Category: Campus Life

Since the world is a global village with digitalisation, cyberbullying has become the norm. People are bullied on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and the likes.

Cyberbullying has to do with writing of provocative comments on people’s post, stalking them, sharing their  nude pictures without their  consent, threatening them etc. These  are punishable under the law.

The  Nigeria Cybercrime  Act 2015 states that anyone found guilty of cyberstalking or cyberbullying is to pay nothing less than N2million  or bag a prison sentence of a year. Government has also intensified efforts  to curb it.

However, it is not yet uhuru.  Statistics reveal that 60 per cent  of teenagers have been bullied on social media, 75 per cent have reported the spread of rumours  about them and 95 per cent  of teenagers are connected to the internet.

Overtime people have been bullied for various reasons such as  appearance, religion, sexuality, financial status and so on.

Cyberbullying is not only limited to teenagers, many  adults have  been bullied all over the world, but more attention is on children and youths because  they are more susceptible to such.

Research shows that students  are affected by cyberbullying. They are susceptible to stress, anxiety and  loss of concentration.

Some also resort to suicide when it becomes unbearable. For someone whose nude was posted online without their consent, he/she  might decide to commit suicide.

Teenagers being bullied cannot speak up and this has affected their mental growth. It has also affected their thought process. In relationships, they find it difficult to trust others.

Some have fallen into depression and social anxiety, meaning they don’t even want to get involved with humans again. Some are suffering from low self-esteem and they lose hope in themselves.

Most celebrities in Nigeria get criticised and bullied on Instagram, especially when they upload pictures.

On Instagram, a  popular actress  was mocked on her birthday for not having a child. The worst part is that people also attack families of celebrities online.

People expect extraordinary acts from celebrities, hence, when their expectations are not met, they excoriate them on social media.

However, to stem the tide, the government should establish regulatory bodies. This does not end with the government, parents should check up on their kids, ask them about their friends and social media life. Youths, teenagers and all should be told that bullying is punishable by law.

Children subjected to  cyberbullying should discuss with their parents  and teachers or someone who would be of help.

Celebrities going through this should stand up for themselves and visit a therapist who would guide them through it. We have heard of celebrities suing  people for using  harsh and unprintable words on them. Doing more of this would reduce the bullying.

•Babatunde is a 300-Level Mass Communication student of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

Nigeria is a heterogeneous society. With over 250 languages and ethnic groups, and diverse political leanings, Nigeria is, indeed, a large country.

Democracy remains the only bedrock of a value-based political system where institutions function according to the law.

This system must operate within a system of checks and balances, where each arm of the government operates independently, but with a form of mutual oversight to ensure there is no abuse of power within any of them.

Democratic governance is anchored on the standards that citizens participate in the affairs of the state, irrespective of status, thus enhancing multipartism, and preventing a one party state.

Within a democratic setting, the participation of citizens in the affairs of state, which should be recognised and encouraged by the government as the exercise of the franchise, is effective only when the rule of law operates in such a way that the government is subject to the law.

Appraising the democracy of any nation, there is the need to give credence to value-based leadership, which is necessary for safeguarding the tenets of true democracy.

Thomas Carlyle, in his theory of leadership, in the 19th Century, pointed out: “Leaders aren’t born, but made. Great leaders emerge when the need arises”. Sandy Clarke added that value-based leadership is the only true style of leadership that separates the great from the rest.

Value-based leadership is a by-product of time and culture. The emergence of the 21st Century was bedeviled with extensive, obscure, and demoralising ethical leadership failures. To counteract the sour effects of these failures, there arose the need for a form of leadership that draws from the values of the leader and the followers.

The role of leadership is to add value to others, and as such, the true measure of leadership impacts. Leadership values must be communicated by actions, mostly in the way activities and actions are conducted on a day-to-day basis, and not so much directly in spoken or written words.

Insomuch that actions speak louder; written values that reinforce and support specific actions, coupled with specific actions that reinforce and support written values, also make a very powerful combination.

At its core, value-based leadership ideology posits that people’s lifestyles are predominantly inspired by values and led according to value-based principles. As such, leaders at all levels must have a clear understanding of the leadership values; humility, reflection, compassion and confidence, amongst others, and deploy them as motivation to forge ahead, towards the realisation of their leadership visions.

No doubt, a democratic society that handles leadership values as a pinch of salt is rightly said to be sitting on gunpowder, thus, heading towards extinction. In contemporary society, there is a widespread lack of confidence in leadership; in business, government, education, and elsewhere; due to the absence of value-based leadership. Consequently, leaders need to regain and maintain the trust of their followers.

Positive value-based leadership goes beyond leveraging strengths. A democratic government which possesses leadership values must help the citizens grow. It helps boost productivity, encourages ideation, and fosters financial recovery and independence of citizens.

Value-based leadership may not be the antidote to every ailment the citizenry suffers from, it is a good place to start. Indeed, evaluating success based on values is the best way to build a high-performance leadership culture in any democratic setting.

As youths, it becomes imperative that our political inclinations rise beyond toddlerdom. It is also important that we are well-grounded and groomed in the political school of thought of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, by drinking from the deep waters of his progressive ideologies and by remaining steadfast in the philosophy of good leadership and representation which he followed during his lifetime.

As future leaders, there is a need to challenge our democratic narrative in a bid to produce stronger, result-driven, charismatic, collaborative, and innovative leaders. This can be achieved by injecting the system with and promoting the following leadership values for improved leadership experience.

One of the key values of leadership is respect. Nicholas Clarke, in his integrated conceptual model of respect in leadership, highlighted three types of respect. They are recognition, appraisal, and identification. Every leader must possess self-respect, as well as respect others, irrespective of their political affiliations or differences. This also connotes the treatment of followers with compassion, and empathy on the leaders’ part.

Integrity is a character trait that gains respect and trust. As a leader, integrity means addressing matters with consistency and coherence. It means doing what you say you will do, as well as approaching difficulties in ways that are coherent with the values and beliefs of others.

Also, leaders at the helm of affairs must possess a sense of genuine humility, dignity, and an awareness of their own limits. Leaders must always be learning. To be in that receptive state of mind, humility is required. Recourses to conceive wisdom can easily be forfeited if one is not willing to recognise and process one’s own mistakes. Humility also implies realising when to ask for input from others. If a leader lacks knowledge in a certain area, such should seek advice. In a nutshell, possessing a strong sense of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and humility is a key leadership trait. It prevents leaders from becoming insulated from the outside world and in turn, allows them to focus on becoming better leaders all-around.

It is also important for leaders to understand the dynamism of the led and possess the ability to balance their interests when making decisions. A wise leader must be non-partisan and fair to all.

However, leaders must be committed and possess genuine humility for the sake of a greater cause. Incredible leaders are not only skilled in commanding significance or communicating successfully, they are also committed to meeting citizens’  needs and  passionate about the plights of the electorate.

It is pertinent to state that citizens are interested in leaders with integrity and trust. They admire accountable leadership..

Also, a  leader’s ability to communicate his/her vision to the people and pass same to upcoming generations is  crucial.

The sooner the leadership of our nation starts to focus on values, the better our society.

• Femi is a Mass Communication graduate of FUOYE

The role of digital skills in employability, entrepreneurship development and effective leadership cannot be overemphasised as digital skills are highly valued  in every sphere of life.

The importance of digital skills for employability in a modern world  is not just for development of old jobs but the creation of new jobs. Every organisation or company  wants developmen; they need more people with digital skills. Digital skills promote organisations, companies, businesses and schools.

Research shows  that digital skills  consist a range of abilities to use digital devices, communication applications, and networks to access and manage information. They enable people to create and share digital content, communicate and collaborate, and solve problems for effective and creative self-fulfillment in life, learning, work, and social activities at large.

These skills also involve using devices, handling information, creating and editing, communicating, transacting, being safe and responsible online etc.

It  is not out of place to say  that almost all jobs will require some level of digital skills. Even if they do not, it is wise for the youths to upskill and develop themselves. Digital skills are widely considered as a critical component of a new set of literacy skills in the digital era, with traditional reading, writing, and numeracy skills.

As the world continues to advance, digital skills are the higher-level abilities that allow users to make use of digital technologies. Major digital transformations such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data analytics, require  digital skills.

Therefore, for employability, entrepreneurship development   and effective leadership today, digital skills must also function together with other abilities such as strong literacy and numeracy skills, critical and innovative thinking, complex problem-solving, an ability to collaborate,  create and edit.

• Thomas is a Mass Communication student of Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa.

It is not out of place to say the nation’s economy is ailing. A country blessed with mineral and human  resources can hardly feed its own. Countries who are not of the same stature with Nigeria in terms of resources and manpower are doing very well.

It is sad that the  economy is deteriorating day in day out and government seems less concerned. People die everyday due to starvation.

Citizens  are suffering, there is poverty in the land. In the past, a housewife  can go to the market with an amount lower than N5,000 and still get a lot of foodstuff but now even with N20,000 what they can buy is limited. Students are also hard hit, it is difficult for them to buy groceries and other stuff.

It is important for government to deepen policies that would aid farmers and boost agriculture.

In fact, eating three times daily is a huge problem for most people. Prices of essential commodities keep surging.

Gas is one of the essential things we all need. In the past, we made   use of fire wood, charcoal and later we began the use of kerosine  stove. At some point, people switched to  gas which is now very expensive.

It is now N700 per kilogramme. In August, it was N450. Some households have resorted to cooking with firewood. This would greatly affect people that are asthmatic.

The government should act urgently  to address the issue before it gets worse.

• Babatunde is a Mass Communication student of Federal University Oye-Ekiti.

The management of Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH), Igbesa, Ogun State and the Students Union Government have sheathed their swords following a meeting where issues that led to a protest and indefinite closure of the institution were resolved, reports GLORY THOMAS (OGITECH).

Authorities of Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH),Igbesa and the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution, led by Ayinde Saheed, have met to resolve issues that led to protests on September 20 and October 4.

To end the agitation of  students, the meeting had in attendance various stakeholders. Those present included the Special Adviser  to Governor Dapo Abiodun  on Students’  Affairs,  Adéyemí  Azeez, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Ogun Joint Campus Committee Chairman, Kehinde Damilola Simeon, National Association of Universities Students (NAUS) President Soneye Abdulazeez,  OGITECH Dean  of Students’ Affairs, Mr. Yemi Odutola, various departmental heads and other excos of the Students Union.

What all parties agreed upon

At the end of the meeting, Saheed released a statement on the outcome.

He said: “It was agreed  that the school security department will be overhauled completely with new and more personnel deployed. Students  would be carried along in this process for input. The Security Committee which had just been constituted by the management would now have successive SUG Presidents and Welfare Officers as prominent members every session.

“The SUG representatives would  be included in the academic committee  to adequately represent the interest of students while preparing examination timetable. Also, the rehabilitation of the campus road would be given adequate and timely attention.

“Sale of handout would be regulated by the management and it wouldn’t be more than N1,000 and it would be sold at the bookshop in school. Rules and regulations to prohibit individual lecturers from selling directly to students would be  made and  enforced. And, that going forward, the polytechnic would   collate all course materials to be made available to students at an  affordable rate.”

Saheed continued in the statement: “Departments that are yet to release 2019/20 session and 2020/21 first semester results are to release the results with immediate effect. And that results that were altered supposedly by error on students’ portals, particularly Engineering Faculty, should be worked upon.

“The breakdown of tuition fee would  be made available on students’ portal and that there would be no increment of the fees.

“The examination of ND2 and HND2 students should come first after which the SUG election will hold and followed by the ND1 and HND1 examination.

“Tuition fee will not be a criterion for writing CBT tests. The 60-40 per cent  criterion arrangement is still maintained for first and second semester examinations. And that mop up test would be conducted for those who missed it within two consecutive days before the commencement of examination.”

NANS issues demands to school authorities

On the part of NANS Ogun  JCC, the following demands were made at the meeting.

Its Chairman Kehinde Damilola Simeon said:”There must be no victimisation nor punishment of any of kind for SUG officials and entire students for partaking in the agitations, since  it was evident that there was no destruction of any property on campus.

“The medical bills of the arrested and tortured student, Samuel Linus, should paid.

“Aspirants in the forthcoming elections of the SUG who partook in the struggle should not be penalised for such. Students  who are being  punished for lawfully partaking in the SUG activities in the previous sessions should be pardoned.”

Our expectations, by students

Oyefolu Adedamola, an HND I Business Administration student, said: “I believe the school management should be able to meet up  with the demands of the SUG. Management should carry the union along on issues relating to students’ welfare. The union should be aware of impending hike in fees before any decision is made.”

Olaogun Aishat Enitan, an HND 2 student, wants management to fulfill all promises made to avert protests on campus.

“To be sincere, management should fulfill  promises made. And to the SUG, thanks for taking your decisions and also for proving your worth by achieving this through relentless struggle,” he said.

Omodunmiju Oluwatosin, an ND I  Mass Communication student, wants management to urgently fix the road that leads to the school and reduce school fees.

He said:”Since the school is back to normalcy,  my expectations from the management and SUG are the construction of the school road and reduction of school fees.”

Sowunmi Boluwatife Mary, an ND II Mass Communication student, expects authoritities at the institution to match their words with action. She wants them to be faithful regarding what was agreed upon at the meeting.

She said: “Since there is now agreement between the management and the Students Union Government, I’m expecting improvement and fulfillment of pledges.”

For James Gabriel, a Mechanical Engineering student, adequate equipment should be provided for practicals in the department. He also urged management to beef up security in the school.

“Management should pay attention to security and get more personnel. Then,it should also provide  adequate equipment for practical class in engineering to boost learning,” he said.

Bello Lateefat, an ND I Marketing student, called on management to scrap all unnecessary fees and the fee for handout should be reduced. She also stressed the importance of repairing the road that leads to the school.

Her words:”Management should construct our road and school, scrap unnecessary fees; our handout fees should also be reduced.”

Olayemi Gabriel, a ND I student, said:”The security  situation of the school must be addressed. Management has started working on that already. We are seeing new faces at the gate. However, we are expecting school fee breakdown on our portal.”

Adeyinka Misimau Oluwatosin,an HND I Science Laboratory Technology student, does not want management to renege on its promises.

“Management should stand firm on its promises so that there won’t be any form of crisis in the school. We need to experience unhindered learning,” he said.

Bello Idrees Adewale, an HND I Computer Engineering student, said: “We are expecting management to  address insecurity in the school,  reconstruct the school road, never to use school fee as criterion  for writing CBT tests. It should also ensure handout prices are regulated as promised, then it should carry the union along regarding student welfare ànd other issues.”

Oreoluwa Christiana, an HND II student, said: “Everybody should seat for their examinations  and graduate as expected. Then, all results of this semester should be well compiled so that students would not have extra year.”

Gbadegeshin Tolulope Deborah, ND I Mass Communication, wants management to have a cordial relationship with members of the SUG  for smooth teaching and learning and development.

“Seeing the normalcy in the institution, I expect the management and SUG to have a friendly relationship and agreement between them because that is the only way to grow the institution and avoid hindering students. The management should also try to prioritise  students’ welfare,” she said.

Igwe Ernest,  an HND 2 Accounting student, said:  “We expect  management to fulfil all promises made at the meeting. It should urgently repair the school road and stop using full payment of tuition as prerequisite for writing CBT. It should also make sure handout prices are regulated as promised.”

Meeting fruitful, management acts

In line with agreement reached at the meeting, management released resumption date for second semester examinations and other activities for students.

CAMPUS LIFE gathered that mop-up Computer Based Test (CBT) for HND I and HND II,  took place on Saturday, October 23,while ND I and ND II students had theirs on Monday October 25.

Thereafter, second semester examinations commenced  for ND II and HND II on Tuesday, October 26. The examinations ended yesterday.

Management also fixed SUG, faculty and departmental elections for today(Thursday, November 4). The elections would be concluded  Wednesday, next week.

Also, second semester 2020/2021 examinations for ND I and HND I would commence next Thursday (November 11). Examinations would end Friday,  November 19.

It has also done a break down of the school fees on the portal and deployed more security  personnel on campus.

However, students want management to do more to ensure a hitch-free session.

SUG President thanks stakeholders

Saheed thanked all stakeholders for their unflinching support towards ensuring things returned to normal on campus. He said: “I appreciate your supports, steadfastness and unalloyed solidarity throughout the course of our agitations. We understand the inconveniences some of us might have been subjected to as a result of this demonstration. However, we should be consoled by the victory and the fact that the struggle was not only for us but for the benefit of generations yet to come.”

Prostitution among students in tertiary institutions across the country is cause for concerns. Observers say the economic situation should be blamed. It has been modernised and is now referred to as ‘hook up’. The social media space is the fastest avenue to negotiate and complete deals. Nevertheless, it is rendering promising young minds unproductive, increasing cases of  unwanted pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), reports FEMI ESAN (FUOYE).

One of the predominant social vices on campuses in the country is prostitution, which has been fine-tuned and given a modern name – ‘hook up’. In the past, it is not uncommon to hear ‘runs’ among the female folk on campus.

However, with the  ailing economy and the coronavirus pandemic causing global job loss, prostitution among students in tertiary institutions has taken a new dimension.

Why students resort to ‘hook up’

Some students with lack of financial support from parents and guardians see ‘hook up’ as a means of generating funds for their upkeep.

According to statistics, many workers  lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19.  The impact of the pandemic on businesses in the country is terrible.

Businesses recorded a decline in  revenue, they also complained of higher costs of production. Only a few in the utilities, financial and health sectors reported gains from the previous year.

The  nation’s economy was hard hit by the fall in oil prices following disruptions caused by the pandemic. The country relies on crude exports for around 70 per cent of government revenue.

The Director-General, International Labour Organisation, Guy Ryder, said recently:”Recovery from COVID-19 is not just a health issue. The serious damage to economies and societies needs to be overcome, too. Without a deliberate effort to accelerate the creation of decent jobs, and support the most vulnerable members of society and the recovery of the hardest-hit economic sectors, the lingering effects of the pandemic could be with us for years in the form of lost human and economic potential and higher poverty and inequality.

“We need a comprehensive and co-ordinated strategy, based on human-centred policies, and backed by action and funding. There can be no real recovery without a recovery of decent jobs.”

‘Hook up’ and social media

Many times, students flood their social media handles with hook up updates, confidently and comfortably flaunting obscene pictures and videos to entice the opposite sex to subscribe to their channels.

Gone are the days when young ladies hung out on highways, bars, and clubs, awaiting men to engage them sexually, either for money or other needs. Youths, especially students, now book appointments with the opposite sex, lecturers, politicians, and others in the comfort of their homes.

Due to the increasing number of young women engaging in such practice, there has emerged a new job ‘Hook up Managers’, who scout for ladies and connect them with men on demand.

Observers think that the rise in  prostitution in  tertiary institutions is the product of a new lifestyle and a modern world. Others point to the materialistic tendencies of the society. But students see it as an avenue for brisk business and survival in the face of grinding poverty and want.

‘Hook up’ attractive but comes with consequences

According to Gabriel Alison, a 400-Level student of the Department of Mass Communication, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti(FUOYE), most students who participate in the act do it for monetary gain.

He said: “Many of them love to live an extravagant lifestyle on campus and they need funds, while others need mere financial support for academic purpose as their parents cannot afford their basic needs.”

He noted that some of the implications of the social vice included lack of academic focus, unexpected pregnancy, and falling prey to ritualists.

Alison applauded some tertiary institutions’ Guidance and Counselling Departments for their efforts in sensitising students against the viral practice, adding that  more efforts should be channelled to eradicate it.

“Many schools have Guidance and Counselling Department which, from time to time, organise seminars, campaigns and publicity, to discourage the act among students,” he said.

Sunday Afolabi of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) observed  hook up from another perspective.  According to him, many people believe that poverty is the major reason ladies, especially  students, engage in it. However, some students have their basic needs, yet they still indulge in such as a result of greed.

“They sell their bodies for money to portray a flashy and obtrusive lifestyle by buying designer shoes and bags and using the latest smartphone. Undoubtedly, greed and peer pressure also contribute to it as well,” he said.

While describing its consequences as disastrous and destructive, he craved more grants and scholarships for tertiary institution students to stem the tide.

“As we all know, every action has its consequences, those engaging in this act are exposing themselves to sexual violence, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections.

“To stem the tide, some institutions should give scholarships to students who are experiencing financial hardship and create  awareness to discourage this act as well,” he said.

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Okon Joel, a 400-Level student of Geology, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, noted that desperation and the urge to belong were part of the causes of ‘hook up’.

He said: “For me, it’s the urge to belong that’s causing the rise in ‘hook up’ in tertiary institutions. Some ladies want to feel among, they want their presence to be felt, they want to have their names on the lips of every passerby, without having to think of the repercussion.

“This can be likened to ‘peer pressure’ and its influence. Some people have caged themselves in friendships that make them find it difficult to decipher what’s good or bad. Since it can satisfy their cravings, they’re in for it and can go the extra mile to get what they want.

Desperation is not left out; that urge to live large and be seen as such has turned many into something else. They want to oppress any and everybody.”

Joel, who described hook up eradication as a gradual process, said:  “I would say the institution (FUOYE) has always cautioned against such practice, through organising sensitisation programmes, displaying banners and stickers at strategic places that talk about social vices and the need to be cautious, especially as it relates to prostitution. I’m sure the authorities of various campuses are aware of the recent trend and would work towards curbing it. Mind you, to get rid of this would take a lot of time. It’s a gradual process.”

For Makinde Damilola of the Department of English Education, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), ‘hook up’ is an advanced form of prostitution, mostly caused by poverty.

According to her, many students engage in hook up due to financial difficulty.

“I see it as an advanced form of prostitution. Some parents tend not to understand or care about what their wards are facing in school in terms of basic needs. So many lecturers and politicians in the name of helping out spoil the lives of young women. So many female students are pressurised into doing it. Female students tend to gain nothing because it is to their detriment. The so-called people in higher positions will have fun with them and still do the worse to them. It is pathetic!

“However, I am not sure and I don’t think institutions are making it a point of duty to stop this disgraceful act because it occurs at an alarming rate. It is no joke at all.”

Ayantoye Victoria, a 200-Level student of the Department of Law, University of Lagos, said: “This hook up of a thing has been a serious issue that young women adopt as a source of income and it has become worse to the point that guys are doing hook up for their sugar mommies and they are getting paid for it.

Her words: “There is a need for orientation of students, especially the female folk. Students must learn to embrace morals without compromise even in the face of adversities. Instead of degrading ourselves and reducing our worth, we should engage in productive ventures devoid of immorality.

“There is  nothing to gain in hook up. And I feel it is so hard to curb, especially in public and federal tertiary institutions.”

A 300-Level student of the Department of History and International Studies, Ebonyi State University, Ihuoma Blessing, said: “Sex has become cheap and easy to get from female students of higher institutions. They readily sell their bodies to anyone willing to pay good cash, buy designers, sponsor luxury vacations, buy human hair, buy the latest smartphones, needless to say, anyone willing to spoil them silly is in for a good treat.”

Meanwhile, another student, Oriyomi Bolade-John, said hook up is on the rise in tertiary institutions because the  government has failed to offer survival opportunities to youths.

“Those who engage in hook up see it as a profitable source of livelihood.

“Some identifiable implications include increased rate of sexually transmitted diseases, high rate of academic failure; it could  also give rise to vices like kidnapping, human trafficking, among others,” he said.

If Nigeria is a giant of Africa and we all trapped in here, with our myriad of woes, then there is no point trying to opt out.

We tend to imagine ourselves at the pinnacle of refinement but underneath, is  a  glittering surface of a cauldron of dark emotions –  green,envy,lust,hatred deceptive,violence and more.

Yet, a foreign land can never be like home.What we should do is fix our challenges.

The feeling of having no power over things and events, being unable to make use of freedom of speech and ability to express oneself  is unbearable. We feel helpless and miserable but there was once a Nigeria where people can talk and be heard,where their freedom of speech and expression is not used against them. If we can’t have a better Nigeria, can we have the one we used to know?

People are suffering, dying, prices of goods and commodities keep soaring. Kidnapping, killing and abduction are the order of the day. It is sad.

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It is one’s wish for peace, love and unity to reign, but it is so disheartening that either directly or indirectly, we are being stabbed by smiling faces with a hand of velvet glove filled with  outright treachery and deception.

In 2015, Nigeria was the third fastest growing economy in the world. Today, we are the world headquarters for poverty. Over 90 per cent Nigerians are living in extreme poverty. How did we get here?

Also in 2015, the country’s debt was N11 trillion,but it has increased to more than N35 trillion. Petrol was  N87  but it is now N170.

The Nigeria of our dreams should be a nation where things work,where a thin line separates the rich and the poor; not a dysfunctional contraption where the rich gets richer and the poor poorer.

• Balogun is a Mass Communication student of Lagos State Polytechnic ( LASPOTECH)