Prof. Evans Osabuohien
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In October 2025, Covenant University welcomed Ms Sema Karakus from Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Germany, for an academic visit that unfolded into a profound experience of learning, reflection, and cultural discovery. With a background in teaching Mathematics for Engineers and Mechanics at the University of Applied Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, and several years working in industry, she travelled to Nigeria with a keen interest in understanding how academic life functions within a different educational system.
Her visit was hosted by Professor Evans Osabuohien, an accomplished Professor of Economics at Covenant University and Founding Chair of the DePECOS Institutions and Development Research Centre (DIaDeRC) as well as the Pioneer Chair of Covenant University Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR). Under his guidance, her stay evolved beyond observation, it became a journey that reshaped her views on teaching, community, and the meaning of belonging.
A Campus Where Discipline Meets Warmth
From her first day of arrival, which was 4th October 2025, Ms Sema Karakus was struck by the university’s exceptional organisation and strong academic ethos. She observed classrooms where discipline, structure, and intellectual curiosity worked hand-in-hand. This environment, she noted, provides a powerful foundation for the demanding fields of engineering, mathematics, and economics.
She attended lectures across multiple departments and encountered lecturers who combined deep academic expertise with genuine enthusiasm for teaching. Their readiness to stay after classes, answer questions, and guide students individually left a lasting impression. In smaller classes, especially Mathematics for Economists, she witnessed interactive exchanges that strengthened students’ understanding of complex ideas.
Her comparison with German institutions revealed that Covenant University’s mathematics instruction stands at an international standard. She admired the resilience of students who persisted through challenging topics, recognising that such moments are central to academic growth.
A Front-Row Seat to Nigeria’s Academic and Professional Landscape
Beyond classroom observation, Ms Karakus accompanied her host (Professor Evans Osabuohien) to several important academic and professional events. Each one offered a unique window into Nigeria’s intellectual ecosystem.
She attended the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) Induction Ceremony at Bells University of Technology on 28th October 2025, where she witnessed how academic excellence intersects with broader national economic dialogue including the courtesy call to the office of the Vice-Chancellor.
Another highlight of her visit was joining the Monday Fellowship and Interaction Session at the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR), held at the CUCRID Building. This gathering demonstrated how Covenant University blends scholarship, mentorship, and service in a distinctive and meaningful way.
She also participated in the Hooding Event organised by School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS) as part of Covenant University’s 20th Convocation Ceremony, powerful celebrations filled with pride, gratitude, and community spirit. According to her, it was “a vibrant and emotionally uplifting celebration filled with gratitude, accomplishment, and joy”.
She was fascinated by the seamless integration of spirituality and scholarship, a hallmark of Covenant University’s identity. Prayers before lectures, gatherings, and campus events illustrated a harmony of values that she found enriching and refreshing, especially in contrast to the strict separation of faith and academia common in Europe.
Discovering a Different Kind of Belonging
One of the most touching aspects of her journey was the cultural understanding of belonging she experienced in Nigeria. Unlike Germany, where belonging is often defined by ancestry, she found that Nigerians embrace a socially rooted and inclusive sense of identity.
People welcomed her with sincerity, warmth, and openness. Many even asked whether she might be Nigerian by heritage, a gesture that deeply moved her given her lived experience of feeling othered in Europe despite being born and raised there. The constant encouragement, communal celebrations of success, and genuine interest people showed in her perspectives revealed a culture where community is not only valued but actively practised.
Students and staff carried on with calm focus, demonstrating a level of resilience that she found both admirable and instructive. These moments offered lessons that extended beyond the classroom, lessons about adaptability, commitment, and collective determination.
A Visit That Became a Turning Point
Reflecting on her experience, Ms Karakus described her visit as transformative. It expanded her academic perspectives, deepened her cultural understanding, and introduced her to a community defined by excellence, warmth, and purpose.
She expressed sincere appreciation to the Covenant University Management for approving her visit and extended heartfelt gratitude to her host, Professor Evans Osabuohien, whose mentorship, hospitality, and unwavering support shaped her entire experience.
She leaves Nigeria inspired, enriched, and eager to return for future collaboration with Covenant University and DIaDeRC.
