By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
Lira University has held its first Public Lecture and Exhibition drawing several intellectuals, students and other interested persons from the community.
The Public Lecture, with the Topic: “Am I educated?”, was held on Thursday “1st June 2023) at Sexual and Reproductive Health Building.
Ag. Dean, Faculty of Education, Dr Laury Ocen moderated the discussion with Dr Ben Jones of University of Anglia as the key speaker.
The DVC Lira University, Assoc. Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum, the Chief Guest, advised, “just kill or swallow your pride as a degree graduate and whatever you feel can contribute to your welfare and that of the community in which you live.”
Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum added, “never be confused or stressed to be employed or by the salary you get from formal employment. Do any business or get side businesses to avoid embarrassments in future when you leave the formal job.”
Dr Ocen Laury observed that Uganda, a country of 46 million people in East Africa, is home to one of the world’s youngest populations. Many young women and men who are the first in their family to go to school. Most do not have “proper jobs”. Many also participate in local institutions: churches, courts, committees. Our exhibition is a partnership with young people in Uganda, the University of East Anglia, Lira University and The Field Lab both in Uganda.
The research is led by Dr Ben Jones of the University of East Anglia and Dr Laury Ocen of Lira University.
Dr Jones noted that young people they worked with in the research, most of whom had university degrees, did not have “proper jobs” –salaried employment – and their experiences have shaped their lives.
“It is not about the formal education but the ability to look at things differently, what contribution you can make in the society, not about degrees….. but your innovations, and disregarding what others say, as long as you are convinced and doing the right thing,” he asserts.
The research, according to Jones, took place in two urban center, Lira City in northern Uganda, and Ngora town in eastern Uganda.
