₦airaland Forum

It saddens me to see the level of intellectual discussion by majority of Nigerian graduates especially those who studied at home. If the contributions and discussions I read on (blogs including NL) is a true representation of the quality of education in Nigeria, I weep and cry for Nigeria. I can now understand why elected officials shop abroad for people to fill key appointments. Nigerian banks hold job fair abroad to hire competent workers while there’s serious unemployment in Nigeria, expatriates refuse to fill key technical positions with Nigerian graduates; practically no serious bank or company in Nigeria today does not set aptitude test to retest the competence of Nigerian graduates. Even those who hire them hire them as ‘Graduate Trainees’ to undergo further training before they can be allowed into a sane corporate environment.


You can hate me or chew me but it doesn’t change a thing and will never affect the perception of the world about our graduates. Has anyone ever read what some Nigerian graduates write as English Language? How about in-depth analytical discussions that require thorough research and investigative skills? Most will shy away from intelligent discussions and rather bring in annoying sarcastic comments like “Na you sabi”, “Carry Go”, “na Godwin”, “the hussle is real” (by the way it’s ‘hustle’ and not ‘Hussle’) etc.

As an example, I watched a group of Nigerians argue and tear themselves apart over Mrs Buhari’s alleged claim that she donated N140Mil worth of drugs to IDPs. I watched with awe how highly educated paper-warriors could not decipher the difference between ‘Worth’ of a material donation and actual cash donation. I tried to weigh in that most pharmaceutical companies abroad could donate multi-million dollar worth of drugs as long you have means to cart it away and ship. So that my boss gave me $10mil worth of used laptops to donate to my community does not mean I either donated $10mil dollars to my community or have $10mil (this is just for emphasis. I am not defending anyone)

I will encourage our young men and women to spend more time/energy on self-improvement than follies, fun and fraud. At this rate, Nigeria may remain under a perpetual servitude under the developed economies. You need to discuss with youths from those countries to see the difference. How can we ever catch up?


If you are a young Nigerian graduate and truly can defend your certificate intellectually and hands-on, I want to use this opportunity to say “May God bless you and bring you to the fore on merit above the egg-heads who rely on connections and intimidation. Keep up your hard work! God will bring merit back to Nigeria one day and the egg-heads will have to compete to survive”

Okay. But d content doesn't seem to potray d title as I was expecting

This is an example

Okey! Are you directly or indirectly saying you're schooling./schooled or based abroad

Nigerian students in full display

Exhibit 3 of nigerian students

It is like an infectious disease and fast spreading amongst the youth. From whence it cometh I can't say but looking at whence it is heading scientifically we are all doomed! Such mindless zombies as a result of systemic collapse of education structures.

Oyinbo men once advised the Great Awo against educating his citizens because it will make them difficult to govern.

I still hold it that Nigerian youths are the best given the right tools and necessary conditions to thrive. As it stands now, it is a personal race to free oneself from the limitations placed by some unseen forces to cage destinies of Nigerian youths.

This is the most stimulating thread I've seen this year. It hurts that our graduates can't hold intellectual conversation even in their choice of study. In an office environment they are more interested in getting promoted every other day. They are want it all and now.

Mba!
Na Jonathan Goodluck!

Sijo01:
Okey! Are you directly or indirectly saying you're schooling./schooled or based abroad

Yes! do you have problem with that?

It starts from the Family unit: Parents too busy chasing money to have time for their kids. No, money won't make your kid smart. No time to take their kids to anywhere to learn anything. My dad made us all watch CNN and read classics before the age of 10. I could tell you a bit about the stock market and shares of companies like Coca Cola and PZ and more (he would buy them for us rather than throw us birthday parties) and I devoured my mum's 1956 copy of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".

It moves onto teachers: I can never forget my Chemistry teacher nor my Literature teacher. Those 2 women taught from the heart, passionate about Education. Compare that to my Biology teacher (who didn't teach a classroom of girls that they had 3 openings between their legs, because it was "unchristian" for us to understand our own biology and bodies apparently). So many people are teaching because they need jobs and food on the table, and don't care to even update their knowledge. And they insist their students learn by rote, rather than Logic and Reasoning (because it's "too haaarrrddd" to mark individual answers rather than standardised ones, they have more "important" stuff to do).

It goes on to their peers: I guarantee you this thread won't get much traction and views. No gist, no tribal enflaming, no gender-baiting, nothing about Random-Nigerian-Vacuous-Celebrity. Who wants to read that?? Even your peers mock you for being an "I-too-know".

It ends with Society: We love degrees in Nigeria. But ask these degree holders to explain what their degree taught them and how they applied it to real-life situations and you'll realise how little they genuinely know. Which is why all of them assumed Mrs Aisha Buhari opened up her coffers to donate that amount of drugs to IDF camps, instead of most likely she and her team lobbied pharmaceutical firms and pushed NGOs into making up the bulk of that donation.

Our society doesn't reward Intelligence and Critical Thinking, and hates Responsibility.

Add all these together= typical Nigerian graduate.

Onegai:
It starts from the Family unit: My dad made us all watch CNN and read classics before the age of 10. I could tell you a bit about the stock market and shares of companies like Coca Cola and PZ and more (he would buy them for us rather than throw us birthday parties)

^^^^Wow! I really like the above. Exactly how I want to raise my kids especially my daughter. many young ladies in Naija are used and treated like rags bc they're not economically empowered. if they have their own money, i bet most won't swallow rubbish. but how many of them know that the money they waste on empty big over-sized designer bags, and wigs if invested in stock and share can save them from future financial 'slavery' in the hands of abusive adulterous men?

on the question, i just feel sometime that young people back home are very distracted by what's going on in the society and environment. how can one concentrate and prepare for future when one is saddled with the struggle for survival? - no power, water, everything is fight and struggle. even in universities, undergrads sit on the floor to take classes, lecturers are biz men/women and politicians always going on strike. the harassment of female students is enough to discourage any lady. but look at the governors and govt officials. they too know our schools are messed up that's why they send their kids abroad. the school fees they pay for one child abroad in a year can build a library for one secondary schl in naija. in fact our people hate themselves!!!

i put the blame partly on parents. are fathers who are supposed to be at home to mentor their kids not the adulterous men being sugar daddies young girls everywhere? are mothers not the same people pushing their daughters to go out there and be like others?

as for the govt, when they sacrifice merit for mediocrity in appointments who wants to work hard? a situation where majority of members of senate and house of rep have criminal records..are criminals not the role models and rewarded?..mtcheeeeew!

Onegai:
It starts from the Family unit: Parents too busy chasing money to have time for their kids. No, money won't make your kid smart. No time to take their kids to anywhere to learn anything. My dad made us all watch CNN and read classics before the age of 10. I could tell you a bit about the stock market and shares of companies like Coca Cola and PZ and more (he would buy them for us rather than throw us birthday parties) and I devoured my mum's 1956 copy of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".

It moves onto teachers: I can never forget my Chemistry teacher nor my Literature teacher. Those 2 women taught from the heart, passionate about Education. Compare that to my Biology teacher (who didn't teach a classroom of girls that they had 3 openings between their legs, because it was "unchristian" for us to understand our own biology and bodies apparently). So many people are teaching because they need jobs and food on the table, and don't care to even update their knowledge. And they insist their students learn by rote, rather than Logic and Reasoning (because it's "too haaarrrddd" to mark individual answers rather than standardised ones, they have more "important" stuff to do).

It goes on to their peers: I guarantee you this thread won't get much traction and views. No gist, no tribal enflaming, no gender-baiting, nothing about Random-Nigerian-Vacuous-Celebrity. Who wants to read that?? Even your peers mock you for being an "I-too-know".

It ends with Society: We love degrees in Nigeria. But ask these degree holders to explain what their degree taught them and how they applied it to real-life situations and you'll realise how little they genuinely know. Which is why all of them assumed Mrs Aisha Buhari opened up her coffers to donate that amount of drugs to IDF camps, instead of most likely she and her team lobbied pharmaceutical firms and pushed NGOs into making up the bulk of that donation.

Our society doesn't reward Intelligence and Critical Thinking, and hates Responsibility.

Add all these together= typical Nigerian graduate.

Succinct, apt description and well put. More ink to your pen.

their sense no develop reach that level

Woged2005:
^^^^Wow! I really like the above. Exactly how I want to raise my kids especially my daughter. many young ladies in Naija are used and treated like rags bc they're not economically empowered. if they have their own money, i bet most won't swallow rubbish. but how many of them know that the money they waste on empty big over-sized designer bags, and wigs if invested in stock and share can save them from future financial 'slavery' in the hands of abusive adulterous men?

The answer is comprehensive, but it is a combination of schools, parents, teachers, changing technologies, and government.

Woged2005:
^^^^Wow! I really like the above. Exactly how I want to raise my kids especially my daughter. many young ladies in Naija are used and treated like rags bc they're not economically empowered. if they have their own money, i bet most won't swallow rubbish. but how many of them know that the money they waste on empty big over-sized designer bags, and wigs if invested in stock and share can save them from future financial 'slavery' in the hands of abusive adulterous men?

What about ur son?
Where are u from?

We have peaceful & loving men in this country... In anycase, I advise u discard any breeding animosity towards men, so u don't subconsciously extend it to ur sons...

SAMBARRY:
Nigerian students in full display

Lol...

dis is really funny, reminds me of my ppa durin nysc, dose students fit do dis kind tin...

This is one of the best writeup ever read on NL.

The problem can be traced to so many factors,partly the society,and mainly the family..

The family is the first point of contact to a child,the economic pressure. On the family is getting more everyday,so parents chase money at the detriments of the kids,and when the foundation is wrong,hardly can you build on it.

Moreover,a society that rewards mediocre at the expense of merits is heading for doom.

@ bigheart2013 what do expect from an environment like ours?

I will like u to visit some institutions in dis country, so as to see d appalling state in which students are compelled to learn. U expect nigerian graduates to be knowledgeable like their counterparts in america & other developed countries under d kind of uncongenial atmosphere we have in dis country? U must be a joker.

Why not carry out a research on nigerians studying in dese developed countries....

SAMBARRY:
Nigerian students in full display

The equation has been expanded, what else does the teacher want? Lol.

klark3:
@ bigheart2013 what do expect from an environment like ours?

I will like u to visit some institutions in dis country, so as to see d appalling state in which students are compelled to learn. U expect nigerian graduates to be knowledgeable like their counterparts in america & other developed countries under d kind of uncongenial atmosphere we have in dis country? U must be a joker.

Why not carry out a research on nigerians studying in dese developed countries....

. part of the problem is our skewed value system. Even here on NL look at the type news that get the highest attention - very mundane issues about which single lady had a baby for which celebrity, which girl is dating a sugar daddy, and who wore it better..the mind of our girls are preoccupied by s*x and fashion, while the boys are about making quick money 24/7. laziness is on the sprawl...nobody wants to use their brain and work hard. It's a punishment even in the office to give a Nigerian graduate a task that requires conducting a research.. they will be groaning.

Everybody is to blame. Schools, parents, students,government, society. E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y.

This topic is painful.

An0nimus:
Everybody is to blame. Schools, parents, students,government, society. E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y.

This topic is painful.

From all I read above...practically the Nigerian society rewards mediocrity and indolence. So where is the change going to come from?

SAMBARRY:
This is an example

Funny, sad, but true.
And this encapsulates the problem.

Jesus is the problem.
The Nigerian people are still being held hostage in The Slaveship Jesus , which is ironically, the name of the First merchant ship that carried the first batch of West African slaves across the atlantic.

Foreign Religions and all their associated bullshytes occupy a greatly disproportionate space in the African mind.
This is undeniable, and vastly responsible for the low intellectual girth of this generation.

Let's just say the parents and the closed curriculum we operate. My son could operate a desktop computer before 4 and can open any device with password if you'll be kind to give it to him currently and he's yet to clock five. Growing up I read newspapers and sat by the tv every 9pm for network news. As a scholar I spent time with most foreign textbooks and enrolled in so many sites for free scholarly newsletters on advances in my field of study thereby keeping up. My lecturers couldn't just one blessed Prof. Ene whom I wrote on Manganese noodles and deep sea cobalt on 2008 same yr the discoveries were published and scored well. I had a 'D' in drilling technology cuz most of the terms and definitions I used were 'above my cadre' thus days the lecturer but I knew he doesn't know Jack bout them. I look forward to home school my son in certain key subjects as I will want him to learn faster than the usual colour book. Parents should learn to spend more time with their kids and encourage them to learn the dynamics of the society as it is in reality with proven theories and academic not shrouded in 'go to school and pass' only.

I've a senior construction engineer I work under that is a total disgrace to the word 'senior' talk more of the engineering aspect but he has all the certifications and qualifications to be given the post that brings me to the issue of paper qualification. We promote academic excellence but disregard academic competence. The system needs to look into that too.

My take though.

plaetton:
Funny, sad, but true.
And this encapsulates the problem.

Jesus is the problem.
The Nigerian people are still being held hostage in The Slaveship Jesus , which is ironically, the name of the First merchant ship that carried the first batch of West African slaves across the atlantic.

Foreign Religions and all their associated bullshytes occupy a greatly disproportionate space in the African mind.
This is undeniable, and vastly responsible for the low intellectual girth of this generation.

GBAM! Instead of seeking solutions to their problems they'd rather pray and attend church with the belief that it will be all good when they get to heaven. Roll that up with the belief that satan rules the earth and you get a set of people who will ensure they do NOTHING to improve their communities or try to be the change they seek.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what heaven will look like at the end of the world(as they want us to believe). Nigerian will poo all over the place, steal all the gold, start collecting bribe from all the "newly dead" souls and sabotage the power supply so that heaven will be in perpetual darkness. Pfft

hahn:
GBAM! Instead of seeking solutions to their problems they'd rather pray and attend church with the belief that it will be all good when they get to heaven. Roll that up with the belief that satan rules the earth and you get a set of people who will ensure they do NOTHING to improve their communities or try to be the change they seek.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what heaven will look like at the end of the world(as they want us to believe). Nigerian will poo all over the place, steal all the gold, start collecting bribe from all the "newly dead" souls and sabotage the power supply so that heaven will be in perpetual darkness. Pfft

Lol.

One of the most useful and enduring lessons I learnt in my youth is that you must take good care of your little hut as you prepare yourself for your future mansion.

I laugh at these people who throw shi.t at their heritage, condemn the Earth, do nothing to improve life on Earth, pray for its distruction, and look forward to eternal bliss in another place where they would have no responsibilities except singing hourly hymns of praise to skydaddy.
" There is something akin to madness in this overwheming worldview.", quoting Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart.

^^^
Even more hilarious is that they hope to enjoy all this after they are physically dead.

If i may also add, Nigerians are lazy. They truly don't want to know. Truly. They also have Responsibility. It is so much easier to blame someone else and they would rather take that route (that is why they are lazy). They equate working strenuously with doing the job right or the easiest way out as being "smart". Never wanting to take personal responsibility means turning God and religion into an insurance policy.

Which is why if you ask a lot of pregnant women in Nigeria, the number 1 book amongst them is something titled "Supernatural Birth", rather than links on the NHS website. Which is why you will see someone collapse on the road, people will gather and be praying furiously whilst someone pours cold water and no-one will think of leaning the person's head back, opening the mouth and breathing air into it (I know everyone has gone "n yama!!" wait till you need first aid... ). Which is why one of your neighbours will refuse to pay his share of a street guard's salary, telling you N5,000 is too much, then drives off in his car. Or someone will collect a bribe from you (or "gift") whilst insulting government. Sigh.

We all don't have to be intellectuals, just apply critical reasoning to a problem and think of the greater good. But I don't see that happening in Nigeria ever so...

plaetton:
^^^
Even more hilarious is that they hope to enjoy all this after they are physically dead.

Lol.

Oboy, the mind of man truly is made out of clay and can be moulded to whatever shape depending on the sculptor.

Unfortunately, the factors needed to properly mould the mind of the average Nigerian are missing such as a proper education, most especially the understanding that aside from what you're taught, in schools or by your parents, it is your responsibility to also seek knowledge, challenge popular beliefs so as properly enlighten one's self. It is only then that one can truly be motivated to be the change one seeks. Go to secondary schools for instance and you'll find out that they answer the same waec questions that were answered by their prents and are also taught from the same books. In a world that's constantly evolving, you really cannot expect to equip a child with the knowledge of the 1980s in 2015.

Another factor is culture. Unfortunately, our culture abhors any idea of change in its ideology. Women are still being seen as lesser beings who can be "sold", have no right to an opinion and are still being relegated to the kitchen. Elders, are still given undue respect even when they don't deserve it or , in most cases, not doing the right thing. For instance, I'm not supposed to criticize the political leaders because they are not my mates. My "elder"s doesn't dim it fit to apologise to me nor take responsibility when he's wrong Hian.

Then there's this lack of nationalism that's eating deep into our youths. Its not uncommon to see an average Nigerian throwing dirt on the street while complaining that the city is dirty. We bribe police officials and complain about their poor service. And the list goes on.

Everyone has got its share of blame. The parents, teachers, society, religion, even myself.

Parents have the first blame; you churn out kids without providing a solid base for them to grow. You lavish them with irrelevant gadgets and fashion accessories and don't teach them the basics of how money is made OR you have no money to provide your child what those rich kids have but you do not teach them prudence or alternatives that can be foregone.

Teachers: Most teachers do not love teaching, they need the income and so cannot devise new ways by which the minds of the students can be stimulated. Even when the minds are stimulated perhaps through external sources; it seen as rocking the boat. "So, buy my textbook, cram everything in it and give me exactly what I wrote" "You cannot know more than your lecturer". Little wonder why after cramming their 'difficult' courses; students proceed to boast on how theirs is the best course especially if it involves big textbooks forgetting that all sectors complement each other. Our strict syllabus doesn't help too.

Society sneers at positive struggles and want to see you already wealthy and influential. "Why don't you pick a civil service job? There's no stress" "You drive a Jeep? You are a big boy oh" "Why are you wasting your time there - even if it matches your career aspirations - go here instead. Time waits for no one". Society looks at the certificates you have amassed.
Dignified labour is 'suffer-head' and a slow start is poverty; that's why people get ashamed to say they don't have cars yet or haven't traveled out or that they simply do not have the money for something because the 'loling' society would be aghast. And so they feel, it is a waste of time to not be appreciated for being a nerd or bookworm but it'd be more appreciated if you know how many ear-rings rihanna wore to dinner.
Now, I don't believe everyone is going to excel at school but if you love diamonds; you'd better know indepth about diamonds; the kinds of diamonds etc just be knowledgable about something and then get a general even light interest about other things as well.
News are swallowed without qestioning. Headline - 730 million dollars found in Dieziani's house
'Chei! This frog eye woman don chop our money finish'
'That's the money from NNPC'
'Diaris God oh, all this money you people are stealing'
No one would ask how it was verified that the amount was actually as announced. Anyone that dares to ask would be tagged and of course insulted (that's another way they avoid any discourse)
I am holding no brief for anyone
South Africans loots malls after Xenophobic attacks
'Send them packing from Nigeria'
'Shut down all their outfits here'
'Close our embassy over there'

Religion: Say to your neighbour 'it is well' 'God's time is the best'. When you aren't paid at work 'pray to God or fast'; when you falsify documents 'God will make a way' and so when people get challenged about a topic/subject, they hide under God's cloak; when you challenge a status quo, they warn you about God's wrath; those that deign to continually push against these boundaries are tagged rebels.

Myself/Yourself: There are threads I don't dare comment in so I don't get angry; it's either full of 'loling' 'diaris God' 'go and die' or 'yeebos' 'yolobas' 'awusa' and yet I do not enter to contribute my bit or even attempt at correcting, some of them continually need to be corrected so they'd change their stream of thought. You'd get insulted but you'd have done your bit.

The concerned youth themselves: You'd have to desire a change before that change can be gotten. Everyone has a role to play
Now, I would love to also blame the entertainment industry too especially musical videos and home videos but ours pale in comparison to the west and east and yet those have made giant strides in relevant sectors.

Another rant, another epistle.