In
my church, Catholic precisely, a prayer for ‘Nigeria in distress’ is being said
for decades now. I grew up to join the chorus; suffice it to say that the
prayer had been existing since I was born, or prior to my existence if I’m not
mistaken. Hence, I kept wondering if Nigeria would remain in distress unabated.
The religious devotion is already overriding the country’s national anthem,
which implies that the distress in question is getting out of hand.
If your thought is as good as mine, why
would anyone be doubtful of the relevance of such prayer? All forms of social
ills to include student cultism, exam practices, kidnapping, robbery, pick
pocketing, rape, incest, drug addiction, cheating, and even household lies,
have abruptly overtaken the wellbeing of Nigeria’s polity. The value system has
arguably fast deteriorated. Hence, asserting that the country is uncontrollably
suffering from distress isn’t an overstatement, rather understatement.
What is more baffling as regards the
pitiable situation is that most parents, perhaps vulnerable ones, claim
ignorance of their wards’ dirty lifestyles. For instance, those whom their
children are ostensibly progressive and keep showering with ‘tainted’ love
wouldn’t hesitate to tell you, when asked, that their son is doing very well in
his business – even when they are unsure. A non-vulnerable or more informed
parent could go extra mile to ascertain what his/her child does for a living.
However, when you look inwards, you would
comprehend that presenting vulnerability as an excuse is a product of ills.
There’s no caring and sane parent that wouldn’t be concerned about their
child’s safety. In other words, any rational human progenitor would stop at
nothing towards ensuring that their offspring are all into occupation or
activity that wouldn’t attract rot to their persons in the long run.
So, it’s only a corrupt and weird
parent that would prefer to display a nonchalant attitude in issues regarding
their child’s wellbeing. Such parents wouldn’t bother to find out what exactly
that’s yielding their son’s wealth. All they care about is for the money to
keep flowing, so he would continue showering them with ‘love’. And if the chap
in question is a cultist, someday he would be probably asked to offer his
either parents’ head for ritual renewal. If he is an armed robber, he might
equally consider robbing his parental home.
The
type occurring in the education sector is unspeakable, to assert the least. Our
young ones, now, no longer sit for their examinations without concealing
microchips in their private parts, or the assistance of mercenary, as the case
may be. In most secondary schools across the federation, mainly privately owned
ones, questions from external examiners like WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or what have
you, are not anymore attended to by the candidates they are meant for, rather
the teachers of the affected schools.
In
some quarters where the schools do not want the practice to appear obvious or
intend to apply a little decency, they would turn the examination format to
teacher-student cooperation whereby the candidate would be apparently seated on
the exam desk while his/her tutor would be functioning like a standby
generator. Funnily enough, this disgusting melodrama does not take place without
the approval of the exam’s supervisor; needless to reiterate that it’s a
two-way thing. Sure, things are no longer at ease.
Have you taken a walk to most universities
lately? They currently parade themselves with countless ‘First Class’ products
as if Nigeria has more good brains now than before. Of course, it isn’t longer
news that a primary school-leaver during the days of my father can compete
confidently, or even supersede, most present days’ university graduates.
Besides, during my university days, I was told by an astute teacher that no
department in any Nigerian institution has the capacity to produce first class
graduates.
According
to the professor, it wasn’t that the country didn’t have good brains but
considering that its universities lacked the required facilities, it could not
boast of first class products that could compete with the world. I personally
concurred, but recently I came to realize that Nigerian universities were
producing first class materials in accordance with the available facilities and
manpower, and not products that could fit anywhere beyond the country. Even at
that, are they supposed to be making it seem as if they are competing among
themselves with regard to the number of first class graduates to be produced
per session? The scenario indeed calls for a deep thought.
I can’t but continue to wonder where
exactly we are headed. I’m right now pouting seriously. Someone would
relentlessly lament that our politicians are densely corrupt, but when one
looks inwardly, he would acknowledge that the level of corruption among the
followers is overwhelming. Even household corruption has overridden others. Go
to the market places, and you would observe countless antics transpiring on a
daily basis; it’s a place where a seller wouldn’t mind using his/her customer
for ritual, and albeit ignorantly the latter would yet presume he/she is being
pampered. An average seller would consistently cheats his customer, still,
addresses him as his loved one.
Every moment we complain profusely over
graft, forgetting that the prevalence of corruption by non-public servants is
fast dominating the system. The awaited change, surely, must begin with each of
us. Think about it!
http://facebook.com/fred4nwaozor
