The world cannot advance without mathematics – Prof Ale

After your tenure as Director-General of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), you opened an institution, what is it all about?  After my tenure as DG, NMC, I was the pro-chancellor of the Plateau State University for three years. The council was dissolved when this government came into place.I started an institute named Victory International Institute […]

After your tenure as Director-General of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), you opened an institution, what is it all about?
 After my tenure as DG, NMC, I was the pro-chancellor of the Plateau State University for three years. The council was dissolved when this government came into place.
I started an institute named Victory International Institute of Theology and Education (VIITE). The institute was basically opened to study Theology and its education aspect. This shows that it was opened for other forms of learning.
 Theology is the study about God. And if you recall, the first university in history by the early Greeks was built to study about God. But today, most universities don’t even have a curriculum to study about God. For education at any level, we have to partner with other universities and institutions as well.
 It has been recognised that even the National Open University of Nigeria  (NOUN) has decided to start up a special study center in the institute.
 The special study center is like every other NOUN study center where you  can study for your degree in any discipline you desire.
 I am also glad to mention that the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria said students could come to the institute and study for their one year IJMB  and write the IJMB examination as well.
 Even the last JAMB examination was written in the institute, which tells  that we have over 200 computers. This also shows that people can come to  our institute for computer studies.
I also receive calls from institutions to help out in one problem or the  other to ensure they meet up the minimum standard of the National  Universities Commission (NUC). As I am talking to you now, I am a  pro-chancellor to two other universities.
Even though you are no longer in the NMC, what do you think about mathematics in Nigeria generally? Do you think there is an improvement?
 All over the world, there is apathy towards mathematics because people  think the subject is difficult. That’s a problem faced all over the globe,  not only in Nigeria.
 Immediately you mention that you are a mathematician, people will refer to  you as a terror. Majority of people don’t like the subject and are scared of  it. The advancement in the world is together. I can make bold to say that  the world cannot advance without advancement in mathematics.
 Yes, it is a disease of many students and people generally; but truly, we  need it to advance. Even though I am no longer in the Mathematics Centre, I am abreast with what is going on in the world of mathematics. I still write my journal papers and books on mathematics.
 I am always glad whenever I see some of the things I started in the centre  going on properly. I am always glad to see that Nigeria has continued to be  actively involved in the International Olympiad because through this  Olympiad, we are measuring our performance in relationship with other  countries.
I am glad that they still continue to win medals. Also, it is an international center for mathematical studies, so they collaborate with other science bodies through an organisation called COMSAT. And the NMC has continued to be part of those organisations. I am happy that they have continued.
Have you noticed any impact, especially in the grassroots in terms of the collaboration?
 The impact might not be noticeable, but it is there. For instance, more  than 10 staff members of the centre have gone abroad to study. Ten may look insignificant, but the truth is that there is progress going on.
 We wrote quite some books for the primary, secondary and tertiary levels when I was in the centre. Those books are still in use. And I am told that they are still writing. But no matter what you do, simply because of the hatred people have for mathematics, the impact will not be noticed so much.
What could be responsible for the mass failure in mathematics?
Lots of factors are actually responsible. And until the factors are looked  into, failure in mathematics will continue. Until educational facilities are improved upon, mathematics as a subject will not thrive. For instance, you still see people in many places learning under trees and uncompleted buildings. It actually affects performance.
 You also see cases where there are no teachers. Again, there are strikes and lack of payment for teachers. Most times they are out of school. Definitely, these factors generally affect students’ performance.
There are materials needed to improve performance, but mathematical education is part of general education, and if general education is not improved, it will definitely bounce back on every other subject. So I can say that we still have a problem in the country.
I call on the government to pay special attention to rural education, where the situation is very pitiable. How can one sit 30 to 50 students in a  classroom? Definitely, there will be no meaningful learning for the  students. Another instance is where only three teachers are  assigned to over 2, 000 students. Definitely, very little will be achieved.
 That is the problem of education generally, and we need to do something  about it.
 Our educational needs should be identified at the rural level because so far, it is not something we can smile about. It needs attention. It is also important to know the responsibility of the various arms of government in education.
The concurrent list we talk about is where the local government takes care of primary education, the state government takes care of secondary education while the federal government takes care of tertiary education. But until we go back to such system where primary schools are recognised as the foundation upon which we build education, we will keep having this problem.
What more are we expecting from your institution as time goes on?
I am happy about the recognition I am receiving. And I believe it will be more when people begin to see what is going on in the institute. I expect that it will be as great as other universities. People should expect the expansion of the institute.