PROFESSOR Ben Nwanne, of the Mass Communication department at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, fresh from being named in the Owa Hall of Fame, in this interview with The Pointer, shared his thoughts on the recognition and pressing societal issues. Excerpts:
Can you introduce yourself?
I am Prof. Ben Nwanne of the Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, recently upgraded to Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
The Obi of Owa recently instituted a Hall of Fame, and you were instrumental at that event. Can you shed more light?
The Obi of Owa, HRM, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, JP, OON, marked his 66th coronation anniversary on September 6, 2025. He was crowned in 1959, a year before Nigeria’s Independence.
As part of the celebration, he instituted the Owa Hall of Fame to recognise outstanding sons and daughters of Owa, dead or alive, who, in his estimation, have contributed immensely to the kingdom’s growth and development.
The criteria were twofold. One: that you have risen sufficiently in your profession and achieved personal excellence. Two: that you have contributed to the development of Owa Kingdom one way or another.
I was one of the honourees. They sent me a form, I filled it out, and luckily, I was found worthy. I also have a long-standing relationship with the Obi. In 2018, the late Prof. Sam Ukala and I co-authored his biography, “The Odyssey of the Obi of Owa”. After Prof. Ukala passed on, I completed another work in 2023 at the Obi’s request. Over time, His Majesty has, in a way, occasionally sought my advice on one or two issues, including public relations. So,I was humbled by the recognition.
Would you have been disappointed if were not selected?
No, I wouldn’t. When someone is doing something, he has his own criteria. There are many qualified sons and daughters of Owa. Being sent a form already meant I was nominated, and I was grateful for that. If I had not made the final list, I would not have been disappointed. I would have moved on and worked harder.
Let’s move to the academia. Strikes have become a recurring problem, with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), among other academic unions, frequently downing tools. Are lecturers genuinely aggrieved or are they simply trying to arm twist the government?
As a member of ASUU, the truth is, knowledge seems not to be appreciated in our society today. That is why I was so pleased with the Owa Hall of Fame. If it had been based on money, I would never have been considered. It was purely about contribution and merit.
When we were growing up, people appreciated teachers and would even send children to live with one because they had the knowledge and resources, considering the standard of those days.
Now, to the issue of salaries. The last time our salaries were properly reviewed was in 2009 under President Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory. That was 16 years ago. The new minimum wage did not significantly affect lecturers; it was simply ₦40,000 added across the board, even for professors. That is infinitesimal. Minimum wage is different from our negotiations over the years.
Back in 2009, President Yar’Adua appointed Adams Oshiomhole, then an opposition governor, to negotiate on behalf of the federal government because of his labour experience. Those negotiations produced an agreement that lecturers’ salaries would be reviewed every three years, separate from the minimum wage. But since then, nothing has been done. Each time ASUU returned to the table, the government kept “posting” them, as we say in Nigerian parlance.
The worst was in 2022, when President Muhammadu Buhari’s government withheld ASUU salaries for eight months. Even now, part of that debt remains unpaid.
Meanwhile, from our investigations, Nigerian professors are among the least paid in Africa, and by extension, possibly in the world. Why should the “Giant of Africa” pay its professors low wages?
That is the root of the agitation. The salary of a professor will make you weep. You can always check it out yourself.
It’s already an open secret. It has been in the media for the past two to three weeks now. Because, you know, we’ve been talking about the need to improve our pay. But as I speak to you, the Union is negotiating with the Federal Government.
Are there no other ways you can get around these issues without having to spend precious time on strikes?
First and foremost, no lecturer wants the students to suffer, at least no reasonable lecturer. We don’t want the students to suffer, because remember, they are also our children.
But if you keep working under very poor conditions, you negotiate, you discuss, you lobby quietly, and still don’t get results, what do you do?
From the perspective of lecturers, strikes are the last option. It’s the very last resort, after you’ve exhausted all other options. What else can you do after that? You cannot keep working endlessly, remaining poor, demotivated, and hungry, when your so-called “take-home pay” does not even take you home!
That is the problem we face. If we had a choice, if there was another way, we would have taken it. But after you’ve tried everything, you say, “What next?” People talk about using alternative methods, and we tell them, “Where are those alternatives?” We have lobbied, negotiated, and discussed, yet here we are.
So, that’s the point, lecturers do not love strikes. Society, the media, and everybody should join in appealing to the government. The government needs to pay lecturers a living wage. That’s the point.
In most places around the world, academics, especially professors, are among the highest-paid professionals. We are not saying, “Give us all the money,” but at least let us have a living wage.
Right now, you and I know the kind of social stigma professors face. Some persons mock professors; these are people you taught 10 ,20 years ago. Now, it seems society does not sufficiently appreciate their contributions. .
them. That’s what we are saying.
It’s not that ASUU is antagonistic, no, we are not. But you will agree that ASUU has the largest number of people with the highest academic qualifications, PhDs, compared to other sectors. So, we are not saying lecturers should be rich, but at least they should be able to live decently.
About a month ago, the Minister of Education said that the proliferation of universities in the country has become a nuisance, unlike what is obtainable in other climes. Can you react to this.
Well, every climate is different in its own way. Every environment is unique. I do not work for the National Universities Commission (NUC) or the Ministry of Education.
Since you are seeking my opinion, let me say this: it is the duty of the federal government to regulate such matters. You cannot have an opinion on everything. They are the regulatory authorities, and they have the right to say, “We have too many,” or “We have too few.” Whether I agree or not is not important.
Let us look at governance in Delta State before moving to the federal level. How impressed are you with the current administration?
Well, if you ask me… at the risk of sounding evasive, I would request that you excuse me from answering questions on assessing an incumbent government. Yes, I would rather not assess them. They are the ones governing; they have more information than I do.
But you are a stakeholder.
Yes, I am, but on this particular matter, I request to be excused. I think the focus of this interview is essentially the Owa Hall of Fame and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), of which I am a member. So, I do not wish to assess any government, at least, not for now.
Recently, Delta State marked 34 years of its creation, in 1991. We want you to assess our growth and progress so far.
Again, this falls under the category of government’s performance. You asked me to assess the current government, and I asked you to excuse me. Now you are asking me to assess Delta State’s progress since its creation.
Yes, since August 27, 1991, when Babangida created the state, Delta State has made progress, no doubt. For instance, in the education sector, my area, we had only one state-owned university until 2021. Today, we have four. That is a big stride.
Back then, there was too much pressure on the Delta State University, Abraka. But now, with three additional universities, the pressure has reduced significantly. That is great progress. Many Deltans now have the opportunity to be admitted into universities. Before now, it was far more difficult. I am very proud of that aspect. But that does not mean we cannot make more progress. We can.
What areas do you advise us to make more progress?
Infrastructure. Roads, for example. We can certainly do better. Everyone sees this. When roads are bad, the suffering is obvious. But then, we hear debates: “This is a federal road, this is a state road.” Why not allow all roads to be state roads and give states sufficient funds to maintain them? Abuja officials may not know which roads are bad; it is the state and local governments that are on ground.
So , roads are critical. And then, inflation. I honestly do not know what the government can do to reduce inflation so that people can manage better.
Tell us what you know about the Obi of Owa, HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor II.
I thought I had said a word or two about him, but let me add more. He is 87 years old now. Last week, on September 6 2025, he marked his 66th coronation anniversary. He is believed to be the second-longest reigning monarch in Nigeria.
He is an intellectually driven man, full of wisdom. Imagine an 87-year-old man still brimming with fantastic ideas! Just last week at the palace, I asked His Royal Majesty, informally, how he manages to come up with such great ideas. That tells you the kind of person he is.
As a Professor of Mass Communication, what is your appraisal of journalism in Nigeria today?
Like every other aspect of our national life, journalism is still developing. But with technology, the practice is improving.
In our days, we used tape recorders to interview people. Today, with your phone, you can interview me, even from Asaba, as you are doing now. Back then, we had to physically meet sources. The mobile phone only came to Nigeria in 2001 under President Olusegun Obasanjo. We didn’t have that privilege in my media days.
Training has also improved. In my time at Newswatch, not everyone had a university degree. We had people with diplomas and diverse backgrounds. Today, the majority are University graduates, which is progress.
Let’s talk about press freedom in Nigeria.
You see, press freedom in any society is closely tied to the level of freedom within that country. Take America, for instance: press freedom there is far greater than what we have here. Their First Amendment to the Constitution is very clear: “Congress shall make no laws abridging the freedom of the press.” That is a country that values freedom. It is explicitly documented so that no judicial intervention can override it. Press freedom cannot be abridged.
But look at our own case in Nigeria, our constitutional provision is vague. It simply says that every citizen is entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive or impart ideas…. That is too nebulous. Most times, it is not actionable. Journalists can even be arrested and detained unlawfully, and nothing happens.
I read a story of a journalist in Kebbi State who reported on a hospital that was flooded, with beds floating in water. Rather than fix the hospital, the authorities picked up the journalist. Is that press freedom? Recently, in Niger State, a governor shut down a radio station. Again, is that press freedom?
So, under such a system, many journalists become discouraged. They shy away from investigative stories. If a country genuinely wants press freedom, it will enshrine it in its constitution. As I said, in America, it is written boldly that no law shall abridge the freedom of the press. We don’t have that here. Our press freedom is still determined by whoever is in power.
Do you suggest replicating that First Amendment to our Constitution, perhaps in subsequent constitutional reviews?
Yes, of course. There must be a concrete provision for press freedom. Without it, how can it be enforced? What we have now is too vague. That is general talk. It should be specific and entrenched in the Constitution, so that no one can contravene it.
There’s a perception that the standard of education has dropped, especially with the kind of students we have today, the so-called Gen Z generation. Do you agree, or do you think they’re smarter than previous generations?
Well, that is neither here nor there. In terms of technology, yes, they are more advanced and exposed to higher tools, so in that sense, they may appear smarter. But in terms of discipline, hard work, and perseverance, I don’t think they are smarter. In fact, many are lazier.
You teach students and encourage them, yet many are uninterested. Many just want degrees attached to their names without putting in the work. Talking about standards, I cannot say that when I wrote JAMB or O-Level over 40 years ago, our questions were tougher than today’s. No, the curriculum has remained standard, even updated. The real issue is performance. Students are exposed to the same curriculum, but while some graduate with first class, others fail. The problem is not the standard of education, but the effort students put in.
Today, many believe they can cheat their way through without hard work. That mindset is poor. It reflects a society abandoning its value system. In our time, we were taught that success comes from hard work. Now, many think that all that matters is money.
Yes, some lecturers are also part of the problem; some don’t put in enough effort and don’t show up regularly for classes. It is multidimensional. How do you expect students to excel under such conditions?
On the students’ part, many don’t buy books, don’t read, and behave with a laissez-faire attitude. These are the real issues. The standard itself has not fallen.
What is the place of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our educational system?
AI is a recent introduction that has become more popular in the last few years. Anything that assists in teaching and learning is welcome. All of us are still coming to grips with AI.
Of course, people have spoken about its downsides, loss of jobs, laziness, and so on. But life is about change, and we must embrace change, including AI, and see how best to benefit from it.
Do you think students are abusing AI? Has it made them lazy? Applications like ChatGPT, Grok, and Gemini are accused of killing deep and sincere research. Should AI be seen as a productivity tool or a form of malpractice that undermines intellectual rigour?
We are all learners when it comes to AI, just at different levels of understanding. If I were to categorise it, I would say AI is more of a productivity tool than a fraudulent one. I don’t think anyone invents a tool that will be obviously fraudulent.
Like every tool, AI can be abused. Some people may misuse it, but that is not the intention of its creators. We should focus on its productive side and mitigate the misuse.
For instance, AI should not write your entire paper. But if you need to cross-check information while writing, AI can help. And it is good practice to always acknowledge your sources.
Nigeria will be celebrating its Independence Day in a few weeks, on October 1. How have we progressed as a nation?
Compared to Malaysia and the Asian Tigers, we were at the same level in the 1960s. Malaysia even came here to collect oil palm seedlings from NIFOR near Benin. Today, Malaysia is a global leader in palm oil, agriculture, technology, and governance. Can we match them?
Young Nigerians are fleeing to Malaysia, but how many Malaysians are coming here? Sometimes when professors assess Nigeria, they think we are being biased, but these things are there for all to see.
Still, nobody can say Nigeria has made no progress at all. In October of 1960, Nigeria launched its first indigenous university, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The University College, Ibadan, became a full-fledged university in 1962. From two universities, today we have over a hundred. That is progress in academia.
But in infrastructure, especially roads, things are dire. Journeys that once took 40 minutes now take nearly two hours because of terrible roads. Part of the problem is the needless dichotomy between federal and state roads. Let the federal government fund the states to handle the roads.
Economically, we have not made much progress. At one time, the naira was stronger than the dollar.
Today, the situation is not very flattering, with a low value for the naira against the dollar. Productivity is low, food is expensive, and insecurity has crippled farming. Small holder farmers can’t produce as before, so supply is weak, and prices soar.
What we need is a concerted effort to address insecurity, food supply, infrastructure, and the economy generally. Everyone, not just the government, must play a role. In fact, I’m writing something I call The “Otherness” in Our Lives. It means always considering others in your decisions, whether at home, in institutions, or in politics. If leaders put citizens first, our society will be better.
