Three scholars from a US-based university have expressed optimism about the potential inherent in the Nigerian youths to become great leaders in the future recognised all over the world.
Professors Geri Von-Grey, Peggy McCormic and Mary Lindell, faculty members of the Bethel University, Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA, disclosed this during their recent special mission to the Bethel American International School, Fiditi, Oyo State to observe, train and grade the school’s activities.
The three educationists declared that the Nigerian students they had interacted with had shown exemplary leadership qualities and were destined to be forces to be reckoned with globally in the nearest future.
As a yearly cultural exchange programme, faculty members from the American university visit their affiliated schools in Nigeria, where they observe students and teachers in the classrooms, hostels and the whole environment.
They train the teachers and students based on their observations and grade the school’s performance accordingly, using the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) which exposes the students to the best international teaching practices.
Professor Von-Grey said their visit was a continuation of the development partnership between the US-based institution and the school, adding that the programme would help the school to grow and reciprocate the parent institution’s gesture by actually growing and exhibiting traits contained in the programme.
Professor McCormic said the visit was part of a cultural exchange, which she said would be beneficial to both parties, adding that there was much value added to both cultures, since participants all learnt and shared resources together.
She said the cultural exchange programme was a pasture for humility and willingness to learn about each other, adding “it is the quality of education that American parents desire of their children that Nigerian parents desire of theirs too. “We desire top level quality education from our children, the same way Nigerian families desire for their children.”
The third member of the visiting team, Professor Lindell, said she was impressed with the rigour and level of education in Bethel International School, Fiditi and acknowledged the level of commitment of the students and the teachers.
She praised the hospitality displayed by their hosts and said her primary impression of Nigeria was not negative.
“We shall go back with good stories. We are impressed with the natural resources and potentials of the country as well. We are comfortable with the environment and the people. We shall encourage our colleagues to come and visit too,” she said.
The director of the school, Mr Wole Aderinkomi, expressed pleasure at the presence of the American educationists in the school, saying the exchange programme had gone a long way to help the school achieve its desired goals over the years.