Nigerian Professor Advocates Study of Ifa and Witchcraft in Universities
Falola also advocated for the use of indigenous languages for teaching and interaction among lecturers and students. He critiqued the colonial design of the African educational system, asserting that it primarily served the economic and governance ambitions of colonial masters.
In a thought-provoking proposal, Professor of History, Toyin Falola, has urged Nigerian universities to introduce courses in the study of Ifa and witchcraft, integrating them with science and economics as degree-awarding programs. Professor Falola emphasized this during the 54th Convocation lecture at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on "Decolonising African Higher Education for Transformational Development" on January 15.
Falola also advocated for the use of indigenous languages for teaching and interaction among lecturers and students. He critiqued the colonial design of the African educational system, asserting that it primarily served the economic and governance ambitions of colonial masters.
Highlighting the lingering impact of colonial-era education, Falola argued that even after political independence, African education continued to advance the economic and political objectives of European countries through the elites.
The professor called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to grant universities more autonomy in designing curricula tailored to their unique needs.