All Campus Show recently embarked on a traditional media campaign advocating for quality Education in Nigeria.
It is not far-fetched that Universities are at the heart of the corruption plaguing Nigeria and are partly responsible for the challenges facing Education in the country.
Looking back at the history of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, it is evident that most Nigerian professors contribute significantly to the problems in our educational system, they are the source of corruption especially. Not all the professors are guilty of these although, few among them are reasonable and remain a better figure and good examples to students.
Meanwhile, most of acts in the tertiary institutions in Nigeria are examples of corruption that cannot be denied.
First of all, can someone please explain the meaning of the acceptance fee in the tertiary institutions?
The payment of an acceptance fee during entrance clearance, as well as the hefty payments required during final year clearance, is a form of corruption.
Compelling students to buy outdated handouts without teaching the materials is also an act of corruption. These handouts are sold under the pretense that "students are to graduate in character and learning." But what kind of character are you instilling in them with these corrupt practices? Sex for grade is another form of corruption under the watch of the University managements which had forced many Students' life into trauma, University of Calabar as a case study. This act has grieved many students and has also put them in a bad state of mind, this has massively and negatively contributed to the corruption in the Nigeria society.
.jpg)
Additionally, the intimidation and failing of students due to personal grievances is unacceptable. This is why many of our leaders (politicians) who passed through these professors lack sympathy for the citizens, which professors are part of the citizens.
As the saying goes, "what goes around, comes around" and "by their fruits we shall know them." Visit the Senate, House of Representatives, or even the State Houses of Assembly, and you will see the products of these professors. You can't give what you don't have. These politicians treat citizens the way they were treated by their professors in school, therefore, It’s not their fault—"what goes around just comes around" as they say.
Whereas, no politician respects the professors enough to fight for their demands from the government. The professors are reaping what they sowed into their students and this repercussion has stained the good professors . We witness this as ASUU takes protests to the Federal Government; the then very students who are now in power are intimidating the professors, just as the professors did to them in school.
This is a clear example of "Slap 101."
Moreover, let's compare the student protests by the University of Ibadan's Student Union (Confraternity) in 1948 to the West African Students Union (WASU) protests in England in 1922.
When African students protested in 1922, the English professors who are the school management listened and acted, despite the racism and slavery at the time.
In contrast, Nigerian university management in 1948 ignored the students' protests, opting instead to intimidate or even expel agitating students. What kind of mentality is that?
The National President of All Campus Show, Comrade Ojo Busuyi-Jobus, and the All Campus Show South-South Coordinator 1, Hon. Ekwe David, have recently addressed these educational challenges and proposed solutions on national Television and Radio interviews.
"After extensive research, it has been discovered that Federal Universities in Nigeria have the potential to generate 50 billion Naira annually."
Unfortunately, ASUU goes on strike every year, while the funds they demand remain tied up in abandoned, shut-down schools.
According to Wikipedia.com, ASUU strikes began in 1988. ASUU was even banned by the military government in 1992 for what was deemed an unreasonable strike. ASUU members claim to fight for Nigerian students, but when school fees and hostel fees are increased by management, ASUU remains silent. Their agitation appears to be self-serving.
According to benjamindada.com, "Although about 711 ministries, departments, and agencies of government in Nigeria are on the IPPIS platform, ASUU insists that the platform does not accommodate the peculiarities of Nigeria's university system."
"The union has suggested that UTAS, which was designed by them, would be a better fit for university payments. However, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has stated that UTAS has failed the necessary tests to qualify as a payment platform."
Therefore, ASUU developed UTAS, demonstrating they can address issues when they affect them directly. Yet, they fail to solve other significant problems facing the country, especially those affecting Nigerian students.
Candidly, it is very wrong telling your employer means of how your payment should be done, the government accepted this UTAS maybe they want to avoid students going on strike for an unknown or unconcerned course, are they even using the UTAS at the moment? If not, this means they encourage non transparency and accountability in the Universities which the accountability in the Universities are very important.
If University management were effective, our lecturers would enjoy better conditions. They should focus on internally generated revenue (IGR), which could amount to at least N50 billion per annum if Universities were exposed to the right knowledge.
Universities like the University of Ibadan and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka have up to 17 faculties each, with many departments under them. All faculties should be producing something to generate income for the university and also stand as practical for students to have practical knowledge unlike just theory teachings they engage, this is a bitter truth, it will be wise if this is not seen as an attack but opinions to the societal development.
For instance, engineering departments could provide electricity for the country, sell power to the neighborhood, can also build and sell solar inverters.
The Faculty of Agriculture could invest in large-scale farming, both crops and livestock. If they did, Nigeria would not experience such high food prices, and there would be job opportunities for graduates.
However, because they have failed woefully, everyone suffers. If each faculty contributed practically, there would be no need for ASUU to go on strike again in Nigeria.
Our university heads need to rethink their approach, move beyond theory, and embrace practical solutions.