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Psychology, Panacea for National Restructuring – Dr. Akintola, Head Psychology Dept., UNILAG

Published

8 years ago

September 22, 2018

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

She is among the very few who are at home wherever you meet them as regards their discipline. Her name is Dr. Esther Akintola, the Head, Department of Psychology, University of Lagos. In this brief chat, she explains the intricacies of psychology as a course of study as well as what it takes to bring up God fearing children worthy of leading the nation to the next level. Excerpts:

Can we meet you?

My name is Esther Foluke Akinsola, an Associate professor of Psychology and Acting Head of Psychology Department, University of Lagos.

Apart from psychology, what else is Dr. Akinsola known for?

Well, I am a Consultant developmental and Clinical psychologist and I do research and teachings in clinical and psychological matters. I have also addressed many family problems. These were families that were engrossed in challenges resulting from breakdown in adolescent communication. Often times, we do not tend to understand adolescents and where they are coming from and same with the adolescents, they do not understand their parents so it creates a problem. They want freedom, they desire freedom.

Want or deserve freedom?

No, not deserve. They want unreserved freedom but they do not want to take responsibilities for the actions they take. This is called psychological trauma and it is responsible for creating a gap in family communication.

So, what is being done to bridge this gap?

Friendship breeds communication and this is where most parents loose it. Majority or parents are not friends to their children and there is no way these adolescents would open up to you if friendship has not been established. And this is the kind of strategy I am bringing on board that you begin talking to your children even from the womb. It will flow naturally so as they grow up it doesn’t seem like a hard thing because you have cultivated the habit. They do not want orders or dictation and this is what parents are prone to do at that point.

These adolescents do a lot of thinking and the only panacea to the gap between them and their parent is communication.

How long have you been in the field of psychology that has made you so vast in it?

I started lecturing in psychology in 1981 in the University of Lagos. I graduated in 1976 with a Second Class Upper division. I was doing a lot of things together at that time. I got married as a student in 1974, graduated in 1976, just 3 weeks after I gave birth to my first child, so I was a mother, a wife and a student. To be candid, I never wanted to be a teacher but I think as destiny would have it, that is what I am. I did my A levels and you know then A levels were done in December and when I finished my A levels the first job I got was teaching.

How would you say psychology has impacted on the socioeconomic growth of the country?

Psychology is the study of human beings, the study of human behavior and as long as there are people in the society there is a need for psychology and since it is humans who control these sectors, psychology is important. So, psychology is important because it pays a huge role in policy making and development. I heard someone once say that there is no way the minimum wage given at #18,000 will stop corruption and you expect people not to steal.

So, policies must have a humane approach to them and even then you can make the work interesting for whoever is doing it. These are some of the things psychology seeks to teach.

Psychology also teaches financial management and stability which is key to any country’s growth.

Are you saying in essence that psychology is what the country needs?

Yes! Yes! Psychology of financial and human resources! I heard that family members of fighters against Boko Haram are given stipends when they die in sharp contrast to the members of Boko Haram who are paid millions. Some psychologists would even posit that it is beneficial to be a Boko Haram member than a soldier. I also heard that there are some places in the Niger area where they have not seen government presence and this Boko Haram comes along offering them food and money, you think if one was there, one wouldn’t be tempted to join the sect?

What advice do you have for many young people who are still indecisive on what course to study?

I have advice for them and their parents. The parents must let the children choose their career path. Gone are the days when parents decide for their children, saying my child must be a lawyer. The child should be motivated to follow his passion and support must come from the parents.

As for the children, discover early enough what you want to do. Just recently, a student came to me and said he wants to drop psychology and study Creative Arts, that this is where his passion is, and he is in his 300 level. I instructed him to at least finish the psychology first before thinking of changing. After all, these are the days that one can own more than one certificate.

Also, as much as parents enjoin their children to pursue their interests, they must keep close tab on them. The children must know that interest doesn’t mean friendship or peer group. It should not be because my friend is going to the sciences, I must follow him when in the real sense your strength is in the arts.

About two years ago, this department produced a straight 5.0 First class graduate. Is that the first time?

Yes and the first in the whole school.

So, what are you doing to maintain this feat?

I think it is more dependent on the student. The young man who had a 5.0 took a course of mine in his 200 level and I did not know him, at least not until his 5.0 feat. What I am saying is that I am sure the young man made up his mind when he entered the University to be studious and serious. In essence, it is dependent on the students. The lecturers are dedicated and committed to their success.

Is that why you retained the young man?

Yes, we want him to serve as an inspiration to others. He is still young and he understands the young people more than we can ever do.

On a final note, can you advice our parents?

Okay! There is something called positive child rearing and it should be the attitude every parent shows their children. Rather than say, you stupid child, look at what you have done you can say, look at the stupid thing you have done. In that sense, you have not condemned the actor and the action, just the action alone.

Again, as positive parenting goes, you cannot be smoking or drinking and you are telling your child not to. You must be a role model to him or her. We must all strive to become that kind of parent.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you.

Featured

Statement on the State of the Nation by Some Concerned Nigerians

Published

11 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Eric

We are a group of concerned Nigerians, alarmed at increasing threats to the Nigerian Nation and desirous of sharing our concerns with fellow citizens.

Our assessment of the state of the Nation reveals that Nigeria stands at a dangerous crossroads where rising insecurity, an alarming level of electoral manipulation by government, and the weakening of democratic institutions are converging into a national crisis that threatens the country’s survival.

Nigeria faces a grave threat to its foundational constitutional principle of the separation of powers. Checks and balances between the branches of government have been imperilled.

The legislative branch has been placed under near total control of the executive branch. The judiciary appears to have lost both its independence and its integrity. There are no checks on the powers of the executive who now govern as they please without accountability or respect for the people’s concerns.

Institutions have been compromised, weakened, and subordinated to the interests of the executive arm of government. This erosion of institutional independence has fuelled public distrust to its highest level in our history creating a crisis of political exclusion and impunity that is pushing violent extremism, organized crime, and communal conflict to a tipping point.

To reverse this trajectory, Nigeria must urgently recommit to democratic accountability, judicial independence, and institutional reforms that strengthen the rule of law. The electoral processes must be transparent, credible, and insulated from executive interference.

The crisis in Nigeria cannot be separated from the broader instability engulfing the Sahel region. The spread of terrorism, arms trafficking, unconstitutional changes of government, and porous borders across countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger continue to intensify insecurity in Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad Basin. The collapse of regional cooperation and democratic governance in parts of the Sahel further emboldens armed groups, weakens state authority, and undermines civilian protection across West Africa.

Regional security cooperation between Nigeria and Sahelian states should be revitalized by establishing strong bilateral and multilateral platforms for intelligence sharing, border governance, and community-based peacebuilding initiatives.

Equally important is investing in youth employment, education, social protection, and local conflict resolution mechanisms to address the root causes of radicalization and insecurity.

Recommendations

1. Government should as a matter of urgency recognise that insecurity in the Sahel fuels the Nigerian crisis and that rapprochement between AES (Alliance of Sahel States) and ECOWAS is an important element in Nigeria’s national interest.

2. Government should immediately appoint a high-level Special Envoy for the Sahel to begin the urgent task of rebuilding trust between Nigeria, the AES and ECOWAS while revamping regional mechanisms for peace and security.

3. Civil society organisations should actively sensitize citizens and strengthen public demand for accountability. Nigerians must be bold and courageous in protecting civic rights and resisting the current climate of restricting civic space.

4. We call on the Private Sector as critical stakeholders in the nation-state agenda to continue to support and demand accountability in governance and the promotion of the rule of law as the basic premise of economic progress and nation building. Professional bodies and associations must rise to the challenge of building a broad national consensus to oppose tyranny and ensure maintenance of checks and balances in governance and the protection of the rule of law.

5. We call on our traditional leaders and members of the clergy to rise to the full weight of their moral and civic authority to promote peaceful co-existence, solidarity, and inter-faith dialogue to arrest the current slide to criminality and civil disorder.

6. Given the clear and consistent indications of the lack of neutrality and competence of INEC, professional bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association, Unions, and other civic groups must set up mechanism of engaging the electoral body to ensure that the 2027 elections are free, fair and credible.

7. The Judiciary must address the perception of its complicity to stall democratic processes. It must remain independent and uphold the rule of law. As a matter of urgency, the Nigerian Bar Association must call its members to order for professional conduct and strengthen its monitoring on the judiciary, it must stay alert and patriotic and ensure political actors play by the rule. The National Judicial Council must set up a framework for holding judges accountable for decisions they take in the context of electoral process.

DATED AT ABUJA, NIGERIA 8th JUNE 2026

1. Dr. Husseini Abdu
2. Amb. Fatima Balla OON
3. Dr. Usman Bugaje
4. Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, CON
5. Dr. Yahaya Hashim
6. Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim
7. Prof. Attahiru Muhammadu Jega OFR
8. Prof. Mohammed Kuna
9. Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, SAN, OON
10. Mal Kabiru Yusuf

Featured

Time for National Reconciliation, Re-Orientation and Reconstruction

Published

2 days ago

June 8, 2026

Eric

By Dele Momodu

The 2027 Presidential election is expected to be a major fight between PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU and his biggest challenger, ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR. It promises to be the battle of the Tians. A third force, hopefully, may show up, like it did in 2023, but not with enough fire power and tenacity to upstage, and obliterate the two elder statesmen.

This is why it has become pertinent, and urgent, for our dear party ADC to change the traditional way of playing politics by becoming a link between the old and modern, conservative and cosmopolitan tendencies, veteran politicians and technocrats in government. There’s no better combination than this duo, assuring of a colorful blend. The North and the South will reunite in a game of ethnic & religious rivalries.

The present combustive tensions, and absolute chaos, cannot be allowed to continue. It will consume all of us.

The time has come to retrace our steps and return to the days of robust ideas, ideologies and inspirational figures. Our founding fathers such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, The Sardauna Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and others, tried their best, even if they were not perfect. Today, we’ve completely derailed from the legacies they bequeathed to us. The politics of gansterism has become unbearably malignant in our nation. This is the type of strong bridge we need between the North and the South.

We must act before it is too late…

Featured

How We Rescued Adelabu’s Sister and Her Twin Sons from Kidnappers – Police

Published

3 days ago

June 6, 2026

Eric

The Nigerian Police Force has announced the rescue of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons, who were abducted on June 3, in Ibadan.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Pkacid revealed ad follows:

The Nigeria Police Force announces the successful rescue of Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, who were abducted on June 3, 2026, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The hostages were rescued during a coordinated operation by the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) in Ibadan at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

Mrs. Adegoke and her children were abducted while she was driving them to school at about 7:30 a.m. on June 3, 2026. The rescue was achieved through sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance, and tactical operations. These efforts enabled investigators to track the kidnappers’ movements, resulting in a confrontation with FID-IRT operatives.

During the confrontation, two suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded and two rifles were recovered. The victims were rescued unharmed and are now in safe custody, receiving medical care and support.

The Inspector-General of Police commends the courage, professionalism, and effectiveness of the FID-IRT operatives and all officers involved. Their resilience and commitment were instrumental in the safe rescue of the hostages.

Security operatives have intensified efforts in the area to apprehend fleeing members of the kidnapping syndicate. Preliminary intelligence indicates that some suspects escaped with gunshot injuries. Operations are ongoing to track, arrest, and bring all involved to justice.

The Nigeria Police Force appreciates the public’s support, cooperation, and patience during the operation. We remain committed to combating violent crime, protecting lives and property, and ensuring the safety of all citizens.