NSUK Holds 60th Inaugural Lecture, Professor Oke Champions Counselling as Driver of Human Development

Nasarawa State University Keffi has hosted its 60th Inaugural Lecture, with Professor Dayo Tunde Oke of the Department of Guidance and Counselling delivering a research-driven presentation that positioned counselling psychology as a critical tool for human and societal development.

The lecture, held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at the University Assembly Hall, was titled “Tuning into Understanding, Nurturing Dreams, Empowering Outcomes and Knowledge Elevation (TUNDE OKE): The Efficacy of Counselling.” It attracted a strong turnout of academics, students, and stakeholders, particularly from the Faculty of Education.

The Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University Keffi, Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Halima Aliyu Doma-Kutigi, who commended the lecturer and described the theme as timely and aligned with the core mission of universities—advancing understanding, nurturing aspirations, and promoting knowledge-driven development.

She noted that in an era defined by information overload, the challenge is no longer access to data but the ability to interpret and apply it meaningfully. According to her, counselling remains essential in helping students navigate increasingly complex academic and life pathways, especially as aspirations rise alongside uncertainty.

She also encouraged students to actively engage the university’s Career Development Centre, noting ongoing efforts to strengthen it with digital tools to improve access to counselling and career guidance services.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, represented by the Head of Department, Educational Foundations, Dr. Abdulkareem Yunusa, as well as Professor Ngozi Azuka Osarenren of the University of Lagos and the lecturer’s daughter, Samiat Oluwademilade Oke. All speakers highlighted the importance of counselling in shaping behavioural outcomes, strengthening academic success, and contributing to national development.

In his lecture, Professor Oke described counselling psychology as a structured intervention system that enables individuals to interpret lived experiences, manage emotional distress, and transform psychological challenges into personal growth. He argued that human existence is inherently complex, shaped by emotional, social, and psychological pressures that require professional guidance for effective navigation.

He further positioned counselling not as a supplementary academic service but as a foundational pillar of development—linking understanding to action, potential to achievement, and experience to knowledge creation. According to him, effective counselling converts confusion into clarity and enables individuals to channel adversity into progress.

Professor Oke concluded by reaffirming counselling’s central role in shaping resilient individuals and productive societies, emphasizing its relevance in education systems and broader national development frameworks.

The event also featured the presentation of a plaque of recognition to the lecturer by the Vice-Chancellor in appreciation of his academic contributions, followed by a group photograph session to mark the occasion.