Schooling in the Night

Schooling in the Night; A False Labour Market in Nigeria

Prince Charles Dickson

Jos, Plateau. Nigeria

Banking Trainees wanted. Requirements; Minimum of 2^nd Class Degree from at least a 2nd Generation University. Must not be more than 24 by October 2nd, with 2 years Post NYSC experience. Applications should be sent online to impossible@ lies_cv.com.

The above is what the average job advert demands in contemporary Nigeria . What a deceit, bitter deceit! Often people have asked me, “why do I write on certain subjects so frequently like ethnicity, education, corruption, governance etc?” My answer is I do because I believe these matters are important for Nigeria to move ahead. I do because it appears to me that Nigerians left their ears during creation. I do to allow people participate in the dialogue and finally to recruit people of like minds who believe that things can change. At least it is better to have faith in something and fail than to have faith in nothing.

It is a pity to see the hypocrisy that has crept into the fabrics of our society. An educational sector that has turned into shambles and is on the final verge of collapse. One imagines how labour is able to source for its workforce. In the last five years there has been thirteen months of no lectures due to strikes resulting from breakdown in dialogue between lecturers and the government. This has kept students at home. A university like the great Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, could not even complete a single semester in the entire 2003, its no different in other universities be it 1st, 2nd or 10th generation universities.

This is 2004; most schools are rounding up 2002/2003 sessions. Many have argued for conformity in the school calendar nationwide, well while that is welcome, it’s an issue I will treat another day. Less I stray from the issue at hand, like the old man puts it no matter how big a head the neck will always carry it. Nigerians have learnt to carry their head brilliantly, (for a land in which corruption has been incorporated, what do we expect).

Sulieman Okoro Olufemi finished Primary School at 12years, smart you say. Finished Secondary school at 18, not bad at all. Spends the next 1 year fine tuning the radio for WAEC and NECO FM, and JAMB AM. He scales through with smiles as he enters the university at 20 to study Economics, at 24 he graduates. Bingo! Sure you know that’s not possible. WHY? He has spent six years reading a four-year degree course, his results are delayed so he cannot proceed for National Service, put together the young excited man of 20years leaves the Ivory Tower, a full blown man with beards, moustache and no form of innocence at 27years. He will not allow a simply advert like the one we have discourage him, so he applies the “old ladies trick” age reduction, yes he reduces his age. He says to himself: is the usefulness of a candle not in its flame? No qualms, this is Nigeria . Conman die Conman buries him.

Is this all I have been making this noise for? No! A hunter with one arrow is not careless when shooting. 1st class at any cost is now the very essence of scholarly excellence. Shame! Neither Gani Fawehinmi the legal luminary, Wole Soyinka the literary wizard made 1st class, but to take away their 1st class personalities, brilliance and achievements would amount to an insult.

I read somewhere that the Ernest Shoneken, Former United Africa Company Boss and 80 something days Head of the Transitional Council of General Ibrahim Babangida spent Eight years in the primary school. Tell me he is not 1st class. Deceit. 1st class my foot! wait a second: don’t get me wrong, I do not deride 1st class scholars but I insist on noble decency in acquiring it. Can you beat Nigerians at their own game? Hence they want 1st class, hence they shall get it. Tai Solarin, educationist of Blessed memory captures it this way

“certificate at any price…the sweetest song… the amount of humiliation which scholasticism has suffered in this country in the hands of both teacher and pupil… is unfathomable”

The young men buy the 1st class, their female peers “stalk and work” their lecturers for it. At the end a 1st class product is spending two weeks to put to memory answers to GMAT aptitude questions so as not to fumble. If he manages to pass the test at the oral interviewlike a 1st class that he is in Geography, he will tell you that River Niger is in South Africa .

What defense can I put up for him…when the preferable is not available, the available becomes preferable. He must have schooled in the night. For the happiest people on earth are we not the most fake people as we refuse to face reality?