Newly Appointed GNS Director Sets Ambitious Plans for Improved Learning Experience at Unilorin

The University of Ilorin has appointed Professor Kayode Lambe Mustapha as the new Director of the General Nigerian Studies (GNS) Unit, a role he said came with mixed emotions and a renewed sense of responsibility.

Mustapha, a long-serving academic in the Department of Mass Communication, said the appointment initially left him both delighted and apprehensive. “As a normal human being, I had mixed feelings,” he said in an interview. “You are happy, then fear sets in. You begin to ask yourself many questions: Why me? What would I do to justify this appointment?” He added that he eventually accepted the role with gratitude, convinced that the university leadership “must have seen something I didn’t even realize I was doing.”

The GNS Unit—responsible for compulsory general courses taken by every student regardless of discipline—serves more than 30,000 students each academic session. Mustapha said the scale makes GNS one of the university’s most challenging courses to deliver effectively, especially under infrastructural constraints. With limited physical facilities, in-person lectures are not feasible, making virtual delivery the default mode.

“The number of students makes it impossible to have physical classes,” he said. “Ensuring optimal lecture delivery has been one of our biggest challenges.”

To address these issues, the director outlined a series of improvements aimed at strengthening access and stimulating student interest. He emphasized that GNS courses are not mere graduation requirements but foundational classes designed “to imbue the student into what I call a total person.” He stressed the need for students to see the courses as intellectually significant rather than procedural as most of them do.

Part of the Unit’s reform strategy includes maximizing the university’s Learning Management System (LMS) to enhance interactive engagement. But with the LMS still unable to fully accommodate the volume of students, the Unit has begun experimenting with smaller, staggered virtual classes to reduce traffic during lectures.

Mustapha said the university also approved an innovative approach to expand content delivery: the integration of Unilorin FM and Unilorin Television. “We are deploying broadcasting infrastructure to bring GNS courses to students through these media,” he explained. “Lectures are being recorded for transmission on the university television.” He added that the Unit is exploring tutorial support in collaboration with the students’ union and individual faculties, describing it as a global best practice aimed at improving comprehension.

Reflecting on the leadership principles in guiding his work, Mustapha highlighted open deliberation, consultation, and a commitment to innovative thinking. “We must not assume there is only one way out of any problem,” he said. “Think outside the box. And when there is no box, think without the box.” He added that he frequently draws insight from previous directors, noting that “they have worn these shoes before.”

Balancing administrative duties with teaching, he admitted, is one of the toughest parts of his new role. However, he remains committed to the classroom. “It is a hard task that must be done,” he said. “I cherish the aspect of teaching and impacting. When I miss classes, I ensure I hold make-up sessions or online meetings. I love interacting with students.”

The most surprising aspect of the role, he said, has been the inadequacy of resources. While the university has made considerable efforts to support the Unit, Mustapha believes more would be achieved with greater infrastructural capacity. Still, he expressed appreciation for the institution’s commitment to allocating its lean resources to student needs.

After decades in academia, he said his motivation remains the same: molding minds. “No reward can be too much for mind molders,” he said. “It gives me pleasure to contribute to the lives of people who will become managers, executives, academics, politicians, and great things I cannot even fathom now. Helping students grow intellectually helps me grow too.”

Mustapha encouraged students to view their university education as a holistic journey, not a checklist of courses. He explained that becoming a “total person” requires engagement with knowledge across disciplines. “There is no department of ‘presidentology,’” he said. “An art student needs the basics of philosophy; science students need exposure to broader ideas. Knowledge works together.”

In a final message to students navigating academic life, he urged them to embrace the privilege of higher education. “They should see the opportunity to come to university as a huge gift,” he said. “University is the apex of educational adventure where ideas are incubated. They should maximize the benefits—take their courses seriously, build networks, and learn to be leaders and followers.”