For posterity’s sake

 

Whenever people want to talk about better ways of organizing society, equitable distribution of amenities and achieving better life for all, we draw instances from Europe, America, Asia and other parts of the world. When we need things done very well, those who can afford it travel to these countries to get the kinds of goods and services that gladden the heart.  The fact that successive leaders have always sent their children to schools abroad and will have nothing to do with our hospitals and even drug stores shows that they do not realize that it took human beings like them to organize these other countries to the level where they are now. That also shows that the intellectual capacity of the people that emerge as our leaders is very low.

 

For an intelligent person, travelling is part of education. When he goes outside the shores of the country, he will not stop at gazing like a moron at structures and institutions put in place to make life enjoyable. He will ask questions on how things work there with a view to replicating these wonderful concepts and practices when he returns.

 

An intelligent leader is one who has the ability to analyze situations properly and come up with solutions that will suit the peculiarities of his people.  Unfortunately, we are yet to have truly intelligent people as leaders. Unfortunately again, majority of the population who should elect these leaders cannot tell the difference between a rabble-rouser and a sound leader.  The point I am making is that every year, a large number of youngsters are pushed out of schools and universities to join the hustle and bustle of the larger society. Everyone knows that these school leavers are mostly lacking in the essential thinking skills required for a fruitful life. Most of them do not also have basic practical skills to contribute to the economy of the nation. All they can boast of are certificates in one form or the other. It is the pride of the age:  certificates.

 

I have seen some people who cannot read and write but they have found their way through university education, and now parade certificates that testify that they have been found worthy in character and learning to receive such certificates. We know that many girls that are in universities today can only pass courses taught by randy men who are willing to exchange sex for marks. When they are not sleeping with their lecturers, they are outside the school, hunting for rich men who are interested in what they have to offer. Assignments and tests are taken care of by throwing money around. Many of them do not get to meet the lecturer of their courses until the examination day, when arrangements are made for other people to write for them or help them out anyhow. At the end of the day, this absentee student is found worthy in character and learning to parade a big certificate.

 

Boys and girls who are ill equipped for intellectual work feel compelled by circumstances to get into the university. The society makes it appear that anyone who does not have a university education is a failure. Nobody wants to be termed a failure, so by hook or crook, everyone gets into the ivory tower to acquire this certificate that is now the golden fleece.

They cannot cope with the demands of the academic environment, so many of these youngsters get into various cult groups which they use to cover their deficiencies and as instruments of intimidation. It will not be wrong to say that a large proportion of Nigerian graduates got their certificates through the instrumentality of cult activities. However you look at it, certificate is certificate as far as this society is concerned.

 

In spite of all the negative activities our youngsters get into in their quest for the golden fleece, I do not lay the blame for the decay we see all around at their feet. It is not up to children to organize a family when their parents are still alive. It is the responsibility of the adult population to look deeply into this matter and find a solution.

If the society has adopted certificates as the only way of getting economic benefits from the establishment, nobody should blame the youngsters who want to get their own share of the national cake. Even parents who go out of their way to ‘help’ their children get certificates are only acting according to the primordial survival instincts. Such parents are not blameless but maybe they are constrained by societal expectations and realities. I think   the people in leadership positions should see this as a serious, fundamental issue that must be addressed before we can make any headway in this country.

 

One thing we can do is to diversify the award of certificates.  It will not be out of place for the government at various levels to build and dignify an institute of wood work where people will receive practical experiences in wood work and be given certificates that are equal to certificates from regular universities. Motor mechanics university will not be a bad idea either. Tailoring, hair dressing, bead making, decoration, confectionery-making are other areas that we can consciously focus on, build institutions to accommodate the millions of students who cannot cope with abstract learning but will do very well in practical learning. We can also include traditional arts and crafts so that everyone will be accommodated. If people can be certified in palm wine technology, boat making, fishing and other such crafts, we would have used one stone to kill two birds. We would have reduced unemployment as well as satisfied our peoples’ quest for true education and certificates without exposing them to the harsh academic environment that pushes those who are ill equipped to face it into anti-social behaviours.

 

I believe strongly that our economy will grow rapidly the moment we consciously empower young people to excel in the areas they have passion for rather than this straight jacket approach where we pretend that one size must fit all. Can you imagine the kind of technological explosion that will happen when our young people who have an eye for new technologies like phone repairs, computer maintenance and other such vocations are taken off the roadsides and given proper attention in these areas? Nigerians are talented people and it is very difficult to find any one that is not very good at something. The prevalence of criminality that has become a dent on the image of the country has its root in the inability of the system to discover these talents and nurture them to fruition.

 

Nnenna Ihebom