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Can we know who is Dr. Sefinat Omuya?

I am Dr. Sefinat Omuya.ÌýI am theÌýDirector, Directorate ofÌýCounselling andÌýC²¹°ù±ð±ð°ùÌýDevelopment.ÌýBefore now I have acted as theÌýDirector in theÌýDirectorate ofÌýLearnerÌýS³Ü±è±è´Ç°ù³ÙÌýServices.ÌýMy background has always been from the background of guidance and counselling,Ìýfrom my first Ìýdegree through PhD guidance and counselling andÌýIÌýam passionate about student, personally.ÌýI don’t give up on anyone, I still believe no matter how bad or terrible it is, something can be done about that person and with that I still do my work as a counsellor before I eventually end up on this seat as theÌýDirectorÌýof Counselling andÌýC²¹°ù±ð±ð°ùÌýDevelopment.

When were you appointed as theÌýD¾±°ù±ð³¦³Ù´Ç°ù,ÌýCounselling andÌýC²¹°ù±ð±ð°ùÌýDevelopment?

I was appointed to this position January,Ìý2025.

Was itÌýalso the time the directorate was createdÌýbecause from what we usedÌýto know it wasÌýthe Directorate of LearnerÌýS³Ü±è±è´Ç°ù³ÙÌýServices.ÌýWhat informed the creation of thisÌýdirectorate?

Yes, what really informed the creation of the directorate has to do with TETFundÌýand the NUC.ÌýFor TETFund, there is a grant for carer services centre; itÌýstems out of the fact that here if you look at the system very well,Ìýwe have soÌýmany people graduating, they can’t get job and we are meant to understand that it’s because some of them don’t have employability skills,Ìýsome of them don’t have the skills for public service.ÌýSo I think from that point of view, TETFundÌýintervening in soÌýmany areas,Ìýfelt that there is no point chunking out graduates and not getting job. Some went into particular profession because they were ignorant, some of them don’t know, some went in because they were looking for a degree. None of them asked:Ìýso after this degree where are the opportunities?ÌýWhat will I be doingÌýso that I will be useful in the work space?ÌýSo this has become a very serious issue for the nation Nigeria and I believe that is one of the major reasonsÌýTETFund isÌýnot saying we should have it, not only having it, but they are providing the funds for us get it and for us to get the funds/grant.ÌýThere must be physical facility on ground, there must be a space dedicated for that purpose and that was what informedÌýtheÌýcreationÌýofÌýDirectorate ofÌýCounselling andÌýC²¹°ù±ð±ð°ùÌýDevelopment.

With this, IÌýam sure that a lot ofÌýpeopleÌýwill want to knowÌýwhether weÌýstill have LSS, having been the director there?

I want us to understand one thing that LSSÌýis aÌýdifferent directorate,Ìýdifferent segment within Ìýthe university,ÌýwhichÌýprovides support for our students.ÌýIf you mention ICT, they are providing support, if you mention MIS,Ìýthey are providing support,Ìýeven registry.ÌýItÌýis just that mainly in LSS. Before now the main hubÌýall theseÌýother directoratesÌýproviding support,Ìýthey all have their directorate and the thing is the major group that really made LSS is the counselling at the study centres but there are other activities connected to it. We have the centre directors and what they do at the centres, for now because the main group in that LSS has been taken away because of what I mentioned earlierÌýnow is not there. ThereÌýis no learner support again but it has been shifted to another place, the person supervising the activities of the studyÌýcentresÌýnow is the DVC Administration. This is the wayÌýit is.ÌýAll the other groups they have their directoratesÌýto conduct and we have to do this to better supervise our counsellors to ensure that we get the work done.

In essence,Ìýwe still have relationship with the study centers but the only difference is that their activities of the directors are beingÌýmanaged by the DVC Admin. But when it comesÌýtoÌýthe activities of the counsellors in the centres, they interact with us in this directorate. We also have some directors that are counsellors now;Ìýthey still relate to the university though, they have to report to us as a directorate viaÌýtheÌýVC.

Based on the demand of NUCÌýandÌýTETFUND,Ìýis there anything that has changed after beingÌýconfirmed asÌýaÌýdirectorate, somethingÌýlikeÌýphysical facilities,Ìýetc.?

Yes, though we didn’t start early enough.ÌýFor now,Ìýwe have submitted,ÌýbecauseÌýthereÌýare procedures.ÌýYes, we have not gotten the grant that’s why you have not seen some few things you are expected to see. But we have been able to submit the establishment plan;Ìýwe are expecting them possibly to tellÌýusÌýthat we can ask for the fund. For now,Ìýnothing. But we have beenÌýconductingÌýa lot of training for our counsellors to prepare them.ÌýYes,Ìýwe were doing counselling before now and career guidance and counselling but this time we have to pay attention to career services and developmen.ÌýItÌýis not just telling someone this is the course, this is what is expected of you, etc.ÌýThere are certain skills we need to train them on before they leave the university and some of these employability, soft skills. We are already digital so we need to let them know this and encourage them. LifeÌýÌýis Ìýmore than getting a first class because I have Ìýseen a first class roaming but 2:2 gaining employment.ÌýIÌýam not saying godfathers, but people who skilled themselves,Ìýwe have first class but not skilled and the work space now is looking for skilled persons in all these soft skills that are enhanced in the system.ÌýAll these things weÌýwill be doing, but we are already dong virtual training for our counsellors. At least,Ìýthere’s one we do once in a month but we have to step it down now because of the ongoing exams because they are engaged in that.ÌýSo these are some of the things we are doing to put everything in place before the funds starts coming in.ÌýFor the first things, whatÌýwe have done now is indication of what we need to function well, once the approval comes, we will get all of theseÌýand do the needful for our students.

Can you tell us brieflyÌýaboutÌýyour achievements so far?

We haveÌýsuccessfullyÌýbeen able to send in our establishment plan to TETFund.ÌýOriginally,Ìýwhen we started in NOUN, we have a responsibility to play,Ìýat a point there was a lacuna, at a point it was as if the work of counsellors inÌýOpenÌýUniversity was really played down and there wasÌýaÌýkind of confusion.ÌýYou seeÌýaÌýregistry staff doing the work ofÌýaÌýcounselor.ÌýFor now,Ìýwe have been able to streamline that, looking at where we are now, and to suggest Ìýto the university that there is Ìýa need to look into the roles of counsellors and we have suggested what the roles of counsellors should be at the various study centres. For now,Ìýatimes some students don’t even see counsellors,Ìýbecause we have desk officers, admin staff that do the screening. It has not been easy, we have not been able to get that back, because some students will come and once they finish with the admin officer, off they go.ÌýThey don’t even know there are counsellors. ItÌýis been a lot of struggle.

I have tried to let them know that the problem we have in study centres now is that the presence of counsellors are not felt and at a point we don’t have Ìýenough counsellors.ÌýIf you remember a timeÌýwhenÌýwe haveÌýtoÌýdo an internal recruitment for our staff that needed to be upgraded ,we have to convert them to counselors and subject them to training. So there was a whole lot of gap.ÌýEven some of the counsellors were not doing counselling work but admin work so we are trying to repositionÌýthat.

When I started as counsellor in NOUN, I knew what we did;ÌýI knew what we imparted to our students.ÌýWe are trying to re-emphasise those roles we play and they should be allowed to play that role. We are not trying to take the responsibility of admin. But atÌýtheÌýsame time,Ìýcounsellors are within the system. Some one can tell one you will fail, but there is a way counsellors will professionally say it, find a way around it and improvise some remedial. AÌýcounselor will open you up around the fact and allow you take decision, we don’t decide for you but allow you see various paths within a challenge then allow you to make choice. Secondly,Ìýwhen it comes to training for counsellors it has been on the down side and if we continue to use what we learntÌýabout 30Ìýyears ago we might not be doing the right thing because things evolve everyday. So what we did as a directorate was to start monthly lecture series and we are trying to take us through the new ones among us;Ìýlearning something new and old onesÌýareÌýbeingÌýreminded of what is expected of them and what they need to remain relevant in the present practice.

Our students,Ìýlike you said,ÌýhardlyÌýtalk to counsellors but admin officers. Having become the director now,Ìýis thereÌýanything new we should expect?

Thank you very much.ÌýI would have forgotten the vital thing we are dong now, because we know the flexibility in NOUN as wellÌýasÌýour studentsÌýnotÌýbeingÌýtogether.ÌýSo there is a lot of diversity;Ìýdifferent category of students as part of our population and because of that,Ìýthere are ones that need counselling that cannot come to the study centre,ÌýtheyÌýcan not really see a counsellor physically. We feel there Ìýis need to deploy counselling virtually. SoÌýwhen I came in I wrote to the VC that there is need for us to have e-counselling Ìýfor them to be able to access the need of counselling without visiting the study centre and the VC approved it and we are working on it. I don’t really know what is holding us from launching because the software is ready.ÌýWe have done a demo but anytime soon weÌýwillÌýlaunch and be able to deploy.

Again,Ìýthis directorate is not only for students;Ìýstaff can as well come for counselling.ÌýThere are different areas of counselling, some staff are still developing themselves, and thereÌýareÌýthings you may not be cleared about.ÌýItÌýis equally open to staff.ÌýSome people have issues that they tend to find it difficult discussing with people, I don’t blameÌýthemÌýbecause of no confidentially but with a professional counselor be sure of confidentiality. But for issuesÌýthat are life-threatening you have to let the client know that this has to get to people that will help.ÌýAs in the consent, we have mental, burn out counselling.ÌýOnce we receive the necessary fund, I bet you the university will be proud that they have a directorate called directorate of counselling and career development. We have soÌýmany things we planned to do but not until we deploy the e-counselling and getting the funds. But at the study centresÌýwe have told them, pending when the e-counselling will be on, there are soÌýmany medium to be used to reach our students:ÌýFacebook, WhatsAppÌýandÌýemail,ÌýÌýto counsel.

So where are weÌýgoingÌýto see the counsellorsÌýhere at the headquarters?

We have some counsellors here. Recently,Ìýwe employed some professional counselors.ÌýInÌýfact,ÌýafterÌýsoÌýmany years some professional counsellors were employed for the first time, not the converted ones.

Recently,Ìýthe VC mentionedÌýthat NOUNÌýhasÌýthe largest number of counsellors.ÌýIn what ways will that help the directorate?

Initially,ÌýI mentionedÌýthatÌýthere was a vacuum, you won’t believeÌýthatÌýin the whole university,Ìýbefore this set of staff were converted into the counselling unit, the whole university, we have about 50 counsellors and from theseÌý50 counsellors, we have a good number that are already centre directors. So the people we can sayÌýareÌýcounsellorsÌýwereÌý40 something or thereaboutsÌýcompared to about 127 studyÌýcentres.ÌýDefinitely,ÌýitÌýis inadequate.ÌýInÌýfact,Ìýthat’s why taking back the role of counsellor is becoming very difficult, because before then there wereÌýno counsellors and other people had to step in to take that responsibility and they have done it. But before now,Ìýthere was a vacuum but if perÌýadventure, if you had 100 counsellors before now,Ìý80 wereÌýconverted, you can be sure it will change the narrative considerably.ÌýItÌýis still work in progress.ÌýYes, we have taken them through some rudiments but it will take us some time to say:Ìý‘yes, we have some counsellors.’ÌýBut you know atimes, passion for something really helps.ÌýWe are getting the fillers that even the converted ones are doing well, because they have the passion, even when they don’t know they ask questions.

You have already touched about this, but can tell us the challengesÌýthusÌýfar?

I must be plain.ÌýThere are a lot of challenges. You know atimes people that you think should understand what the role of counsellorsÌýentails, atimes, they take it as If they don’t know what it is.ÌýItÌýis unfortunate becauseÌýhow do you explain someone saying anybody can do counselling work? It’s not correct that you wentÌýandÌýstudy counselling does not make you a good counsellor until you go in to practice.ÌýWhat is still keeping counselling today is justÌýthat when NUC is going for accreditation and if they don’t see the presence of counsellors there,Ìýthe best you can get for that programmeÌýis interim.ÌýYou can’tÌýget full accreditation.

Another thing is thatÌýthere is need to train counsellors.ÌýI left university 1992 and I have been building myself. ItÌýis not everyone thatÌýwillÌýthat opportunity.ÌýIf you want to get the best from our counsellors you must train them, that’s the truth.ÌýWhat we learnt over 30Ìýyears ago will not be sufficient for the present. Counsellors should not be subjected to counselling trainings alone.ÌýIf you get to a certain position there are trainings you should be exposed to build you up. ThereÌýisÌýa need for building people up for succession;Ìýthere is need to employ more counselors, going by the number of study centres we have. The current VCÌýhasÌýtried to beef it up bu there is still need to employ more.

Is there any peculiarity with counselling in institutionsÌýlike our ownÌýcompared to other conventional ones?

Yes, the peculiarity is there and it stems from diversity that is within NOUN.ÌýIf you compare NOUN with other conventionalÌýuniversities,Ìýyou will realise that youÌýhave the younger population in conventionalÌýuniversitiesÌýcomparedÌýto what we have in NOUN, though we have young and older ones,Ìýtoo. So because of this diversity there is a need for us to plan and secondly to know how to even deploy the counselling Ìýwe are talking about, because how you will speak with younger ones is different from adult.ÌýThat is the peculiarity and you know some of them returning to study, you can hardly see 40Ìýyears returning to study in conventional universities, that population is negligible but in NOUN, you canÌýsee aÌý60-year to 80-year individualsÌýbeingÌýgiven the opportunity.ÌýSome of them have been out of school for a long time and that is when you need someone to guideÌýthemÌýand that is where the counsellor comes in;Ìýand that’s where there is difference betweenÌýaÌýcounselor andÌýanÌýadmin.

Do you have any message which you want to share to the university community and the general public?

I want to appreciate the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. OlufemiÌýPeters, because whatever we do and wherever we are today,ÌýitÌýis just because he gave us the support.ÌýHe has tried to do a lot of things.

The concern of a counselor is Ìýto see our students doing very well and ensure that students engage with their studies and to as much as possible reduce attrition rate and that is what we work towards and that is why you see us. We want to make sure we do our work as much asÌýpossible,Ìýeven when students want to walk away,Ìýwhen they remember there are Ìýcounsellors, they will come back.ÌýThereÌýwere soÌýmany problems at the study centresÌýbefore now especially when we were deploying our services manually, students wouldÌýcome with complain here and there. You compile and send to headquarters but you don’t get answer to them.ÌýButÌýthe Vice-ChancellorÌýcame and deployedÌýe-ticketing, and those things that students write manuallyÌýare beingÌýhandled through e-ticketing now and it has relieved us fromÌýaÌýlot of trouble and has also helped the students.ÌýThe directorate really appreciatesÌýthe VC for all his support.