Education

By Zakariyya Shu’aib Adam

It was the first Monday of the first semester in 500 level in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto [U.D.U.S]. As usual, all students who successfully passed 400 level were happy because they have now acquired “stay apparatus.” By stay apparatus, I am referring to the mechanism that enables horses to rest for a long time and have a nap while standing. In this context, it means 500 and 600 level students will no longer be withdrawn from the faculty regardless of the number of courses they failed. In other classes, once a student fails seven courses in a session, he will be asked to withdraw to another faculty.

The first lecture we had in 500 level was on Anaesthesiology. We were expecting a familiar lecturer from the Department of Surgery and Radiology when an agile old man dressed in a knee-length kaftan with a lab coat entered the class. He was averagely tall but wasn’t familiar to anyone of us. Morning lectures usually begin at 8:00 am but this old man was in the class before the time. When latecomers came, he allowed them entry to the class but spent some minutes grumbling as usual of an old person. He disallowed us to jot, yet emphasised on listening to what he was saying. We noticed his name on the chest pocket of his lab coat. Wow! He was the famous professor John Bayo Adeyanju, the great veterinary surgeon talked about by our lecturers.

When he was done with the lecture, the Head of Department of Surgery and Radiology, professor A.S Yakubu came to the class and gave us a brief highlight of Adeyanju’s academic life. He told us that Adeyanju was his supervisor at P.G level and that he taught virtually all professors and doctors in the faculty including the highly cerebral professors A.I Daneji, U.M Chafe and L.B Tekdek. He was one of the early graduates of D.V.M from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He acquired his MSc and PhD in the United States and was a fellow, College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria. Adeyanju was one of the founding fathers of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in U.D.U.S. He was one time the Head, Department of Surgery and Radiology and the Director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. He was a professor for more than three decades.

He taught in many Veterinary Colleges and Universities in Nigeria. He had practiced surgery in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and the United States. He outclassed many professors in both academics and practice. He was arguably the best veterinary surgeon in Nigeria. We were told that whenever he was to perform a surgical procedure, he would not administer any postoperative antibiotic as it is routinely done because he was sure of the sterility of the surgical site and the surgical environment. However, he advised us to give aggressive postoperative antibiotic because in Nigeria, due to the sorry state of our universities and health care systems, it is difficult to evade postsurgical wound infection without antibiotics.

Before his return to U.D.U.S on contract, we heard many tales about him. It was said that he was forcefully retired from the academia by the late Gen. Sani Abatcha as a result of a dissension they had. Although Adeyanju was old (almost 80 years old at the time of his death), he was always punctual to the class. He never missed class. Whenever he noticed that there was no lecturer in the class, he will enter and teach. In his class, every student must dress formally. Lab coats must be fully buttoned and must carry nametags. Clinical students (500 and 600 level) must carry along their thermometers and stethoscopes at all time for emergency purposes.

Professor J.B Adeyanju was a man of wisdom. His method of teaching was unique. He gave little notes and spent much time explaining. He made sure we understand a topic before he moved to another. As an elderly person with an ocean of experience, his teaching hours were full of admonishment. He spoke in parable with an authoritative voice and will often repeat his sentences. That was why many of us memorized most of his favourite quotations. At the beginning, many of us were not at home with the way he did things because we felt that his complaints were much, although it was typical of old people. As time goes on, he became the students’ favourite lecturer.

The great Adeyanju was a conscientious old timer. He always wanted to see things right. One evening after clinical posting, I pulled off my shoes and wore slippers. I equally unbuttoned my lab coat and loosened my necktie. Unfortunately, I met Adeyanju on my way to the hostel. I greeted him but he kept mute as if he did not heard me. When a classmate who was in a formal wears greeted him, he answered, smiled at him and said: “Good boy, you look smart.” A classmate told me that he met Adeyanju with an unbuttoned lab coat. Adeyanju called him and said: “My friend, button up your lab coat. You do not have a broad chest.”

Although Adeyanju may be seen as a strict person, he was equally simple with a good sense of humour. He was used to saying that surgeons speak with their hands. During a surgery practical, he caught a student talking. He came to the student and said: “You talk more than an average woman.” We bursted out laughing. After some time, he came back and saw the student quiet. He sighed and said: “I have sedated him.” He once saw me yawning in the class and thought I was sleeping. He asked me to come out to the stage and spell my name while doing waist twisting. As I began, Adeyanju giggled and the class laughed hysterically.

When we were in Small Animal Clinic, a cat was presented with a complaint of laceration on its right hind limb after it got attacked by hoodlums. I took the history of the case from the client. When Adeyanju came, he summoned us to his office. He asked me to brief him on the history of the case. When I began, I noticed that he was staring at me. I got confused and forgot the correct word to qualify the wound. I said “the hind limb was chopped off by hoodlums”. He furiously shouted at me saying: “Can’t you speek English? Oya! Say it in your native language.”

Adeyanju was a caring teacher. When our teacher M.S Abubakar became professor, he was extremely happy because Abubakar was his former student. He hugged him and asked students to snap them together. He was very close to professors A.S Yakubu and Salisu Buhari. When they completed their fellowship, they were unable to attend the ceremony in Abuja. Adeyanju graced the occasion and brought their certificates to Sokoto. He handed over the certificates to them on a ceremonious day.

Few weeks later, he fell sick and was hospitalised at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital [U.D.U.T.H]. It was said that he drove himself to the hospital. Professor A.S Yakubu took us to the hospital to see how he was doing. We were frightened when we discovered that the agile and energetic old man could not talk but waved his hands. We prayed for his quick recovery and left the hospital pitifully.

Baba Adeyanju (as we fondly call him) passed away in the evening of Thursday 23rd December 2021. His body was laid to rest but the knowledge he imparted will remain with us and shall be passed to the next generation.

Adieu to the best veterinary surgeon in Nigeria.

Zakariyya Shu’aib Adam is a final year veterinary medical student and writes from City Campus, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He can be reached through zakariyyashuaib2020@gmail.com

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports from different sources have indicated that negotiations between the federal government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have been completed.

Meanwhile, ASUU awaits reports from the federal government to decide the fate of many promising students in the country.

However, demands of the union were made through a committee set up by the government to negotiate with it. The committee was reportedly headed by Prof. Nimi Briggs.

Speaking, the ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated that the union had done its best in the circumstance.

He added, “we have made our presentations to the committee, and there is nothing more to add.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The unending disagreement between the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the Federal Government is increasingly generating reactions from students and eminent stakeholders across the country on the fate of Nigeria’s university education. In this special report, The Daily Reality gathered different and shocking responses of the students, concerning the lingering issue.

The incessant strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been denounced as a farce that has negatively weakened the students’ morale to further their education in Nigeria.

The menace was also described as one of the most lingering issues that has been paralysing Nigerian universities, leading to the delay in students’ graduation and the deterioration of the education system in the country.

Some students that took to their social media to decry about the menace and how it slowly spirited their confidence away argued that the strike has destroyed the future of many promising youths in the country.

The Daily Reality recalls that ASUU has been on strike since February 14th, 2022, over the demands that include funding and the revitalization of public universities, Earned Academic Allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) and promotion arrears.

In 2020, the union reportedly suspended its nine-month-long strike after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government.

However, the union bitterly complained that still after a year the federal government is yet to fulfil its promises.

Students are disappointed!

The ASUU strike has disappointed many students and led to the delay in their graduation, the development the students complained had spirited away the remaining confidence they had for studies.

A final year student, Abdurrashid Adamu, decried that, “I have less than six months to graduate from the university. Had I knew of this hitch to my studies, I would have embraced my diploma certificate and that would have been enough for me.”

Another student, Usman Idris Zakariyya, disclosed how ASUU strike has affected him and his friends saying, “many of my friends confided in me that they would not resume if not because they were in 400 level.”

Zulyadaini Auwal, a student who said he had already lost hope, stated that his business will experience a hitch if ASUU calls off their strike.

Khadijatu Abdullahi stated that she has no interest in studies anymore, adding that “had it been I was in 100 or 200 level I would have switched to college of education.”

People are mocking us – students

Some students also lamented the way some people derived very much pleasure in mocking them as the strike seems to have no end in a near future.

A student, Taufiq Musa, bemoaned at the way some people mock them because the ASUU’s strike lingers to about five months.

He stated, “nowadays, people used to mock anyone who determines and concentrates more on studies rather than something else.”

Yusuf Hassan, who seemed to be frustrated, said, “had it been I knew of this hitch in my studies, I would have not enrolled to school, let alone acquiring a diploma certificate.”

Saleh Ibrahim opined that he would have not resume to school if he was in 100 or 200 level, adding that, “and I’m sure many students will not resume.”

Parents raise alarm!

As the strike looks perpetual, some parents lamented that the advancing crisis between the government and ASUU jeopardizes their children’s future.

A parent, Malam Adamu Kolo, who looked disturbed by the unending strike, said that his son would have graduated if not for ASUU incessant strike.

Malam Adamu Kolo said, “My son would have graduated this year if not because of ASUU incessant strike. You can see that I am poor. I am hopeless. Our hope is on this boy.”

Another parent, Malam Musa Mukhtar, said, “our children live with almost no or gloom future. They neither go to school nor do they have anything to do for a living.”

ASUU members amidst hunger, heavy debt

As the strike persists to about four months, ASUU members decried leaving amidst hunger and heavy debt.

The lingering strike led to the imposition of No-Work-No-Pay by the Federal Government. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, stated that the directive was in compliance with Section 43 of the Labour Law.

A Senior Lecturer with the Department of Nigerian Languages, Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Abdullahi, lamented how some of the members live without water and light due to heavy bills accrued.

He stated, “I remember how during the whole month of Ramadan, with the scorching sun and harsh temperature, lecturers languished with dry pockets and no salaries. Many lecturers didn’t have a chance to sew new Sallah (Eid) dresses for their kids, not even for themselves. Yet, another Sallah is approaching without any remorse or sense from this lousy government and its handlers.”

“The Maikantis (petty traders) selling raw rice, beans and other groceries no longer want to see us by their doors. Some of us have already forgotten toothpaste and have opted for chewing sticks now to remain clean.

“Our children have been sent out of schools due to non-payment of school fees. Landlords have knocked and banged on the doors of many; we pacified them, and some of them reason with us,” Sulaiman adeed in a piece he wrote.

No date for resumption

In a recent interview with journalists, the ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said there was no date for resumption, adding that hunger will not force the union to suspend their strike.

He added that the ASUU members are not beggars and the stoppage of their salaries by the government will not force them to call off their strike.

He further commended the members for keeping faith with the union expressing optimism that the union was on the threshold of victory.

However, some news of positive progress concerning ASUU and FG have started to fill social media and there is hope now that the strike may end soon. An ASUU member confirmed to TDR that talks between the FG and ASUU seem positive and now ASUU has already concluded its own part of the agreement, they are now patiently waiting for FG’s response.

By Dahiru Mamman 

Undoubtedly, one cannot overemphasize the importance of health. Doctors ensure that we stay healthy and when we are knocked down by diseases, no matter how severe, they perform their magic to lift us. According to Mahatma Gandhi, “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This is what doctors across the globe do: service to humanity.

Although we get graduates annually, doctors are still insufficient not only in Nigeria but across the globe. These numbers are supposed to increase with the number of universities that offer medicine and other related courses, colleges of health and schools of nursing and midwifery. Still, unfortunately, it is not the case as our health sector is threatened by a ‘mortal exodus’ of health workers, which is termed “brain drain” in the health sector. 

Recent reports from different media outlets show that no less than 727 Nigerian-trained medical doctors have relocated to the United Kingdom between December 2021 and May 2022. Between March 2021 and March 2022, at least 7,256 Nigerian nurses have left for the United Kingdom. This statistics is only on the migration to the United Kingdom. What about those that moved to other parts of the world? Most doctors were reported to have moved during the period the federal government failed to pay their hazard allowance.

With a winsome smile, I was pleased that we have home-trained medical personnel that are fit to work abroad, especially in places as advanced as the United kingdom. But on the flip side, my winsome face turns gloomy because our beloved nation is losing the scarce service of the medical personnel to countries that are supposedly ahead of us. So who should we hold responsible for the ongoing migration, the leaders or doctors? 

The question is, should the physicians and other medics move in search of greener pasture because they are not paid hazard allowance or because the health sector is crumbling? One could answer in the affirmative because scholars like Adams Smith, when propounding price (for goods and services) theory, said the higher the risk involved in a job, the greater the rewards or pay if you wish.

So, doctors are exposed to severe danger because they fight a battle against soldiers they can’t see: microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi etc.). Hence, they deserve a decent salary. But should the pay be the criteria for doctors to work? What about the oath they swore during their various inductions to “….treat human beings because it affects family members and economic stability….” 

Should those in charge of the doctors’ welfare (government and other stakeholders) relent because their job is supposed to make them selfless? In negation, as they work round the clock to ensure that citizens are healthy for self and economic development, somebody has to look after their welfare since they also have a family to cater for. Aside from catering for their welfare, who should be responsible for providing infrastructure, medical equipment and instruments for treating the sick? We can say those that swore the oath to protect the lives of citizens are. 

My call to the doctors is that they wear the white coat and scrubs with dignity and pride and strive to make the profession worth practising in the country. Even though the practice still saves lives away from home, they should know that they owe the service more to the country.

To those in charge, efforts should be made to do well by the medics to avoid further migration. Leaders, they say, make choices that keep them awake at night, and if they sleep well, it means they are not getting the job done. Hence, the situation should be tackled in a way that favours the masses.

If the issue remains unchecked, the wealthy will continue to relish in the comfort of seeking medical attention abroad while the masses or less privileged live in despair.

Mamman, a corps member, writes from Abuja and can be reached via dahirulawal90@gmail.com.

By Aliyu Idris

The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership. – Chinua Achebe.

It’s exactly four months since universities were shut down due to the lingering ASUU Strike. It’s disheartening for millions of university students like me in Nigeria who are at home idle; their fundamental rights to education are thwarted.

The government and politicians are busy with their political and elections shenanigans and do not bother to look into the menace of these excessive strikes.

None of the aspirants vying for the presidential throne has talked about curtailing the ASUU strike. This is utterly devastating. I always think about who to vote for regarding the issue of education in Nigeria.

To be candid, I don’t know how will this country continue to survive when its education sector is crippled. When the aviation sector wanted to embark on strike, the issue was solved a day before the strike because it’s not the education sector, which is too ironic for Nigeria.

The elections misdemeanour is their concern now. They invest heavily in politics and neglect education and other relevant sectors that will foster the country forward. The strike may be over soon or next year after the elections.

Let’s turn to the Lord (Allah) in prayers to give us the best leaders who have the country at heart, fulfil our vision and mission, and make our country great.

Aliyu Idris is a student of Bayero University Kano and can be reached via his email: aliyuidris063@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Aminu

Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (YUMSUK), has established a laboratory for screening cervical cancer in women, the first of its kind in northern Nigeria.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Mukhtar Kurawa, said the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA Modular Research Laboratory would greatly help in the research and treatment of cervical cancer in women, especially in North-Western Nigeria.

The laboratory, situated on the Main Campus of the University, was funded by a grant from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund). Prof. Kurawa further explained that there is a rise in cervical cancer among women in the region hence the university’s efforts to address the problem.

The VC challenged researchers to take advantage of the centre by conducting scientific research to achieve the set objectives. The VC assured continuous support for the centre, saying that “researches are now conducted not only for academic progression but also for economic development”.

He expressed optimism that the centre would excel and achieve its objective due to its state-of-the-art facilities. The Lead Researcher and Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences of the university, Dr Iman Usman-Haruna, said, “the centre is established to provide free services to women with cancer problems.”

She said about 1,500 patients are expected to benefit during the first phase of its programme. “This research is a multi-centre study to be conducted in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa and is mainly on cervical cancer screening.

“We will be performing pap smear and HPV test for 1,500 women, samples will be transported to Yusuf Maitama Sule University for processing.” This is through a grant from TETFund and with great support from the university management,” she said.

She applauded the Vice-Chancellor and TETFUND for their support for the actualisation of the project, describing it as a welcome development for the betterment of society.

By Murtala Uba Mohammed, PhD

“The source of concern is not in losing an erudite but getting his replacement”, Hausa adage.

It was around 1:54 pm on Tuesday 14th June 2022 that I learned about the death of the Emeritus Professor Emanuel Ajayi Olofin, popularly known as EAO among the staff of the Department of Geography, Bayero University, Kano (BUK). The sad news was first broken to us on the departmental WhatApps platform by his colleague and our respected teacher, Professor J. Afolabi Falola. Although already octogenarian, the death came to many with a shock because we were unaware our professor was sick. 

Born in 1941, Olofin started his Bachelor of Geography at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, but due to the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, he and his coursemates were transferred to the University of Ife, where he graduated. He was also the first Nigerian to attend the Malaysian Premier University of Malaya for his master’s degree. He joined the services of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), immediately after his return to Nigeria. He later went to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria for his PhD, specialising in Fluvial Geomorphology.

Professor Emanuel Ajayi Olofin was not only a teacher of teachers of Geography, his name was synonymous with Geography at BUK. Until his retirement from the services of Bayero University in 2015 and his subsequent demise, Olofin remained the first name to know and remember in the Department of Geography. Until he left BUK, Olofin had been one of the most respected names in the defunct Faculty of Social and Management Science (SMS) and the University at large.

While many a time, a scholar is respected for the depth of their knowledge or soundness of their character, Olofin was respected for his exquisite mastery of Geography, and those who came across him would testify to that. Here was a man who crossed the proverbial seven oceans, came to settle in a foreign land, and not only made a name but secured a good position, having been nicknamed “mutumin kirki” by the university community, which is located in a predominantly Muslim society. The Ekiti-born Professor of Geography remained the longest-serving staff in BUK, and he served the University for forty-one years (1974 to 2015).

I first heard the name Olofin in 2001 when I was still an IJMB student at the Kano State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies (CAS, Kano). The name was mentioned several times by one of his students and my teacher, Malam Adamu Mustapha (now a Professor of Hydrology), during Landforms classes. When I was admitted to study B.Sc. Geography at BUK in the year 2003, my hope then was only to meet this man we were told that he was a reservoir and encyclopedia of geographical knowledge. Interestingly, he was the only person described in the Departmental Handbook as a Professor of Geography (others were either Professors of Rural, Water Resource or Soil Geography).

Throughout my level 200, I always yearned to meet him, thinking that he would teach us Kano Region (GEO2201), for which he authored a book titled Some Aspect of Physical Geography of Kano Region together with Human Response, which remains, until now, the most authoritative guide for teaching the course. But, unfortunately, that very year, the course was assigned to, and taught by, another veteran geographer and his only contemporary then, the late Mr Oyeniyi.

The first course that connected me with Olofin was Introductory Geographical Hydrology (GEO3214). Honestly speaking, I never came across any person teaching hydrology in a simple and innovative way as Olofin. In addition, I also attended his lectures of 400-level courses, namely, Environment and Development (GEO4302) and System Approach to Geomorphology (GEO4325). For all his courses, Olofin did not only lecture us, as the tradition was in those days but also recommended good teaching materials in addition to the books he had authored, which he gave as guides to students to xerox.

The beauty of Olofin’s class was in its good illustration, lucid language, deployment of humour and riddles, and imparting good morals. In addition, Olofin had carved a name for himself as an embodiment of good character, whose courses one hardly fails unless they were not either attending lectures or failed to sit for exams. It is well known that Olofin informed his students as to when he would take attendance.

I recalled that in one of his classes, Professor Olofin complained, with a gloomy face, that some students would fail a course no matter how much he or any other teacher tried. When we asked for his reason, he narrated what transpired between him and one of our coursemates.

The story was that the student missed his test, which was announced weeks before it was conducted. The student did not complain to the Professor, rather, it was Olofin that came to the class and looked for the student; he asked the student to see him after the class. When the student went to his office, he queried if the student was ready to take the test, and he responded that he was not ready. Instead, an assignment was given to the student to write before the closing hours. The student submitted the assignment to the Professor in time, but when he checked the assignment, he suspected that the writing looked so good to be ascribed to that student. Therefore, he passed a paper asking the student to write his name and registration number. Unfortunately, his handwriting was conspicuously different from the one on the assignment. Olofin asked the student, “who wrote the assignment for you?” After insisting, the student informed him that his friend, a lady, wrote it for him! He counselled the student to be committed to his studies and always be honest and upright!

Professor Olofin had retired from active service and only taught as a contract staff when I joined the services of the Department in 2012. I could not recall a time when he missed his lecture, refused to attend staff meetings, or submitted his marked sheets/scripts late. In fact, Olofin always submitted his marked sheet earlier than any staff of the Department despite his age and the fact that all the staff of the Department, except late A.D. Maiwada and Prof. J.A. Falola, were his students at either their undergraduate or postgraduate levels.

Olofin can be described as jovial and accommodating in terms of interpersonal relationships. I recall his famous joke and parable on Nigeria that when the Almighty was creating nations of the earth, he gave each country a resource or two. But when it came to Nigeria, he put so many resources under its land. People, out of inquisitiveness, asked why did He do so? The Almighty replied: “Wait and see the kind of humans I will populate it with”. This parable describes the real situation of the so-called “African Giant” that is paradoxically rich and poor. Nigeria has all it takes to blossom as an Iroko but remains a low dwarf shrub due to its corrupt leadership and docile followership.

Olofin was not only an epitome of good character and knowledge, he was faithfully dedicated to his job. I can testify to this though not to the extent that his old students can do.

From the little I learned when we were neighbours (his office was next to mine), he used his office hours mainly for writing, teaching and research. He rarely engaged in frivolous discussions outside classrooms or meetings. Instead, he was constantly working with his computer, reading different genres, and reviewing students’ dissertations/theses. For this, he was not only a geographer but a consummate poet and essayist. His anthology of poetry titled Lifeless Line is eloquent testimony.

By a way of conclusion, I wish to say that the death of Olofin is one of the greatest losses to Geography as a discipline and Nigerian academia. It is not only because he was the first Professor of Geography in BUK and the first in the Faculty of Social and Management Science; it is not because he was the longest-serving member of the faculty; it is not also because he was among the first five to be awarded Emeritus Professors in BUK; but because he was an amalgam of a sound knowledge of his discipline, dedication to duty and moral uprightness.

In the realm of geographers, Olofin’s name can only be written with those of other giants such as Akin Mabogunje Nurudden Aloa and RK Udo. For these reasons, I write to extend my condolences to his family, colleagues, students, Bayero University, the Association of Nigerian Geographers and academia at large. May the Almighty Allah give his family the fortitude to bear the loss, amen!

Murtala teaches Geography at the Department of Geography, Bayero University Kano and can be reached via murtalamuhammadu@gmail.com.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa’i has approved the appointment of Professor Abdullahi Musa Ashafa as the new acting Vice-Chancellor, Kaduna State University.

Ashafa, a professor of diplomatic history and the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), was announced by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Halima Lawal.

Before his appointment, Prof. Ashafa was Head of History Department, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies and the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Kaduna State University.

Ashafa served as Vice President, Historical Society of Nigeria, North West Zone. He is also a Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

By Muhammad Sulaiman Abdullahi, PhD

Hello, my dear comrade friends! How are you and your families? I hope we are forging and managing well. I know we are well, but not very well. This is because I know that there are so many challenges in and out there. I know most of us are currently swimming and still smiling in heavy debts, ranging from debts of Maggi, Omo, Bread, Garri, etc. Even the ‘Yan garuwa (water vendors) owe many among us a considerable amount of money due to the brutal nature of our looters. This is not to talk about heavy loans accrued due to a lack of salaries for about four months.

The Maikantis (petty traders) selling raw rice, beans and other groceries no longer want to see us by their doors. Some of us have already forgotten toothpaste and have opted for chewing sticks now to remain clean. Our children have been sent out of school due to non-payment of school fees. Landlords have knocked and banged on the doors of many; we pacified them, and some of them reason with us.

Some of us now live without water and light due to heavy bills accrued. You keep counting the ordeals. I remember how during the whole of Ramadan, with the scorching sun and harsh temperature, lecturers languished with dry pockets and no salaries. Many lecturers didn’t have a chance to sew new Sallah (Eid) dresses for their kids, not even for themselves. Yet, another Sallah is approaching without any remorse or sense from this lousy government and its handlers.

Before I talk about my three solid pieces of advice to ASUU, let me digress and talk a little about and to those who don’t understand ASUU’s struggle. I don’t in any way exonerate ASUU of all blames and problems. No way! We have our defects. Only the Almighty Allah is perfect.

However, in ASUU’s struggle, ASUU is 80 per cent right. If you talk about the decay within the ranks of the university administration and duties, ASUU also fights that. And it is the sole responsibility of the government to put eyes on the universities and punish anyone found wanting and guilty of any offence. Sex for marks, not attending lectures on time, lack of coordination, dedication and supervision, extorting students, etc., to punish and stop all these and more lie in the hands of sensible governments. I know that it is said that these bad attitudes happen in Nigerian universities, but sometimes they are overblown out of proportion.

I have been in the university community for nearly 20 years, engaging with my teachers and, later, my students. Still, I don’t know a single lecturer in my university involved in such indecent acts and is also known without getting punished. In other words, universities don’t condone such wrongdoings. Also, this is not ASUU’s direct responsibility, but rather, it lies in the hands of the university management and the government.

Our government doesn’t punish anyone, which is why bad people do as they wish everywhere, in the military, the police, lawyers, carpenters, bandits and all. So lack of commitment and corruption in whichever cadre is not ASUU’s fault, but rather, the government. Our governments rarely punish, and when it does, it looks selective and sometimes biased.

The government is so powerful that, if it is sincere, ASUU or anyone cannot shut down a single university, just like that – not even to talk of all universities – for one week without the government taking drastic action and winning over anyone! But due to the government’s insincerity, this is ASUU. So here is the whole country’s population – the lecturers, their wives, children and friends, the students, their parents, children and families, Nigerians and all their well-wishers – all in trouble, but the government doesn’t care.

With all the troubles and disputes in their recent party primary elections, North/South and whatever, they managed, brainstormed, came together, and brought a solution in 2 days. But, of course, this is for their selfish agenda,  huh? So anyway, below are my three candid and sincere pieces of advice for ASUU and all.

First, ASUU members are suffering, but ASUU should NOT call off its strike until it reaches a coherent, logical conclusion. Yes! We are suffering, and we need the strike to the end. But we don’t want a situation where a strike can be called off today, and it comes back in 7 months to come, or even less. Let’s push things to the end. I will even advise the government to agree that no strike can be implemented in the next ten years if anything goes as practically implemented. I don’t support any agreement again.

I never heard of NNPC, CBN or the House of Representatives going on strike! This is because all their entitlements, salaries, allowances and more are paid on time. And they receive more than all Nigerian universities receive, with a quarter of what universities do. A kind of monkey dey work, but baboons chop the money. So they have money more than they need. So, ASUU should not call off the strike until everything is settled.

Second, ASUU should change its style concerning research works. Many civilians out there don’t know that apart from class teachings, university lecturers engage in what is called research. Hence, some people feel we are not entitled to our salaries during strikes. And in reality, the impact of our collective research output is very minimal. Some people don’t even know that we do research, and some of us don’t even do any research at all.

To sustain our research line, let us allow the research activities to continue at full capacity. Here I mean, students writing their research (Undergrads, Masters and PhDs) should be allowed to consult their lecturers online or via any other medium possible. Someone may ask about data and other internet facilities. My answer to such a ridiculous question is; how do you read this write-up? Don’t you have a WhatsApp, Facebook or go online? This is all to maintain and sustain our research inputs and keep going. We shouldn’t allow our brains to rust completely. This chance should be conditional, situational and only if a lecturer has a chance to.

Third and finally, ASUU should continue the strike until things are resolved.

Thank you

Muhammad Sulaiman Abdullahi

Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.

By Ismaila Academician

Day in, day out, one will come across discriminatory remarks deadlier than plasmasonic missiles against educated women nowhere but in Northern Nigeria and, narrowly, among Hausa and Fulani people.

To begin with, every human deserves a better life that comes through development that comes through a civilisation that comes through education or knowledge. Like the solar system, our life as a system is made up of some fragments that are an integral part of the whole system syntagmatically. After existing in form and soul, education is the second most important thing. It provides us with other parts health, food, shelter etc.

In this regard, life at the superordinate level is the same as the sun, supporting the entire system. Education at the ordinate level is the same as oxygen on earth, our planet. Without life or the sun and education or the oxygen, we cannot survive. This emphasises the importance of education in human life.

However, 21^st century is considered the age of information. This is to say there’s no time more prevailing for one to get educated than now. Internet brings whole lots of information to our doorstep. Thus, knowledge becomes much easier to acquire. Probably, there is no field of inquiry that is yet to be digitalised. And, it seems this is just the beginning of things.

The above picture baffles me to see people, some of whom are educated, chastising women for being educated. And that is coming in a prime time when people worldwide are benefiting from products and by-products of education.

The theatre of operation

Now, coming to the bone of contention, Western Education, it’s apparent that these pseudo-critics, feeling dissatisfied with the autonomy women achieved by attainment of knowledge, and out of their chauvinistic attitudes to over-dominate the women-dome, keep barking up the wrong tree. They draw a series of comics that only reveal their disengagement with logic. Whether one is liberal, religious or inadvertent, I don’t think any law or logic is denying and limiting women from getting an education. Education is not gender-specific; it’s for all. It’s one of our distinctive features as humans to acquire knowledge.

A woman can be described as a permanent secretary in her matrimonial home. A secretary is someone entrusted with a secret; he is a confidant to the head of a government department or household. There is nothing worth protecting and entrusting than life and property. Man risks his life and property to his wife, both in his presence and absence.

 A woman is a manager that manages all the resources needed to run the organisation, her matrimonial home. She alone knows the input and output of the house family members that drive the house’s affairs forward. A manager is a person whose job is to manage something, such as a business, a restaurant, a house etc.

A woman is a human resources manager. An HRM is a person responsible for developing employees (or children) so that they become more valuable to the organisation (or family and society in general). She manages the entire people in the house, including the husband. For example, she assigns who to cook, go shopping, tidy the home, etc. At the end of this, the house becomes a real home.

Now, come one come all. Let’s think about this: for one to have a sound and efficient secretary overseeing the activity of his home, life and property, he needs an educated wife. For instance, children return home after school with lots of homework, assignments etc. And with the increasing rate of child abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence, the best and safest extra teacher your children can get is your wife, their first and best teacher ever.

Additionally, take this scenario as a case study: you work in Abuja, and your family live in Kano or Katsina. Definitely, your wife is in charge of the entire household, raising your children to the moral standards, making sure children attend school, and providing and taking care of their needs. She settles school fees; pays water, power, DSTV bills etc., on your behalf. Yes, that will best be carried out efficiently only if one is educated.

Clear of all doubts, we need more educated women than men since they are that vital pillar supporting our homes – by and large, our life entirely, because men move from the custody of their mothers to the custody of their wives.

Lastly, I am in no way downgrading the good image of uneducated women to the detriment of the educated ones, no and never!!!

May we get the best spouses, amen.

Ismaila Academician wrote via ismailaacademician@gmail.com.