Okojie calls for emotional intelligence course in universities

A former executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Emeritus Professor Julius Okojie, has called on the commission to introduce Emotional Intelligence (EI) as a course in the university system.

“The NUC should, as a matter of urgency, institute the relevant panel to develop the Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) for the programme in EI.

“The university system is a composite work environment and would benefit immensely in its application in the system. The NUC should take ownership of the responsibility,” he stated.

Okojie, who spoke during the 3rd Registry Distinguished Lecture of the University of Uyo on ‘Composite Work Environment: Emotional Intelligence as the Nexus’, described EI as the ability to understand one’s emotion and those of other people, and behave appropriately in different situations, as well as positively influence the appropriate behaviours of others.

He explained that EI would adequately address the problem of human emotion in the work place, noting that it has prospects in resolving issues between employees and employers.

EI, he said, was in everyone but in different spectra, adding that women have better emotional intelligence than men but as they grow older, the spectrum disappears.

While declaring the lecture open, the vice chancellor, Prof. Enefiok Essien, said most of the crises in the institution were not unconnected with behavioral tendencies, faculty approaches, attitudinal influences, misguided judgments and emotional depressions from the purposive course of management and the officers within the system.