Ekiti State Governor’s wife Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji for about two hours on Monday taught students of Education Management in the Ekiti State University (EKSU) students who were excited to listening to her lecture.
Dr. Oyebanji, a senior lecturer at the University of Ibadan and presently awaiting her associate professorial title, said she was excited to be back in the classroom at EKSU, where she started her career in the academia and taught for 12 years before relocating to Ibadan.
The third year (300 Level) students in the Department of Education Management at EKSU were thrilled and excited to see the governor’s wife in their class to teach them “Leadership in Formal Organisations”, in which she dwelt on “Theories of Leadership” and entertained questions from the appreciative students.
The students listened with rapt attention as Dr. Oyebanji dissected five theories considered during the EDM 303 class which included Trait Theory, Behavioural Theory, Situational Theory, Contingency Theory and Path-Goal Theory.
Urging the students to feel free and bare their minds during the lecture, Dr. Oyebanji said one of the aims she wanted to achieve with teaching the course was to inculcate the art of public speaking in the students, especially the female ones, noting that public speaking is an ingredient of leadership and effective communication.
Speaking with reporters after the lecture, Dr. Oyebanji said she was fulfilled to be involved in a community service at the state university teaching students. She described her interaction with them as worthwhile. She added that she is contributing her quota to moulding the character and shaping the personality of future leaders in her community.
She said: “I started here as a Graduate Assistant and I worked in this university for 12 years before I relocated to the University of Ibadan, where I was before we came to office. This is my own community service and I am fulfilled to give it for free in our state university.
“I have taught all my life and I want to teach here while in office to share from my experience with these students. This is a course that I have taught for over 20 years. When I was given the course to teach, I said, ‘why not? It’s part of my community service’. We lecturers have three major areas: teaching, research and community service. So, what I am doing is community service to my dear state.
“Since assuming office, it’s not that I am totally disconnected from academic activities. Recently, you followed me to UI when I went to attend to my Ph.D students and within one year of my assumption of office (as First Lady), I have gone to UI and I have graduated four of my Ph.D students.”
One of the students who attended the lecture, Ismail Abdullahi, said he gained a lot from the various perspectives and true life experiences of Dr. Oyebanji, which she shared.
“Some of the examples and experiences she gave will make her lecture to be unforgettable and I am happy to have gained a lot and I’m returning home with many takeaways from the lecture of today,” he said.
