A professor of engineering on sabbatical in one of Nigeria’s leading universities had to be recalled to teach a particular course. As he strolled into his first class, he cleared his throat and in his usual characteristic manner began addressing the students. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! As you may be aware, I had to be recalled to teach this course due the sudden demise of Professor (names withheld). I was in the office of the head of department a few days back trying to draw up an adequate outline for this course because like I’ve always complained, the course outline is not by any standard of current relevance for fourth year engineering students but its quite unfortunate that in spite of all I did, I still did not succeeded in getting the department to improve the course to meet the challenges of the twenty first century engineering education. As it is now, I feel it will be doing you a great deal of good to be informed now that some of the things you will be learning in this course and like several other courses you have taken and those you will still take are of little or no relevance to the present day technology. Though they form the foundation upon which the modern day technology is built, most of them are either obsolete, had been modified or outrightly proven wrong. I encourage you to gather as much as you can of current trends and technologies from whatever available sources you find so as to keep abreast of current developments. I’ll start with the first topic in the next class, good day”. And with that, he walked out of the class.
The above illustration vividly portrays the decadence of tertiary education in Nigeria. A one time managing director of brewery in Nigeria was once quoted in a national daily as saying Nigerian graduates are unemployable, a statement borne out of the lack of skills and qualities needed to get a job by the average Nigerian graduate. This statement, harsh as it may sound is a typical reflection of the Nigerian situation. These days, one cannot but ponder over the kind of graduates expected to be produced with the current standard of education in the country.
Nigeria is a country that is blessed with so much human and material resources. The current trend of the performance of Nigerians in all spheres of life outside the shores of this country could well attest to this fact. From sports to entertainment, business to academics, Nigerians have excelled so well that we have become a force to reckon with in all facets of life. Even when it comes to corruption and other vices, one cannot but stand in awe of the ingenuity of Nigerians.
Despite the abundance, we have failed to harness these resources to develop our nation. We have paid lip service to sound education, adequate health care delivery system, provision of basic infrastructures and other things upon which development hinges on. We have turned to a society that frowns at honesty and hardwork but glorifies the principle of the end justifying the means. Bad leadership continues to thrive in our nation and it has eaten so deep into the psyche of the Nigerian youth that they no longer understand words like service, honesty, hardwork, diligence and patriotism but instead, an average Nigerian is always looking forward to the day he or she gets to take his or her own piece of the national cake. What else do you expect of a nation where moral values have been eroded and it has been replaced with the doctrine of self aggrandizement and self centeredness?
Our institutions, which are meant to be the bedrock of national re-orientation, are in a very sorry state. Our primary and secondary school system is really nothing to write home about. Examination malpractices have become the order of the day. Our tertiary institutions that should be breeding grounds for tomorrow’s leaders and ideas has turned into centers for cultism and other criminal activities. Our schools are short-staffed, lecture theatres inadequate, practical equipment practically non-existent and very little or no teaching/learning aids are made available in schools. Science and technology oriented courses are the most affected as students has to make do with cramming theories with little or no practical. Our educational system is so permeated by incessant strikes and protests as it happens to be the only language our leaders understands. We have always had leaders that have little or no interest in education and it has in turn taken its toll on the system.
I think it’s high time we Nigerians took our destinies into our hands. We need to vehemently oppose leaders that would not make adequate and meaningful impact on our educational system, provide basic facilities and infrastructure that would take our nation to greater heights because no nation that truly wants to be great would deprive its citizenry of these. Let everyone that believes in a new Nigeria begins to embrace change. Let us support only credible and competent leaders with good track record and sound manifestos so that together we will make Nigeria great again. A word is enough for the wise!
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