Someone once said that leadership involves leaders making sacrifices for the greater good of the organization, just as many parents deny themselves of certain rights and privileges in order to make a better life for their families. That someone obviously had no inkling of Nigerian leadership. In Nigeria, sacrifices are the exclusive preserve of the followers. Continue reading “Much Ado about Cars”
Category: Change
Ministry of Death: Fake Drugs Division
With the crash in the value of societal morals, people are prepared to reach alarming extents in a bid to acquire wealth. If you think that there is any limit to the Ministry of Death’s terms of reference, forget it! The Fake Drugs Division proudly trumpets its achievements, and it is rapidly recruiting new staff members. Continue reading “Ministry of Death: Fake Drugs Division”
10 Hours to Failure
“Uncle, I use (sic) to sleep from 7 o’clock to 5 o’clock”. As the young student uttered this statement, I looked aghast at her. Good sleep is important for proper development and good health, but sleeping for ten hours tells a lot about one’s priorities. Continue reading “10 Hours to Failure”
My Father Doesn’t Care
One of my students in the final secondary school level spoke the words above. Although these words were spoken in a rural area in northern Nigeria, they are representative of the educational inclination of a considerable number of parents across Nigeria. Continue reading “My Father Doesn’t Care”
A Right Wrong
“Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s
[spiritually]appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims”
1 Corinthians 6:12 (MSG)
Today, my scratchy fingers are scribbling about an issue that is quite emotional for many members of two opposing camps. I’ve been warned that it doesn’t concern me—an issue that can stir a hornet’s nest against me. Let me contribute my own kobo—I can only die once. Continue reading “A Right Wrong”
Education meets Culture
Different cultures have diverse mindsets about education. Sometimes, these views are convergent; at other times, they are as divergent as parallel lines that can never meet no matter the reference direction. In Nigeria, the various approaches to education from the North to the South span diverse shades of the colour spectrum, from black at one extreme, to white at the other extreme. Continue reading “Education meets Culture”
Rampage: A String of Needless Killings
The small town of Roanoke, somewhere in the US state of Virginia has suddenly had its low-key image forcibly shattered. When its better-known neighbour, Blacksburg, home of Virginia Tech, was shoved into the spotlight by a lethal murder-suicide in 2007, Roanoke had no inkling that it would one day face the same reckless fury. On Wednesday, 26 August, a gunman gave TV viewers a gross spectacle—live killing on television. Sadly, public shootings have become synonymous with gun-toting Americans. Continue reading “Rampage: A String of Needless Killings”
All Play and No Work
With the continuous poor performance of candidates in various external examinations, one does not need any powers of divination to recognize that there is a problem somewhere. While the cause appears multifaceted, it is clear that one of its faces is the proclivity of many students for fun and entertainment. Continue reading “All Play and No Work”
Reign of Highhandedness
Last week, national media featured the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the state’s Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle. The media coverage hovered around an examination comprehension passage, and the sacking of six of the state’s educational officials. Continue reading “Reign of Highhandedness”
Shallow Foundations
In the world of construction, the role of good foundations in ensuring the stability of buildings and other structures has never been over-emphasized. Many buildings have collapsed because of foundations that could not bear the load placed on them. This article is not about engineering construction. Rather, it highlights a problem bedevilling the Nigerian educational system—building on shallow foundations. Continue reading “Shallow Foundations”
Jilomes 