Education is said to be the sacrosanct backbone of every society and nation generally. Today a country’s development is measured in terms of intellectual brains it has and not only by economic growth.
However, in Nigeria the situation looks different and so irritating given that education is down played. While it is a known fact that education is what government and economic planners use to draw template for economic growth and development.
The area is neglected and even completely abandoned – a situation that paved ways to all sort of atrocities to set in– and as soon as this is established, one should expect a decline in standard and a total collapse of the standard of education in a country.
Senator Dino Melaye
It could be adduced that our system of education has fallen completely and the worst part is that those who are to resuscitate and rejuvenate the system are the ones contributing in no small measure to send it parking completely.
The Dino Melaye’s gate is one alone that can illustratively signpost greatest alarm on how education in Nigeria is suffering from untold hardships in the hands of those that are not supposed to protect it.
Dino, being a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as all senators are addressed – a lawmaker and elder statesman has done what the writer and any other individual in this country has seen before.
Wearing an academic gown to the NASS to a right-thinking citizen of the country is totally wrong. Academic gowns are believed and permitted to be worn on only two occasions: during matriculation and convocation ceremonies.
However, to our dismay Dino wore academic gown and appeared at the floor of the Red Chamber of the NASS boldly and bodacious, but unfortunately some members who could have called his attention to the absurdity failed to do so, but received him, gave him a warm welcome, screamed and cheered in solidarity with him, exposing them to ridicules.
This is quite a slap in the face of academics in this country. We expect to hear a very hot action taken from the side of academics, ASUU in particular, NUC and other tertiary education bodies but nothing tangible come out from them. This is not supposed to be so.
If they should allow Dino to go scot free, it seems they are paving avenues for those who might have the tendencies of such show of of shame to come forward.
As a matter of urgency, appropriate authorities should do something about it. The country is battling with how to tackle the problems bedevilling our education system but some people are trying to worsen the situation.
ABU was supposed to act promptly on the issue but disagreement erupted at it because the VC of the famous university was summoned by the National Assembly to come and clear the air on a claim that Dino Meleya did not graduate from the institution.
It was in the media that after the VC, Prof. Suleiman Mustapha appeared and gave his clarifications with regards to the issue at stake and left. Some staff from the exams’ office disagreed vehemently with what the VC told the National Assembly. They also raised five questions that the VC could not answer.
ABU has to take very drastic action on this issue given the reputation it commands or face the consequence of continued ridicule by all and sundry. The university should withdraw the certificate given to him.
Certificates are given to qualifying students who have distinguished themselves in both learning and character. Dino Melaye as an alumnus of ABU has lost one of the bases and criterion (character) that warrant his certificate withdrawn by the institution even if it takes them to go to court.
Written by Isah Sani Yusuf of Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
