This is the story of a young Nigerian worker who is planning to further his studies in the US...His name is Joe. Please, follow Joe's educational history.
Primary Education
Joe attended a very good nursery and primary school founded and operated by a missionary group. He was taught by great teachers and paid only a pittance as school fees. He also enjoyed excellent amenities and recreational facilities; standard classrooms (appropriate teacher to student ratios) and free stationery and meals. In short, Joe had the right start in life.
Secondary Education
He was admitted into a private boarding school where he saw the other side of life. Most teachers there were a little above average and were always in search of a better paying job. The facilities in the school were not adequate as the proprietor was more interested in the school fees than the quality of the students. The fees never obeyed the law of gravity as they were always on the rise while the standard rarely improved. Joe often compared the standard at the school to that of his primary school and whenever he did he was left frustrated... He couldn't wait to leave the school but he had no option because as bad it was, the school was the best his parents could afford at that time.
Tertiary Education
Joe gained admission into one of the state owned universities in Nigeria to study engineering. He was overjoyed as he had heard so much about the institution. In his own words, Joe said, "if I thought my secondary education was bad then my experience at the university was much 'WORSETER'. He narrated his experience to me, he said that he learned to write workshop and lab reports without touching or ever seeing the equipment. It was the norm for him to sit in overcrowded lecture rooms where he would have to strain his ears to hear a word from an often detached and nonchalant lecturer. He went on to say that the hostels on campus were congested and dilapidated; lacking regular water and power supply and sometimes he had to go for test without taking his bath. Joe went on and on complaining.
7 years After School
Joe is now working and doing pretty well...
This was when I met Joe again (we attended the same secondary school). I reminded Joe of our days in school and how we used to complain about the quality of education we got and how we wished things were much different. He remembered vividly. Then I asked, "why don't we reach out to some of our old colleagues and go back to that school to make a difference. To make our wishes then come through in the lives of the present students"... Joe paused and said, "why do we have to? We left that school a long time ago. Moreover, we paid our school fees and the kids there today also paid. They (the school authorities) should use the money generated from fees to improve the standard of the school. It's a private school for God sake!"... Then I replied, "but you and I know they won't. They are more interested in minimizing cost and maximizing profits"... Joe went on to say, "if we were treated right back then I would feel obliged to give something back in return. The truth of the matter is that I owe them NOTHING"... I said, "but you are an alumnus of the school and that's irreversible; let us make the school something we will all be proud of in the nearest future"... he answered, "guy, I have more important things to do with my money.... I plan to get a Masters degree in project management and risk analysis. It will cost me several thousand US dollars. I am saving up for it and I am applying to several top universities in the US that offer scholarships"
My Point:
Joe has three main reasons for not accepting to give back to his secondary school;
1 It is privately owned
2 He has not too pleasant memories of his secondary school days
3 Lastly,he wants to further his education and doesn't have the money required... he would love a scholarship
Indeed, Joe has good excuses but they are all EXCUSES.
-Joe is yet to give a kobo to the PUBLICLY owned university he attended to help improve the condition of the institution (I guess the State govt ought to take full responsibility)
-Joe has great and very pleasant memories of his primary school days but he is also yet to give a kobo back to see that the standard is upheld
-Lastly, Joe wants a scholarship from a top university in the US to fund his masters' program but has forgotten that if the ALUMNI of that school were like him, there will be no fund set aside for scholarships.
My Message
We need to stop all the complaining and start giving back to our Alma mater, if Nigeria is to stand tall.
Thanks for your time.
God bless you and God bless Nigeria.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
I am a Nigerian... Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
This is an excerpt from a speech given by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in 2009 at the launch of a book titled, " Nigeria, Africa 's failed asset?" written by Sir Olaniwun Ajayi... Please enjoy
{Please I ask that you detach this speech from whatever objection or bias or grievance you might have with any of Sanusi's economic policies}
"Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the language of his generation.
My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I cannot forgive people of my generation speaking in that language.
Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being bandied around. Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria . Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate. The man from Kano regard himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was bazazzage. The man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.
The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now said it was a Muslim North.
The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern Nigeria . Do you know what happened? Our grand fathers were able to transform to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being Nigerians. The fault is ours.
Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many governors in the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me. There is no evidence statistically that any part of this country has produced good leaders.
You talk about Babangida and the economy. Who were the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are they from in the North?
We started the banking reform; the first thing I heard was that in Urobo land, that there will be a curse of the ancestors. I said they (ancestors) would not answer. They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru build in Urobo land? So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people support her?
We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007. Was it a Southern thing? It was not. "The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.
Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they sit down, they eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be a minister from every state.
So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria . The problem with Nigeria is that a group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty that you find in any part of the South.
The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked about few numbers of graduates in the North (two at independence) . What he did not say was that there was a documented policy of the British when they came that the Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was British colonial policy. I have the document. I have published articles on it. That if you educate the Northerner you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the type we have in Egypt
and India. So, do not educate them. It was documented. And you say they love us (North).
I have spent the better part of my life to fight and Dr. (Reuben) Abati knows me. Yes, my grandfather was an Emir. Why was I in the pro-democracy movement fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano ? Why am I a founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian Development (KIND)?
There are good Yoruba people, good Igbo people, good Fulani people, good Nigerians and there are bad people everywhere. That is the truth. "Stop talking about dividing Nigeria because we are not the most populous country in the world. We have all the resources that make it easy to make one united great Nigeria . It is better if we are united than to divide it.
Every time you talk about division, when you restructure, do you know what will happen? In Delta Area, the people in Warri will say Agbor, you don't have oil. When was the Niger Delta constructed as a political entity? Ten years ago, the Itshekiris were fighting the Urobos. Isn't that what was happening? Now they have become Niger Delta because they have found oil. After, it will be, if you do not have oil in your village then you cannot share our resources.
There is no country in the world where resources are found in everybody's hamlet. But people have leaders and they said if you have this geography and if we are one state, then we have a responsibility for making sure that the people who belong to this country have a good nature.
So, why don't you talk about; we don't have infrastructure, we don't have education, we don't have health. We are still talking about Fulani. Is it the Fulani cattle rearer or is anybody saying there is no poverty among the Fulani?"
Hope you enjoyed it.
I AM NIGERIAN... Are you???
{Please I ask that you detach this speech from whatever objection or bias or grievance you might have with any of Sanusi's economic policies}
"Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the language of his generation.
My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I cannot forgive people of my generation speaking in that language.
Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being bandied around. Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria . Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate. The man from Kano regard himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was bazazzage. The man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.
The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now said it was a Muslim North.
The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern Nigeria . Do you know what happened? Our grand fathers were able to transform to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being Nigerians. The fault is ours.
Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many governors in the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me. There is no evidence statistically that any part of this country has produced good leaders.
You talk about Babangida and the economy. Who were the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are they from in the North?
We started the banking reform; the first thing I heard was that in Urobo land, that there will be a curse of the ancestors. I said they (ancestors) would not answer. They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru build in Urobo land? So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people support her?
We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007. Was it a Southern thing? It was not. "The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.
Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they sit down, they eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be a minister from every state.
So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria . The problem with Nigeria is that a group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty that you find in any part of the South.
The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked about few numbers of graduates in the North (two at independence) . What he did not say was that there was a documented policy of the British when they came that the Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was British colonial policy. I have the document. I have published articles on it. That if you educate the Northerner you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the type we have in Egypt
and India. So, do not educate them. It was documented. And you say they love us (North).
I have spent the better part of my life to fight and Dr. (Reuben) Abati knows me. Yes, my grandfather was an Emir. Why was I in the pro-democracy movement fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano ? Why am I a founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian Development (KIND)?
There are good Yoruba people, good Igbo people, good Fulani people, good Nigerians and there are bad people everywhere. That is the truth. "Stop talking about dividing Nigeria because we are not the most populous country in the world. We have all the resources that make it easy to make one united great Nigeria . It is better if we are united than to divide it.
Every time you talk about division, when you restructure, do you know what will happen? In Delta Area, the people in Warri will say Agbor, you don't have oil. When was the Niger Delta constructed as a political entity? Ten years ago, the Itshekiris were fighting the Urobos. Isn't that what was happening? Now they have become Niger Delta because they have found oil. After, it will be, if you do not have oil in your village then you cannot share our resources.
There is no country in the world where resources are found in everybody's hamlet. But people have leaders and they said if you have this geography and if we are one state, then we have a responsibility for making sure that the people who belong to this country have a good nature.
So, why don't you talk about; we don't have infrastructure, we don't have education, we don't have health. We are still talking about Fulani. Is it the Fulani cattle rearer or is anybody saying there is no poverty among the Fulani?"
Hope you enjoyed it.
I AM NIGERIAN... Are you???
What’s Nigeria’s Benchmark?
This piece was inspired by clips from the 2010 World Expo held in Shanghai. The theme of the expo was Better city, Better life. Its aim was to portray world-class cities with little or no carbon emission.
Several countries from North and South America, Europe and Asia stretched the borders of our imagination by their display of cutting edge technologies and infrastructure which have the ability to improve man’s relationship with his environment. Mind blowing pavilions were designed unveiling architectural beauty and functionality. Sadly, Africa was still Africa; having only its cultural heritage on display.
During the build up to the Shanghai Expo, one of the organisers said something that struck me deeply. He said ‘‘during this expo many children would come visiting and one can only imagine what seeds of the future would be planted in their hearts.’’ To him, the success of the expo was in its ability to set a new benchmark for their future.
Thus, the question arose, ‘What’s Nigeria’s Benchmark?’
In 2010, most Nigerian kids are mainly surrounded by mediocrity. This is not the fault of the government alone, we are all contributors. We live in a society that fantasises about the future, disregards the present and lavishly glorifies the past... saying we must try to bring back the ‘good old days.’ Hence, we build structures as though we live in the twentieth century. Our educational curriculum is tailored to stifle ingenuity and begs for urgent review. We consistently serve and uphold ideas, policies and laws that are primitive and unsophisticated. Professionalism is not a top priority in most of our institutions and organisations. Innovation, safety, and environmental impact are not given major consideration in our daily operations.
So, what are we showing our kids?... Since they are our Future
To build a world-class nation we must first of all define clearly a world-class nation. Therefore, I would recommend to all Nigerians; parents, school proprietors, artisans, government officials and kids the clips from the Shanghai World Expo 2010... Let this be our benchmark for national development. If these already developed countries are looking in this direction, we better start looking in that direction also. Not copying but using it as a yardstick.
Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
Written by Taulpaul
Several countries from North and South America, Europe and Asia stretched the borders of our imagination by their display of cutting edge technologies and infrastructure which have the ability to improve man’s relationship with his environment. Mind blowing pavilions were designed unveiling architectural beauty and functionality. Sadly, Africa was still Africa; having only its cultural heritage on display.
During the build up to the Shanghai Expo, one of the organisers said something that struck me deeply. He said ‘‘during this expo many children would come visiting and one can only imagine what seeds of the future would be planted in their hearts.’’ To him, the success of the expo was in its ability to set a new benchmark for their future.
Thus, the question arose, ‘What’s Nigeria’s Benchmark?’
In 2010, most Nigerian kids are mainly surrounded by mediocrity. This is not the fault of the government alone, we are all contributors. We live in a society that fantasises about the future, disregards the present and lavishly glorifies the past... saying we must try to bring back the ‘good old days.’ Hence, we build structures as though we live in the twentieth century. Our educational curriculum is tailored to stifle ingenuity and begs for urgent review. We consistently serve and uphold ideas, policies and laws that are primitive and unsophisticated. Professionalism is not a top priority in most of our institutions and organisations. Innovation, safety, and environmental impact are not given major consideration in our daily operations.
So, what are we showing our kids?... Since they are our Future
To build a world-class nation we must first of all define clearly a world-class nation. Therefore, I would recommend to all Nigerians; parents, school proprietors, artisans, government officials and kids the clips from the Shanghai World Expo 2010... Let this be our benchmark for national development. If these already developed countries are looking in this direction, we better start looking in that direction also. Not copying but using it as a yardstick.
Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
Written by Taulpaul
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