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 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 with University of
Benin in second position, 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.
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