A NEW DAY...A NEW CHAPTER..A NEW BOOK

Today marks a new phase in my blogging exploits - a turning point of sorts. It is the beginning of a major shift in my blogging focus. A shift from random blogging on random topics to specific blogging on interesting, informative topics about Canada and Nigeria.

Nigerians like Canada and Canadians. These days, instead of the "American Dream", the educated, skilled Nigerians considering immigration think of the "Canadian Dream". It may look far-fetched and unrealizable, but it is straight-forward and achievable if CIC instructions are followed to the letter. It may be a road marked with diverse challenges but it is absolutely worth it. 

 We'll be talking a lot about immigration, sports, career, culture, education, politics, literature, leisure and everything else that catches our attention. It's all about Canada and Nigeria :).

Our goal is to inform, educate and entertain.

Welcome on board! Keep reading and sending your feedback and questions.

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?