Efio-Ita Nyok|30 August 2017
An alumnus of the University of Calabar, Calabar (UNICAL), Mr Joseph Umera, Tuesday, revealed that Nigeria's educational system stiffen geniuses.
Alumnus Umera, a 2012/13 academic session graduand of UNICAL said this while attempting to narrate his experience at the Department of Philosophy during his undergrad days. Umera revealed that while he had, a preferred subject of inquiry as a partial condition for award of bachelor degree from the Faculty of Arts (B.A) the department approved another, contrary to his interest on the basis that he then lacked the intellectual acumen to conduct that research.
For alumnus Umera, that was how his and other geniuses was killed. He promised to die by his pen while expressing wonder at how the discipline —philosophy, was taught the way it was taught to him. He described some of his then teachers as 'just government employees'. Hmmm!
His words, 'During my undergraduate program in University of Calabar, philosophy department, I wanted to use Karl Popper concept of falsificationism to formulate a theory for policy makers. I was asked to submit three project topics to the department for ratification, which I did and the approved topic confounded and depressed me.
'In the wisdom of the department, the Criticisms of Karl Popper's concept of falsificationism was what I was asked to research on (which to me was not brain challenging). When I asked why my preferred topic was not chosen I was told that I couldn't carry out such a research as an undergraduate because it was higher than my level (This is one way ingenuity is killed in our schools). Though I was mute and depressed, I was encouraged by the future I saw. I knew with or without further education, I will still air my thoughts with my pen.
'Now that I am free from the limitations of my department, I have decided to use my pen liberally. I have often wondered why philosophy was taught the way it was and why it is difficult for its propounders to professionalise it. This wonderment still lives in me.
'While some Lecturers inspired me and tried making philosophy interesting and practical, others were, with due respect to them, just government employee.
'I have chosen to remain with my pen. To write those thoughts that were somewhat forbidden. To apply philosophy to the emancipation of the minds of young people with the focus of creating the value of self development, purpose actualisation and national building in them.
'I have chosen the pen to tell the untold stories of our educational system vis-a-vis human potentials and talents. I have chosen to write and die with my pen.
'One day, an opportunity will come for me to speak and act what I have been writing about human potential and our educational system. This is the path I have chosen and if need be, die for.
'Let us stop the killings of the Obamas, the Bill gates, the Zuckerbegs and all their likes. In our educational system, geniuses die unheard and painfully unknown. Let's stop the killings!', he concluded.
What do you think of alumnus Umera's analysis of Nigeria's educational system where geniuses are muffled? Is it the case that geniuses are 'killed' in UNICAL nay Nigeria's educational system? Is there sense in most Nigerian universities not ranking anywhere in world rankings of tertiary educational institutions?
Going by the latest university ranking in Nigeria released by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for 2017, University of Ibadan is the best University in Nigeria. In second position we have University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University in third place. Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and University of Ilorin, Kwara ranked fourth and fifth respectively to complete the top five. Covenant University, a private university in Nigeria ranked among the top 10
According to the same ranking of Nigerian Universities, UNICAL is 41st of 100 Nigerian universities. Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) is 76: if in the 41st university, geniuses are 'killed' according to alumnus Umera, in CRUTECH what happens? I think to be fair, geniuses have already been cremated and buried.
The ongoing industrial action by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may lend credence to alumnus Umera's submissions. Or, what do you think?
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven
