PROFESSOR NGOZI OSARENREN: AMAZON AMONG AMAZONS

PROFESSOR NGOZI OSARENREN:
AMAZON AMONG AMAZONS

By
Ohiaerinwa Ogbonnaya Okoro
Dr. Ngozi Nzuka Osarenren! Remember her? Well, one might recall the immediate-past commissioner for education, Edo State. If this answer does not satisfy the inquirer, why not go further down memory lane?
Ngozi Onwuchekwa! The answer is outlandish-off the mark! What concerns centre rank and open order? Those with a back ground of military and para-military background might snap.
Now some semantics of sorts: “Osa” and “Onwu” – in different languages, different political zones. Over hundred kilometers apart-maiden name and marital name: Igbo and Edo!
For those of us free lance mass media practitioners, Ngozi’s activities as commissioner for education, Edo State, hit the headlines. She stepped on giant and vested interest toes over the octopus examination malpractice. She became controversial, a gadfly, too hot to handle but she seemed to have the support of the governor. Neither in the good books of national examination bodies, the syndicates the principals prospectors, the parents and the students/wards.
Back at UNILAG, a professor of Counseling, she went back to the academic. She has since dusted up her shelves and files, warmed up to her colleagues and her students. And before long the inaugural lecture - the University of Lagos, Nigeria Inaugural Lecture Series 2011. And this reminded me of the previous, much earlier such lectures, some thirty five to thirty six year ago.
It was on one of such lectures that one of Nigeria engineers, Professor of Mechanic Engineering and a social critic, Professor Ayodele Awofobi insisted:
One in a while a professor
Should tell a professor
He is professing.
And so when Professor Osarren’s brother, Obinna Onwuchekwa, handed over an invitation card for the sister’s inaugural lecture at UNILAG, memories of my under graduate years warmed into my mind. I was emotion-turn between shouting “Great Akokites! Great!! Or the less complimentary “Edo for show” UCC often used to poke jokes at one when we compare UNILAG and his UI.
Title “Not Advising but Desirable Alternatives: the Work of The Counselor”, the Prof. delivered the lecture at the University of Lagos Main Auditorium on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011.
The Prof. defines and explains what counseling is and is not: Counseling and client. In other words, the counseller helps the client identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil, seek to improve communication and coping village Arochukwu. During exchange of pleasantries I in formed her that I was a cousin to her lecture colleague at UNILAG, Dr. Canice Okoh, of Arondizuogu. An amazon, her physical appearance, the height, the personality, the overall huge frame bless her with a striking personality.
An academic in government, she came, she saw and conquered. Obinna, her brother, recalls sometime last year or so when on a call of duty, she had to leave Arochukwu already midnight with bare security support back to Benin. The stint as a commissioner was her real baptism of fire, blending theory with practice and experience.
Her inaugural lecture and many more lectures to come are expected to be richer and more realistic having tasted both worlds of theory and practice.
As for Nzuko Aro [women’s wing] if they have not identified and recognized her yet, get Prof. enlisted for your next honour and awards. Skill; strengthen, self esteem and promote behaviour change and optimal mental health.

It is through counseling that we examine the behaviours
thoughts and feelings that are causing difficulties in our
lives. We are helped to learn effective ways to deal with
our problems by building upon our person al strengths
and working towards reducing our weaknesses.

The title speaks for itself. That counseling is not necessarily advising; rather, it is providing desirable alternatives to enable the recipient of the counseling make up his or her mind, and make the final choice.