Opinion II As FG Scraps HND Certificate

AS FG SCRAPS HND CERTIFICATE

         

Recently, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government (FG) abruptly introduced a new policy in the Nigeria’s education sector.

         

The decision, which was unanimously reached at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday 6^th June 2018 where the approval of a comprehensive reform of the country’s tertiary education system was made, had it that the ongoing Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate invariably awarded by the Polytechnics would no longer be valid.

         

The resolution disclosed that the HND honour would, from date, be bestowed on only the students that had already been admitted for the programme in our various polytechnics. Hence, the affected institutions would henceforth be limited to award of the National Diploma (ND).

         

Under the policy, the polytechnics would now become campuses of the proximate universities whereby the Vice-Chancellors (VCs) would be legible to appoint the Provosts for their respective affiliate Polytechnics, subject to the ratification of the universities’ councils. In view of this, the students who are desirous of further education would be awarded a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree by the concerned proximate university.

        

In addition, all the programmes being run by polytechnics that aren’t technology-based or technically-inclined, which constitute over 70 per cent of the overall programmes currently offered by the institutions, would outrightly be scrapped by the mandate of the new policy.

        

The FEC further directed that to kick-start the policy, the nation’s two most prominent polytechnics – the Yaba College of Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic – would henceforth be known and addressed as City University of Technology, Yaba and City University of Technology, Kaduna, respectively.

         

With education being on the concurrent list, the states are enjoined to follow suit. And to give legal backing to the resolutions, the FEC approved the submission of two Executive Bills to the National Assembly (NASS) through the Attorney General of the Federation for onward enactment.

       

The first bill would concretize the setting-up of the two named city universities while the second one would approve the preparation and consolidation of all federal polytechnics as well as colleges of education as campuses of their proximate universities.

        

The Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu while briefing newsmen immediately after the meeting, further highlighted that “the HND certificate will remain a legal tender in Nigeria and holders of such certificate will continue to be recognized as the equivalent of first degree holders without discriminatory remunerations and limit to progression in the work place”. Similarly, the boss stated “the NCE certificate will be retained as the minimum teaching qualification at the basic level of education”.

         

Ever since I received the entire content of the new policy, I have not ceased to be worried owing to various pertinent factors that might in the long run pose a barrier to the progress of the policy, thereby bedevilling our education sector as well as the country’s labour market and the existing work places.

         

To aptly address – or better still avoid – the foreseen anomaly, the bill to be sent to the NASS must be well detailed and all-inclusive devout of any clause that may ensue crisis in the future. And for this to be actualized, all parties involved must consider the interest of the country at large as priority.

         

First, I saw no reason granting the VCs of the proximate universities the immunity to appoint the heads (provosts) of their affiliated tertiary institutions. Rather, the emergence of such leader ought to be strictly via election among the interested and qualified candidates who must be academic staff of the affected polytechnic or college of education, as may be the case.

         

Secondly, there is no need renaming the various polytechnics to ‘City University of Technology’ since they would all be recognized as campuses of their proximate universities. Rebranding them as city universities simply implies that there’s no further need to place them as affiliate institutions.

         

Thirdly, to introduce uniformity, the proposed bill must mandate all the state governments to key into the policy towards avoiding any conflicting situation. It would be abnormal for the federal polytechnics to stop awarding HND to their students whilst those of the states would continue to do so.

         

Inter alia, for this policy to be fully appreciated and adored, it would be ideal and wise to totally abolish the recognition and existence of the HND qualification in Nigeria. This can be achieved by directing those who had already been honoured with the certificate to return to their respective alma-maters with a view to undergoing a one/two-year programme that would make them qualified to receive the B.Tech degree certificate.

         

The above suggestion is highly consequential because as the policy progresses, the labour market or employers of labour would be forced to abhor the HND certificate or see it as a worthless qualification. The HND has hitherto been discriminated let alone when the country’s polytechnics are prohibited from awarding it.

        

The honourable minister had in his speech stated that holders of such certificate would “continue” to be recognized as the equivalent of first degree holders as if the HND holders had ever been treated as equal to their university counterparts. Think about it!

FDN Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador            

TechDeck I Harnessing Resources Toward Greater Nationhood

HARNESSING RESOURCES TOWARDS GREATER NATIONHOOD

         

It has ostensibly become compelling for Nigeria as a country to look inwards towards discovering her entire natural resources with a view to harnessing them for a greater nationhood.

        

Some of the common natural resources on earth are land, water, sunlight, atmosphere, wind, coupled with animal life and vegetation. A natural resource may exist as a separate entity like fresh water and air as well as a living organism such as fish, or it might exist in an alternate form, which must be processed to obtain the required resource to include petroleum, metal, ores, and most forms of energy.

          

It’s noteworthy that some, including air and sunlight, can be found everywhere, and are known as ‘ubiquitous resources’. Whilst, most resources only occur in restricted areas, and are referred to as ‘localized resources’.

         

There are very few resources that are considered inexhaustible – these are solar radiation, geothermal energy, and air, though access to pure air may not be possible. The vast majority of resources are theoretically exhaustible, which means they have a finite quantity and can be depleted if improperly managed; a good example of this is petroleum. Such finite resources required a sound policy and regulation, to be implemented by the concerned government, towards their preservation.

         

It’s pertinent to acknowledge that every manmade product consists of one or two natural resources. Suffice it to say that everything required or used by mankind constitute of, at least, a natural resource. In most cases, some of these resources such as air and water, are directly utilized or consumed by man without processing them.

         

The above outlined phenomenon proves beyond doubts that humankind cannot survive or strive successfully, as the case may be, without natural resources. This assertion is not unconnected with the reason every rational government makes frantic effort toward adequate use and preservation of the natural resources found within its country.

         

In Nigeria, hundreds of natural resources abound, in which each state including Abuja is a beneficiary. Some of these resources are petroleum, tantalite, lead, zinc, glass-sand, copper, gemstone, crystal, oil/gas, bitumen, phosphate, gold, coal, clay, salt, gypsum, iron-ore, uranium, and limestone, in addition to sunlight, wind, land, water, vegetation and air that are ubiquitous in nature.

          

Some of the aforementioned substances can enable any country to massively embark on agriculture, and attain to any desired height. Nigeria does not possess just land, but a well fertile land that can produce crops in any quantity and quality. Its vegetation and atmosphere is equally invariably good enough to raise every kind of animal life, including wildlife.

         

Though crop and livestock farming used to be the talk of the day in the Nigerian society, it’s sad to note that currently such lucrative occupation is being relegated to the background owing to over-reliance on mono-resource, petroleum. It’s really high time we as a people desisted from this irritating high level of dependency that has eaten deep into our socio-economic bone marrow.

          

Proper utilization of clay alone can take the country’s tourism industry, that’s presently moribund, to enviable heights. Same is applicable to the use of other similar compounds or metals that are in abundance across the federation, to include uranium, limestone, and gold. In the same vein, it is disheartening that an essential mineral resource like coal has, over the decades, been swept under the carpet; coal can be used to produce energy, both in the form of heat and electricity.

          

It’s mind-boggling to hear that a country like Nigeria that can boast of abundant sunlight, wind and what have you, is still battling on how to generate steady and reliable electricity, whilst countries like U.S.A blessed with just limited amount of the resources, are experiencing uninterruptible power supply. Away from energy; it could be observed that our forest reserves that could produce enough timber for importation, are currently wearing a pathetic physiognomy as a result of docile policies.

          

Indeed, Nigeria is densely endowed with various lucrative natural resources, but it’s very sad that the governments at all levels are not doing enough as regards the adequate use and conservation of the resources; hence, this calls for drastic turnaround via deployment of genuine political will. Now that the sale of oil and gas is no longer booming, it’s high time we retraced our steps toward ensuring that each of the available resources is thoroughly harnessed for the needed economic emancipation.

          

Crude oil ought to also be regularly renewed. We can clean used oil by using pretty conventional refinery technologies. The first step is vacuum distillation, which dewaters the oil. Then, we do wiped-film evaporation; this essentially separates out all the contaminants and additives inherent in it.

         

Finally, it would go through a hydro-treating process, which infuses hydrogen back into the hydrogen molecules and makes it very high quality re-refined oil. This routine can be sustained via a sound policy, hence the need for the government to concentrate on the needful.

         

The government really needs to ensure adequate conservation and sustenance of these natural resources, through implementation of strict and viable policies cum laws, and their proper enforcement. Most of these policies such as Land Use and Forests Reserve Acts, which were duly upheld in the past, are presently abused or overlooked in various quarters.

          

We need to urgently revive them, make apt amends where necessary, as well as introduce new ones toward attaining a greater nationhood. Think about it!

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH)

______________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 

Twitter: @mediambassador

      

ShortStory I Intriguing Moment

INTRIGUING MOMENT

     “Nenye…” Ada called.

     “Yes dear.”

     “Lest I forget,” said Ada. “I will be leaving for Abuja tomorrow.”

     “Hope all is well?” Nenye verified.

     “Of course,” replied Ada. “My chairman wants to see me.”

     “Chairman?”

        The two spinsters were undergraduates on one of the campuses situated in Rivers State, Nigeria and happened to be roommates, though were of different departments. They met each other during their first year, twelve months back to be precise, the moment they found themselves on the campus.

        Contrary to Nenye’s lifestyle, Ada was obviously a flirt both on and outside the campus and her pattern of living was really telling on her innocent roommate who was wholly devoted to her academics.

        Ada who could afford anything money could as a student because of her acquaintances with her so-called sugar daddies, was cajoled into the ugly trend by some of her schoolmates barely eight weeks after she found herself in the institution.

         Funnily enough, as a second year student, she hardly sat for any course during her semester examinations and at the end of the day, she would come out with flying colours to her classmates’ greatest surprise. What she knew how to do best was to cruise around with her friends of like minds in her red Sport Toyota car bought by one of her countless ‘sugar daddies’. But whenever she visited home, she wouldn’t dare travelling in the car so that her parents wouldn’t realize her true self; she would rather go in a public cab.

      “My man, of course.” She boldly and proudly clarified as they were seated in their apartment, right inside their bedroom.

      “Hmm,” Nenye muttered. “So you now have a man in Abuja?”

      “What kind of question is that?” Ada interrupted, frowning.

      “Ada,” Nenye politely called. “When will you change?”

      “When did you become a pastor?” Ada argued. “Abeg, abeg, abeg.” She urged, waving her right hand.

       “Ada,” Nenye continued. “Is not that I am trying to decide for you.”

       Ada was relatively calm as her colleague dished out her friendly counsel.

       “After all, you have your life to live.”

         Ada remained mute, facing the other side of the room.

        “But you should have known that we just resumed for a new session.” Nenye relentlessly reminded. “Right now, I expected you to be concerned about how this 200 Level would be…”

         Ada quickly crossed her left leg on the right one, backing the roommate.

        “Rather than travelling from one city to the other.” Nenye landed.

         Ada appeared adamant. “Please, Nenye…” she chipped in. “Spare me these uncalled preaches.”

         “Is not what you think.” Nenye rode on. “I am only trying to let you face reality.”

         “Enough of these,” Ada ranted at the top of her voice. “Please...” She added, stood up angrily.

         “Is okay, is okay.” Nenye surrendered, waving her two hands.

           Both of them were seated on their 16-inch foam which was lying freely on the tiled floor.

         “So, what time are you leaving?”

         “Now you are talking.” Ada applauded. “This is what you should have asked since.” She thought aloud, resumed her seat.

          This time, she was facing Nenye her presumed enemy.

          “I said, it’s okay,” Nenye urged, paused. “Ada baby.” She teased her pretentiously.

           Ada smiled. “Na wa for you ooh!” She exclaimed.

          “So what time?” Nenye reiterated.

          “Well,” said Ada. “I will be going by flight, as usual.”

          “Big girl!” Nenye saluted.

          “You won try…?” Ada responded in vernacular.

            Nenye smiled in accordance.

           “I have asked you to join the winning team,” Ada chipped in. “But you wouldn’t listen.”

          “Don’t even go there.” Nenye warned.

            It’s noteworthy that Ada had been persuading her to join the trend but she consistently rebutted the proposal.

       “I am sorry.” Ada said. “That was slip of tongue.”

         Nenye became really unhappy over the utterance.

         Ada, having observed the bad mood, hastily moved to where she was seated. “I am sorry nah.” She repeated, tenderly shaking Nenye’s body with her right hand.

         Nenye smiled. “I have heard you.” she uttered. “So what time is your flight?”

         “Emm..,” said Ada. “10am.”

         “Okay,” Nenye dished out. “I wish you safe journey.”

         “Thank you, darling…” Ada appreciated.

   * * * * * *

       “So, how was the trip?” Nenye enquired.

       “My dear,” Ada said. “Enough torri dey ooh!” She replied in pidgin English, which literally meant there was a lot to discuss.

         It was few minutes after Ada’s arrival from Abuja where she spent a night with her newest sugar daddy called Chief Akin.

         Nenye sat on their blue reading chair, which was paired with a blue plastic table; she was busy with her assignments. Whilst, Ada who just had a cool shower was standing with a white tower tied round her gorgeous waist; she was plump, chocolate, and about 5.2-foot tall – she was apparently naturally endowed.

         “So gist me.” Nenye inquisitively said.

         “My dear,” Ada rode on. “Chief Akin is stinkingly rich.”

         “Who’s Chief Akin?”

         “The man I went to see in Abuja nah.” quoth Ada. “My newest chairman.” She supplemented, smiling.

        “Hmm…” Nenye murmured, shook her head. “The people you date are men that are as old as your father.” She thought aloud.

        Ada was calm.

       “If not older.” She landed.

       “And so?” Ada nagged. “Provided they give me what I want.”

        Nenye was silent.

       “Or, you want me to move with these boys that can’t even give someone up to 20k per night?”

       “Hmm…” Nenye sighed, shook her head for several seconds. “You can’t stop amusing me.”

        There was silence.

       “Well, you still haven’t gist me about the trip.”

       “Are you not the one dampening my spirit?” Ada responded, sat on their foam that was situated beside the reading chair where her roommate was seated. “Chief took me out for a shopping.”

        Nenye repositioned herself as the story began, became curious.

       “You wouldn’t believe it.” She proceeded. “He bought me gold this, gold that…”

       “Serious?” Nenye enquired.

       “Are you doubting me?” Ada said, quickly brought her handbag and opened it to Nenye’s delight. “Check this out.” She proudly enjoined.

         Obviously, the handbag was loaded with all kinds of gold to include necklace, earrings, wristwatch, and what have you.

       “Eeye…!” Nenye exclaimed, astonished.

        To be continued, please.

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

_________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador