Representative of the Vice-Chancellor, DVC, Academic, Prof. Chryss Onwuka addressing participants while Resource Persons, Prof. Isaac Olaofe (1st Left) and Prof. Nolue Emenanjo (2nd Left) and the National President of NATRESL, Prof. Sam-Kolo Swanya (1st Right) listen with rapt attention.

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun has tasked Teachers of English Language to make use of internet tools and applications to enhance students’ learning experiences.

He made this charge at the Opening Ceremony of the 8th Annual Conference of the National Association of Teachers and Researchers in English as a Second Language (NATRESL), held in the University, recently.

He said, “You will agree with me that internet tools and applications such as blogs, twitter, flicker, wiki educator, linked-in (for professional collaboration) are beginning to make both positive and negative impacts on the standard of English today. Therefore, as Teachers of  English Language, you must use these tools, to enhance the students’ learning experiences.”

Prof. Balogun who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Chryss Onwuka, while speaking on the theme of the Conference “Resources and Resourcefulness in English Language Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century” said it was appropriate in order to address the issue of students deficiency in communication skills.

According to him, “We all know that the roles and functions of English as the language of Education at the international and local domains of communication cannot be over-emphasized. It is, however, worrisome that the English language situation in the country today, is on the verge of collapse as revealed by students’ results in various qualifying examinations, and the numerous complaints by employers of labour of their employees’ deficiency in communication skills.”

Reiterating the University’s support to the Association, he said, “I was reliably informed that the fifth (5th) edition of the Conference was held in this University about six years ago, I want to assure you of the support of the University.”

In her Welcome Address, the Convener, Prof. Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale, thanked the Management for the tremendous support it has given her Department, (Communication and General Studies).

She also expressed gratitude to the Resource Persons, Prof. Isaac Olaofe and Prof. Nolue Emenanjo whom she said are erudite scholars and whose works she cited in some of her research works.

In his Remarks, the National President, National Association of Teachers and Researchers in English as a Second Language (NATRESL), Prof. Sam-Kolo Swanya expressed the Association’s gratitude to the University for hosting again, stating that this is the second time the University will be hosting since it was conceived in UNAAB in October 2005.

He also appealed to the Government and other institutions to encourage and support the teaching and learning of English Language.