Bayo Fasuwon

As one sits to put pen to paper, the events of the week keep tugging at the heart seeking for recognition and expression. So, the economic challenges to political intrigues which manifested in the court judgments removing, reinstating and validating elected torchbearers; the political rancor and brouhaha in Ondo State; the security issues; the soothing entertainment news; the frustrating performances of the Eagles; President Tinubu’s promise of strike free universities; and the new camouflage uniform of the Civil Defense, amongst several others, call for attention. The implication of this is that Nigeria gives one a lot of opportunities to speak and write on any or all of these. Nigeria therefore is not a boring country, although she has become popular for the wrong reasons, and needs write-ups to awaken her sense of greatness.  However, none of these is the direct concern of this piece today. My intention is to bring to the public the argument that ensued between yours truly and a brother who sacrificed his lecturing job and opted to ‘Japa’ to God’s own country’.

There had been endless debates about the need to census and control the social media in Nigeria. Those in support, especially the political ruling class hinged their arguments on the fact that there are proven cases of cyber bullying, fake news, dissemination of vital confidential information, and misconception. The school of thought, to which yours truly belongs however argues that needed societal changes, access to cheaper education on vital issues, sensitization, faster and wider dissemination of information, promotion of businesses, access to faster help, mitigation of depression and faster access to the ears of government are major reasons for the allowance of liberality on the social space. In fact, when it comes to real and unbridled political participation, the social media remains the most effective cheap, accessible and indispensable platforms.  While yours truly does not subscribe to throwing the baby away with its bath water, one finds it imperative to tackle, correct and sanction misconceptions and deliberate intent of running down the political system, and that is our collective responsibility.

The young revolutionary minded had once written that ‘legalize weed, legalize prostitution. Let them pay tax. We can regulate it. It is possible’. A comment was of the opinion that such an idea would generate more revenues to government. The idea, which is not new, however did not explain how such can be achieved and regulated in a political system where the illegal suffers from proper regulation. That post however was not the bone of contention but that ‘our universities should be converted to experimental farms. They are useless’. While the premise of the post was not expressed, the conclusion was shocking.

This post came at a time when yours truly had just interacted with a postgraduate student in the United States. While relaying his experience, he had observed that while teaching goes on in the Nigeria Universities, a different teaching approach in which students are expected to discover the truth, prevails. He however concluded that the wide gap is the availability of more equipment, chemicals and grants that students can access and use to enhance their study. But he also observed that the theoretical foundations and taught methods also give Nigerian graduates in foreign Universities the edge that makes understanding and excellence better. This same opinion was given by a Postdoc colleague who went to South Africa.  To me, that was a balanced and non-derogatory opinion. ‘Useless’ according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is having or being of no use. To what end, the university that gave the degree that opened the opportunity to travel to other countries for further studies should be scrapped and turned into an experimental farm? In the ranking of universities, the table below reveals the considered parameters.

While the top universities are situated in the first world, it is pertinent to note that Nigeria universities occupy prominent positions in the first two hundred positions in Africa. Beyond this, Nigerian researchers occupy prominent positions both at the regional and world ranking levels (check https://webometrics.info/en/Africa?page=7). It should be noted that more than 30,000 universities of the world were ranked in the webometrics. Are Nigeria Universities the best? No, but they are still better than most. When a Nigerian who has benefitted from Nigeria disparages the nation on a global platform, neglecting global statistics and resources, it becomes absurd.

Beyond the education sector, many Nigerians in diaspora are quick to wash the dirty linens of the nation on global platforms, while they pretend that their country of sojourn has no dirty linen. While it may be difficult to see the homeless, and disconnected family syndrome in Nigeria, it is a common phenomenon in ‘God’s own country’. The world views our nation from the lens of her citizens. It is the sacred duty of every Nigerian to attract good to the nation, rather than destroying the fatherland with misguided statements and unpatriotic nationalism. Would you blame foreign (lower ranked) universities who reject applications for further studies from our graduates, based on this erroneous perception by a Nigerian?

All nations are trying to improve, Nigeria inclusive. While we can call government to order, show them examples from other countries and demand for good changes, we should not go ahead and declare the nation and her institution as being useless.  A nation that caters for more than 200 million Nigerians and institutions that produce local and international workforce cannot qualify for the adjective ‘useless’. Having interacted with better political systems, our rational minds are piqued at our leaders and we must demand a change, and also become a part of that change by our personal contributions to the nation, and a personal devotion to the reaction of a better society. Setbacks are not certifications of uselessness, but a foundation for greatness. Rather than joining our voices for the destruction of the nation’s Ivory Towers, let us join voices and forces and demand for more interventions via funding and infrastructural developments from the local, State and Federal Governments. Let us recall that those who called Nigeria  a Zoo are either negotiating for positions in the country now or seeking for help from the ‘Zookeepers’.  If we are useful, our nation and institutions cannot be useless.