₦airaland Forum

AmeLonRo:
https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/22/524/

BY C. C. NNAJI

Let me begin with an appeal.
University lecturers are our children, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, molders, partners in progress and many more.
Appeal to parents, students and all stakeholder.
The time is ripe to do the right!

The argument revolving around the survival of the educational sector in general and Nigerian universities in particular has been raging for decades. But never have we come so close, face to face, with an imminent collapse unless drastic measures are taken. In this article, I will be as analytical, objective and as factual as possible so that those who pretend to be deaf might hear. By this exposé, I intend to rouse all and sundry to rally round the Nigerian Lecturer and put up a last minute struggle in order to forestall the looming tragedy.




*The First Shock*




The Nigerian Lecturer is the most abused, misused, exploited, misunderstood and manipulated civil servant in the country. When he assumes duty, he is sent into the fray empty-handed. He is not given any kick-off allowance and to begin with, he has to save up money for months to buy the laptop which he will use to discharge his duties. I am sure you know that a good laptop costs between #200,000 and #500,000, or even more. Now a Graduate Assistant who earns less than #120,000 will save for nearly six months to buy a laptop, given that he also has to pay rent, eat, clothe himself, and pay transport fare to and from work.

Even a senior lecturer cannot comfortably buy a laptop, his basic work implement, without undertaking a rigorous saving scheme. I am typing this treatise from a London-used laptop which still cost me a fortune – a laptop probably used by a white kid to play video games in their backyard, and only had to get rid of because his taxi-driver dad has upgraded him to a super speed version.




*Did you know that lecturers are the only group of workers I know who are expected to provide/source for their own wok implements?*




Now lecturers in some universities buy markers for teaching students. Then, they are also expected to conduct research from their salaries, sponsor themselves to conferences and workshops as well as publish in top notch journals. To publish in a top notch journal, you need to have access to state-of-the-art laboratory and conducive working environment with high speed internet access. No Nigerian university qualifies in this regard. But I still find it a feat that these impoverished, neglected and ill-equipped lecturers still manage to rear their “stubborn” black heads in the global intellectual playing field. They even go as far as making it to the editorial board membership of top journals in the field colonized by unrepentant and hard-to-please white supremacists. Lecturers are expected to spend their salaries to write tons of research proposals (which hardly materialize) in order to attract funds to buy equipment for teaching and research.

Then there is also the issue of internet access and affiliated costs. Many Nigerian universities do not provide internet access to their staff. Even when they pretend to, it is only a low speed sporadic network concocted to give a semblance of conformity. Imagine a professor with his laptop in his hand, chasing internet signal from one tree shade to another. How can he ever be efficient? Sadly, the Nigerian Lecturer is supposed to pay for the service (un)rendered. Many who cannot “chase” the signal retire to their offices and fall back on epileptic data bundle sold by capitalist service providers.

Personally, I spend nearly #90,000 annually on data bundle to perform my statutory assignment. I can hear you shout _propaganda_ ! Now let me take you through. I use the MTN weekly 6GB data subscription that costs #1,500 and sometimes I exhaust it in about four days. Assuming I renew my subscription five times a month, that would amount to #7,500 per month… Now your jaw drops as you realize how serious and factual the matter is! I am sure some people spend more.




*Did you know that it could take years to get published in impact factor rated journals* , yet these “ne’er-do-wells” (in the minds of the uninformed) called Nigerian lecturers still publish thousand of papers in these journals? I have once had to wait for




two solid and uncertain years to have one of my papers published. The situation is further worsened by some publishers who insist on compulsory open access publication which imposes on the prospective author a huge financial burden. A typical example is world class Swiss-based publisher known as MDPI  that charges up to 2000CHF article processing charge per accepted paper. This amount translates to about #1,030,000 per paper! Are you kidding me? Please visit https://www.mdpi.com/apc to verify this claim. This is besides whatever was spent to conduct and report the research, and the Nigerian Lecturer has no choice but to cough out the money “from his intestine” if he has to, or go borrowing!

Yes, I hear you loudly grumbling about the amount of money budget by TETFUND for research. A detailed survey will reveal that the political exertion needed to access the paltry sum awarded in the name of TETFUND grant in many universities is not worth it. A number of countries including China and South Africa fund their lecturers to conduct research and thereafter pay them for publishing the paper in a good journal. In fact, an average researcher in South Africa could earn as much money, if not more, from publications alone as a professor in a Nigerian university would earn as annual salary. Who did this to us?  Please conduct your independent survey. It is unfortunate that Nigeria and Nigerians (including students) want the Nigerian Lecturer to turn into a street beggar before they understand his plight.

Maybe we need to stop using our salaries to buy marker. We can return to the era of the blackboard, and on our way to work we would stop by the “ _akara_ ” woman’s shop and pick up some pieces of charcoal for our lectures! Did you know that the monthly take-home of a Nigerian senator can pay over thirty Nigerian professors? And this is besides constituency allowance and all the other funnels of income (legal and illegal, but mostly illegal) that senators have created from themselves by exploiting the constitution. I do not know of any senator who uses his salary to do his job.




*Luxury is fast becoming a mirage*




What if the Graduate Assistant wants to buy a car? I do not consider a car as a luxury. By the way, no Nigerian lecturer I know or have heard of can buy a brand new car. That’s an illusion that only comes true in the most delightful of dreams.  A fairly used (tokumbo) car costs between #1,500,000 and #2,500,000. Now a Senior Lecturer who earns just about #200,000 will have to save up his entire salary for about ten months to buy a car rejected by a street sweeper in New York.  And for him to do that, he has very limited options ranging from taking a loan, extorting money from students, or taking up an extra job. What about a house? It can take a lecturer an average of fifteen years to build a modest house, and this comes with enormous degree of discipline and self-denial.

The Nigerian Lecturer cannot even afford the flight ticket to one of the smallest African countries for a vacation or short course let alone Europe or America. Yet, he is supposed to collaborate with international partners and be abreast of recent developments in his field. No wonder politicians can now easily buy over a professor at a paltry sum to falsify election results!

*Way Forward*

I know opinions might be vastly divergent on this but I will humbly proffer a simple solution. Firstly there should be a drastic review of the salary of the Nigerian Lecturer. The salary should be readjusted to an African average, at the very least. Did you know that as at 2017, an equivalent of a Graduate Assistant in a Ghanaian polytechnic was earning an equivalent of #350,000, while a professor in Tanzania was earning over #1,000,000 as at 2016? Both of these cases represent three times the salary of their counterparts in Niger-area. Secondly, all recurrent expenses like research/publication, conferences/workshops, internet access, etc. incurred should be dis-aggregated from salary and paid as allowance monthly. Thirdly and lastly, politicians should steer clear of our universities if sanity and sanctity must be restored.

Below is a conservative expenditure of a Senior Lecture on #200,000 per month

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Annual Income                 2,400,000                                                             Expenses

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Rent @ 20,000 per month                                                                            240000

Feeding & water @ #100,000 per month                                               1200000

Transport fare                                                                                                   240000

Data bundle                                                                                                       120000

Electricity                                                                                                             120000

School Fees (assuming 4 kids)                                                                    360000

Conferences                                                                                                      100000

Journals                                                                                                               500000

Health care                                                                                                         50000

Clothing                                                                                                               20000

Many extended family members (unaccounted for here)

Miscellaneous                                                                                                   30000

Tithe (unaccounted for in this analysis)

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Total annual expenditure                                                                            2,980,000




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Annual deficit                                                                                                   580,000

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What a shame!

I plead again that the time is very ripe to do the right!

I rest my altruistic case.




Engr. Dr. C. C. Nnaji
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Nigeria, Nsukka

https://thenewkokoro.com/2020/09/22/524/

How about numerous lecturers collecting 'sorting money'. How about the numerous girls being ploughed on by our crying lecturers?

Dear God, you're the one I know. What you can't give me, may I escape it. Amen

I love this. It gives a real man butterflies when your woman counts herself so lucky to have you.

Not when she feels she's doing you a favour. Obviously, the dude gat bar too. So, the babe suppose loyal na

AlexBells:
I heard that the first use of the Slogan "Edo no be Lagos" started here on nairaland, anyone with proof that he or she was the one that started the slogan should indicate...

You have started a Revolution, it is no doubt that Nigerian corruption and bad governance started in Lagos when Lagos was the federal capital as such it is no surprise that the real scenario where Nigerians realise they can take back their country was also inspired by Lagos...

Prove that you are the one who coined that term and prosperity may remember you.

I'm not the one. I won't lie because of the prospective 'God picking my call' beneficial nature of this post.

But,

Just but,

I am a firm believer in Edo people. All Edolites I have met in my life are firm, strong willed people. None, I repeat, none allows himself to be :'colonized'.

If you have help to give, give a man that is sincere and holds dearly to his heart, the notion that loyalty is good but knowing when to stand up to your 'colonizers' is very good.

That will be ME!!

Truly, Edo no be Lagos!!!

JOpress3:
As we continue to observe the lock down while waiting for these pandemic to end.

I believe that these temporary break has provide another opportunity for applicants to review, rewrite and revamp their job hunting strategies.

With my experience and skills set, I wish to assist as many applicants as possible to review and polish their CV to a Professional Smart CV and Smart Cover letter, that will position them better among their peers, to take advantage of the few opportunities that will be available in the competitive labour market when the pandemic is over.

The Focused Audience

OND holders, Fresh graduate with little or no work experience.

Graduates that always apply for jobs, but are not always invited for interviews.

Applicants that get invites for interview , but struggle to answer interview questions correctly, there by not given the jobs.

Lastly, the under-employed graduates that need a complete upgrade of their CV in other to move from the low pay jobs to a higher pay jobs.

Note that cv mean Curriculum Vitae. Some times called Resume. I will stick with CV in this write up.

For the record,

I applied for eight vacancies, I was invited for the eight interviews,I succeeded in the eight interviews, I was issued eight offer of employment letters for eight jobs in eight weeks

and, I choose to settle for one of the job, that which gave me good work flexibility, relatively moderate pressure and best take home pay at end of the month.

At the moment I am privilege to be a member of interview board in the company where I work and I have interviewed over hundred applicants.

I have gained deep insight into the urgent and important aspects employers look out for in your CV and the main triggers employers wish to hear from an applicant during the process of interviews.

I have applied my found insight in some persons CV and it has change their Job hunting story for the positive. That is why I wish to share.

The reasons Why i was invited for eight interviews in eight weeks

The reasons are simple and straight forward, it is because of my professional Smart cv and Smart Cover letter.

Yes oh, a CV can make you or break you.

Smart CV and Smart Cover letter can get you invite for interview frequently, while, a poorly written CV can keep you at home for many years more than you would imagine or it will keep you much longer in a low pay job you hate.

If it means for you, to pay a consultant to write a professional Smart CV and Smart Cover letter, please do, it is worth the little change he/she will charge you and save you the much stress and regrets of the future.

Your Benefits when you use Smart cv and Smart cover letter

It Meet Global Standard. it means it's acceptable any way in the World.

It Project you as a solution to problems. You are seen as Solution provider.

It's very clear and easily readable,

Its ATS complaint & Keyword Sensitive.

Define your responsibilities, Define your Skills set, Define your achievements, and Define your Academic qualifications

It get you the much invites to interview you desire.

Note that I cannot be on nairaland 24/7 as I wish to answer your questions. Please, for those interested in the Smart CV and Smart Cover letter, the first Ten can pay a subsidised service fee of #2500 and chat me up on whatsApp: zero, seven, zero,six, Seven,eight, Two, three, seven, six, zero. Or pm me on my signature or drop your email,I will respond as fast as I can. Good luck as we keep change your Job hunting story for good.

Me: Story Story?
Children: Stooorrrrryy.


After all the long epistles and catchy first line of 'wanting to help job seekers', the self-acclaimed 'good pay earner' and 'eight job offers in eight weeks' scammer finally ends up revealing his/her real intent. #2500. Hunger dey this land aswear

Dear apprentice 'suit wearing' Hushpuppy, go and learn carpentry. You won't make it in this venture

ggirl4real:
Oga, leave discernment for spiritual people.

Explain the points you're driving out properly in your post so that anyone opening can easily understand. I have too many things to do than trying to discern an unclear post

I'm on your side. Ask the op

ggirl4real:
All women are like what?

Your post is vague?

Let's see if you will be termed 'non discerning' being too

SilverNorGold:
[s]Awww, brother.. You shouldn't blame me for your lack of discernment. You should be blaming your "dog-like digit" IQ for failing to comprehend my short post, which you erroneously tag "long"...

I just hope you are not, in like manner, mistaking your tiny dick for long...

Anyway, Silver and Gold, I do not have. But that which I have has been given thee.[/s]..

---

That, ladies and gentlemen, is the microcosm of a homosapien with an unsalvageable level of idiocy.

No further will I give you a grossly unmerited privilege of replies

SilverNorGold:
Exactly the title, all women are like that, including my mum and my sisters

BUT...

All thanks to our culture which instilled discipline intrinsically in them and my dad who is a role model and epitome of a real man, my mum and my sisters weren't opportune to go wild, unlike the nonsense that's happening today.

Today, the so called "westernization" is destroying our culture, making Ozo out of our men.

I feel bad for the present generation of men..

Please, feminists, before you attack me, Silver and gold I do not have; neither do I have the strength nor endurance to engage any emotional beings.

Thank you.

It takes an Ozo-esque equivalent of wimping for a man to write so long and still make no discernible sense

Invest in CFx. It's an international brand. Forget banks as they will give you peanuts for your money. You will get 20% monthly. Ask me how.

If SIMPs no dey suffer eh, make I chop amoeba.

Even girls dey shame for Ozo Simpson

930pm:
Seven. Odd from Uruguay; kickoff @ 9:30pm; whats-App +229 98 86 03 80, if you'll pay me immediately After winning. Match is 100%

If you will show your bet9ja ticket of the game, I'm game

FromZeroToHero:
lols. do giveaway nah

OK. Oya take sense . I give you freely

My body just dey sweet me today. I no know why sef

de2020:
DROP YOUR WHATSAPP NUMBER NOW

Chat me. See my siggy

seedic:
Pls anyone to explain this double chance and team total to me pls

Abeg I need the booking code make I rebet the game immediately. I like the options

DeckeyLyrical:
Guys pay attention to this game..

American Football.

I go drop my tips Sunday let me those they will void but it is mostly for heavy stakers.

The game is sure... I mean wetin dey sure more than the game na death

Mentioned me when u drop it

Senseii:
Hello viewers are u still confused on who to vote?


Why not vote Ozo this way....sms 'VOTE Ozo to

32052' multiple times...as much as u can to take

him straight to the finals. We dont want Ozo

home yet. We want to shame those who have

been taking up smear campaign about him.

Oh yeah! Let Ozo SIMP to the finals

Let the good boy march to the finals!

Let the intelligent Ozo march yo the finals!

Let the sports enthusiast march to the finals!



With your help alone

I have already given Ozo 750 votes from my DStv app. I no fit do pass my power na

Pretty face with anything that resembles brain at all in that carton we call head will most likely make me to marry her. Am I greedy?

After all these long posts and chest beating about making tons of money, you still came down to asking for paltry 2k.

A billionaire asking for 2k sub? Just when Musa thinks he's seen it all

This was so me.

Emphasis on was.


Before I gave my life to Christ and exhausted all bleeps remaining for girls

lereinter:
Beautiful compilation

Thumbs up bro

Thanks bro

Go gunners

I hope to see Arsenal, as usual, make Fulham midfielders swim the dry craven cottage grass just like Mazi Kante

Pix 13: Oghenekaro Etebo

Pix 9: Muyiwa Olabiran
Pix 10: Zaidu Sanusi
Pix 11: Azeez Aremu
Pix12: Tyrone Ebuehi

Pix 5: Moses Simon
Pix 6: Eberechi Eze
Pix 7: Francis Uzoho
Pix 8: Taye Taiwo

Even though football clubs across the globe are grappling with the sharp drop in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic, the transfer window has seen millions of dollars exchange hands with dozens of players switching teams.

Nigerian players have not been left out of the football transfer business, even though the country’s footballers may no longer command huge price tags or attract interest from so called big teams.

PREMIUM TIMES highlights some of the major moves made by Nigeria players in the summer transfer window

Victor Osimhen (Lille > Napoli) – €54m

The towering striker is the toast of all having commanded a staggering €54m move from Ligue 1 side Lille to Serie A giants, Napoli.

The Napoli move makes Osimhen one of the biggest transfers of this window. The former Royal Charleroi forward only spent a season with the French club, that once paraded former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, before making the move.

He, however, left his mark with the French club, scoring 13 goals with four assists in 27 league appearances.

Already, his double hat-trick in friendly matches during the preseason has set expectations high that the 21-year old attacker will hit the ground running when Napoli kick off their Serie A campaign against Parma.

Victor Osimhen is no doubt Nigeria’s brightest shining light in the 2020-2021 transfer window.

Leon Balogun (Brighton > Glasgow Rangers)

This Nigerian international defender joined Scottish top outfit Glasgow Rangers this summer on a one year deal with an option for a second.

Balogun rarely played for Brighton after he became surplus to requirements upon his arrival from Mainz and was confined to the bench after a series of injuries.

The move to Wigan Athletic was beneficial for the towering defender as he put in a series of top performances, which helped him get into top shape again.

Capped 32 times by Nigeria, Rangers manager, Steven Gerrard, acknowledged that Leon’s wealth of international experience will boost the club after the injury to Nikola Katic and also help young defenders.

John Obi Mikel (Trabzonspor > Stoke City)
This midfield enforcer was not expected to make a return to England after he parted company with Trabzonspor, leaving the club by mutual consent. But Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill must believe that the former Nigerian international has gotten better with age.

Mikel is joining the Potters a few years after leaving Chelsea where he spent 11 years. It took some convincing from the Stoke City boss to get the former Tianjin Teda’s midfielder to come on board.

Mikel’s ability to hold on to the ball and distribute passes until an opening is created could add another dimension to Stoke’s attacking play.

If Mikel settles in quickly and combines his industry well with his versatility, the Potters might see their dream of staging a comeback to the EPL become a reality.

Fisayo Bashiru (Man City > Sheffield Wednesday)

The box-to-box midfielder’s failure to break into the star-studded Manchester City team prompted his move to Sheffield Wednesday, where he hopes to win the heart of manager Garry Monk.

Bashiru has been with the Citizens since he was eight years old, where he moved through the ranks but was unable to do enough for coach Pep Guardiola.

He represented Nigeria at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland and scored one goal in three matches as Nigeria crashed out in the round of 16.

Brown Ideye (Aris Thessaloniki > Göztepe)

Ideye joined Turkish outfit Göztepe FC in June on a two-year deal after a season with Greek side Aris Thessaloniki.

The former West Bromwich Albion striker was said to have departed Greece because he didn’t want to continue playing for peanuts.

Ideye’s recent move to Turkey makes it his eighth foreign transfer in his career as a professional player, following stints in Switzerland, France, Ukraine, England, Spain, China, and Greece.

But his move to Göztepe has been much welcome, as he is coming into the club at a time when the yellow and red side is struggling to remain in the Turkish Super Lig.

Moses Simon (Levante > Nantes) Undisclosed fee

French Ligue 1 side, FC Nantes, signed the Super Eagles winger on a permanent deal after he impressed in his season-long loan at the club.

The Canaries agreed a four year deal with the club’s Player of the Year award winner, who scored nine times and had eight assists in all competitions.

His direct play and ability to take on his marker made him a fan favourite at the Stade de la Beaujoire, gaining a decisive 40 per cent of the votes in a poll conducted to elect the club’s top performer of the campaign.

Eberechi Eze (QPR > Crystal Palace)

Eze joined Premier League side Crystal Place for a reported £20m fee on a five-year deal. This English U-20 international of Nigerian descent has been tipped to be the next big thing in the 2020-2021 Premier League season and Selhurst Park seems to be an ideal destination to achieve that.

The 22-year old scored 20 goals for QPR in 112 first-team appearances after joining in 2016, a performance that had prompted the Super Eagles’ gaffer to invite him to train with the national team.

Last season, the dark skinned midfielder was named his former club’s Supporters’ Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, and Young Player of the Year.

Felix Uduokhai (Wolfsburg > Ausburg)

Uduokhai joined another Bundesliga side Ausburg on a permanent deal after the centre back gave a good account of himself as a loanee at the club.

The 22-year old defender featured in 23 matches for the Fuggerstadter last season under the watchful eye of manager Heiko Hellish, and ensured the club stayed afloat at the end of the season.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr hopes Uduokhai will switch his allegiance to Nigeria as the search for a consistent centre back for the national team heats up.

Francis Uzoho (Deportivo la Coruna > Apoel Nicosia)

Apoel Nicosia finalised the signing of Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho on a permanent deal for three years.

Uzoho sealed the permanent deal after an 18-month loan stint at the club, laying an end to speculation about his future.

Taye Taiwo (Rops > Doxa Katokopias)

The former Olympic Marseille left fullback joined Cypriot side, Doxa Katokopias, on a one year contract after a one-season stint with Finnish side RoPS.

This move makes it the 11th professional club in Europe that Taiwo has played for in his football career.

Emem Uduok (Hajduk Split > Konyaspor)

The fringe Super Eagles winger will fight for honours in the Turkish Super Lig side Konyaspor after his parent club Hajduk Split agreed to send him on loan with an option to buy.

The winger showed promise in his first season at Hajduk Split, scoring 11 goals and three assists in 32 official appearances for the six-time Croatian champions.

But the fleet-footed winger has failed to live up to those high standards and was sent on loan, where he can enjoy regular playing time.

Muyiwa Olabiran (Dynamo Kiev > Olimpik Donetsk )

The Ivorian-born Nigeria U-20 striker joined Olimpik Donetsk on a loan deal after he struggled to tie down a regular shirt at Dynamo Kiev.

Zaidu Sanusi (Santa Clara > FC Porto)

Sanusi made a sensational move from Santa Clara to Portuguese giants FC Porto on a five years deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-years old left-full back signed a contract to keep him at the club till the end of the 2024-2025 season.

Afeez Aremu (IK Start > St. Pauli)

Aremu sealed a move to German second tier side St. Pauli on a two-year deal after a promising campaign at IK Start.

The holding midfielder played a total of 63 matches for IK Start in his two seasons at the club and scored five goals with one assist.

Tyronne Ebuehi (Benfica > FC Twente)

After a protracted injury spell that kept him out of action for over two years, the right-back has been offered a route back to revive his club career.

Ebuehi, who was born and raised in the Netherlands but has since switched allegiance to play for Nigeria, is looking to use this opportunity to relaunch his career.

Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City > Galatasaray)

The former Warri Wolves star is yet to hit the high notes abroad despite his huge potential. Though contracted with Stoke City until 2023, nothing suggests that the Nigerian midfielder has a future with the Potters.

Etebo played the second half of last season in the La Liga with Getafe but now he is set for a fresh challenge with Turkish giants Galatasaray.

More Nigerian players are still expected to make moves across clubs, especially with the extended window brought in to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/413705-transfer-window-all-the-done-deals-for-nigerian-players.html

Pix 1: Victor Osimhen
Pix 2: Leon Balogun
Pix 3: John Obi Mikel
Pix 4: Brown Ideye

JIMMY1393:
You wey dey talk where your pic?

Wetin u wan use your fellow man pix do?

Ubunja and Nwamaikpe remains the best for me