Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 — 27
People in Business
•Students in session
ISLS: School of language laboratory By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU
M
r. Owolabi Oladejo is Pr esident/Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Impact School of Language studies, Impact Business School, IBR and Impact Business Radio, IBR , (92.5FM), based in Ibadan, Oyo state capital. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria among others. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State Nigeria. He has served in various capacities in many organizations. Beside his career in Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Engineering with Nigeria Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Limited, NITEL, he has over Twenty (20) years experience in Public Revenue Consulting, Accounting, Finance and Management. Highly cerebral, Mr Oladejo fits into many modes and has been involved in many human capital development programme. Modern developments such as social media, the internet, and affordable air travels are transforming the world into a global community. In this community, we routinely encounter other cultures and other languages, and so the desire to achieve fluency in a second language –or even the third language –is stronger than ever. The way to learn: The best way to learn a new language is to move to a country where your target language is spoken, and immerse yourself in the local C M Y K
culture or you can work with an expert tutor on a one-onone basis. However, in these days of tight education budget, sending one abroad or hiring tutors is rarely practical, as now in Nigeria a school that teaches several languages now abounds, precisely in Ibadan, Oyo state capital. The school, the language laboratory of Impact School of Languages Studies, ISLS, is a brain child of Impact Business School, IBR, headed by Mr. Owolabi Oladejo, President/Chief Executive Officer, CEO. The school include other branches of educational/ Media sections, which are Impact School of Professional Education and Executive Development, iSPEED, Impact School of Broadcasting, i-SBC, and Impact School of Entrepreneurial and Economic Development, iSEED, which is part of “The Knowledge Group”, the other arm of the knowledge group include Impact Business Radio, IBR, (92.5FM), Nigeria’ first business radio station. Speaking at the unveiling/ familiarization tour, the CEO said the school offers instruction in local and foreign languages as second language, while stressing that a better communication skills lead to a better world, and successful communication include s not only languages proficiency, but also intellectual competence, as well as an open and inquisitive mind. “For this reason, all our programmers’ teach intercultural communication and critical thinking skills.” He stressed. He went further to say that the goal of ISLS program is to make students proficient in the types of oral and
written communication required in modern business, diplomacy and career world. The CEO also reiterated that the language school offers instruction in Nigerian and foreign languages for individuals, companies, nonprofit organisations, NGOs, and government agencies. According to him, “ we offer flexible scheduling to accommodate professionals who must learn a specific language for their job, businessmen /women whose business involve traveling/
The goal of ISLS program is to make students proficient in the types of oral and written communication required in modern business, diplomacy and career world.
interactions with foreign buyers/ sellers and full time students.” “Our foreign languages classes include English, French, Italian, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi/Urdu, Latin etc and many Nigerian languages like Yoruba, Hausa Igbo and others. The role of technology: The school would not have achieved this goal without the aid of a specialist in the field language translation and transmission with assistance of smart class technology installed by Robotel Incorporated. How teachers overcome these conflicting needs for larger class sizes and more student speaking practice is basically turning to technology to help them manage their classes and ensure students have sufficient opportunities to practice and hone their listening and speaking skills. Language learning platforms, like smart class enable teachers assign in-
class activities such as pairing and recording where all students are able to speak concurrently. However, new technologies play key roles in research, imparting knowledge and transformation of Nigeria’s ailing education sector. But some of our educational institutions in Nigeria and West Africa have paid little attention in harnessing the potentials of the Internet and new technologies to uplift learning, teaching and research. Meanwhile, the increased Broadband access in the region, paves way for Robotel to birth its innovative products in Nigeria and West Africa in 2014. The West Africa Manager for Robotel Incorporated, Olu Babatunde, had argued that higher education in developed world has gone beyond using the black or white boards with either white chalks or markers and the conventional teaching aids. According to him, “today, we have installed Language Laboratories in Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, which is the pioneer Robotel installed Laboratory in Nigeria with 10 +1 workstations; Babcock University, Ilisan, Ogun State with 30+1 workstations. We recently delivered the Redeemer ’s University Language Laboratory ,also 30 + 1 workstations. Continuing, “we also have some, which are work in progress. Some of them are Uthman Fodio University, Sokoto; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka; Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State and host of others within the country. We are also expanding our tentacles beyond the shores of Nigeria. We have received orders from University of Sao Tome & Principe and many others from Ghana.
IGP commissions Police housing estate in Umuahia
T
he Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has commissioned a 100-unit housing estate named, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro Housing Estate, for the Nigerian Police Force in Umuahia. Speaking at the ceremony Arase said the estate which is a project of the Nigerian Police Force Corporative Society comprises of two bedroom flats for officers and members of the Nigerian Police Force. He said similar projects have been completed and handed over to inspector and rank and file cadre in
Katsina, Adamawa and FCT. “This project was made possible through the engagement of direct labour, using our assets in logistics and supply department to construct the houses. In addition, the Force has also been partnering with some private developers, the 1004 housing units in Dutsen Town, FCT, is being built by the MPL Property Development Company in collaboration with Shelter Afrique and just recently Brick City Housing Poject in Kubwa was also commissioned under Public Private Partnership(PPP)
Initiative. Arase further explained that the estate was named after the Chairman of Police Service Commission, Mike Mbama Okiro, in recognition of his contribution to the Nigerian Police Force. “Under his tenure as the Inspector General of Police, the force was able to reclaim its lost glory, he recruited and ensured quality training of officers as well as advanced the welfare of officers and men of the force. As the chairman of Police Service Commission, he continues to fight for the interest of the police.”