It is indeed very sad, pathetic and pitiable to relate from unimpeachable source that in a recent world survey, no Nigerian University was enumerated among the best 500 universities in the world in spite of the large community of professors in Nigeria.
Who is responsible for this? The professors, the parents, or the government. This is a question every one of us shall provide an answer to. Again when we want to talk, we always say “NIGERIA IS THE GIANT OF AFRICA”. When such a world survey on academic performance reveals that the neighboring South Africa has four of its, universities in the list, namely university of Cape Town (247th) university of Witwatersrand (394th) university of Kwazulu Natal (471st) and university of Pretoria (482nd), whereas Nigeria has no one out of about 80 universities (private and public).
Now, let us come home to our continent Africa where we are the GIANT. In a similar survey for the best 50 universities in Africa, Nigeria only had two universities listed. Painfully arid shamefully, Nigerian universities came up in the 40th and 5Oth positions. Namely, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and University of Ibadan (UI) respectively. Whereas South Africa country that has 23 universities has 13 of its Universities listed, followed by Egypt. with nine of its universities in the list of excellence to mention only two countries.
The survey has no doubt posed challenge to the credibility of our ivory Towers both government and privately owned who extort exuberantly, the common man in the pretext of offering the best academically. Although truth is bitter, our elders often say that “when you make a person a slave, do not let him realise that he or she is your slave”. This was what resulted in the revolution in “Animal Farm” a satirical novel by George Orwel on former Soviet Russia.
Imagine, South Africa that has a population of 44 million and got her independence fully in 1994 surpassing Nigeria that had her independence in 1960 with about 140 million inhabitants.
In 1964, Sir Tafäwa Balewa’s speech before Nigeria’s House of Representatives which says” it must be obvious that no Nigeria can be counted so long as any major sector of the economy is controlled by foreigners” This was the vision pf our gallant heroes who fought tenaciously for our independence 48 years ago. Like as at now, is the vision a reality? I therefore submit without any apology that Nigerians were more contented and happier economically, educationally, spiritually and even enjoyed better security under the foreign government. This is because the foreigners were more truthful, dedicated and sincere to the subject than our leaders of today. All the public primary schools in my area in Etsako West, Central and East for example were built by our colonial masters in early 1940s and 50s, while these institutions built much earlier are now decaying without improvement on them.
Only the late chief Obafemi Awolowo drastically improved on what the colonial masters did. During the colonial government, the vice like pen robbery, which gave rise to, the impetuous acts like armed robbery, prostitution, cultism, vandalism, drug trafficking etc. were not experienced. God fatherism or nepotism and sadism that have destroyed our nation today were never there.
When Nigeria could not come up under the rating of 500 academic excellence, she is saying that she wants to be placed among the best 20 economies in the world in the year 2020. This sounds very ridiculous and miraculous to the right thinking person. This statement is only cosmetic and of course incredulous because the president, the legislators and his executives would not accept to do what would make this a reality.
Nigeria can even come under or among the best 10 countries of the world only if the following suggestions are strictly adhered to: -
1. The salaries/allowances of the legislators, executives starting from the councillors to the president should be reduced drastically) So that Nigeria can have enough money to promote educational institutions, industrial and agricultural institutions.
2. Salaries/allowances should be based on meritorious performance. The legislators, executives should be paid according to their contributions and number of bills they have sponsored.
3. Most importantly culprits of corrupt practices should not be treated with levity. It is said that in every unpunished delinquent there is a family of delinquencies. The gravity of the offence of the embezzlers is more than that of the armed • robbers. Therefore, any one found guilty of this act, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CUT OFF HIS OR HER HAND AS PRESCRIED BY THE HOLY QUR’AN. This would serve as an indelible stigma for him and his family yet unborn. This would be more shameful, painful and disgraceful than execution.
4. Teaching of science and mathematics starting from the primary school to the tertiary institutions should be strictly monitored; likewise teachers who are specialists in the field should be given special incentives.
5. Teaching profession from primary school to the tertiary level should not be left to the mediocres, knowing fully well that the nation cannot grow without sound educational background.
6. Education from KG to tertiary institutions should be made free and compulsory as this is the only avenue where the COMMON MAN CAN BENEFIT FROM THE NATIONAL CAKE.
7. Lecturers: in the tertiary institutions should be encouraged to engage the students to learn how to form their notes from their lectures instead of enforcing handouts on the students. This is vital part of education as most of the students can no longer jot down or even write legibly and intelligibly.
8. Practical lessons from the primary school to tertiary institutions be held in high esteem, as this would enhance productivities in our economic sector.
9. Any candidate that has not served in a public sector diligently and sincerely for at least ten years irrespective of his or her wealth, place of origin etc. should not be qualified to contest for any political post. This will enable the public to know more about him/her dossier and probably one of the yardsticks to assess credibility. Whoever has unclean dossier should be banned from contesting political positions because a chameleon never fails to changes its spots.
10. Federal farm settlements should be established in all the states, where the professional beggars, prisoners, physically challenged and .the unemployed youths should be engaged gainfully as the foodstuff prices are skyrocketing every day.
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