WHERE NIGERIA RISING LIES
The Greek Stoic Philosopher, Epictetus, by implication said: 'An educated man is a free man'. Education gives knowledge and knowledge brings light. Light connotes change. And positive change leads to progress, development and growth.
Nigeria is a great Nation, it has been a great Nation but all in the lips of those who say it. It has all the resources and brains required to stand strong with its roots spread deep down. Yet it still sways over little winds. One would wonder why, in spite of the potentials and talents it has. The reason is not far-fetched.
Power is useless without control from the mind. And according to John F. Kennedy, 'The human mind is our fundamental resource.' Nigeria has talents, potentials, resources_ it has power, but it does not have control over them. It cannot manage all of these powers it has because it does not have the knowledge of how to apply the control knowledge from the mind. Nigerians' minds are in bondage and only through education freedom is guaranteed. Although this freedom can be a dangerous gift if not well understood and properly handled.
Larger percentage of Nigerians has a particular mindset from top to the bottom. The mindset of becoming wealthy irrespective of what is involved, and is the worm eating up the roots Nigeria would have used to stand very firmly. There is a problem with the foundation upon which Nigerians grow and develop. Education is the only way out.
Nigerians at home are in bondage as well as those in the universities. Education supposed to be a freedom entitlement in true sense where the beneficiary will be granded in all the areas of how to manage freedom. But to a great surprise, most Nigerians go to the University for One Reason; to get 'papers'. And even the ones, who went because they wanted to get equipped, had a change of mind on getting there after the first 3 to 4 months at most. What then is the problem with Nigerian universities?
Simple, the universities are not learning environments. They are not conducive for proper learning. Students do not have within reach all learning materials and equipment both for practical and theory, yet they are made to go through stress. Where there are learning materials, they are usually insufficient and inadequate. Imagine students going to the laboratory to carry out a practical, where most of the apparatus needed are not available to use. How do you expect such students to be granded in that area? Most of the time, lecture theatres could not accommodate students.
It is not just to make all Nigerians go through the university that matters but to make the ones who could, better by the time they are out. The labour market is full with unemployable graduates, yet more and more graduates are being pumped into it.
Nigerians need quality education and not universities. When all the universities are upgraded to standard, Nigerians will graduate with the mindset of being empowered to establish independently. This is freedom and how to manage it.
The kind of freedom universities alone gives; is the freedom from stress, freedom from constraint, freedom from organised bondage. And when these Nigerians graduate, they say 'Thank God, I am through.' Not really thanking God for his Mercy and Grace but thanking God that they are free from stress, they have finished with the hustling; they are thanking God that they are free from the organised bondage. And by the time they get into the society, they come in with the mentality that life is all about hustling_ always giving something to get something. What we now called corruption.
On the other hand, the kind of freedom education gives is the kind that makes things right. That which supports the Truth, this brings change. Indeed, change does not take time, but the truth.
One thing is to know the truth, another is to act it. And certainly an educated man will act the truth someday.
So which truth are we talking about here?
Truth is truth just the way it is. Knowledge makes you know the truth. Knowledge comes from education. Andeducation brings freedom!
The rising of Nigeria lies on how educated Nigerians are and how free they are. The government should know that Nigerian universities need to be equipped and structures need to be on ground to ease learning. Our schools should be an impetus to cause change. It is possible and it is achievable. The reason why Nigerians abroad do well academically but back home, it is as if they know nothing; is all because of the poor educational system.
The government is a major stakeholder in this. They should work to see that Nigerians get quality education, if they are really sincere about transforming and rebranding this Nation. The educational sector should be well structured, because true transformation begins in the mind. Education transforms the mind. Let us all be determine to be educated and together let us make Nigeria the Nigeria we know it to be, not for lips only but also in practice and reality.
If Nigeria must change, Nigerians must change. Education will make this possible.
EMMANUEL IGHO ATUMEN
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