By; Hashim Muhammad Suleiman
In all this Cotonou degree saga, like all crises, truth is the first casualty.
We are all up in the furore of few days degree certificates from Nigerian neigbours.
Yet, we’ve all decided to shy away from the one and only truth that made those degree mills a reality.
Successive governments in Nigeria have failed to fund university education in Nigeria.
If we are true to our pains, then we should all address the genesis of the problem: failure of governments in Nigeria to strengthen our universities.
Until and unless we stand our ground and tell those in authority to sit up and do the needful to our universities, then we should expect more dubious ways of obtaining certificates by courier services.
When ASUU stood up and told us what’s happening to our universities, what did ASUU begot?
Inhumane punishment from those in government and contempt from those ASUU was fighting for.
As for now, Nigerians think they can bastardise their universities, relegate their academics and still not get holders of unworthy certificates form schools occupying abandoned industrial buildings across our boarders.
The truth we shy away from and its consequences aren’t only showing up from Cotonou and Togo, but from the many so called private varsities in Nigeria.
The university that was churning out ill prepared law graduates in less than three years was operating in Abuja. It was a law degree mill for serving politicians like ministers, legislators and many others that got the degree silently.
The university that made a three year old PhD, a professor is operating in Nigeria. It isn’t from our Francophone neigbours.
Above anecdotal evidences are just few, should we have another daring investigative journalist to delve into what’s going on with our universities, the brouhaha that may be unplugged may be too unpleasant for you and I.
As it is for now, let’s tell ourselves some home truth. University education is not something to toy with for any nation that honestly desires development.
If we continue to shy away from the truth, Cotonou will be Nigeria.
I don talk ma own, ehen.
Suleiman is a senior lecturer with Mass Communication Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
