The Nation Newspaper

Category: Lekan Otufodunrin

  • The case against fake auto parts and tyres

    Last Thursday, I was invited as a speaker at the Auto Tyre Day organised by Automobiles and Road Safety Initiative. The topic I was asked to speak on was the effect of fake auto parts and tyres on the economy.

    My first reaction to the invitation was to ask to be excused since I didn’t consider myself a road safety expert. I, however, accepted the invitation when it occurred to me that as a motorist or driver virtually everyone is a stakeholder on motoring issues.

    The celebration of the day, though not as popular as other well known ones, is necessary considering that safety on our roads should be paramount to all of us.

    Road accidents in Nigeria, which has led to the death of many innocent people, are on the increase and there is an urgent need to halt the alarming development.

    The theme of this day: Be Tyre Smart, Play your part is very instructive. It is a clarion call on all of us not to be smart in the negative way but to comply with necessary regulations on the use of tyres.

    It requires that we should use the right tyres all times and take necessary precautions.

    The value of the Nigerian auto industry as at 2011 was put at N12.5billion as against N750m in 2001, according to some auto industry stakeholders.

    However, an average of more than N500 million is said to be lost to fake parts annually. To be sure, fake parts business is a global problem and not just peculiar to Nigeria. After all a majority of the fake parts are imported sometimes by unscrupulous businessmen who reportedly tell their foreign partners to manufacture sub standard parts.

    Dr Oscar Odiboh an auto consultant vividly captures the challenge posed by the menace of the fake products when he said in a paper he presented at an occasion like this: “A car is made up of an average of 14,000 parts and each can be faked,” adding that “ for each car part, there is an average six versions in Nigeria.”

    A visit to Ladipo will confirm this assertion with the open sale of fake parts and tyres while mechanics and touts encourage vehicle owners to buy fake parts with all kinds of spurious claims about second hand parts and tyres being better than new ones. My question is usually which new ones are they talking about, fake or genuine?

    Undoubtedly, the reign of fake parts has stunted the growth of auto dealership in the country and encouraged indiscriminate sales of second hand motors.

    In many ways, fake parts have a lot negative impacts on a growing economy like ours where regulations are not effective and can easily be sidetracked by corrupt government officials at the ports and unpatriotic business men who are more concerned about the money they can make than the dangers to the lives of vehicle owners and other motorists.

    The obvious challenge is that safety on our roads is compromised as the rate of accidents will keep increasing when the lives of the people could have been saved if more vehicle owners shun the patronage of fake parts.

    With fake parts and tyres, there is a huge loss of revenue by both government and sellers of genuine parts. Those who import the fake products are sure not to pay taxes expected of them which should be paid to the government. For sellers of genuine parts they will experience low patronage and will not easily recover their investments.

    There may be need for waivers for importers of genuine parts to reduce the high cost of genuine products in the local market due to the present multiple taxes and charges which force the dealers to sell at generally unaffordable prices.

    Whatever the case, like the Yoruba will say, Ohun ti o da o da (What is not good is not good); fake auto parts and tyres are not good and can kill not only motorists but the economy.

  • Yar’adua Part 11

    Treader while responding to a news report in The Nation on the return of Taraba State Governor Dambaba Suntai and his intention to resume office made a rather poignant remark that captures the drama that has been playing out in the last one week in Jalingo.

    “Yar’ardua Part 11, we are enjoying it,” the anonymous reader wrote. He was obviously likening the controversy over the state of health of Suntai who returned from medical treatment abroad after ten months to that of former President Umaru Yar’adua who was finally declared dead after many attempts by his wife and aides deceive Nigerians.

    After undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia during which he was reported to be brain dead, a claim that was denied by his aides, Yar’adua was flown back to the country and the impression was given that he was recovering.

    I remember reading some of the claims that he was already walking unaided in the Presidential Villa and playing lawn tennis when in fact the condition of the late President was getting worse.

    After all the lies peddled by the cabal led by the former first lady, Turai, who wanted to hold on to power at all cost, they had no choice than to announce his death when he finally gave up. Perhaps he would have gotten better if he had remained abroad undergoing treatment since the country does not have the medical facilities and personnel to attend to him.

    Like in the Yar’adua case, Suntai who obviously has not fully recovered and still needs the best of medical treatment was hurriedly flown back last Sunday and the cabal around him is desperately doing everything to fool Nigerians about the governor’s health status.

    Suntai arrived last Sunday and had to be aided to disembark from the aircraft in Abuja and Jalingo. He could not utter a word and barely managed to smile and wave to those who came to welcome him.

    Instead of allowing him to continue to get the much needed rest he needs and medical attention, he had reportedly written to the State Assembly to resume, sacked the state executive and appointed some new aides.

    Instead of the expected state broadcast, a recorded few minutes video has been shown on the state television with the governor purportedly swearing in the new Secretary to State Government and Chief of Staff and greeting the people of the state.

    After finally being allowed to see the governor, majority members of the state house of assembly have declared the governor unfit and asked him to return to US for treatment.

    Ordinarily, there should be no controversy over whether the governor is well or not. If indeed he is as his collaborators claim, he should come out and say so. He should perform some public functions and leave no one in doubt that he is physically fit to resume duties.

    He has stayed away for ten months and the state has been governed by his deputy so why the hurry to return.

    Those aiding the governor clinging to power are obviosly doing so for selfish purpose. They need to know that the governor’s life is more precious than whatever position they want him to hold on to.

    This kind of hide and seek game cannot continue for too long.

  • Zuriel, Nigeria’s wonder kid

    Zuriel, Nigeria’s wonder kid

    Monday, August 12 is Daniel, my last child’s tenth birthday. He is indeed a special child for my family in many ways among which is the fact that he is what some people call the ‘extra or bonus’ child – the unexpected child when you think you are through with having babies.

    He was born seven years after my third born. His coming-however, caused some panic as I was barely managing to survive with my family. No thanks to my failed attempts to be self, employed, I didn’t have enough to pay my bills.

    I had disposed of my problematic car and the future was really bleak. However I had a revelation to name the expected child, Korede, which in Yoruba means bring fortune,.

    Thankfully, the young man that turns ten tomorrow true to his name, fortune,. I miraculously bought a car shortly before he was born. I later got a top editorial job I was not expecting, moved to a better accommodation and the story of my family has been from one level of glory to glory.

    So much for Korede, who is really not the focus of this piece. My real focus is another ten year-old; a Nigerian girl, Zuriel Oduwole who last week made history as the youngest person ever to be interviewed in Forbes, the global iconic magazine title, in its almost hundred years of publication.

    Zuriel the award winning documentary film maker, conference speaker and writer who featured in the August 2013 edition of Forbes Africa is touted by some as the next Larry King, considering her record of interviewing leading African business, political, and sports personalities, including eight  current African Presidents, Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote, and Tennis super stars – Venus  and  Serena Williams.

    Zuriel is committed to Rebrand Africa by showing the positive things about the continent, and making the case for education the girl -child in Africa and Emerging Markets.

    For her age and notwithstanding that she lives in America, Zuriel’s story sounds like a fairy tale but it is true. She is not only a whizkid but a rare gem that has proved that accomplishment in life is not about how far but how well.

    Her responses to my questions during an online interview I had with her which will be published on Tuesday confirms her incredible understanding of issues many of her age cannot comprehend and boldness not expected of a ten -year- old.

    She recalled that during her interview with President Goodluck Jonathan, she asked him how much goodluck his name has brought to Nigeria. All the heads of states she interviewed must have been expecting some ‘childlike’ questions from her, but she shocked them with her very articulate questions.

    Though as a girl-child living in the comfort of America she could have chosen not to be bothered about the plight of the African girl-child, but Zuriel’s campaign is commendable and deserves all the support she can get to get her message through to all who need to hear and do something about it.

    Africa must have many other Zuriels waiting to be discovered and encouraged to fulfill their visions. The challenge is that we need to provide an enabling environment for them to thrive and accomplish their goals in record time.

    Zuriel should be an inspiration to all, not only kids of her age, including my Korede, but all youths who desire to impact on the present and coming generation.

  • For students’ sake

    For students’ sake

    The ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU is yet another sad development in the education sector of the country. In recent years, universities have suffered one crisis or the other that has resulted in the declining quality of graduates.

    Lack of adequate budget allocation and necessary facilities has turned many government universities to glorified secondary schools and it is no surprise that our institutions are not among the best even in the continent.

    Disruption of the academic calendar for one reason or the other has become so frequent that students are no longer sure when they will graduate. A four-year course in some instances now last for six years or more.

    Despite the increase in the numbers of private universities whose fees are not affordable by many parents, the federal and state universities have been unable to cope with the growing numbers of applicants. Some parents have resorted to sending their children to foreign universities abroad and neighbouring countries.

    University teachers and other stakeholders have always drawn attention to the worsening situation with successive governments promising to address the situation. Past ASUU strikes have always been called off based on agreements which unfortunately have not been honoured by the government.

    The current strike which the union claims is due to the non implementation of parts of the agreement signed in 2009 would have been avoided if the government had not reneged on its promise.

    As it is, it is uncertain when the strike would be called off considering the apparent breakdown in negotiations between the government and union officials. For once, ASUU seems determined to ensure that the government makes concrete commitment this time around and is not leaving anyone in doubt that its members will stay away from the classrooms for as long as necessary to ensure that their demands are met.

    For too long, the government has paid lip service to improving the education standards at all levels. Budgetary allocations at state and federal levels have been too low to match the needs of the sector which is very crucial to the overall development of the country.

    If indeed the issue at stake is the annual release of N400bn for three years as intervention fund for public universities in the country is what is at stake in the strike which commenced on July 1, the government has to find a way of honouring the agreement even if it cannot release the whole amount as earlier agreed.

    There is no doubt that the universities need the intervention funds to address a lot of various challenges that is making a mockery of the university education being offered in the country.

    The infrastructures, in many of the universities are not only inadequate; some have become obsolete for the kind of education students need to meet the required standard for employment and other endeavours.

    How do we justify the situation where some graduates cannot defend the certificates they supposedly acquired after years of study. The decline in standard of teaching and research in universities is alarming and something urgent has to be done to reverse the slide.

    However, for the sake of students who are the victims of the strike, ASUU must be a bit flexible in its negotiation. While insisting on its demands being met, it must be willing to shift grounds on some issues which may not be easily resolved in a hurry under the present situation.

    The strike must not be allowed to last longer than necessary if we are not to further disrupt the academic calendar for 2012/2013 which is already behind schedule and has greater consequence for especially final year students.

  • Thoughts for teens

    It is that time of the year when valedictory services are held for final year students of secondary and primary schools. Last Wednesday I was guest speaker at the Convocation Day of Ebenezer Comprehensive High School, Agbado, Lagos.

    I spoke on Youth Empowerment and Job Prospects in Contemporary World. I found the topic very apt considering the poor state of our economy, which makes it imperative for youths to wake up to challenges that lie ahead of them.

    For crying out loud, as the youths like to say, they need all the support they can get, but they must know that their destinies are in their own hands. Excerpts;

    Youth Empowerment

    Youth Empowerment simply put is empowering the youths. It’s not about physical power but knowledge acquisition which is greater than physical strength.

    As youths your knowledge is limited. Because of the exposure some of you have, you think you know so much, but the truth is that there is still a lot you have to learn from your parents, teachers and the society at large.

    You need to be willing to learn for you to be empowered. There are so many life lessons you need to learn so that you don’t make the same mistake many of us made. You need to know that life is a long race, hence get the necessary strength for the journey ahead.

    Those who have the task of empowering the youths must not fail in this crucial task. The Bible says teach your children the way to go, when they grow, they will not depart from it.

    Career Opportunities

    Career opportunities are the various opportunities that abound. You need to know them before making up your mind on what you want to be. As youths many usually aspire for some careers because of what they see around them. Some of you want to be like your parents or people you know. There is nothing wrong with that, but you need enough information to know not only what you want to be but what you need to do to accomplish your career dreams.

    Every career has its requirements in terms of subjects you have to pass at SSCE levels and personal attributes you must have to succeed in your chosen career.

    You need to know all the subject combinations and pass them excellently because of the stiff competition to get admission into higher institutions.

    Let me make it clear that there is no alternative to education if you want to succeed in whatever career you want to choose. Even to be a Pastor, you need more than the Holy Spirit to succeed. Footballers and Musicians who are not educated don’t usually end well as they have nothing to fall back to when they are no longer as popular as they used to be.

    One clear advantage you all have is that careers have become more diversified unlike before when it was only prestigious to be a Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Accountant and a few other well known professions.

    My appeal, especially to parents is that we should not force our children to study courses they don’t have the capacity or passion for. They don’t have to study what we only think is good for them, but what they are excited about and can cope with. Of course we must guide them, give them the necessary information and prayerfully help them to choose careers of their choice.

    Contemporary world

    In our contemporary world, there are lots of challenges which the youths have to learn to cope with and overcome. This is why you have to be empowered not to be overwhelmed with the new world we live in.

    You simply must be the best to accomplish your goals.

    My advice is that at this stage of your life your academic pursuit should be your priority. Without education you cannot go far in the long run. Now is the time to acquire academic knowledge and other relevant skills that will help you. There is time for everything.

  • Honour for writers of national anthem

    Honour for writers of national anthem

    Following the recent death of Pa Benedict Odise, widely credited as the composer of the current national anthem, I got a condolence message on his death from Dr Sota Omoigui, a United States-based Nigerian medical practitioner who claimed to be one of the co-authors of the words of the national anthem.

    While paying glowing tributes to the memory of Pa Odiase, he emphasised the distinction between who composed the music of the anthem and those who wrote the words.

    I was particularly touched by the paragraph in the tribute in which he said he had looked forward to the day when the authors of the music and words of the anthem, Arise O Compatriots, would have been brought together at an event. ”Alas death cannot continue to wait forever,” he stated.

    The impression I got from the mail was that while Pa Odiase had gotten all the acclaim and even a national award for composing the music, there have been no recognition for the five writers of the words, Omoigui, John A Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B.A.Ogunaike, and P.O.Aderibigbe.

    Their entries were selected from the 1,499 received from the national competition organised by the National Publicity Committee on the Draft Constitution/Return to civilian regime in 1978.

    When I eventually interviewed Omoigui, who said he does not feel cheated for not being acknowledged or rewarded like Pa Odiase, he gave an indication why it is wrong for the government and the media to carry on as if he and his co-authors do not exist or matter.

    ”The origin of the national anthem has been forgotten and that explains why none of the other authors has been acknowledged. All the newspaper reports since the transition of Pa Odiase have described him incorrectly as the composer of the national anthem. History is history, it cannot be altered and we must document it as it is. A nation that forgets its history has no guide to its future, ” Omoigui stated.

    Following the publication of Sota’s interview on June 22, another co-composer, Aderibigbe, who was a 100 level Political Science student at the University of Ibadan when he sent his entry, called at our office recently with his original composition.

    While Sota  did the last two lines of the anthem, Aderibigbe, a former special assistant in the national assembly, wrote lines one, two, five and six.

    In his interview published yesterday in The Nation on Saturday, Aderibigbe recalled how the then military administration failed to pay the honorarium promised after the selection of the five entries.

    “Even the music of the anthem as composed by the late Pa Odiase was sung without us being invited and is regrettable that up till today there has been no acknowledgement.”

    Ogunnaike, another co-author, is now a Professor and Dean of Engineering in University of Delaware in US. According to UDaily, an online publication of the university, Ogunaike left the country before the final selection was made and only learnt from his father that some of his words were incorporated in the anthem. Unlike Aderibigbe, he got N50 prize for his contribution.

    There is no information on the two others for now, but chances are that they are alive and also not happy that their contribution to the anthem has not gotten the acknowledgement it deserves.

    Considering the various national orientation programmes by the successive governments in the country, it should have occurred to someone to search for the authors to share the thoughts that informed the lines they contributed to the national anthem.

    Since the authors are still alive, it’s not too late to host them, may be at a national forum where they will not only speak on the anthem, but will be given the honour they deserved.

  • Stop the mob

    Imagine a 12-year-old boy held by a mob over allegations that he wanted to kidnap a child.

    Much as he tries to deny the accusation, recounting how he found himself begging on the streets, the mob couldn’t be persuaded.

    The moment the woman he claimed was his mother denied him before the fierce mob that seemed set to dish out instant justice to mother and child, the lad had a tyre put on him, sprayed with petrol and was burnt alive.

    The above instance is unfortunately a real situation that played out in Lagos some years ago.  A professional film maker, Abimbola Ogunsanya, who stumbled on the incident managed to record the harrowing  video of Samuel’s lynching which is the basis of a new online campaign tagged “Don’t Walk Away”, launched in Lagos recently.

    Samuel’s story as the campaigners rightly noted is a vivid example of the gross injustice and horrific cruelty of mob killing which is becoming prevalent at the slightest excuse in some parts of the country.

    It is not certain how many innocent persons have been killed in situations similar to Samuel’s case where allegations could not be substantiated.

    The killing of the ‘Aluu 4’ in Rivers State last October is a good instance of why mob justice should be discouraged. From all indications, there was no conclusive evidence that the late students committed any offence to warrant the dastardly way they were killed.

    I found it hard to understand how members of the community watched the whole drama unfold as the students were marched naked through the streets, beaten and eventually burnt alive.

    Considering the high rate of crime in the country, it is understandable why many would not hesitate to support instant justice for especially criminals caught ‘in the act’. When people recall their harrowing experiences with robbers and other criminals, they cannot be easily persuaded to spare anyone caught to be handed over to the police for prosecution.

    Instead of being prosecuted to prevent them from indulging in crimes or serve as a deterrent to others, many criminals have gotten away for various reasons including lack of diligent prosecution by the police. Some simply bribe their way out and it is not unusual to find some criminals back on the streets days after they were arrested in full glare of the public.

    Notwithstanding the situation, I still find it difficult to support mob justice.  There have been cases of miscarriage of justice when the mobs take the law into their hands. There have been false alarms that have led to the killing of innocent persons for offences they did not commit.

    It is hoped that “Don’t Walk Away” campaign will convince Nigerians about the need to shun mob violence or jungle justice and motivate them to intervene to prevent future lynching.

    I wish to lend my voice to the campaign that “mob justice needs to be stopped before it starts”.

    It could be risky though, sometimes, to try to stop the mob but we must try.

    “When the finger is raised, and before the thugs move in and take over, we need to raise a hand and say no to ‘justice’ on the streets. The solution to mob justice starts with all of us.”

    www.dontwalkaway.co.ng is a platform where people can post their views and experiences of mob justice.

    Twitter: @lotufodunrin

  • Babatunde Raji who?

    Babatunde Raji who?

    Seeth thou a man deligent in his work, he will stand before kings and not mean men.

    Seven years ago, only few Lagosians can claim to know Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. Though an accomplished legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), serving as Chief of Staff to former Governor Bola Tinubu, the reaction of many to his nomination as the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) was Babatunde Raji who?

    I remember being at a media chat with some political chieftains of the Action Congress of Nigeria during which some journalists questioned the choice of an unknown Fashola over other known political bigwigs in the state. The leader of the group tried hard to convince them that Fashola was the best man for the job but not many were convinced.

    I was particularly swayed by a revelation by the chieftain about how Fashola had been very diligent in his duties and refused to abuse his privileged position. He cited how the power to sign Certificate of Occupancy on behalf of the Governor was vested in Fashola, yet he declined to sign those of anyone related to him on the grounds that he will be violating the principle of conflict of interest.

    Those who knew him as Chief of Staff recall how thorough he was in his assignment and how he refused to be swayed by unnecessary political considerations. Not many found it funny that Fashola always insisted on subjecting their requests to due diligence notwithstanding their political status.

    These were some of the virtues which ordinarily could be a minus in political circles but turned out to be a plus for the man who has not only sustained the good works started under the Tinubu’s administration but has justified the confidence in him.

    Perhaps a good lesson for political appointees is the fact that Fashola was busy doing his assignments instead of scheming for political positions after his boss’s exit. As he had always stated he had no political ambition since he was not a politician, but his outstanding qualities could not be ignored by Tinubu who risked being demystified if Fashola had not lived to expectations.

    Under Fashola, Lagos has remained a city of excellence and a barometer for good governance nationwide.  Infrastructural development has been massive and various policies of the government have improved the various sectors in the state.

    He has brought to government a high sense of duty and commitment that has earned him numerous commendations even from opposing political camps who have acknowledged that his performance has been outstanding given the limited resources available to him.

    As long as a policy is in the overall interest of the state, like the banning of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, Fashola has not shied from taking the necessary decision. It is to his credit that the once notorious Oshodi is now a passable route for all motorists at any time of the day unlike before when it was a den of all manners of criminals who held sway there.

    There are some parts of the state where the impact of his government still needs to be felt but that cannot detract from his accomplishments along with his commissioners and other government officials.

    In the fulfillment of his political slogan, Eko oni baje – Lagos will not deteriorate – Fashola has kept faith with Lagosians and things can only get better as he rounds up his second term in office. Such is the high rating for Fashola’s administration that political parties in the state cannot afford to present just any candidate for the next governorship election who cannot match his performance

    In commemoration of his 50th anniversary, I join others in wishing Fashola, a model of what a governor should be, a very happy birthday and more years of service to the nation.

  • Impact-driven journalism

    Impact-driven journalism

    The first ever Impact Journalism Day- a unique project involving 20 leading newspapers across the world publishing dedicated sections packed with creative solutions to global issues on the same day- was marked on Saturday.

    The project, initiated by Sparknews in collaboration with media partners, seeks to kick start change in the way we think of news and newspapers. It promotes reporting of the best, smartest initiatives, with the hope of inspiring others to replicate, innovate and communicate the ideas to others.

    The Nation is proud to be one of the media partners for the project, which I consider very thoughtful considering the need for the media to more than ever before seek to make more impact in the lives of their audience.

    With the global economic crisis, many are in search of solutions to the various challenges they have to cope with. Living has become tougher in not only underdeveloped nations but also in developing and developed nations. Unemployment is on the rise, poverty is growing, more diseases are emerging, environmental degradation is worsening and terrorism is spreading worldwide among others problems.

    In the midst of the bleak situation, readers as Christian de Boisredon, founder of Sparknews rightly puts it, are hungry for stories with a difference. He says they want “stories that bring hope and concrete solutions, at both local and global level. They are looking for signs of change they can identify with. Change that will make them think…and act”.

    The media undoubtedly has immense capacity to influence their audience and have been doing so through fulfilling its educating, informing and entertaining functions. It’s difficult to imagine life without the mass media, which beyond the traditional print and electronic medium now include the online platforms.

    We really live in troubled times in which the media should be interested in helping to provide solutions. We have to move from just telling stories and highlighting problems to providing concrete solutions. Journalism for journalism sake cannot serve the present generation of readers who have found themselves in desperate situations requiring urgent ideas about how to survive.

    With the media not been immune from the economic crisis, the temptation for the media will be to be more ‘business like’ and focus on issues that could sell their papers and not salient issues their readers want to read about. While media owners should be concerned about their survival they must now fail in their social responsibility to the readers.

    Journalism must impact on the lives of the people or else it will become irrelevant. Journalists must make a conscious effort to identify the challenges in their community and contribute to solving them.

    Journalists should be concerned about the positive impact of their work through feedbacks from their audience.

    Readers need hope to believe that tomorrow will come. They need to be inspired to know that they can overcome whatever challenges they are going through presently. They need to be encouraged to maximize their potentials.

    With the world now being truly a global village, thanks to the Internet, there is the opportunity to seek and share solutions to global issues. The Impact Journalism Day should serve as a reminder for journalists to make the world a better place through their publications.

     

  • Public and private universities graduates

    For some time now, there have been concerns about the quality of graduates of higher institutions in the country. Employers have lamented that many of them are not employable as they most times lack necessary knowledge to perform tasks expected of them.

    Simply put, many cannot defend their certificates and employers have had to resort to all kinds of tests to shift the grain from the chaff among the crowd of unemployed graduates who usually bombard them with applications for employment.

    The low quality of graduates is not unconnected with the poor standard of education offered by the higher institutions. Lack of necessary resources and commitment by lecturers has made it impossible for the institutions to produce top grade graduates as in the good old days.

    Instead of admitting that the problem cuts across federal, states and private institutions, I am disturbed by some claims that graduates of government universities are better than those of private universities.

    Chairman of Energy Group, Jimoh Ibrahim, was recently quoted as saying that the standard of graduates from private universities is very weak and that they are almost unemployable. He claimed that the poor standard of graduates of the private universities is the reason why, according to him, it is not easy for any alumnus of the institutions to make significant impact.

    Last Wednesday, Comrade Frank Kokori at a lecture in Lagos also derided the quality of graduates of private institutions particularly because of the high number of first class graduates in comparison with old public universities where he said it was not easy to make such grades.

    Based on my personal experience and interaction with graduates of public and private universities, I find it difficult to accept the claims by Mr. Ibrahim, Comrade Kokori and any other person who shares their position on this issue.

    Many federal universities are simply living on past glories and cannot claim to offer better education than some of the top private universities in the country. Most of the state universities are worse and do not offer their students much for them to compete with graduates of even the average private universities.

    With the poor state of many public universities in the country as confirmed by a recent finding by a visitation panel, many Nigerian parents, just like they do for secondary education, now prefer sending their children to private universities in the country or abroad.

    Despite having more qualified lecturers, students of public universities do not have the advantage of being taught better as some of the lecturers hardly come for lectures. There are cases where lecturers in public universities barely take five lectures in a semester. What is the use of having some lecturers who don’t teach or teach outdated topics from outdated books?

    Interestingly, some of the lecturers in the private universities also lecture in public universities. Unfortunately, while they take their lectures in private universities seriously due to the close monitoring by the authorities of the institutions, they can be very casual with lectures in public universities, when they attend.

    Whether in public or private universities, there is an urgent need to ensure an improvement in the standard of education the students are getting. The students must be ready to learn, the teacher should be ready to teach and the government and proprietors must provide necessary and enabling academic environment.