₦airaland Forum

Towards the end of 2017, I came across a job opening for several academic positions at the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in Delta State. I applied for the position of Lecturer II, having completed my coursework for my master’s degree and being about 70% through my research. It was an exciting moment, though filled with uncertainty—especially considering the “Nigeria factor” when it comes to recruitment processes.

The first shock was discovering that the application had to be submitted physically. We were required to deliver all requested documents in person. Given the university’s location in Okerenkoko, accessible only by speedboat through the Red Sea, the risk involved made me reconsider whether to proceed with the application. Nevertheless, I made up my mind and hoped for the best.

I gathered all the required documents, including academic references.

I traveled from Benin to Warri to meet up with my coursemate, Samuel Atabeh, who sat beside me on the speedboat. We journeyed for about 25 minutes to the university, navigating insecurity in the creeks and the inherent risks of water transportation. I couldn’t help but wonder: since the community where the university is located has no other means of transportation, why didn’t the recruitment committee create an online portal so candidates could apply from anywhere?

Upon arrival, we met an unimaginable crowd. I joined the queue to submit my documents for sighting. After completing the process, I engaged the official in charge in a brief conversation to ask when I might expect feedback regarding the interview. I also requested his mobile number, which he kindly provided.

Three or four months later, I had relocated to Lagos, having completed my MSc research and awaiting assessment. I saw on a popular website called Nairaland that candidates who applied to the university had been invited for interviews. I was worried—why hadn’t I received an invitation, despite meeting all the qualifications?

Then I remembered the official whose contact I had saved. I called him to inquire. He explained that there had been a technical glitch when sending bulk SMS messages to shortlisted candidates—only a few messages had gone through. While on the call, he asked me to hold on while he checked the list. Suddenly, he shouted, “Start coming to Okerenkoko right now!”

I was stunned. It was around 9 a.m., and I was at work in Lagos. I didn’t wait to get official permission from my manager—I knew what his response would be. I dashed home, packed a few clothes, grabbed my original documents, and headed to the motor park to catch the next available bus to Benin (there was no direct bus to Warri from my location). I arrived in Benin late in the evening, joined another bus to Warri, and spent the night at a friend’s place. The next morning, I went to the terminal to catch the next ferry to Okerenkoko.

I wasn’t the only one affected. In fact, fewer than 25% of shortlisted candidates received the SMS invitation—meaning the majority were left uninformed.

When I arrived at the university, I saw a huge crowd. A woman was addressing applicants who, like me, hadn’t received the invitation. I asked who she was and was told she was Professor Mrs. Ongoebi Maureen Etebu, the Acting Vice Chancellor and head of the recruitment process. The only words I heard her say were, “I’m sorry, we’ve concluded the recruitment process, and there’s nothing we can do.” People began chanting, “We didn’t get the invitation! Why not reschedule the interview?” But their pleas fell on deaf ears. Surrounded by her intimidating protocol team, I could only watch.

After she left, some applicants began sharing their experiences. Even those who received the invitation were misinformed—the interview venue was actually a hotel in Warri, not the university itself.

I was heartbroken. I remembered the first day we came for documentation, when one applicant praised the VC, saying she was a woman of integrity and that the recruitment process would be free of compromise. He spoke highly of her tenure as Dean of Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt. I couldn’t help but wonder—what happened to that integrity when it came to Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko?

When we talk about corruption in Nigeria, this experience is the first that comes to mind. A few years after the university began operations, there were reports of misappropriation of funds from her office.

I fault the recruitment process—it was compromised from start to finish. Considering the risks involved in traveling miles for the application, the recruitment committee should not have burdened applicants, especially knowing that most were coming from outside Delta State.

This is just one example of many fraudulent recruitment processes in Nigeria, particularly in government establishments.

It would be fair if companies and institutions made recruitment more seamless for applicants—especially fresh graduates who often lack reliable income. Asking them to travel long distances for aptitude tests and interviews is unnecessary. We are in the 21st century, and these organizations can leverage technology to reduce the burden and risks involved, which disproportionately affect vulnerable applicants.

To Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, and Professor Mrs. Ongoebi Maureen Etebu—you hit us hard. It was one of my worst experiences as a Nigerian, witnessing firsthand a corrupt process and being powerless to change it.

We can do better as institutions of learning—especially those that echo the phrase “found worthy in character and learning.” Sadly, Nigeria Maritime University and its recruitment committee were far from that ideal.

To every Nigerian graduate without connections, as the saying goes—may God Almighty come through for you in your search for opportunities where your hard-earned knowledge can be applied. May you be free from the enemies of education who keep chanting, “School is a scam.”

Cheers.

For a University that almost failed accreditation for the same engineering when a senior colleague went there for accreditation years back..one wld expect that NMU will at least try to reserve at least 3/4 of the slots for merit whilst young whatever they want with the remaining quarter...but all crimes normally become gigantic when they reach the south south...election rigging....cultism...kidnapping...bunkering...contract inflation...etc....Mrs Etebu couldn't have ran the whole show by herself..I'm suspecting they're inserting ghost staff on the payroll..but time will tell

Politicians make things hard for this people. Once they know govt establishment pay well. It's hard to approve employment slots for you except you part with half of it. At the federal level, there are mandatory slot sharers:

1) Senate committee on education takes their slot
2) Civil service commission takes their slot before approval if not they won't give you go ahead to employ
3) Minister of education takes his slot
4) Federal character commission also takes their slot. They supervise employment process
5) IPPIS takes their slot if not you can employ but the new recruits will never get paid for as long as you refuse to settle

Then you have optional slot sharers from
1) governor of the state where you operate
2) state and federal lawmakers acting individually
3) traditional rulers in whose domain you operate
4) host community demanding quotas

Most time the total employment slot you are given is between 100 to 200. But see the number of people ready to set landmines for you. These people have real power to hurt you or support your second tenure. How do you try to be fare when the slot has been compulsorily taken away from you by those stronger than you

Most time when they see that 60% of the slots have been taken from them, they just use the remaining slots to settle their family and friends because the slot remaining cannot make any mark on the large applicant pool. Even the stress to scrutinize 20,000 applicants only to give only 50 Jobs, our public sector managers are not cut out for that
.

Ruke1991:
Politicians make things hard for this people. Once they know govt establishment pay well. It's hard to approve employment slots for you except you part with half of it. At the federal level, there are mandatory slot sharers:

1) Senate committee on education takes their slot
2) Civil service commission takes their slot before approval if not they won't give you go ahead to employ
3) Minister of education takes his slot
4) Federal character commission also takes their slot. They supervise employment process
5) IPPIS takes their slot if not you can employ but the new recruits will never get paid for as long as you refuse to settle

Then you have optional slot sharers from
1) governor of the state where you operate
2) state and federal lawmakers acting individually
3) traditional rulers in whose domain you operate
4) host community demanding quotas

Most time the total employment slot you are given is between 100 to 200. But see the number of people ready to set landmines for you. These people have real power to hurt you or support your second tenure. How do you try to be fare when the slot has been compulsorily taken away from you by those stronger than you

Most time when they see that 60% of the slots have been taken from them, they just use the remaining slots to settle their family and friends because the slot remaining cannot make any mark on the large applicant pool. Even the stress to scrutinize 20,000 applicants only to give only 50 Jobs, our public sector managers are not cut out for that
.

I agree 💯 %
This is our major problem in recruitment.

I hope you had no issues with your job in Lagos.

Ruke1991:
Politicians make things hard for this people. Once they know govt establishment pay well. It's hard to approve employment slots for you except you part with half of it. At the federal level, there are mandatory slot sharers:

1) Senate committee on education takes their slot
2) Civil service commission takes their slot before approval if not they won't give you go ahead to employ
3) Minister of education takes his slot
4) Federal character commission also takes their slot. They supervise employment process
5) IPPIS takes their slot if not you can employ but the new recruits will never get paid for as long as you refuse to settle

Then you have optional slot sharers from
1) governor of the state where you operate
2) state and federal lawmakers acting individually
3) traditional rulers in whose domain you operate
4) host community demanding quotas

Most time the total employment slot you are given is between 100 to 200. But see the number of people ready to set landmines for you. These people have real power to hurt you or support your second tenure. How do you try to be fare when the slot has been compulsorily taken away from you by those stronger than you

Most time when they see that 60% of the slots have been taken from them, they just use the remaining slots to settle their family and friends because the slot remaining cannot make any mark on the large applicant pool. Even the stress to scrutinize 20,000 applicants only to give only 50 Jobs, our public sector managers are not cut out for that
.

I agree with you 💯 percent.
Corru ption has eaten deep into every sector, every fibre, every artery and ever veins of the Nigerian in the helm of affairs of most institutional. Sad, sad indeed...

24SEVEN:
I hope you had no issues with your job in Lagos.

I left the job almost the same period after my return from warri to start up something for myself.
Thanks for asking.