NIGERIA: HUGE COUNTRY, HUGE PROBLEMS PART 3

The Ignorance Factor

I have often wondered at the ignorance of our leaders even when they possess some form of formal education. Where you find backward people, you find ignorance. There is no aspect of human existence that does not benefit from knowledge. Take things like basic hygiene, literacy, and social interaction as illustrations and you'll find that knowledge is the backbone for sustained growth and development. Why do you think the Bible says, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge? Knowledge is key to success in life - ranging from the knowledge of God to the knowledge of what to do to achieve success in whatever you're engaged in. The Bible reminds us too that knowledge is the principal thing....

Papa, Bishop David Oyedepo said: "Readers are leaders." He is referring to effective leaders and the power inherent in knowledge. We must remember that not everyone who is at the helm of affairs is truly a leader. Some are mere parasites and figure heads. Nigerian leaders have continued to govern the country ignorantly. They have refused to acquire knowledge necessary for good governance and their advisers are content with being local champions; together they run down the country. You can't turn your back on knowledge and make progress. There is always a solution, a way out... knowledge shows you the way to go.

After visiting two or three African countries and seeing how their educational system works, I get really angry with all those who have attempted to govern our country. We have more resources - financial and human - than most other African countries but why can't we have quality and stable tertiary education in Nigeria? Why can't the university libraries have up to date books and journals? Why can't the libraries offer the needed services that they should offer, such as national, regional, continental, and international exchange of information? The why's are endless.  I guess the only answer is that our leaders lack an understanding of what knowledge is and how to acquire it. Regardless of how large Nigeria is, give it a knowledgeable government and things will begin to turn around. Who said corruption has no cure? It's all about knowledge....

Knowledge takes you places but ignorance takes you out of the equation. Otherwise, why is Nigeria a powerless giant?

Just my thoughts. What do you think?

NIGERIA: HUGE COUNTRY, HUGE PROBLEMS Part 2

Our football reflects the state of our nation

Nigeria was recently ranked as having the best soccer league in Africa. This underscores the respect the Nigerian side is held globally and the admirable skills Nigerian players possess. Players like JayJay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, .... are notable Nigerian football players.


It is sad to say, however, that things have for long gone wrong with the Nigerian side. In fact, the situation is a microcosm of the troubled nation. Otherwise, why would such a good side rarely sustain outstanding performance in continental and international meets? Political rambling, corruption, and inexperienced managers, among other things, have contributed to the poor performance of the team.
Again corruption! It has been said that players are given places based on their allegiance to the stakeholders, often evidenced by financial gifts; and of course "man know man".

Luckily for me, I didn't watch the Nigeria vs Tunisia match live. But, being the faithful follower of the Nigerian side, I still  watched it on SABC1 Wednesday night. A review of that match will show that indeed the team represents the condition of the country. Decadent. The likes of Mikel and Enyeama, especially during the first half, made me repeatedly ask: are they the best this country has?

By the way, I must add that guys like Peter Odemwingie always make us proud! What gets to me is the fact that some of these boys are on the field pushing for goals while others sluggishly move around the field for whatever reasons they have for wearing the national jersey. Certainly, not patriotism.


We need to intensify our prayers for our beloved country. Don't you think?

NIGERIA: HUGE COUNTRY, HUGE PROBLEMS Part 1

The tertiary system has gone terribly wrong!

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. Perhaps, it’s also the country in Africa with the largest number of citizens in diaspora. It has been said, and probably without exaggeration, that in Africa, Nigeria has the highest number of educated workforce living/working outside the country. Why the brain drain? Simple: everyone is running from the many problems that have become the lot of the country. The problems (economic, education, infrastructure, corruption) of Nigeria are as numerous as its people. Be that as it may, Nigerians remain proud of their nationality.

What is troubling at the moment is the current impasse between Nigerian government and the Academic staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Students in public universities are still at home because of the ongoing ASUU strike. My concern here is not about the cause(s) of the strike. Rather, I wish to remind all the Stakeholders, especially the government, that it is their responsibility to provide students with the education they have been promised after being offered places following their performance in the highly competitive JAMB examination. If a student is admitted for a 4-year program, why should the student be made to spend 6 to 8 years due to no fault of theirs?

The situation is deplorable and smacks of lack of proper planning and management. In fact, it is a waste of money to keep schools running when there are no students in the classrooms. Also, since students in private Nigerian universities and those abroad experience no such interruptions, their counterparts in public/government owned Nigerian universities feel like second class citizens because their parents cannot afford to send them to those tertiary institutions.

The bottom line here is this: students are the clients and without them, no educational institution has the right to exist. If political differences can be largely resolved, so can the government and ASUU resolve the present stalemate.

In the interest of innocent students, it’s time to stop the incessant disruptions in the Nigerian public universities. Students should no longer be made to suffer when the two elephants fight.

Or what do you think?

How To Be The Teacher Every Student Likes

Teachers are human; although everyone seems to forget that. As a teacher, you don’t have to be perfect to be liked by, at least, most of your students. If you find it difficult getting along with your students, here are some tips that will change that.



•    Ensure that you teach in ways that enable your students learn successfully.
•    Make learning fun. It should not be a racket but make your classes interesting.
•    Show interest in your students’ academics and welfare.

Continue reading the article here

22 WAYS TO COPE IN COLLEGE

College education is your passport to a better life. Attending university or college is an opportunity that you can’t afford to mess up. It is a huge challenge for some students than for others. Whatever your case, it requires hard work and commitment. It is your responsibility to make a success of it. The following are important tips to help you succeed at college or university.
•    Listen to learn. Be attentive at lectures and take notes. Keep away from distractions whether noise or classmates. Take note of clues from your teacher.
•    Read to learn. Develop reading skills that will enable you successfully engage in independent reading. You need to employ metacognitive reading strategies.

Continue reading this article here

Today's student, tomorrow's what?

Hi all!

As a university teacher, I'm deeply concerned about students' attitude to active learning. Today, we talk about intentional learning and other learner-centered approaches to teaching but our students appear not to share our enthusiasm. They'd rather we dictated notes, filled the board with notes and gave them tests and examinations that required regurgitation of class notes. That would be the easier option for the teachers too. But if we did that, what kind of students would we be sending into the workplace?

Universities specify the attributes their graduates should possess. These attributes are mostly generic skills which students develop over the years through the integration of collaborative work, literacy (communication, research, IT skills) and their content courses. I think we need to raise our students' awareness of the benefits of student-centered learning, thereby increasing their motivational levels towards "learning by doing".

Kudos to every teacher who is working to help their students master content. But more kudos to those who are helping their students develop content knowledge and generic skills simultaneously. Knowledge of both will ensure that the students we train today will tomorrow become effective employees, employers, and leaders in various fields.

Or what do you think?