THE DYING HONOUR OF EDUCATION

When you look at the Nation, sometimes you want to ask yourself that "What did we do to deserve this?!" When one looks at the state of things in the country, you hardly see any area that can host your gaze if you are looking for 'good'. If you look at the political sector, the stench that will meet you will wrench meal from your stomach, if you look at the power sector, you just see that Nigerians are mostly on their own. We even have started getting used to looking for individual solutions to all our power problems. The only aspect we may not be able to pave way for ourselves is the fuel things we have not found the substitute for just yet. We look at the religious sector and we shake our heads at the various money extorting techniques of our preachers today. Some preachers who does not even have a clue as to what Christianity are all about leading our prayers and teaching ways to the heaven they don't even know. Economically we are only progressing on paper and not experientially. The sector we all look forward to as the solution to all these mess, educational sector even leaves a sore taste in the mouth. The educational sector needs to be saved or we can watch our Nation recede into an utter gloom that will beat our imagination.

Of course it is no longer any news that the standard of education in Nigeria is nothing to write home about as we continuously drop down the ladder of educational standard in the world. In fact recent news stated that Nigerian Doctors have been blacklisted in the UK and you want to wonder are we that bad? Taking into consideration that the larger part of lecturers and Chief academic administrators we have now went through the best period of higher education that Nigeria ever knew, you ask how much they are transferring this legacy down the line to the up and coming generation. Some of this administrators when lecturing you will tell you that schooling was more enjoyable in their times and that education has lost its value and when you wait for them to make decisions you only want to ask, "are you okay upstairs Sir/Ma?"

Students were a strong voice in those days. They could stage protests against national issues that does not go dowm well with the common man. In fact, students led the clamour for the independence of the Nation, Nigeria. Students were made as comfortable as possible and treated as human beings in those days. It was easy to want to read and be the best in your field. In those days, Nigerian graduates were respected on the international scene. Just hold ID cards of schools like University of Ibadan or Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and you are treated with astute respect anywhere you go to. Students who will progress to postgraduate studies were treated with utter respect and taken care of very well. You do not get to worry about cooking as you go to eat at the cafeteria free, you do not worry about tidying your room as cleaners will do that for you, in fact, certain parts of their laundry were taken care of by the school. Water and light were always available for living and study and the institutions made sure these two were not lacking in the halls of residence. Today though, these things are missing.

Today students has almost lost that voice. That voice calling that their rights should not be violated, that voice asking that things be done rightly, that voice seeking to set things right for the coming generation...all seem to be going down. Nowadays, lecturers can afford to maltreat students without any remorse as they see themselves as the judge and jury of everything. School authorities can afford to put off lights in hostels when study is going on just because they want to 'save cost'. School authorities can expel students without any fair hearing or clearly stating the students' offense and giving them a fair hearing. Today, a community can just pick student and lynch them in the name of 'anything'. Youth Corps members are now even scared to pay any unnecessary sacrifice for the good of all as that will just almost amount to nothing. Education is losing its respect. Now a wealthy man can pay some group online and earn a doctorate degree for nothing. So much is the degradation of this educational value that certificates from other nations stand more than the indigenous ones. Even leaders in the country dare not send their children to universities in their own locality or even country. You can hardly see a child of a top political office holder schooling within the country. Today, education in Nigeria is dying...

Due to the lack of respect for this sector and its produce nowadays, the young generation even feel there is no need to engage in too much study. lecturing is just another job opportunity like banking to many. We apply for lecturing jobs not because we love academics but because it pays... We proceed to postgraduate studies because we have not gotten employment not necessarily because we want to know more in our field to be able to teach, and it just gives an additional chance of securing employment. The reading culture is dying and most people read from compulsion rather than interest. In fact some even read only to cure boredom but they can sit with movies for endless hours. Yes! the young generation is losing focus in a measure but the older generation set it in motion and are ensuring that the younger generation lost interest in this sector. Do you know that students hardly get things they are entitled to nowadays without fighting for it from their school authority? And you want us to keep on being the best. Even the federal Government will only release money that will end largely in the pockets of the school administrators.

 

Who will save this sector? Who will save this nation?

SUPER EAGLES: UNITING THE NATION AGAIN!!!

Whenever we hear the slogan, "uplifting the people and uniting the nation," what comes straight to our minds is a television station but this time it is different. It is no news that Nigerians have not smiled in large numbers since the inception of the new administration.

One of the first things we were greeted with is the massive and gruesome killing of innocent Nigerians by aggrieved supporters of a particular political parties...we will always remember the demystification of NYSC during this period. This incident was followed by the start of continuous bombings up North and the seeming clueless approach of the President who at some point exclaimed: "Boko haram have infiltrated my administration." The bombings were so consistent that we got used to this part in our daily news that when the terrorist group goes on break we 'miss them'.

Secondly last year opened with the sore taste of price hike in petrol - the subsidy things. Where for the first time since I was born (though not so long.. lol) we saw Nigerians march nationally against oppression. The march and the days of collective strike...lol. Then our nemesis, boko H started again. We have seen the unnecessary introduction of the 5000 naira note rejected and these among other national topics that is laden with discontent. But for the first time, we are seeing that change...

For the first time since our dear president assumed office, Nigerians are smiling collectively and it is for no other reason but Football. Our dear footballing team left the country unheralded. Im not even sure they even believed that they could win anything. Many Nigerians were left disappointed following the sack of Samson Siasia the former coach of the Super Eagles and like they have been doing in recent times, they just cannot fly. We were watching to see how far they will go in the on-going AFCON. And we were not disappointed as there was no spark to their game in the first three matches and when they drew Ivory Coast in the quater finals, many believed that was their last match of the tournament. Emmanuel Eboue did not help matters with his less-than-sensible twitter rants. Then...Gbam! Sunday came with a surprise.

Super Eagles of Nigeria flew over, plucked the eyes, broke the trunks and caged totally the Elephants of Ivory Coast. Nigeria completely appeared rejuvenated and revived and the Eagle that seem to have been on a retreat soared high and strong. Nigeria defeated Ivory Coast, the most star-studded team of the tournament. And for the first time in along while I saw Nigerians congratulating each other. If you were not aware you 'd think that the Nation just won the tournament. But they have only progressed to the semis. The joy was so widespread that for the first time in a long while people who never knew each other started hugging and congratulating each other and praying that by chance the Nation wins the tournament cup. Sunday was the beginning of a happy and hopeful week for the Nigerians who seem rather accustomed to disappointments and bad news from a their National representatives. And today, Wednesday again, amid the protest of OAU Postgraduate students who were callously denied light for no just reason in their halls of residence, Super Eagles did it again.

The day started with a show of discontent from the residents of Postgraduate Hall of Residence in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, who were denied light for three days running for no reason but everyone would not want to miss the semi-final clash between Nigeria and Mali. Its been a long while since the Nation got to this point, in fact they could not qualify for the last edition of the AFCON tournament. But today, the Eagles completely obliterated their opponents, trashing Mali by 4 goals to 1. And again, everyone was happy...or is happy.

Looking at this situation and the raised hope of the common Nigerian about the possibility of the Nation winning the Nations Cup, you don't want to lose the spectacle of people standing in groups and chatting with smile and happiness written all over their faces. And for the first time in a long while, the common Nigerians are happy. I grew up under this kind of atmosphere where there was joy and optimism when we want to talk about politics and the Nation...and especially sports. And gradually, are we returning to that time again?

Nigeria is through to the finals and for the first time since I was born , My Mom called me to express joy that Nigeria is through to the finals and to also hope that they win the cup for the country. It remains to be seen if this joy will be capped with the cup or not, but one thing is certain, Super Eagles are presently "upllifting the people and uniting the Nation" again amid our social political imbalance.

 So hoping that Sunday will bring another day of joy, I want to say, Go Eagles!!!

GOOD...BETTER...BEST!!!

I think we should not just get complacent in the area of our individual development. Knowing our weaknesses should help us understand our personality and inject us with the desire to get better by improving on those weak areas. This way, we can boast of living. There actually is no essence for living if we are not getting better. Getting better here is about some behavioural tendencies we have detected about ourselves that are not so good. Sometimes we are quick to accept those faults as our peculiarity whereas they are issues we can overcome by simple discipline and determination. 

As we desire to make it in life - get a good job, get rich, have a happy marriage, and enjoy ourselves - we should also know that one of the things that will make the journey more tedious for us is our individual errors. Of course life is not an easy endeavour, but we should also try not to elongate our journey to the promised land by ourselves.

So when we read books on temperament, on understanding the self, on how to know your weaknesses, etc we should always have it in mind that we are looking for solutions to some of our inconsistencies and not an excuse for our faults.

Of course we are not perfect, but we can be better than we are at the moment. It does not mean we are that bad though, but why stop when there is a better...? So, (singing) good better best, I shall never rest, Till my good is better and better best....

ALIVE!!!

Many would say "it is not yet time to dance", many would say "don't jubilate till you have all you desire, you don't even know how tomorrow will turn out"; "you know things change" they say, "be sure you have had a lot before you start counting..." you know and many more excuses to neglect the wonders of being alive and living. But the truth is, we cannot look away completely from the fact that we are still alive. At least not for long.

Sometimes we ask to know what is there to be happy about. Especially if you are a Nigerian and you are not the 'omo baba olowo' type. You have to struggle to make ends meet. You have to pray and sometimes fast like food was never a part of your dictionary to make small progress. Or you are on a job that is not paying well and even though you feel you deserve more you dare not leave it as you do not know when next another of such offers, O! sorry, another of such opportunities will come your way. Especially if you begged before you got the job. Maybe your lover of a long time is clamouring for a marriage that is long overdue and you know that you do not even earn enough to think you can cater for a child now. As if that is not enough, your prophet just told you that it is an old woman with a couple of teeth left in her mouth that is responsible for your predicament. To now add insult to injury, your political leaders seem to be governing another nation different from the one you live in. Because while they appear glowing and winning you are just there...struggling....

But you are alive!

To me it is enough reason to face each day with optimism. The progress might not have been too pronounced but you sure are not where you used to be. Do you know that all you need to make it in life is you...and of course God. Most of it rests on you though. God has done His part, you just need to wake up to the wonderful secrets He has placed around you and within you. No one can stop you except God and you and He is not interested in stopping you at all. So brace up and win in this game called life. Yeah, imagine you are faced with a puzzle in a game and everything is arranged to make it not so easy to solve but you are expected to solve it. The puzzle is only hard not impossible. So is life, it may be hard, but it is not impossible. So wake up and win as the puzzle may be around so hard but within you lies the answer to solve them all...

So even though the flowers are dying around, there is an ever fresh source of bouquet within; if the clouds above are darkening, there is an ever brightening ray of hope from within; and even though living is impossible for many, you have breath in your nostrils.



So let us appreciate being alive as we always have the chance to solve this puzzle called life. Let's live!

STORMS...

Dear Storm
You appear along my way,
You blow against my face,
But at your sight, By God I will not stray
I will only progress even through you till i finish my race

A LOVE STORY AT ITS END…A TRUE LIFE STORY

Hey guys, I found this story from the person it happened to so I felt like sharing it. I titled it:

A LOVE STORY AT ITS END…A TRUE LIFE STORY

When about a decade ago they met. It was like a brewing fire and a boiling affection. The two were almost inseparable. They loved each other. Their young hearts having found an indulgence in the other. Let me tell you what their first meeting was like.

It was at an examination centre after the day’s paper. The stream of youths who were writing the same exam flocked to the gate of the school used for the examination centre. The school was named after a big church in a state capital. All were going home to prepare for the next day’s examination. Some were looking sad and some indifferent. Some were being picked by cars owned either their parents or friends or even boyfriends. There was dust in the atmosphere, a rising smoke of dust raised by the rain of footsteps exodusing towards the school gate. Some walked alone by choice, intentionally shunning the waves of friendship from co-examinees. Some walked alone because they could not get a company, a worthy or even a manageable company in the sea of colleagues. Some walked alone because they were not the very attractive type. They were cool, not ugly but not every man’s first choice…at least that was the general perspective. She belonged to that company. There were others who walked in the company that they have found in the exam centre, people who seemed to have found a common ground of discussion and a need to share. There was the other group who walked in the company of friends that they had before the exam and were fortunate to have posted to the same centre. He belonged to this group. So in the midst of this cluster of categories they met. Let me show you how.

After the day’s paper, he was walking to the gate with his two best friends in the world. (Having won awards in that regards with one of them). Suddenly, his eye caught her. She was standing, not so beautiful, the typical nerd in her glasses and a striped jean trouser and top. She did appear slightly busty but not too much. Dark in complexion and standing somewhat alone with her handbag. He wanted to look away but could not. The reason, he will never get to know. Although he was a shy type, the fidgety type when it comes to approaching the opposite sex, he seems to have found the strength to approach her. After taking a brief excuse from his friends, he took very fast steps to where she was standing as if in a hurry not to lose the boldness he has. As he talked with her and asked for her name, she was pleasant towards him and immediately they kicked off a long discussion as if it has been a long time since they met. He walked her towards her home with his friends tagging along, the opposite direction of his and his friends’ place. He had a lighter shade to his complexion and many regard him as handsome. He wore a round neck shirt and a baggy trouser with a black sandal. They talked and did not want to leave each other but he was mindful of the day that was fast turning dark or he will have to answer questions on what took him so long to get home after his paper for the day.

The next day, the two of them were hardly separable during the breaks and at the end of the day’s paper. They knew they were in love and he asked her out. She after stalling a little bit agreed to date him. That was how they started out.

His friends got to meet her and she was ever admitted into the circle. However, Mother Nature was looking at the two lovebirds. After the exams, they kept on meeting regularly. They will go to the cybercafé together and even on one of their long strolls, she misplaced her eye glasses. He got to know her Dad’s shop and she his Mum’s and those two places became their rendezvous for talks ranging from their desire for admission, what is happening with them and their love for each other. Until Mother Nature struck…

He got an admission into a higher institution of learning but she could not. She was almost in the same school but it happened that she just could not come. In a world where there was no mobile phone or a means of communication that was efficient, their communication bond snapped. And snapped it was, never to be mended again.

Two years after he gained his admission, he just could not get in contact with her anymore. They lost contacts and became students at different schools of life. Occasionally when they meet, they feel the spark of that affection that they both had once again but always after a month or two it goes back to the normal. It is not like there was no longer any love between them, but the waves after waves of events and life experiences pushed it deeper and deeper under and farther and farther yonder…the two of them, whose names started with the same alphabet. Until one day, they met again. This time at home and she said she was coming back to his school. This time he was already through, just rounding off the needed result checks before leaving for his national youth service exercise.

She drank from a different breast of Mother Nature from him so they were ever apart in thoughts and dispositions. He sees her as an ‘experienced’ lady but one who still has a sure place in his heart. She sees him as a cool rigid guy who is decent and ‘holy’. And because she feels her life was too dirty to be shared with him or that he will never understand, she shut her world totally from him. On the contrary, he was an ideal guy quite alright but not the unrealistic, holier than thou picture she has. In fact he had travelled the same waters as her on a number of occasions and as a result does not judge her. While she try to cover her life, his own experience made it easy to lay bare that which she tries to hide and most vigorously lie about. Although he knew her life, he was ever hurt when one day her confidants started making a public topic of her issue in her absence. Things she thought she wanted to hide from him were laid bare and subjected to public opinion unknown to her by those who give her the advice she follows. They advice him continually to look away from her as he was too decent for a person like her and the family she came from. He would smile and leave them and was determined not to let anything change the fact that he loved her.

On the other side, she had a picture, a picture of the ideal man she wanted. She does think she loves him but he does not really look like the happening version that tickles her fancy. She felt that she cannot just open up her life to this guy. Who knows what he will do?! She thinks on many occasions. Even when he comes to her with questions he already had answers to unknown to her, she felt that hiding the absolute truth will be the best bet.

As a result of these, they were ever unstable like a Christmas light. Blinking and ever blinking. However, whenever they are with each other, their present love fire removes the roof and even ‘fries the cookies’ but once they are away by a few miles, the gulf in communication between them rears its head. It is not like she was a totally indecent lady and he the pure guy, but the two could not just find that bridge to talk with each other. They identified this and agreed to work on it. Whenever they are together, while he finds it easy to talk with her she just cannot bring herself to talk with him. Before he can get a little information from her, he has to probably read and understudy her. He had to study and guess before he could get to effectively give her the needs that she wanted as she could not bring herself to say them to the guy but finds it very easy and even enjoyable telling outsiders who may anyways make it a public discourse in her absence.

Frustrated about how things are, his hold on her gave way. Although his affection for her was like a gourd which when broken still had the ability to hold water. He would not give up and wanted to do his best to hold on to her. He is through with school now, have done postgraduate studies and is a head at a private firm. She too, in her youth service year at the moment felt like there are options around her. After meeting him, every other person she tried to give her affection to were always the wrong choice as they were either married, about to, or even not interested in such with her and even though he tried to prove different, she just would not see it. She seemed to be in a hurry or maybe a journey for something or to somewhere only her knows. She then started devising means to chase the guy away. After about a decade of not giving up, she just wanted him out of the way. Hostilities, lies and cruel handlings were the version of affection he daily feasted on from her table. He knew her plans but chose to behave like he did not. He believed in discussions but it will always be one-sided and until long drillings, either romantic, persuasive and forceful are employed, she will never say a little bit of it all. He knows she wanted him away and confronted her. She denied vigorously. But plans after plans are churned out to just make him say bye bye.

He did tell her to go on one occasion, being tired of wrestling her for her love and attention. She wanted him back. She just could not believe it and he considered her again. It was not as if he never loved her. But she just kind of came back to the old her. It is just like she had found someone else or some people else somewhere who appealed to her heart more than him. So this time she is determined to leave him and does not mind if it hurts him to death. She chose a way, a means that will paralyze the guy and she carried out.

However, he knew all along what her plans were and what she is doing is to him like just another movie. He chose to play along in the bid to have a good laugh at the end of it all. He is not devoid of all affections for her but he knows that their love story have reached its end and now they are writing a different one…

BECAUSE HE LIVES

If I had not known
Maybe I 'd be jittery today,
If I was not aware
Maybe I would have been stranded on a day like this
But I do know
And it makes all the difference

When I look back
I see pitfalls and potholes
I see the imperfect picture of my strivings
The trial and errors
The mini-successes and the seeming unachievable milestones,
But on a clearer look, I see the mercy
The mercy that kept me through it all

Maybe if I was a novice
I 'd pay attention
To the drumming fear
Knocking my mind from behind
Maybe if I was too innocent
I 'd fake smiles to avoid attention
Or feign laughter to cover up  my fears
But I am not
Of course I do not know so much
But the much I know is sufficient
To shield me from those arrows aimed against my inner peace

Yes! A new calendar year
Yes! A new set of challenges
And Yes! A renewed bowel of mercy
And an ever present help in times of need
An ever listening ear
And an ever ready arm of help
Yes!an ever comforting presence
And an unfathomable experience of sweetness
Yes! He lives and I know
And for that reason,
I will face the uncertain tomorrow with a big smile

Happy new year people