NIGERIA, a developing nation conscientiously aligned with the
civilized countries across the globe on education strategically to
remain a relevant team player; otherwise, it would be left behind.
This formed the basis for establishing the first Open and Distance
Learning institution in the country in line with MDGs of the United
Nations on education. Thus, synchronizing with Section 18 of the
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended,
National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was birthed by the Act
of the National Assembly and its academic programmes accredited by
the National Universities Commission (NUC) accordingly.
Unfortunately, NOUN is confronted with strong resistance by
cabals with diverse interests in the conventional system on account
of its massive impacts as a new university with overwhelming
population of over 300,000 active students and about 90,000 in the
alumni record just in few years of its existence including senior
government officials, working-class and others on post-graduate
studies. To some academia, NOUN plays the role of a spoiler with
its open mode of admission as practiced overseas, as it drastically
reduces the mammoth crowd queuing for admission yearly into
universities alongside the huge amounts payable on admission
brokerage, as NOUN provides a viable option with no stress as long
as prerequisites are met.
Prior to its establishment, securing admissions into
conventional universities were nauseating and as cumbersome as
ascending Mount Kilimanjaro. Sadly, it wasn’t that candidates
didn’t meet the benchmarks but deliberate plot for enriching
private pockets and enthroning nepotism even at the expense of
merit, which ultimately favours the private universities. Even with
good scores, students will struggle to fall in either Vice
chancellor, Registrar, Dean, Minister, Senator’s list or other
unknown lists to secure admission on highest bidders’ basis, and
this has over the years frustrated millions of people from academic
pursuits. In some occasions, eligible students spend up to seven
consecutive years subscribing to JAMB and its forms. Regrettably,
many that couldn’t, out of frustrations, abandoned education and
signed up for other occupations.
As a result, private universities including religious schools
leverage on the aberrations to excessively enrich their pockets
through high tuition fees. For example, to study law in a private
university costs between N1.2m and N1.5m (per session) for the same
courses outlined by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for
faculties of law in Nigeria and even overseas. By the ‘special’
admission lists system and high tuition fees existing in government
and private universities respectively, it is indisputable that
titanic cabals are strongly on ground, fantastically positioned in
determining the pace thereby frustrating ambitious citizens from
actualizing their dreams for academic pursuits. As only the few
favoured by them are offered admissions in government institutions,
others financially buoyant opt for private universities or jet
abroad leaving the helpless preys that are in majority in
frustration.
But is NOUN actually spoiling businesses as assumed in some
quarters? The university established by the federal government in
line with Section 18(3) CFRN is objectively to bring education
closer to the people and ultimately not conservative or
profit-driven. For example, NOUN liberally opens wider doors to
people to embrace education with the same course outlines,
syllabus, materials and books used in the conventional
universities. Why then the squabbles; the illicit incomes accruing
from admissions, handouts and lobbying for unearned grades. In
NOUN, students only know their lecturers for facilitations who are
different from examiners, hence absolutely impossible to strike any
deals for grades unlike in the conventional sector. Hence, the
options are clear; either to diligently take the bull by the horns
or chicken out as dropouts.
To buttress this, NOUN faculty of Law which the Council of Legal
Education (CLE) refused to admit its students into the Nigerian Law
School with allegation of inadequate learning-facilities
remarkably, defeated in its first and only participation, all
conventional universities including state, federal and private
universities approved and adjudged to have the best facilities in
the country in a national Moot-Court competition, and flew the
country’s flag in a global contest in India in 2012 leading to
resentments and protracted malice; a rejected stone became the
chief cornerstone. What a paradox!
By implication, the cabals’ gang up against NOUN may never
cease, regrettably, vindictively aimed at frustrating government’s
initiative which brings succor in the polity, to pave way for
nepotism and corruption thriving in the conventional setting. As it
stands, despite some lapses, NOUN unequivocally provides the
panacea to corruption, intimidations and exploitation prevalent in
the nation’s education system. The closing remark or question is,
could education reasonably, be over-politicized and
anachronistically positioned in a developing nation like Nigeria
with pull-down syndromes and blackmails rather than concerted
efforts towards enhancing productivity and service-delivery?
Umegboro, a public affairs analyst wrote from
Lagos.
NIGERIA, a developing nation conscientiously aligned with the
civilized countries across the globe on education strategically to
remain a relevant team player; otherwise, it would be left behind.
This formed the basis for establishing the first Open and Distance
Learning institution in the country in line with MDGs of the United
Nations on education. Thus, synchronizing with Section 18 of the
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended,
National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was birthed by the Act
of the National Assembly and its academic programmes accredited by
the National Universities Commission (NUC) accordingly.
Unfortunately, NOUN is confronted with strong resistance by
cabals with diverse interests in the conventional system on account
of its massive impacts as a new university with overwhelming
population of over 300,000 active students and about 90,000 in the
alumni record just in few years of its existence including senior
government officials, working-class and others on post-graduate
studies. To some academia, NOUN plays the role of a spoiler with
its open mode of admission as practiced overseas, as it drastically
reduces the mammoth crowd queuing for admission yearly into
universities alongside the huge amounts payable on admission
brokerage, as NOUN provides a viable option with no stress as long
as prerequisites are met.
Prior to its establishment, securing admissions into
conventional universities were nauseating and as cumbersome as
ascending Mount Kilimanjaro. Sadly, it wasn’t that candidates
didn’t meet the benchmarks but deliberate plot for enriching
private pockets and enthroning nepotism even at the expense of
merit, which ultimately favours the private universities. Even with
good scores, students will struggle to fall in either Vice
chancellor, Registrar, Dean, Minister, Senator’s list or other
unknown lists to secure admission on highest bidders’ basis, and
this has over the years frustrated millions of people from academic
pursuits. In some occasions, eligible students spend up to seven
consecutive years subscribing to JAMB and its forms. Regrettably,
many that couldn’t, out of frustrations, abandoned education and
signed up for other occupations.
As a result, private universities including religious schools
leverage on the aberrations to excessively enrich their pockets
through high tuition fees. For example, to study law in a private
university costs between N1.2m and N1.5m (per session) for the same
courses outlined by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for
faculties of law in Nigeria and even overseas. By the ‘special’
admission lists system and high tuition fees existing in government
and private universities respectively, it is indisputable that
titanic cabals are strongly on ground, fantastically positioned in
determining the pace thereby frustrating ambitious citizens from
actualizing their dreams for academic pursuits. As only the few
favoured by them are offered admissions in government institutions,
others financially buoyant opt for private universities or jet
abroad leaving the helpless preys that are in majority in
frustration.
But is NOUN actually spoiling businesses as assumed in some
quarters? The university established by the federal government in
line with Section 18(3) CFRN is objectively to bring education
closer to the people and ultimately not conservative or
profit-driven. For example, NOUN liberally opens wider doors to
people to embrace education with the same course outlines,
syllabus, materials and books used in the conventional
universities. Why then the squabbles; the illicit incomes accruing
from admissions, handouts and lobbying for unearned grades. In
NOUN, students only know their lecturers for facilitations who are
different from examiners, hence absolutely impossible to strike any
deals for grades unlike in the conventional sector. Hence, the
options are clear; either to diligently take the bull by the horns
or chicken out as dropouts.
To buttress this, NOUN faculty of Law which the Council of Legal
Education (CLE) refused to admit its students into the Nigerian Law
School with allegation of inadequate learning-facilities
remarkably, defeated in its first and only participation, all
conventional universities including state, federal and private
universities approved and adjudged to have the best facilities in
the country in a national Moot-Court competition, and flew the
country’s flag in a global contest in India in 2012 leading to
resentments and protracted malice; a rejected stone became the
chief cornerstone. What a paradox!
By implication, the cabals’ gang up against NOUN may never
cease, regrettably, vindictively aimed at frustrating government’s
initiative which brings succor in the polity, to pave way for
nepotism and corruption thriving in the conventional setting. As it
stands, despite some lapses, NOUN unequivocally provides the
panacea to corruption, intimidations and exploitation prevalent in
the nation’s education system. The closing remark or question is,
could education reasonably, be over-politicized and
anachronistically positioned in a developing nation like Nigeria
with pull-down syndromes and blackmails rather than concerted
efforts towards enhancing productivity and service-delivery?
Umegboro, a public affairs analyst wrote from
Lagos.