₦airaland Forum

mbourie:
Prof., that is the more reason we dont need people like you and old men ...

Abeg relax.

There is no doubt that the Internet is by far the largest repository of information the world has ever known. You need to keep in mind however that information is not knowledge, nor yet wisdom. Today's youth have become good at extracting information from the Internet, but poor at synthesizing knowledge or wisdom from it. The explosion of information means that they almost always have to read in SKIM mode. Yes, you guys have access to all that information, but how much of it actually sticks? Not when you have to run to the Internet or your mobile to answer the simplest questions (true story: one of my fellow academics recently asked an M.Sc. student to multiply two Integers (ahem, "whole number" ) each less than 10, and the guy had to crunch it on his phone!). Internet-age students are usually less able to think (or even speak) deeply on any topic, and have the attention span of the Energizer bunny.

Look, the Internet and the technologies that enable it are my playground and the focus of my research, so you can't accuse me of hating. The Internet is great for many things, but used improperly, the Internet could lead to lower-quality scholarship, something I see in my class every $#%%@^ day. In the long run, the Internet gives you all more access to information, but makes very few smarter.

Isn't it ironic that responses such as yours actually buttress the man's point? Many of you were apparently responding primarily to the headline, while skimming through the prof's comments. I wish you would identify one statement of his that you find so offensive.

oyeludef:
is it that d first class students are not interested in lecturing?

Short answer: YES.
If you go through some of my older posts, I've explained the reason for this (hint: poor funding).

However, thank God things haven't become as bad as your post suggests: by my reckoning, most new lecturers (in federal universities) are 2.1, rather than 2.2. I cannot recall a single 2.2 being employed in my department in the last decade.

Davo93:
Good day sir! It looks like you are having a wrong picture of whom you are engaging. I did not coordinate the Aluta(not a leading member of any of the Students' Union organ), however, as a conscious Great Ife student, I have my reservations about all that transpired before, during and after the aluta period which I may not be interested in divulging here at the moment. I am a Campus Journalist, by the virtue of this, I have the privilege to put up news items of things that happen including the current suit filed by Juwon against the management.


Sir, I am glad you are one of the not many among your colleagues that are ready to hear the plight of indigent students and ready to assist them. Mucha Gracias!

Okay o, borda Davo, I hear you.
I know that as a journalist, you're supposed to report the news and not influence it. However - since you're a Great Ife student - may I suggest you guys try to talk to your SUG? They don't have to follow a script that's been used with minimal success for so many years. I believe they should give more room for input from the so-called "eficos". Otherwise, "aluta Ife o ni yato si ti LASU"* no matter what they sing to the contrary.

*sorry to my friends from LASU. I'm not hating on your fine school. That's just how our students sing it.

Davo93:
Source: http://www.oaupeeps.com/2014/10/suspended-oau-student-drags-management.html

#ReinstateOAU9

E tun ti bere.
If you remember, I engaged you Davo93 on your ill-advised approach to the recent aluta, but noooo, you knew better . You guys are just too smart for your own good. Has everything I warned you about in our brief discussion happened or not

And you know what pains me the most: the really poor students for whom you should have been fighting are now struggling on their own. While you, Davo probably paid your fees a long time ago, do you know that I still had to help a student with his fees just this last week?? I daresay I've personally helped far more students than you ended up doing with you silly aluta, never mind the fact you got a few months of their (your) lives wasted in the process.

"Scientific aluta with maturity" indeed. You guys need to either think things through properly, or shut up and face your studies. Stop giving students unionism a bad name.

kikuyu1:
The truth will always out! Those black lung pics misused to harass smokers are actually specially treated pig lungs!!

http://karanjazplace..com/2013/07/the-cigarette-smoking-causes-lung.html
These are all TRAINED AND HONEST MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS!
This is the fake pig lung kit they misuse to demonise decent hardworking smokers-look! It even says demo kit without hiding.

[img]http://cfrankdavis.files./2012/08/pig-lungs.png?w=640[/img]

We know the Global Elite;or at least we should know them by -if smoking were really so unhealthy wouldn't they want us to smoke??
Think,nlanders,think!

It appears you have had more than a little puff yourself. "Think Nairalanders"? Perhaps you should heed your own advice. By now, there are thousands of papers on (and at least a score with solid, irrefutable evidence of) the harmful effects of smoking.

Bliss4Lyfe: Same US dat could not give Nigeria their ebola treatment or drugs? Same US blocking Nigeria Arms purchase to fight Boko Haram?
Dont let them in... There plan did not work, so now they want to carry out a study and perfect their plan to destroy Nigeria via Nigerians.

Sigh.
Wonder why so much hate and paranoia. So now you want us to "show" them, eh? Let me remind you that ebola is still hard at work in the sub-region, and may still (God forbid) visit Nigeria again. All this "mouth", when we benefited in no small measure from foreigners and Lady Luck to beat our first few cases. While you sit and idly type away, this same America is busy waging a war against ebola in Liberia, without which ebola would almost certainly wipe out a significant part of the west African population. I hope we will not be forced to eat crow sometime...

Realtol: Registration is already over

Actually, it isn't. Late registration is still on.

fineyemi: U seem to b a comp sci student/graduate. U usin d key word (!) Nt. Its impressive.

I'm an academic in the Electrical Engineering - Computer Engineering - Computer Science continuum. Nuff said

GboyegaD: Every top school strives to get the best of professors as this puts them on a higher pedestal in terms of ratings. The last time I checked, many of their professors are not full time as they hold their main faculty positions in other Universities and they do not have publications in top journals. Well, they might have plans towards getting more full time lecturers which I may not be privy to but the top 10 vision to me seem highly unrealistic.

I too think their top 10 vision is unrealistic, but that is neither here nor there.
The issue before us is whether I can provide evidence to back up my assertion that Oyedepo probably wants to run a world-class university. I think that by showing the existence of a clear vision (realistic or not) and the passion to pursue it, I have more than enough justification for that assertion.

GboyegaD: Anybody can have a vision

Yes, anybody can, but few, very few actually do. CU is one of the very few. I'm happy you acknowledge that below.

and I do appreciate the fact that they have one however, I am yet to see any drive to get them in the top 100 let alone the top 10. I know one necessary condition is the quality of faculty they have and their research/publications which I don't think they have done so much on.

And how do you suppose they should attract quality faculty who can then do excellent research? Do you suppose they should simply place an ad for the world's 100 top researchers and pay over the odds to get them to Naija? That's never going to happen. Nobody risks his career that way. I'll tell you how: it's by first getting a reputation, and by putting certain things on ground. Only after that can you gradually ramp up the quality of your staff/students and research. "Certain things on ground" covers having the following (among others)

- well-run system;no bottlenecks, disciplined staff and students
- good/appropriate levels remuneration for quality scholarship when encountered or recruited (i.e. a flexible remuneration system)
- desire to court, (and ability to deliver) top-class faculty for short- or long-term visits
- demonstrated willingness to spend to acquire excellent facilities
- willingness to sponsor staff to fora where they can network, and thus possibly start collaborations
- demonstrated awareness of global trends and passion to key in etc

Once you get a reputation for the above, you then craft a solid pitch to lure quality faculty to commit to risking part of their careers to work with you.

I have never even seen the gate of Covenant University, so I have no inside info. However, going solely by what I read on the pages of newspapers, I'd say they are doing a better job of the above than basically any other Nigerian university. People think some of their moves are publicity stunts. Perhaps, they're simply trying to cultivate a certain reputation?. You say you are yet to see any drive? Perhaps you have not been looking or listening. Not when they recently made so much noise about having a Nobel laureate visit, and stated they are actively courting other laureates. Not when Coscharis motors recently praised them for being the fastest Nigerian university to respond to an opportunity to stake a claim to the Nigerian auto industry.

I repeat: CU may not be better than federal universities right now. But they have a clear vision. And contrary to what you say, there is evidence of passion. So, yeah, I'm still gonna have to stick to my initial assessment: it appears Oyedepo would love to show that he can operate a world-class university in Nigeria.

Kiinetic: Greetings to everyone!

I'm an engineering student in a university located in the southern part of the country. Studying engineering has never been my dream, or maybe it was for a while. I actually went into engineering because my parents deemed it fit to choose a career for me.

Studying the sciences wasn't really something I found easy. Infact, I wrote my waec four times before getting the right grades for my course. First, in my SS2 (GCE); Second, in my SS3; Third and fourth, GCE too.

I wrote my JAMB once though and passed the Post-UME and my name appeared on the admission list. I actually got in via connections that my dad had, because I didn't have my waec result then.

I remember what my parents said when I failed my waec the third time. In the words of my dad, "If someone had told me that my son would be a failure, I wouldn't have believed it." My mum simply kept comparing me with others around who passed their waec in a sitting. I was really hurt.

Well, I got in and bla bla bla, first year came and went and I had a CGPA of 2.14 and a couple of F's. Second year came and it was worse. I ended up having a CGPA of 1.72 and more F's. Third year came and it was a bit better, 1.93 but still some F's.

My parents do not know about this. When they ask, I keep formulating lies and telling them my CGPA rests at 3.21 and they get really angry. I wonder what would happen when they discover the truth. It wouldn't be nice at all.

I don't know if this problem is because I'm studying something which isn't meant for me, or maybe, I'm just an academic nuisance.

Thinking about my dream or career choice, I honestly do not know what I really want to be in life. Although, when I was a kid till lately, I'd always wanted to work in a bank, but reading about how stressful the job could be discouraged me. Also, I love computers but I don't think I can cope with that stuff called programming.

Right now, my plan is writing JAMB again and just starting afresh, but I don't know what exactly I really want to do. No one else knows about this, because I haven't told it to anyone. I can't tell my parents about this because I know they'll freak out, and probably hate me for wasting their money.

I'm on the verge of completing my degree, but I don't think I can go on. I'll eventually graduate with a third class degree and an extra year or two. I think it's actually better starting afresh than going on with something that won't be worth it.

Right now, I'm kinda concerned about my age. I'll be starting afresh when I should be in my final year, and that's quite humiliating but what choice do I have? That would also mean that I'll finally be a graduate at 25, if all goes well.

Please, what do you think I should do?

Hi. Send me an email. I advise students for a living, so I may have a few tips for you.

GboyegaD: Can you please tell to what extent his universities are world class? I think I lack the understanding of a world class and will appreciate a definition of same.

I have not said Covenant is [present tense] world class. There's another post where I said that as of today, CU isn't even as good as some government universities in some regards. Nevertheless, it is also clear that they are working in accordance with a clear vision. I quote from http://allafrica.com/stories/201409220390.html :

"Ever since I came to office, I was given the mandate tagged, 'Vision 10:2022' which is to get the university listed as one of the top ten universities in the world within the next ten years (2012 - 2022) which we have christened as ( 1 of 10 in 10). To accomplish this vision, we set yearly goals."

Whether they can achieve that vision or not is immaterial; there is however no doubting the passion with which Oyedepo is trying to make CU a world-class university. So, yeah, I stand by my assertion. Oh, by the way, going by their vision, a top-10 university is a world-class university, don't you think?

sunnychykes: Those of you criticising men of God.be warned don't incur the wrath of God upon yourselves.you remember Miriam in the bibles how she criticise her brother Moses and God stroke her with leprosy Numbers 12:1-16. BE WARNED

Ahem. Chief, tune down the touch not my anointed, criticize not my anointed thing. Christians use this to justify all sorts of sloppy thinking and behavior. Christians are allowed to use their brains you know. You can defend Oyedepo without resorting to threats.

Yomieluv: no society can exist without the common man,any society that doesn't take them to consideration is heading for doom.

Let me rephrase that for you:
Any society that tries to only move at the pace of the "common-man" is heading for doom.

Nobody has suggested that the common man should not be taken into consideration. After all, federal universities still typically cost much less than N50,000, and there's good reason to believe that they are still of higher quality than Covenant. Don't you get it? You don't have to attend Covenant (or other expensive private universities). There are cheaper alternatives that are even better in many respects.

The gospel that you guys are preaching (that if as a collective, we do better than the our least common denominator - your common-men" - we've somehow done wrong) will bring this country to ruin. Just as there should be low-cost versions of everything, there should also be excellence-at-all-cost versions. Think of Covenant as an excellence-at-all-cost approach to university management. And feel free to encourage your religious (or social) organization to float one for the common man. It's a free world and all that.

sebali: Nobody is disputing d fact dat education is xpensive bt churches are suppose to ameliorate tins like dis and not make their's evn more xpensive....THATS THE POINT HERE

A church that decides to operate a below-par university is a disgrace (my opinion). They should either do a good job, or steer the hell clear of university ownership.

In Oyedepo's case, it appears that a driving passion for him, is to show that a world class university can be operated in Nigeria. I may not support his ownership of jets and his opulent lifestyle, but on this issue of Covenant University - once we get beyond the initial debate about whether he should own a university at all - he has done fantastically well.

My opinion sir.

rill: He prolly thinks everyone is a millionaire

Not necessarily.
You guys should reflect longer on issues, rather than reaching for the simplest explanation that supports your misconceptions about the subject.
I'm not here to defend Oyedepo. My views on his particular "brand" of Christianity are not particularly complimentary. However, one thing about the man has become crystal clear: he courts excellence in whatever he does(at least he tries hard to project this image).

Operating a university is very expensive business. Whether a church has any reason to float a university or not, I cannot say. But having decided to own one (or two), the most important question is: should he go for a top-notch university, or go for a low-cost, affordable university (hint: there's no such thing!). Whatever else you say about Covenant University, you have to admit that they are trying extra hard to be a top-notch institution. Even though there does tend to be verbiage, there can be no doubt that the university is run under a clear vision (arguably more so than any other Nigerian university).

I believe the big question is whether Winner's members can afford to send kids there. I don't think the university has a student size of more than 10,000.
So are there 10,000 Winners Chapel households in Nigeria that can afford to send their kids to Covenant? Of course. I'd say even up to 50,000.
Does the university have to take all kids from Winners' homes? Of course not.
Is it bad for publicity that given the country's per-capita income, many families in the church cannot afford to send their kids there? Yes, but if you've been listening to various debates on this topic, you'll know that the church gives scholarships for some such kids.

So what's the real argument here?

It isn't often that I get impressed by anything done in, or by Nigerians.

I must however say that I've been blown away by the way LASG (and to a lesser degree, the FG) has handled our Ebola baptism by fire. Honestly, I am still in a state of shocked disbelief at the efficiency with which Ebola was snuffed out (for now, and hopefully for ever!) in the country. Yes, we had a few lucky breaks, but if reports are accurate, there have been some true heroes, such as the female doctor who treated Sawyer. I hope (if the reports are accurate) she gets nominated for a national award sometime. We may never really know what manner of bullet it is we have dodged!

From the utterances of the Ministers of Health and Information at various times, it was clear that the usual levels of ineptitude were still available from the government's playbook, and yet, the sum total of the government's (at all levels) response to the threat has been superb. Perhaps it is true then that one big reason why we remain relatively backward as a nation is the lack of serious challenges that require us to pull together in disregard of our differences.

I salute you, LASG. I salute your FG. For once, you have my full, deserved respect.

hungryboy: Wednesday last week when i woke up, i kept hearing this chirping sound inside my ear, at first i thought it was just a minor issue that was going to go away in a few minutes, but till evening the noise persisted, thursday same thing, friday same thing, saturday same thing and even yesterday which was sunday. Yesterday evening i went to a chemist and the guy gave me a ear drop to use, i used the ear drop yesterday evening and today morning, but my ear is still making the chirping sound, abeg doctors in the house make una help me i no be cricket oh, this thing is driving me crazy

lol.
What you have is (IMHO) tinnitus : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus
I'm not a doctor though, so what do I know? You should see a doctor, and ask him pointedly whether you have tinnitus.

Simplefaithy: . if u say am pedantic on dis rule yes I am. cox @op is not and won't be last victim of dis particular tyn. his from oau me finished from unilorin.

Let me remind you that I made my original remark because you said the OP was trying to ask for something he didn't "deserve". Yes OP will graduate as a 2.2 student, and he has accepted that. However, you were wrong to be so dismissive initially.

I'll be surprised if Unilorin refuses to follow simple mathematical convention. I have helped process graduating results for a few years now, and unless different rules apply in some faculties, I assure you that in OAU, 3.495 = 3.50 (per secondary school mathematics).

Simplefaithy: . 3.49 and 3.50 re separable and d diff is DAT one is 2.1 and oda is 2.2 . I can remember vividly how my dept examiner used to say DAT " it do pains him weneva he sees students cpga at 3.4889 3.49999 and and dia is nothing he can do cox d rule is dia and has bin stated. 2.1 starts from 3.5 and above

I believe I said "one number falls on the right side of a major divide...". I'm sure you're not just trying to be pedantic.
I'm saying although the two numbers are different, if you did a study where you had N number of students, some with 3.49 and some with 3.50, you would not be able to tell which is which, even though some are "2.1" and some are "2.2".

By the way, this idea (also suggested above) that a CGPA of 3.4999(!) is not equal to 3.50, I want to know which university this is we're talking about. Just to be sure and all that.

Simplefaithy: . dis ur case to me is not a problem and can never be ( to me thou). I see it as trying to get wat u don't deserve. IMO. u re welcome

There is some tolerance in any measurement. For the CGPA, I assure you that the tolerance is up to +/- 0.01. In other words, statistically, a student with 2.23 and one with 2.24 are inseparable. 3.49 and 3.50 are essentially the same. Unfortunately, one number falls on the "right" side of a major divide, while the other does not. Hence, the OP's desire is understandable and even justifiable, inasmuch as he does not do anything illegal or unethical.

Raiders: I don't think it will be rounded up to 2.1. I almost had the same problem. my last result before my I saw my project was 3.499 and I needed an A in project to make 3.5. Luckily, when the result came out I got an A and my final CGPA was 3.501. My HOD told me then that they don't round up GPA and I was lucky. You should go talk with your HOD or supervisor. I wish you good luck.

3.499 not equal to 5?? What is the name of your university, if I may ask?

Realtol: No, I only scored 66Bs in two courses at final semester/year. 67Bs are scored in 200level and 300.

Then frankly, there doesn't appear to be much you can do.
Some departments actively "help" students like you. However, this practice is so easy to abuse that most departments just let the chips fall where they may. If your department is one of such, you have to accept, not take it personal, and move on.

The reason why I asked whether you scored within 3 marks of the next grade: marking is not an exact science. There is ALWAYS some margin for error. I usually put it at +/-2 marks or thereabouts. That means that a lecturer who scored you 45/60 in the exam could have scored you 47/60 at some other time. You could use this argument to approach any friendly lecturer to see whether 2 marks could emerge miraculously somewhere. Once you get to 59 or 69, most departments just bump you to the next grade. However, since you only scored 66, you may find it harder to convince anyone to help you.

In any case:

1) continue appealing to lecturers. You've got nothing to loose lose
2) Do NOT do anything shady. You may get the 2.1, but believe me, your conscience will nag you forever
3)If it turns out you're stuck with 3.49, take it on the chin and move on. I've known a number of people in your shoes, and the biggest danger is that you may allow yourself to wallow in self-pity and bitterness. Your CGPA is an aggregate obtained over 4/5 years and ~50 courses. It did not just become 3.49 today. It would be nice to get the bump, but if you don't, hey, you tried.

A smart guy would still find a way to play it to his advantage. It could make a good way to project tenacity and self-motivation (as well as score cheap pity points) at some interviews when you let them know that you lost 2-1 by that much, but pulled yourself up and used it to motivate yourself. What you want to do first at any interview is to stand out in a positive way, and perhaps, this could end up helping you do that?

All the best.

Realtol: I am a graduating student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife. I recently saw the last of my result from 100-400 level and my CGPA currently stands at 3:49 i.e. second class lower while second class upper starts from 3:50. Please, is there anything I can do in order to earn that 2:1 because I'm just frustrated now? P.S. I have seen all results but the results are yet to leave the shore of my department for Senate approval.

Hope you are sure about the last part. Some results were approved in Senate yesterday.
Did you score 57,58,59,67,68 or 69 in any course in your final year?

onyxo76: i work in the health centre...

Hello onyxo76. I just heard her test came back negative. Do you have any information on this? Thanks.

mirob: Everybody that comes close to me always complains about my body being hot yet I have no fever and I am not even aware of the hotness, I don't really sweat much either, I catch cold easily. Pls doctors in the house is there a name for this condition and what's the remedy.

Full disclosure: I'm not a doctor...
One possibility worth eliminating: you may have some sort of infection. Do you have any swollen lymph nodes (check you neck just behind your ears, the side of your chest just outside your armpits and your groin)? If you do, mention the symptoms to a doctor and ask whether any sort of infection could cause it plus what sort of test might be warranted.

Best of luck!

Seun, all these posts you people are sharing...their is Goduo...

chioma134: ...First of all, hazard allowance is uniform across board in d hospital, from doctor and nurse,who by the way bear the most brunt in terms of infectious diseases...

Secondly, NMA does not care who becomes Minister of Health as long as there's a Surgeon-General. If there's one, I believe even a political science graduate can be a health minister. Now the importance of Surgeon-G cannot be overemphasized...

Thanks for your post. I am happy with your views. Like I mentioned earlier, I have many consultant friends, and comments I heard from some of them gave me the impression that they were waiting in ambush for JOHESU to do "me too" on the increase in hazard allowance. I have no way of gauging where the majority of doctor stand on this, so I'll just choose to believe they'll share your views, both on hazard, and on the relaxation of the requirement that the Minister of Health be a doctor.

All the best in your exams.

phantom: from now on,no more free consultations. every damn thing will be paid for

This is exactly what I was referring to in my post. You feel like you need to take punitive measures on Mr. Joe Patient because he does not agree with your strike action. What you should focus on is to try to educate Mr. Patient.

...DONT BE HOODWINKED. it has no extra value in a tertiary hospital setting BUT WILL CAUSE CONFUSION...

I happen to think that only doctors should bear the title "consultant". I did not give any impression to the contrary in my write up.

the post of surgeon general is important.abroad it has always been PHYSICIANS...

But you forget to mention that the Secretary of Health is not a doctor; neither was Sebelius, her predecessor.However, NMA is quick to point to their exclusive right to the Surgeon General post (backed by US example) while insisting that doctors keep the Minister of Health (NOT what obtains in the US).

nobody is asking that johesu should not get a hazard allowance. that is not one of NMAs demands. please read them again.
every health worker should get a commensurate hazard allowance. NMA is not against that. please be informed.

It may not be intentional, but you're talking down to me here. You may be interested to note that I have lectured in a university for many years, and count among my friend and research collaborators over a dozen consultants. You say NMA is not against other unions getting N100k hazard allowance? The omens suggest differently, what with how central the issue of relativity is to the current crisis.

the post of CMD should be for physicians only...

I happen to agree with you, not because a contrary argument cannot be made, but, because knowing the caliber of people in JOHESU, the status quo makes more sense.

Long story short: as I stated in my original post, I agree with NMA on many issues, but I can also see 100% why the man on the street would feel the NMA comes across as a little arrogant and selfish.

I just wrote this response on another thread. Since that thread is dry however, I'm thinking: why drop it where there's no doctor (lol)? I'm copying and pasting here:

Hello Phantom, I thought I'd drop a few comments on the ongoing strike and matters arising from it. I believe that doctors have not helped matters for a number of reasons.

First, there is a faint whiff of arrogance that one gets from time to time. case in point:

...whatever was left of the chord between Doctors and the masses has been finally broken. The mass euphoria that greeted the sack was not surprising...

I can't help getting a feeling that the writer of the above feels like his service to the masses is a favor. It is not. He gets paid for it. As an academic who could easily get paid better elsewhere, I still do not feel I am doing my students a favor by teaching them. It's my choice, and whether I like it or not, the job puts food on my table.

Secondly, while every union goes on strike for "selfish" reasons (by definition), the NMA is trying hard to burnish its altruistic cred, while the facts paint a slightly different picture.

When Lecturers go on strike, the masses blame Government, when Tanker Drivers go on strike, Government is blamed, when even the Police went on strike during OBJ's era, the Government was blamed. But somehow, the Doctors are mysteriously at fault when its their turn:

This is untrue. ASUU was seriously vilified during the last ASUU strike. The slight change in the mood of the public came as the "masses" listened to first, FG, and then ASUU make their case. Time allowed a clearer picture of things to emerge, and I believe the strike ended with more people on ASUU's side. Despite this, to say that "the masses blamed government" is not true. I know (Yoruba English...) how many hours I spent on Nairaland, often under vitriolic attacks.

Perhaps the problem in this case is that the masses have listened to NMA and FG, and despite multiple attempts to convince them, they just find the NMA's stance hard to reconcile with their impressions?

Lest you think I am another JOHESU nut on a doctor-bashing mission, I should mention that on many of the NMA vs JOHESU issues, I stand with NMA. However, there are just so many things that ...shall I say, don't add up.

Just one example: doctors want N100k hazard. Okay. However, it is clear from the NMA's stance on other issues that they will fight claw tooth and nail to prevent other unions from getting it. Okaaaay...but when you try to convince us that doctors are more exposed to risks than, say, nurses, the argument doesn't seem to hold water. So should other unions get the N100k? And if not, why?

Another example: the Minister of Health must be a doctor...okay. Now we want a Surgeon General...must also be a doctor. Hmmm...


Far be it from me, an ASUU member (and consequently, one of the worst "strikers" in Nigeria) to try appear self-righteous, but perhaps, the masses refuse to be corralled into NMA's corner because there is a faint whiff of selfishness around the whole issue?

Just my thoughts...

Hello Phantom, I thought I'd drop a few comments on the ongoing strike and matters arising from it. I believe that doctors have not helped matters for a number of reasons.

First, there is a faint whiff of arrogance that one gets from time to time. case in point:

...whatever was left of the chord between Doctors and the masses has been finally broken. The mass euphoria that greeted the sack was not surprising...

I can't help getting a feeling that the writer of the above feels like his service to the masses is a favor. It is not. He gets paid for it. As an academic who could easily get paid better elsewhere, I still do not feel I am doing my students a favor by teaching them. It's my choice, and whether I like it or not, the job puts food on my table.

Secondly, while every union goes on strike for "selfish" reasons (by definition), the NMA is trying hard to burnish its altruistic cred, while the facts paint a slightly different picture.

When Lecturers go on strike, the masses blame Government, when Tanker Drivers go on strike, Government is blamed, when even the Police went on strike during OBJ's era, the Government was blamed. But somehow, the Doctors are mysteriously at fault when its their turn:

This is untrue. ASUU was seriously vilified during the last ASUU strike. The slight change in the mood of the public came as the "masses" listened to first, FG, and then ASUU make their case. Time allowed a clearer picture of things to emerge, and I believe the strike ended with more people on ASUU's side. Despite this, to say that "the masses blamed government" is not true. I know how many hours I spent on Nairaland, often under vitriolic attacks.

Perhaps the problem in this case is that the masses have listened to NMA and FG, and despite multiple attempts to convince them, they just find the NMA's stance hard to reconcile with their impressions?

Lest you think I am another JOHESU nut on a doctor-bashing mission, I should mention that on many of the NMA vs JOHESU issues, I stand with NMA. However, there are just so many things that ...shall I say, don't add up.

Just one example: doctors want N100k hazard. Okay. However, it is clear from the NMA's stance on other issues that they will fight claw tooth and nail to prevent other unions from getting it. Okaaaay...but when you try to convince us that doctors are more exposed to risks than, say, nurses, the argument doesn't seem to hold water. So should other unions get the N100k? And if not, why?

Another example: the Minister of Health must be a doctor...okay. Now we want a Surgeon General...must also be a doctor. Hmmm...


Far be it from me, an ASUU member (and consequently, one of the worst "strikers" in Nigeria) to try appear self-righteous, but perhaps, the masses refuse to be corralled into NMA's corner because there is a faint whiff of selfishness around the whole issue?

Just my thoughts...

FrancisTony: Pffft! You like crictising our Nigerian tertiary institution for no reason.Do Nigeria look like where Ebola was originated? STFU plsHow does poor funding of Ebola issue depicts our educational system or you mean to say government?.How many research have Southafrican, Kenyan, Ghanian, Egyptian etc Universities that are ranked above us carried out?. Mtcheew

Oh, yes. The other side of the equation: Nigerians who, knowing nothing about an issue, still shout the loudest.
I am a lecturer and researcher in one of these two universities, so I know what I am talking about. You on the other hand, probably need to think more before you speak.