tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41839283954149597442024-03-14T11:16:54.648-04:00CHIBVINChibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-78426650916795143872015-05-12T21:44:00.001-04:002015-05-12T21:44:40.960-04:00A country with no history (addition)Although we are not currently taught Nigerian history in our schools (<a href="http://chibvin.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-country-with-no-history.html" target="_blank">see previous post</a>), it is important that we understand our history. I recommend borrowing books that discuss our history or other significant events such as the Nigerian civil war etc.<br />
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"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-History-Nigeria-Toyin-Falola/dp/052168157X" target="_blank">A History of Nigeria</a>" was a good starting point for me. To give an overview of the country before, during, and after British colonization. Also, I enjoyed the memoir by Chinua Achebe "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/There-Was-Country-A-Memoir/dp/014312403X" target="_blank">There was a country</a>." It doesn't serve as an objective observation of the Nigerian civil war, but gives his own perspective of that time. Since he was prominent before the war, his account is very educational to see how his life was affected. There are many more books that we can read to familiarize ourselves with our history.<br />
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Just because we weren't taught Nigerian history in school doesn't excuse us from learning about our past. And hopefully, within the near future we can have a government that commissions books that chronicle our history from time before the amalgamation to the present day. The historians will have a lot to write, but we just need to ensure that their interpretation is as objective as it can be. Objectivity, not length, would ensure the book has the desired effect of properly educating future students.<br />
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<br />Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-84318194410027428722015-05-11T17:38:00.001-04:002015-05-11T17:38:47.359-04:00A country with no historyHistory. History. History.<br />
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What's history got to do with it? A better question: What doesn't history have to do with it?<br />
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Having lived in the US and been exposed to US history classes in high school, I have an overall sense of significant events in the country's history. What led to those events, the repercussions, their lasting effects, and so much more. Taking a US history class walks you through the country's story; a story fraught with triumphs and disappointment, a story fraught with struggle for many groups, and a country that to this day has to deal with its demons. But the country knows the source of its demons. The question is how to address them. However, ask the average Nigerian to discuss their short history. There is no written history. The country's history is often intertwined with a personal story. You only remember what you lived through. What about the rest?<br />
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Growing up in Nigeria, all I remember are the dates of certain historical events. My friends and siblings can also attest to this. History is often taught as part of a current affairs class, where we are to remember dates and names. In 1966, there was a coup led by General Aguiyi Ironsi. From 1967-1970, we had the civil war. <b>Our country does not have a written history. Our young ones do not know their history.</b> They do not know why the Nigerian civil war happened. They don't know why the first or second republic fell. They don't know how Buhari or Babangida led the country during their stints as military dictators. They don't know intimately about the June 12th elections and how the country unraveled back into another military dictatorship. As a university graduate, I find it disappointing that I was not taught these things. I find it inexcusable that our children grow up with no understanding of the triumphs and numerous mistakes of the past. A country with no history is sure to repeat its mistake.<br />
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One of the reasons I believe we have no written history is that history and the past are often fragile, subject to the whims of the story teller. The historians can regurgitate demons that current leaders may be reluctant to face. The current government which is telling the story can reinterpret past events to suit their motives. In essence, the past can make the present politically tense. But, that is a minute price to pay for a thorough understanding of where we have been as a country, and what our future holds. More importantly, ensure that we don't repeat past mistakes. And simply, make for a more educated and aware populace.<br />
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<b>We need the democratically elected government (through the Ministry of Education) to commission a set of professors and historians to compile a book that can be considered the definitive story of Nigeria. In addition, Nigerian history should be mandated in secondary schools. Teaching history can foster a collective pride and show that Nigerians have a collective history, and not that the Igbos have their own history or the Yorubas have their own history etc.</b><br />
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If a man is bitten by a dog, and makes no mental memory of that event. When he returns another time and is bitten by the same dog, he has lost all pity. He is the definition of a fool.Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-73766984884141842212015-04-10T16:54:00.000-04:002015-04-10T16:54:33.751-04:00The common resentment of the Igbos.The late prominent Nigerian author Chinua Achebe once wrote in his book that "<b>Nigerians will probably achieve consensus on no other matter than their common resentment of the Igbo.</b>"*<br />
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I recently read the book "There was a country," and thoroughly enjoyed learning about Achebe's life before and during the Nigeria-Biafra war (Nigerian civil war from 1967-1970). And when I read the aforementioned quote, I believed that sentiment. I couldn't come up with any counterpoints. That was truly disappointing.<br />
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Late last week, the Oba (King) of Lagos made a comment saying that Igbos (whom I have shown in my <a href="http://chibvin.blogspot.com/2015/04/did-igbos-hedge-wrong-bet.html" target="_blank">previous two posts</a> voted overwhelmingly for the PDP party during the 2015 presidential elections) would perish in the Lagoon if they did not vote for the APC (the opposition party) Lagos governorship candidate. His attempts to <a href="http://www.channelstv.com/2015/04/06/oba-of-lagos-clarifies-allegations-of-threat-to-igbos/" target="_blank">backtrack from his comment</a> were also a disaster. He said "Lagos has also not betrayed the Igbo people. Lagos has done so much to make the Igbos comfortable and to prosper. For this, we expect reciprocal respect and understanding."<br />
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Lagos did not do and has not done anything to make the Igbos feel safer. Lagos should not have to do anything specific to make the Igbos feel safer. Lagos just has to do whatever it takes to make <b>Lagosians</b> feel comfortable, whether they are Igbos, Yorubas etc. etc. Igbos did not seek any specific favors from the Oba. Whatever Lagos has done to make Lagosians prosper, the Igbos have also benefited. For those non-Nigerians reading this, the Oba's comment are like saying. "The city of New York has not betrayed the black people in New York, and has done a lot to make the Black people comfortable and to prosper, and so the black people should reciprocate and vote a certain candidate." That is the sheer definition of stupidity.<br />
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Before the Nigerian civil war, Lagos (and the Oba) did not attempt to protect Igbos that were being murdered and forced to relocate to the Eastern region. Stirring up comments like the Oba's doesn't do Igbos and Nigerians any good. Many Igbos and their families lost everything during the war, and had to rebuild their lives when they moved to Lagos. Lagos state government, and the Oba (to my knowledge) did not do anything specific to make the Igbos as a group feel more comfortable. No laws or special favors were made to accommodate the Igbos. Igbos had to fight for their livelihoods, and were treated like any other tribal group (like they should). Therefore, they should not and cannot be threatened to vote for the candidate of the Oba's choice.<br />
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Please, I should not hear anyone defending the Oba's comments, and I should not hear anyone agreeing with the Oba. Because, all that does is confirm Chinua Achebe's comments about Nigerians' common resentment of the Igbos.<br />
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Disclaimer: I am an Igbo.<br />
* Chinua Achebe's novel "There was a country." It is a great read. Would recommend it for anyone who wants more information about Nigeria's history etc.Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-81219280857607619332015-04-06T16:39:00.002-04:002015-04-06T16:39:50.252-04:00Did the Igbos hedge the wrong bet?The 2015 Nigerian elections have been nothing short of exciting. I was glued to Channels TV during the entire election process. I know many people were. Never before has the recitation of random numbers being so exciting!<br />
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My first thoughts when the results were revealed was mainly on the Igbo and Igbo-leaning states. Here, I consider these Igbo leaning states to be the South-south and South-east states. As the graph below shows, the Igbos almost unanimously supported the PDP, and despite that, the PDP lost. About 90 percent of the Igbos voted for the PDP, and they accounted for over 50 percent of the PDP votes (see previous post). When it comes to national elections, it's hard for the Igbos to make a significant dent. They just don't have the numbers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETZhsnTvWhzYhUI780M0pWb38_Hbdv7JaYOMqcE19xtnjGU6QKu29YNZgR6FGywDfwKNxYyD77JG5UDQXKOqM_dK7xAXWbr3HSptc_21yr7PssxcPETaXJeHWcFMz58qkMQRFEUsw-Asr/s1600/Percentage+of+tribal+voters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETZhsnTvWhzYhUI780M0pWb38_Hbdv7JaYOMqcE19xtnjGU6QKu29YNZgR6FGywDfwKNxYyD77JG5UDQXKOqM_dK7xAXWbr3HSptc_21yr7PssxcPETaXJeHWcFMz58qkMQRFEUsw-Asr/s1600/Percentage+of+tribal+voters.png" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Figure 1</b>. Percentage of each tribal group voting for each party. Shows that over 90% of Igbo-leaning voters voted for the PDP.*</div>
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<i><b>Why does this matter?</b></i><br />
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This is because in a time of fair elections (at least two dominant parties), it makes no logistical sense for a national party to nominate an Igbo for president. As long as there is a Northerner who can garner his Northern brethren and then split the Yoruba vote, he will win. The odds are against the Igbo candidate. Winning the Igbo vote and splitting the Yoruba vote doesn't work (the 2015 election is an example).<br />
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This is the reason I believe the Igbos hedged all their bets on the PDP. If the PDP won, Nigeria would largely remain a one-party state. If the PDP continues their rotation policy (where the presidential candidate is rotated from the different political zones), then an Igbo presidential candidate can eventually emerge. Over 90% of Igbo leaning states voted PDP! I don't think they voted because they all loved Jonathan (some definitely did). They voted that way because having only one dominant party with a rotation policy was the easiest way to Aso Rock.<br />
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<i><b>How can we have an Igbo president then?</b></i><br />
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But, the Igbos hedged the wrong bet. The days of a one party state looks to be over now. For an Igbo president to emerge, he/she has to be ideologically different. He cannot afford to run an election where the only difference between him and his opponent is his tribal group. The Northerner would always come out on top. In addition to having a very different ideology, he/she must also have done something in the North. By this I mean, he was a minister in a Northern state or acted in some high level position in the North. This can give him the exposure to engender some Northern votes. OR get a high level (and popular) Northern figure as the vice presidential candidate. If an Igbo candidate were to get Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the vice presidential candidate, then that presidential ticket has a great chance.<br />
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Some will say "why does it matter to have an Igbo president? We are ONE Nigeria." To simply answer that, it matters. An entire region cannot be neglected when it comes to choosing the country's leaders. The last Igbo Nigerian leader was General Aguiyi-Ironsi, who ruled for 194 days, and the Igbo leader before that was the ceremonial president Nnamdi Azikiwe.<br />
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*Igbo refers to all voters from South-east and South-south political zones. Yoruba refers to all voters from South-west. Hausa refers to all voters from North-west/central/east. Also, other political parties other than PDP and APC were not considered. Of course, I ignored the fact that the states in these voting regions have different composition of trial groups within.Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-66995582091005377292015-04-01T22:20:00.002-04:002015-04-01T22:20:41.770-04:00The all-powerful NorthIt has been almost two years since my last blog post. But, the Nigerian elections have been too captivating for me to lay shallow for too long. I will be discussing some of my thoughts regarding the elections and what it means for our future.<br />
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It is official now. The General has replaced Goodluck. I am too excited that Nigeria's democracy has matured to the point where an incumbent can be removed from office. Since I love numbers, I collated all the voting numbers to see how the All Progressives Congress (APC) won. The graphs shows that the <b>North remains all-powerful</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON3xn3-Yo02Gw2RL5a6CwCNeVYOEQDjbspvvq7THMArUgVf29lmgKthsICztlj0-OG_ldYP8sqpfXQqpFPngeP0ywInIoHxrCbchyphenhyphenewzTjo2Z4qznuWit3zvIMokgcPCQel69JLYFnIrJ/s1600/Registered_voters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON3xn3-Yo02Gw2RL5a6CwCNeVYOEQDjbspvvq7THMArUgVf29lmgKthsICztlj0-OG_ldYP8sqpfXQqpFPngeP0ywInIoHxrCbchyphenhyphenewzTjo2Z4qznuWit3zvIMokgcPCQel69JLYFnIrJ/s1600/Registered_voters.png" height="158" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Figure 1</b>. Percentage of registered voters from the different political zones (2015 election).</div>
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<b>Of the APC voters, the Hausa/Fulani leaning states contributed about 80% (Figure 2) of the total APC vote</b>. 80%! This shows that the Muslim-dominated North was mainly responsible for bringing APC to power. This is despite the fact that the Hausa/Fulani consist of 58% of registered voters. They overwhelmingly voted for their Northern candidate. Also, the low number (4%) of "Igbo-leaning" voters that supported the APC depicts the influence of the tribal tendencies of Nigerian voters. Since there was no significant ideological differences between the two candidates (and the two parties), it became an election of tribes. The Yoruba-leaning states split their vote evenly between both parties (Figures 2 and 3).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkDRYNl_AJ0nYb1HfNQ61M0Fzt4bs97ZLEJfam7qChDZqba8VeWI_n2hFZtHiL5bdL3GOToNmCGo_f506HUdOHtS1WByAXBuXQW4Q31Ttil5XBdmgvsNbFk3tMJYhYPleC86P-j4RIATv/s1600/APC_voters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkDRYNl_AJ0nYb1HfNQ61M0Fzt4bs97ZLEJfam7qChDZqba8VeWI_n2hFZtHiL5bdL3GOToNmCGo_f506HUdOHtS1WByAXBuXQW4Q31Ttil5XBdmgvsNbFk3tMJYhYPleC86P-j4RIATv/s1600/APC_voters.png" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Figure 2</b>. Data showing where the APC got their votes (2015 election).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1sbZoF75imw7J7c49tkX42rhOFDbc5gSIRAhJXE5bwum2C04NMBERgUviCljT7hoZLInfyFNxr95SocvEebQukKWXQ7SXmzpH6RL59HBNF58tsy-BmV8zgQt2mWAQ5fSGv-f-qCzUFpP/s1600/PDP_voters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1sbZoF75imw7J7c49tkX42rhOFDbc5gSIRAhJXE5bwum2C04NMBERgUviCljT7hoZLInfyFNxr95SocvEebQukKWXQ7SXmzpH6RL59HBNF58tsy-BmV8zgQt2mWAQ5fSGv-f-qCzUFpP/s1600/PDP_voters.png" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Figure 3</b>. Data showing where the PDP got their votes (2015 election).</div>
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Based on Figure 2, I pose this question: <b>If General Buhari contests the 2019 elections and has the same accomplishments as Goodluck Jonathan, can he be removed from power?</b> That answer is not definite. Because, as long as he has the North, he shall be difficult to oust.<br />
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Fill the comments box!<br />
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<b>Terminology</b>: The "Igbo leaning" are states in the South-east and South-south. The "Yoruba leaning" are states in the South-west. The "Hausa/Fulani" leaning are states in the North-central, North-west, and North-east. Actual voting numbers from 2015 election were used<br />
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<b>Disclaimer</b>: a) I rooted for the APC during the 2015 election. b) All the voting numbers used to make the plot were obtained from <a href="http://www.channelstv.com/2015/04/01/follow-nigeria-2015-live-election-update/" target="_blank">ChannelsTV</a>. c) Of course, I ignored the fact that each of these states has different concentration of the different tribal groups within.Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-32539272776762736762013-05-12T00:24:00.000-04:002013-05-13T00:37:05.298-04:00Dear lovely Nigerian girlDear lovely Nigerian girl:<br />
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I hope you and your family are wonderful. How is your little brother? He must certainly be grown up now. I remember our younger days when both of us would run around with no hindrance. I was always (and still am) in awe of your beauty, and I always said to my friends that when the two of us grew up, I would marry you. Your flawless dark-brown face was always lit up with your endless smile, and I always feared your lovely eyes could see through me. It has certainly being a long time since the both of us talked.<br />
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I am writing you because I recently read an article saying that well more than 60% of Nigerian women bleach (or 'tone') their faces so that they can become whiter (<a href="http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=17843&Itemid=1091">Effects of skin-lightening products report</a>). They use endless supplies of whitening creams and mixtures of chemicals they hope will make them look white. They claim that the whiter they are, the more successful they will be because it would be easier to find jobs. Or that it makes women more beautiful and confident in themselves, and easier to find a husband.<br />
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It is very sad to hear these things, and I hope you do not believe any of these lies. The Black skin is as beautiful a skin as there ever was. And when you tone yourself, you deny yourself that beauty, and most importantly deny yourself your identity. Our skin is our first form of identity; it makes us who we are, contributes to our image, and should make us special. I hope you know this. If you tone yourself, who do you become? You lose your pride and the beautiful skin that gives every Nigerian boy sleepless nights. Don't let any one deceive you by saying that it will become easier to find a husband. If a man prefers that you whiten your skin, try to find him a visa so that he can go to London. He is a wannabe oyibo, and if he thinks so lowly of you to allow you to change your identity, what more will he ask you to sacrifice... your life? You might become whiter, but at what cost? Those chemicals kill (kidney damage) and maim many. You may gain the job you desire, but you are no longer you. It was a different person that got that job.<br />
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I want to be able to recognize you as the girl I used to love, and although this love may not be reciprocal, just know that there is someone out there who loves you just as you are; especially those sharp dark brown eyes of yours. As Tuface once beautifully sang, you are an African Queen. For Black is indeed beautiful.<br />
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With love,<br />
A Nigerian boyChibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-23026542842319640502013-04-21T14:25:00.001-04:002013-04-21T14:25:55.725-04:00The perils of amnestyAmnesty, Amnesty, Amnesty... It's one word that Nigerian politicians never get tired of saying. Ever since amnesty was granted to the Niger Delta militant groups years ago, amnesty has become the solution for any terrorist group that arises in Nigeria. Amnesty has now been suggested as a possible solution to solve the Boko Haram menace.<br />
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First, what is amnesty? Amnesty is defined as an "official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses," or "an undertaking by authorities to take no action against specified offenses or offenders during a fixed period."<br />
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Pardon me, but I don't understand how a group like Boko Haram, who have bombed and killed thousands of Nigerians, qualifies for amnesty. Murder doesn't qualify as political offenses. Children have lost parents that were killed for no specified reason other than 'Western education is evil.' Fathers, mothers, children, friends have been lost to a group we still don't know too much about. And yet, our president is welcoming the idea and even pushing the idea that amnesty be granted to Boko Haram. Nonsense.<br />
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Some might say: "But, amnesty worked for the Niger Delta militants." That's true. The Niger Delta militants e.g., MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) were fighting for goals all of us can agree is an important one; they were fighting for their ability to live. Their lands, water, villages, and way of life were being destroyed by the oil companies that drilled for oil in those areas. MEND and other militants were fighting for their right to live. And, although they kidnapped foreign workers (most of which were freed) and damaged oil pipelines, they did not resort to random bombings. Boko Haram are not fighting for their right to live (come to think of it, what are they fighting for?), and so Boko Haram cannot be treated in the same way as MEND.<br />
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Discussing the prospect of amnesty to Boko Haram is one way the Nigerian government is saying that they have given up. They have realized that they cannot control the group or hunt down their members. And so, the government is planning to wave the white flag and sign their letter of defeat called amnesty. But, how do you solve the Boko Haram menace, you ask?<br />
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It's all about intelligence. Instead of the government always acting on the defensive, now is the time for the government to create a task force specifically with the aim to establish contacts and a network in the north and even the Niger Delta. Start strategically sending members of the SSS (State Security Service, the Nigerian version of the CIA) to regions in Nigeria with the goal to monitor communities. These agents shouldn't go and start flashing their badges, but blend into the community as new community members. Live with the people, complain with them, and collect information about daily activities. You can think of them as spies. The more years these people embed themselves in communities often prone to violence (i.e, Jos, Kano, the Niger Delta, Borno etc.), the more prepared the government will be when violence does strike. The end goal would not be to make an arrest within months. But, when trouble breaks out in three, five or more years, the ground work that had been done numerous years in advance would pay off. The intelligence that would have been gathered would be so enormous that it would be easier to pinpoint who might be involved, how the group recruits, what communities should be focused on. Even if the perpetrators are not known immediately, the fact that there have been agents on the ground will aid in familiarity of the terrain and eventually how best to conquer any future group like Boko Haram.<br />
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Intelligence gathering is the key to solve Nigeria's security problems, and it needs to start now. What people need to realize is that after amnesty is granted to Boko Haram, the resulting peace would be temporary. Until the next group rises up and torments Nigerians again. The rise of another group is an eventuality, and amnesty is NOT the way to treat every Nigerian militant or terrorist group and solve our security issues.<br />
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P.S. And I don't want those Boko Haram members walking alongside the people whose lives they have forever altered. Those who died should not have died in vain.Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-1348427389083864762013-03-30T19:09:00.000-04:002013-03-30T19:09:00.484-04:00The leader Nigeria needsThe leadership qualities that an organization or a country needs often varies from organization to organization, and from activity to activity. Is the best leader the one who controls everything by the sheer force of his personality or who allows and trusts his deputies to carry out their assigned roles? Is the best leader the one who retains his usual personality (remains 'who he is') throughout his leadership tenure or does he change his personality to fit the role he has been assigned?<br />
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There are many qualities that we desire in a leader, especially our Nigerian president. A leader should be able to inspire us, make us believe that we control our destiny. He should be able to tell us everything is going to be okay because he wants to bear the headache himself. The leader should be able to sacrifice the things, and the ones dearest to him to fulfill the goals that he set out to achieve.<br />
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One thing our Nigerian leaders lack is the goal they set out to achieve. They rarely concretely mention their goals for fear that they set a clear marker of failure. I don't want my Nigerian president saying every single time that he wants to stop corruption or improve electricity without giving specifics. It is much better if he says by the end of 2013, the country should have 5000 Megawatts (from 4000 MW currently) than for him to say "our commitment to improve power is working." Instead of providing vague statements, find a way to quantify our improvement in power and when you then say power is improving, people won't doubt you.<br />
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Even better, tell Nigerians what needs to be achieved at the end of the year. This should give the government enough incentive to 'get their act together' and also something to brag about if they achieve their goals. Tell us that you are going to build only one road (from Lagos to Kano for example), and if you do, that is success. But, if you claim you will 'improve our roads' but do none of that, you are failing us.<br />
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I remember reading an article sometime in 2011 when Dr. Jonathan was elected president. He was asked a question of this nature: "Dr. Jonathan, you are a quiet and reserved man, but if Nigeria needs a leader that is fierce and domineering, are you willing to become that leader." He replied 'No', and that he would remain who he was. If a country needs you to be a one man show; a man who will send corrupt officials to jail immediately they are accused, stop creating committees to solve problems but start asserting mandates, then BECOME THAT MAN.<br />
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If Nigeria needs a democratically elected dictator, that is what our leader should be. Inspire us, fight for us, send your corrupt friends to jail, personally punish companies exploiting us and decimating our environment. Our leader needs to realize that when he says something, and backs it with the power he has, Nigeria will change.Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-60167412018326346632013-02-08T19:12:00.001-05:002013-05-15T00:19:15.893-04:00Can we change?Let me tell a very short story: <i>As I walked around on a rainy day, the rain is pounding hard on the wet sand-filled path. Then, I notice a cat (or I think it's a cat) cringing from the force of the rain. Feeling pity, I pick up the cat and bring it home with me. I construct a cage where the cat can stay and live. Before one gets sentimental, there are some things one should know about the cat. It is a carnivorous cat; one that has never eaten vegetables before. The cat has always lived in the forest where I found it, and that is the only home the cat has ever known. But, now that the cat lives with me, the only food I place in the cage are vegetables and water. I place different vegetables for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But, no trace of meat at all. Now, there are only two possible outcomes: either the cat becomes a vegetarian or the cat dies. What outcome is it? Does the cat adapt or does it die? Should it adapt? Or, better yet, can it adapt?</i><br />
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Thank you for bearing with the story. But, I'm no story teller and this post is not about cats or anything related to cats. Read on and hopefully you can connect the above story to what I shall write below.<br />
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When our family moved to the United States, unlike my little brother, I was old enough to know, feel, and tell the difference between the US and Nigeria. Apart from how amazing it was to finally leave Nigeria, and go to the often quoted 'land of dreams and opportunities,' one couldn't help but wonder aloud about what actually makes the US different from Nigeria. Most immigrants are always in awe that when crossing a road in the US, the cars go out of their way to allow pedestrians to cross the road. Just imagine living in Lagos and waking up one morning to slowly and diligently cross any street without hearing all the honking of the cars that pass by or the insults that spew from their mouths; that's if you are lucky that you did get to the other side of the road alive.<br />
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Many immigrants are amazed that drivers do actually stop at the red lights; that drivers do come to a halt at a STOP sign even though there is no living soul around; that honking is almost unheard of; that the streets are not littered with trash and garbage; in summary, that there seems to be order everywhere. I can keep on writing a laundry list of all the differences, but to what use?<br />
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Now, when people attempt to explain fundamentally why these two countries are different, they often say: 'It's the people.' They argue that the peoples are different and Nigeria is the way it is because of Nigerians. The tribal groups would always hate one another, and the yorubas are only interested in helping yorubas not Nigerians.<br />
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I disagree with that viewpoint and instead attribute the difference between Nigeria and every developed nation to the environment in which Nigerians are born, and live in. <b>If one changes the environment and living situation of Nigerians, one would be surprised at how Nigerians would change to adapt to their new environment.</b><br />
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I always hear people say that Nigerians can never change; that we are selfish and only concerned about ourselves; that we are lawless and will do anything to circumvent any laws that are made; that we are inherently corrupt etc. etc.<br />
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The people of Nigeria are the 'cat' in the opening paragraph. All they know is the Nigeria of today. But to fundamentally change Nigerians, we have to change their environment. One way to do that is to develop the Nigerian economy and diversify our exports. Upgrade current NNPC refineries to increase our production of petroleum products, even if that means totally removing fuel subsidies. Increase our exportation of cash crops like cocoa, cotton, etc. Support the creation of new industries like the chemical industry, textile industry, mining industry and much more. Once people no longer need to break the law to get food, it becomes easier to follow the law. Once food has been provided, Nigerians can then focus on the other essentials that can make Nigeria great. Educate our children and arm them with the resources to change the country. Start a revolution to topple our corrupt leaders, and make it impossible for any corrupt or lawless individual to thrive in a new Nigeria. Punish Nigerians when they break laws, including those who are supposed to enforce the law (i.e. policemen). Let Nigerians know that lawlessness is inherently a crime.<br />
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Do all these and then tell me that the people of Nigeria will not change. They will become vegetarians if need be and they will have to be if they want to survive in the new environment they find themselves living in. And for those who are skeptical, ask yourself this: If one truly wants to change Nigeria, isn't it better to change the environment Nigerians live in than to change Nigerians themselves.<br />
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Changing a person is difficult, but changing the environment the person lives in is 'much easier.' If you then change the environment, then the person will be forced to adapt. The person will fight back, and that 'cat' will meow and roar and make all the noise it can. But, when the person realizes that the force of change around him is greater than what he can possibly do to stop and reverse it, the person will adapt and find a way to survive in the new world. It's either that, or he dies.Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-44902799725158275932012-12-01T00:06:00.001-05:002012-12-01T00:06:21.154-05:00Can my proposed NYSC changes work? (Follow-up to earlier "Serve" post)<br />
I was very excited when I got calls and comments from some of those who read my previous blog post (<a href="http://chibvin.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-does-it-mean-to-serve.html">http://chibvin.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-does-it-mean-to-serve.html</a>). I had taken it for granted that everyone who reads my blog understood how the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program works in Nigeria. This post should address some of the questions I received, help clarify how the program works, and why the changes I proposed are feasible. For those who haven't read the earlier post: "What does it mean to serve?" you can read this post before reading the earlier blog post.<br />
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<i>How does the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Program work?</i><br />
The NYSC program is a mandatory one year service program required of all university graduates in Nigeria. Once a student graduates, the student is randomly assigned to serve in a state. There are certain rules of course that govern this "random assignment:"<br />
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<li>The student cannot serve in his/her state of origin. Meaning that if I am from New York, I cannot serve in New York. I would have to serve in a different state, for example Texas. </li>
<li>The student does NOT have a say in where he/she can be posted. When the NYSC posting assignment is made available, students look for their names on a list and if they find they have been posted to the state of Alaska for example, they cannot reject it.</li>
<li>Without the NYSC certificate, a Nigerian university graduate CANNOT legally get a job in Nigeria.</li>
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<i>Why should the NYSC students care?</i><br />
If I wanted to answer this question in one sentence, it would be this: the NYSC students (henceforth referred to as corpers) don't have to care. But, I'm not that mean (at least not when it comes to this). The reason for my simple answer is because the corpers do not have a say where they can be posted. They are simply posted to a location and do whatever task the supervisor tells them to do. With this in mind, the NYSC office can post a student to the national farms I proposed in my previous blog post. A quick summary of my previous post: I proposed that the Federal Government create a set of National farms that will be run and maintained by NYSC corpers as a way to diversify our economy (make Nigeria a nation of farmers), rejuvenate the NYSC program, and make NYSC more beneficial to the nation. (Read: <a href="http://chibvin.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-does-it-mean-to-serve.html">http://chibvin.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-does-it-mean-to-serve.html</a> for more details). Once a student is posted to the national farm, the student must achieve certain goals before they can obtain their NYSC certificate. For example, the student must achieve a satisfactory performance, learn certain skills etc.<br />
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Some might say "So, what?" Why should the corpers care about getting an NYSC certificate. The reason is this: a university graduate looking for a job in Nigeria MUST have his/her NYSC certificate before he can get a job. No NYSC certificate means NO job. This is the reason why everyone who plans to work in Nigeria (except if you are an expatriate) must serve as an NYSC corper. This fact will provide the motivation for students to work in the National farms without complaints.<br />
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However, the NYSC office can make the National farm experience worthwhile and that was why I suggested that seminars, workshops, team building exercises and much more should be organized to make the NYSC experience worthwhile. Although the students are required to serve in the farms, if they are excited about their service to the nation, the program will be more successful.<br />
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<i>Does NYSC even matter?</i><br />
The NYSC program has often be thought of as a waste of one year by many students. Although students enjoy the NYSC experience after it is over because of the friends they make, they often believe they could have done something much better during that time. That is why my proposed NYSC changes should make anyone excited because it can breathe new life into the program. It can make the program vital to the nation because the program can provide the food we eat, provide another source of income for our government and the education system and so much more.<br />
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The NYSC program provides the nation with a lot of unused potential. Introducing NYSC reforms is one way Nigeria can take the steps needed to guarantee a brighter future.<br />
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Don't forget to post your comments (you can post as Anonymous and I would never know who you are). I enjoy reading your comments, and it is because of some of the comments I received, that I wrote this blog post.Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-20487521272563635252012-10-27T18:19:00.000-04:002012-10-27T18:19:46.624-04:00What does it mean to serve?What a last couple of months! I always thought I knew what "busy," "occupied," "stressed" meant until I arrived at MIT and found out first hand. The song of my favorite artist- P-Square- comes to mind "E no easy oh." My goodness! However, no matter how busy I have been, the mind cannot stop to wonder about things not related to chemical engineering.<br />
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Because of the hate emails I have gotten and friends harassing me because I have not posted for a while now, I have succumbed to their endless pressure. As an added benefit, I shall use this post to celebrate my upcoming birthday.<br />
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Now, the topic I shall be writing about today strikes a cord among many Nigerians, both those in Nigeria and those abroad (especially international students). If I had written this post last year in 2011, I would certainly have received harsh comments and insults not worth repeating. Nonetheless, it is a topic that is vital to address when one analyzes the Nigerian education system, and is proposing ways to fix and restructure it. The topic is not unique to Nigeria, but one widely known. It is the meaning of service. What does it mean to serve?<br />
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In Nigeria, after graduating from university, every student is required to enroll for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) where they serve their country for one year doing numerous tasks, such as teaching, working in the private sector etc. For those who reside in the US, the NYSC program is similar to the Peace Corps, although the Peace Corps is not required. NYSC has been a program that has irritated and annoyed many who feel that they waste one more year of their life after having wasted some more years during their university career because of professor strikes and school closures. The reason I mentioned earlier that I would have gotten harsh and cruel comments if I had written this post last year is because last year during the presidential election in Nigeria, some NYSC students (henceforth referred to as corpers) were killed in election violence. This angered many who feel, rightly I might add, that students should not be deployed to states where they will be endangered.<br />
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Despite all this, the NYSC program goes on. I have to mention that many do enjoy the program because of the numerous life changing experiences they have and the friends they meet.<b> This is the reason why the NYSC program in Nigeria must stay</b>. Not only must NYSC stay, but it should be reformulated in a way that benefits the students and the country they serve. The rest of this post will discuss specific ways the NYSC program can be changed.<br />
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For many years now (yes, many years), I have contemplated ways to change the NYSC program and make it more palatable to the students and the country. First of all, we have to acknowledge that the NYSC program is here to stay and should not be abandoned by the government. The first thing I will say to those who argue that the NYSC program should be stopped is to refer them to countries like South Korea, Singapore who require their youth to serve for two years in the military. In Nigeria, we serve for one year and some of us even get to work in the private industry and we are still complaining? Complaining that it is unfair. They should talk to my Korean and Singapore friends who have sacrificed two years in service to their country. It is a part of life and a part of the education process one will have to go through. Once we are okay with the existence of NYSC, we can focus on changing it to benefit Nigeria. One way to do that is to analyze how the program can enrich the nation and benefit us economically.<br />
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First and foremost, NYSC was created after the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970 to bridge the gap between the various ethnic groups in Nigeria and foster national pride. Corpers meet, learn, and connect with others from various tribes and environments, and this broadens their perspective and and enlightens them. So, why send our students to places like Kano state, Jos (Plateau state) etc. where residents are being killed like flies when you know that student's lives will be threatened. When one is worried about their safety, the last thing that comes to mind is bonding with and learning from your fellow corpers.<b> The way to solve this problem is to ban the deployment of NYSC students to those troubled states </b>and tell the governor in that state or whoever cares to listen that if the safety of the corpers cannot be guaranteed, then no corper will be deployed to that state. For example, in Bauchi state where four corpers were killed in election violence, NYSC can ban Bauchi state for one year from receiving the next batch of NYSC students until they can prove that the students will be safe. Until they do this, they should expect no deployment of students. Why should the governors of those states care? It is all about the economics as discussed below.<br />
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<b>And now for the life-changing moment..</b><br />
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The Federal governments should establish a set of National farms (cocoa, rubber, coffee etc), around states in the country, and require that batches of corpers be sent to these farms as part of their one year service. Note that Nigeria used to be one of the dominant exporters of cash crops like cocoa. The corpers shall run these National farms as enterprises that can be used as a learning experience for the corpers. All the corpers will be involved in the day-to-day physical tasks of managing the farm. In addition to that, some students will serve as leaders of their various subgroups in the NYSC batch deployed to that National farm. We can have subgroups involved in the business aspects of running the farm, some involved in the maintenance of the equipment, and so on. The produce from the farms can be sold by the government as food for our people, and some can also be exported to other countries. The students will gain a sense of accomplishment when they see their project literally bear fruit at the every end. Some of the profits from the National farms will be allocate to the state government where the farm is located. Some profit will be allocated to the Ministry of education and some, of course will serve as income to the Federal government. All these proposed profits are sources of income that we do not currently have. The state government gets a share of the profit pile giving them incentives to support the NYSC program and provide more than adequate support for our students. The ministry of education gets profits that can later be distributed to universities as a way to improve education funding and get the changes we need in our education system (Read my earlier post on this topic: <a href="http://chibvin.blogspot.com/2012/06/some-thoughts-on-funding-education.html#links)">http://chibvin.blogspot.com/2012/06/some-thoughts-on-funding-education.html#links)</a>. The federal government can slowly but surely rebrand Nigeria as a <b>nation of farmers,</b> and not a nation totally dependent on crude oil for its survival.<br />
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Why use NYSC corpers for this? One reason is that these corpers are paid a stipend for their one year service; stipends that are just enough to survive. Therefore, the costs to the government will be very minimal. In fact, the cost will not significantly be more than what our students are currently being provided. Therefore, the labour is essentially free. There will always be students available every year, meaning there will be no shortage of 'workers.' This idea of National farms can be designed as mentioned before as a way of training our students in many aspects of life by exposing them to financial matters, leadership and teamwork opportunities, developing great traits like persistence, patience and hard work (farming is not easy) etc. that is needed in the 'real world.' The living situation of these students should also be as ideal as possible, with the NYSC office and the state providing a safe and peaceful environment. After the year of service, new sets of students replace the exiting ones and the process begins again. The timeline for the the year of NYSC service can be timed to coincide with the planting season and end with harvesting season where students can see their products sold for profit. In addition, for students that haven't found jobs after graduation, they can be allowed to extend their service for one more year. This will reduce the prevalence of students who line our streets with their university degrees, but no job to show for it. The students who are allowed to extend their stay can then teach the new set of NYSC students who come in the next year. This will make sure that necessary skills are learned, and also provide an experienced hand and mind to readily help the new students. The maximum number of years one can serve can be limited to three years, and during that time, the student must keep on showing evidence to the NYSC office that they are indeed interviewing and actively looking for jobs.<br />
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This idea of using our corpers in our National Farms can be translated to many other things. We can establish new Federal and State secondary schools that always use corpers as their teachers. One can easily see the financial benefit of doing this (not employing and paying full-time teachers). Something special the government can do with these schools is make them free. There are no labor costs with respect to paying teacher salaries; sets of needed books can be purchased and reused by each student from year to year without forcing students to buy new books. To make sure that our corpers can teach our future generation, the Ministry of education can require that every graduating student in the nation must take a 'Teaching 101' class during their undergraduate career to ensure that they understand how best to teach and explain certain materials to our young ones. Our full-time teachers will still get their jobs and often they will serve as mentors to the corpers. Similarly to what I said earlier with regard to the National farms, corpers can be allowed to extend their stay for a maximum of two additional years. Instead of wasting their talents at home doing and earning nothing, they can be at these schools teaching, and at the very least earning a stipend. Nigeria can use this opportunity as a way to educate our future generation in a way that has never been done before. Imagine a nation with most of its population armed with an education and the idea that they can make a name for themselves and write their own future. Imagine giving them the power of education that allows them to rise above their circumstances and dream of a world unimaginable to them if they had had no education or just a primary school certificate.<br />
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Imagine that. Imagine all we could do with the human resource we have with our NYSC corpers. Why let them suffer for one year 'in service to their country,' and not actually give them the power to fundamentally change our nation. This is what it means to serve.<br />
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<u>Some more things to think about:</u><br />
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The NYSC office can organize contracts with private industries where corpers are currently deployed. These companies can be required to pay fees to the NYSC office before corpers can be deployed there. The type of work corpers perform will be closely monitored by the NYSC office to make sure they benefit the corpers. These contracts can be renewed and re-evaluated every four years to make sure they meet standards. Renewal of contracts often mean more money for the NYSC office.<br />
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Once state economies start to depend on NYSC students for the money the state needs to function effectively, the state will hopefully be more willing to prevent strikes in universities. The more often strikes occur, fewer students will graduate, and fewer students will be available for the National farms or secondary schools etc. This then becomes an economic issue for the state government, and will benefit the education system if the state is more willing to help the education sector.<br />
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If you wanted to read more about some of the things I mentioned in the post:<br />
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<i><b>About the NYSC students killed in Nigeria last year because of election violence.</b></i><br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/20/nigeria-election-violence-deaths-arrests">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/20/nigeria-election-violence-deaths-arrests</a><br />
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<b><i>About the military service requirement in Singapore.</i></b><br />
<a href="http://www.singapore-window.org/sw05/050324af.htm">http://www.singapore-window.org/sw05/050324af.htm</a><br />
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<br />Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-58532548357049703892012-08-01T20:39:00.001-04:002012-08-01T20:39:58.786-04:00The admission process<br />
It has been a while since I posted a new topic on my blog. Life and work have been taking their toll recently. But don't worry I'm back, and it is awesome to finally get back to writing a blog post. I've missed it. Let's get to the topic for today:<br />
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How would you feel when everything you have worked for since you entered nursery school as that budding three-year old, that teenager graduating from secondary school, and that kid with big dreams of changing the world and all of a sudden on a Saturday morning, you watch as your dreams float away because of an admission exam?<br />
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Although I have talked about the education system, I have not discussed about the most important component in the education system: our students. I don't focus on improving our education system to make more money for our lecturers or universities, but how changing the education system affects our students. How can we produce students that are capable of coming out of our universities with all the tools they need to succeed in whatever field they enter? That is the goal of higher education. However, in Nigeria, we have to restructure the admission process to bring us one step closer to fulfilling this goal.<br />
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Currently, secondary school graduates take numerous entrance exams such as WAEC (West African Examination Council), JAMB (Joint Admissions Matriculation Board), NECO (National Examinations Council) in addition to the post-UTME exams one has to take at specific universities before one can enroll. The way our students are admitted must be reviewed because so often are the dreams of most Nigerians determined during the admission process. Why should a student be forced to abandon their medicine or engineering dreams because of an exam such as WAEC and JAMB score that does not give any insight into the career potential of a student. For example, if I were to take the WAEC and JAMB exams and I happen to earn a score that can guarantee admission but cannot guarantee me acceptance into the engineering program at a university, I would be forced to pursue a degree of which I have no interest in like Mathematics or Business.<b> One change that is needed is for universities to abandon the current method of deciding what course a student pursues depending on exams (JAMB, WAEC etc) that are meant only </b><b>for a</b><b>dmission</b>. Exam scores should be for admission only and nothing more. When accepted students matriculate at their university, specific exams can then be taken that are related to engineering, medicine to accurately determine what students should study. The first year of a university career can consist of students taking general science, business classes. I understand that there is not enough space for everyone who wants to study medicine to study medicine, but there is a better method than using admission exam scores. At the end of the first year in university, students in science can take an exam to determine what aspect of science (medicine, engineering, chemistry) they are ready for.<br />
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One of the reasons I detest the use of admission exams for purposes like career determination is because of the numerous things that can happen during an exam. I could have fallen ill on that exam day, have had a bad day the day before, had a fight with my parents that disoriented me, lost someone in my family, even broke up with my girlfriend. So many things could have happened before and during that exam date but none of these things should give a university the right to force my hand into changing my career choice. Who are they to tell me I could not become an engineer or a doctor?<br />
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<b>To reduce the effect that admission exams have on the admission process, universities must consider secondary school results as an integral component of admission</b>. This issue is close to my heart because some of those dear to me have been denied their dream of becoming a doctor because they missed the cut-off admission exam marks needed for medicine. By other accounts such as their secondary school results, I know they would have made great doctors. In Nigeria, universities do not consider the six years of effort, struggle, and dedication of what we call secondary school. Secondary school results tell a lot more about a student than a single admission exam. Secondary school results and transcripts give a timeline of a student. Transcripts should help answer some of these questions: Are the students improving as their classes get tougher? Are they struggling? Are they consistent? Can they handle their desired course and succeed when they enroll in the university? Frankly, I have never understood why universities don't consider secondary school results. It is laughable that the one piece of information that can tell how great a student is or can become is not even considered as evidence for potential admission into a university.<br />
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Students are what really matter when reform to education is considered. We build universities because of the need to teach our people the skills they need to become successful in the future. When a student pursues a career they have always dreamed of, they pursue it with a passion because that is what they have always wanted; something they would do everything in their power to obtain. Why do we quench this dream and passion by forcing them to pursue careers they have no interest in? I don't blame our students for pursuing those careers because that is the lemon that life has provided to them. All they are left to do is make lemonade and pursue whatever course the university thinks is appropriate for them.<br />
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However, for education to move forward, we must give our students the opportunity to pursue whatever dreams they have in mind. We should refrain from using admission exams to determine the futures of our bright and eager students. And as the UNCF motto says, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-65956834284578977252012-06-21T17:56:00.002-04:002012-06-21T18:44:19.336-04:00Some thoughts on funding education (Oh, the things I think about)Whenever I get the opportunity to relax and think about anything not related to my day-to-day routine, I end up trying to conjure ideas about new ways to help improve education in Nigeria. It is certainly an odd thing to think about during one's free time, but it is something I relish. Some of my thoughts revolve around 'what kind of programs can be instituted? Will they work? etc. etc.'<br />
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Recently, I was opportuned to have a chat with a recently promoted deputy vice chancellor (DVC) of a university in Nigeria. I asked him what he hoped to accomplish as a DVC. His reply was not surprising: he just wanted to get used to the responsibilities of the job before he started focusing on what he wanted to change. But he ended with this: "No matter what I hope to accomplish, I can't achieve any of it without funding. Currently, we are underfunded and it is a struggle to pay our lecturers, pay for fuel for our generators and so many other things." In summary, the elephant in the room is 'funding.'<br />
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<a name='more'></a>For those of you who read my previous post, you might wonder why I am revisiting the issue of funding/financing. After my mother read my post about 'Financing', she called me to tell me that I needed to rewrite everything I wrote in that post. "Chibueze, you have to rewrite it, it just doesn't flow," she said. So, I will be revisiting the issue of funding and what can realistically be done to help our education system.<br />
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There is some merit to the claim that our education system is underfunded. But what education system in the world is adequately funded? Even US universities, especially public institutions struggle with funding. The simple fact is there will never be enough money. But, we should ask our university administrators to show what they have done with the money they currently have. If they have performed so admirably with the little money they have, one can honestly say 'Only if they have some more money, they could do better.'<br />
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If universities and the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education want to address the lack of funds for basic operations like paying for fuel or paying lecturers and staff, they must abandon the misconception that funding for education must always come from the government. That is the way education is run in the country; apart from fees levied on students, a universities' alternative funding is through budgets from the state or federal government depending on whether they are a state or federal university. Why is the private sector not involved? In many US universities, private companies and alumni provide an important money source to help universities accomplish the goals they set out. For example, if you live in a college town and most of the scholarships or buildings are named after Shell or Chevron, you know that those companies have an investment in that town. But in Nigeria, if you visit a place like Warri or Port Harcourt where foreign companies operate, they never invest in university education nearby. We only know those companies are operating in those towns because of their offices or refinery.<br />
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Shouldn't these companies that benefit from our resources (natural or personnel) invest in our communities also? What our government should do is to require that companies who operate in a certain area contribute a certain percentage of their profits towards the educational needs of that community. For example, ten percent of the profits must be given back and one such part of the community or the state that can receive these funds is the university located in that state. The company can decide to use its mandatory contribution for specific projects in that university (which can be named after the company) or donate the money to a foundation. It is a win-win scenario for the company and the community. The company can claim to be 'giving back to society' and they can brag about that wherever they want to. To facilitate this, universities and the Federal Ministry of Education should create foundations that can solicit additional funds from these companies, foreign organizations, alumni, government officials, and just about anyone. These foundations should be fund-raising machines, hosting dinners and doing everything legal it takes to obtain money for their universities. They should be passionate about their university and what it should stand for. The money they raise will be so invaluable to ensuring that improvements that the Minister of Education or university officials like the DVC desire can be accomplished. More money will become available for research work, building projects, increasing faculty pay and improving the quality of education being provided.<br />
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Here's another thought: what about confiscating stolen money from corrupt politicians and donating it to a university foundation? Unfortunately, there are many of those corrupt politicians in Nigeria. For example, if a corrupt politician is accused of fraudulent dealings in Delta State and the government is lucky to recover any of the money, that money can be donated to a university foundation in the state, e.g., the Delta State university foundation.<br />
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Finally, assuming these universities get their required funding, is there an assurance that the money will be judiciously used? We know the corruption problems that pervade every ministry in the nation. This is why an able Minister of Education is highly desired. He has to be incorruptible, fair-minded, and firm. He has to be a visionary and must develop rules to control university foundations to ensure that the money raised is being used as expected.<br />
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So, these are the kind of things I think about during my free time; thinking about ways to help our beloved country, Nigeria. If we don't do our part, should we expect others to do it for us?Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-78071007338222822232012-06-17T15:52:00.003-04:002012-06-19T21:14:32.428-04:00FinancingEven if we have a dedicated Federal Minister of Education, what are some of the changes he can implement to improve the finances of the education system. <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Most of the excuses given by
universities are related to finances. “There is no money to pay lecturers,
electricity, bills, up-keep etc.” This may be the case but the question that
should be asked is what is being done with the funds currently available to
them. </span><br />
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<b style="text-indent: 0.5in;">An important change needed is for
the Ministry of Education to create a foundation to solicit funds for
universities.</b><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Hosting fundraisers with government officials, the private
sector, and others to generate funds that can be provided to universities after
universities apply using an application process. These foundation funds will be
different from the budget available from the Federal and State governments and
will be strictly monitored by the Ministry as failure to use the funds as
directed will lead to a reduction in their allocated annual budgets. </span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Universities will be allowed to create
foundations to solicit funds from alumni and other sources</b><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. The university
foundation will operate independently and will fund-raise for the university.
This money from the university foundation provides an opportunity for the
university to increase faculty pay and make the university attractive to the
best professors. Any funds obtained must be reported to the Ministry. Other
important financial changes are</span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span>Require state universities to justify any
increases in tuition. If a university increases tuition, it must declare to the
students a detailed reason for raise. This will make the university more
accountable for the action it takes.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span>Money allocated to universities by the Federal
Government must be distributed by the Ministry. This money will be distributed
only to accredited universities that meet all the demands of the Ministry.</span></div>
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</span>Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-82383802578558526992012-06-16T19:40:00.003-04:002012-06-16T20:02:28.015-04:00The Nigerian Federal Ministry of EducationThe Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education should be one of the most heavily funded governmental departments in Nigeria. The person who serves as the Minister must understand the problems that face the country's education system and must have a list of ideas, rules, and an educated thought process that can fundamentally change the way education is approached by our universities etc. So, who should become the Minister of Education?<br />
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Firstly, the Minister of Education must be well versed in foreign education systems such as that of the US, UK. The manner foreign universities are operated should be a starting point in determining what changes need to be made to the Nigerian system. Secondly, the Minister must be ready to base his salary on the accomplishments he/she has made in office. For example, the Minister would have a list of priorities that need to be achieved every year. If no progress is made to that regard, the Minister will not get paid. The Minister of Education's job is one that should be taken by someone not because it is a means to an end and a way to pay the rent. But, it should be taken by someone because he believes in the future of Nigeria so much that he does not need monetary compensation. <b>Thirdly and most importantly, the Minister must be willing to become a benevolent dictator.</b> He must have a course of action that he will pursue at all cost. The clout of vice-chancellors and other administrators in education must not be ignored, and it is important for the Minister to demand accountability from every administrator and follow-up on any declared consequences that may be incurred. He must adapt to whatever personality (silent leader, forceful personality etc.) he needs to be effective as a Minister. To make all these changes possible, the Minister of Education must be guaranteed at least eight years or two terms in office. The National Assembly or any other governmental body cannot remove the Minister. This requirement must be outlined in the appointment contract. The Minister can only be removed because of an express case of corruption or serious abuse of power. What constitutes an express case of corruption or serious abuse of power must be specified in the contract. This is needed so that the Minister does not worry about his job security, but focuses all his energy on reforming Nigeria.<br />
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What other characteristics must the ideal Nigerian Minister of Education have? <b>Please leave your comments below</b>. The actual Minister will not be ideal, but the closer he gets to ideal, the better.<br />
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The next post will detail specific ways to change education in Nigeria so that we can help whoever becomes the Minister.<br />
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<br />Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183928395414959744.post-15959720752802194002012-06-16T00:23:00.000-04:002012-06-17T20:00:46.592-04:00The power of dreams"Whatever you do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."-Goethe.<br />
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Corruption in Nigeria is widespread. We know government officials ignore the need of the people and are only interested in their well-being. But how can we chip away at corruption? We should have concrete discussions on how to eradicate corruption. However, chipping away at corruption involves stepping on the foot of those currently in power. One area of government where fewer foot will be stepped upon and enormous progress and change can be made is education.<br />
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Improving education in Nigeria is paramount. Nigerians are one of the smartest and hard-working people in the world. Why do we suffer under the chains that our leaders have placed us in? Those chains of corruption will never define us. Education is the gateway that will bring Nigeria closer to achieving its dream to finally become the giant of Africa. For example, an educated population is one that can create jobs--jobs that can revitalize and diversify a failing economy. Properly educated students can become entrepreneurs in their area of study and not dependent on government jobs. The students can become leaders in any industry here in Nigeria or abroad. Educated students make better leaders and the number of better leaders we have in government, the better Nigeria will be. Many more reasons abound for the importance of education to Nigeria and what we need are solutions to fix the Nigerian education system and not a regurgitation of the problems we have.<br />
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It is my dream to change the Nigerian education system and this blog is one step. Any changes suggested is a starting point for necessary discussion. <b>I want to read and hear what you think.</b> Feel free to comment on everything. What steps can students, officials, and government take. The more we can talk about solutions, the closer we are to implementing it.<br />
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Just believe in the power of dreams.<br />
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<br />Chibvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07127106243856298664noreply@blogger.com3