.

The don noted that beyond the lack of requisite skill, the attitudinal problems of workers in African countries, including Nigeria were among the challenges facing human resource managers and administrators.

“It appears that the common challenge confronting Nigerian managers and administrators is poor work attitude – how to get workers to do their jobs, which appears that no one wants to take responsibility.

“Administrators should go beyond improving work systems that will ensure the happiness of workers and make them more productive.

 “The history of industrial and organisational psychology, or what many refer to as work psychology, is characterised by attempts by psychologists to solve human problems in workplaces,” he said.

The Professor of Industrial and Organisational Psychology explained further that industrial or work psychology was traceable to the earlier works of industrial engineers at the beginning of the 20th century.

The 202nd UNN inaugural lecturer noted that for productivity to increase in public and private organizations workers should take charge and go the extra mile in discharging their duties.

“Many workers do not take charge in their offices as they see Government work as nobody’s business.

“It’s unfortunate that many workers who show less commitment in taking charge of their work still expect their salary at the end of the month, he said.

Onyishi thanked the UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof Igwe for his support and for accepting his request to present this inaugural lecture, and also expressed special appreciation to his wife Mrs. Charity Onyishi for providing him with the right atmosphere to work.

He also expressed his gratitude to HRH Igwe Linus Obayi, the traditional ruler of Nguru Nsukka community for for gracing the occasion with his full cabinet members, as well as thanked his friends, colleagues, staff, and students of the University for finding time to attend the lecture.

Earlier in a remark, the Vice-chancellor of the University, Prof Charles Igwe said that the inaugural lecture of the University is an avenue to educate the university community and the public on issues that are vital to society with their wealth of knowledge as professors.

The VC who was represented by the Deputy VC Academic Prof. Johnson Urama described Onyishi as an intellectual giant who has contributed immensely in his chosen field of specialisation.

The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of a certificate to Prof Onyishi as the 202nd Inaugural Lecturer of the University by Prof Urama.

Sunonline