Website design By BotEap.comIt is no longer news that the failure rate in West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams; The two main exams that students must take to successfully complete high school and to qualify for admission to higher institutions of learning have increased enormously over the years. The failure rate when Nigeria turned 50 this year is so alarming that more than 70% of students who took the aforementioned exams failed Mathematics and English; the two main subjects that a student must pass to be admitted to most courses at higher institutions. A question must be asked; Should our education sector improve or decline as a nation?

Website design By BotEap.comThese recent events have confirmed the insensitivity of those in charge of our education sector in recent years to the rotten nature of the sector. Each of the decision makers in the industry bring their own policies as soon as they take power, and this has led to instability in our education as new programs and styles are employed every time there is a new decision maker in the industry. sector. Interestingly, the current Minister for Education, following the recent failure of students in the Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), suggests that the number of subjects offered in these examinations could be reduced from nine (9) to five ( 5) as she believed that the enormous nature of most of these subjects could have been responsible for the failure of the students. Unfortunately, we may wake up tomorrow to find that her opinion has become law. I totally disagree with her opinion and I think many well-meaning Nigerians would do the same. At fifty, I think Nigeria would have done well, at least in this important sector, but obviously we haven’t.

Website design By BotEap.comWe all believe that young people are the leaders of tomorrow. Unfortunately, we’re hardly doing anything to ensure the future is bright. Education is more than just teaching, reading and passing tests. Perhaps, that is where we went wrong. If Nigeria is going to achieve something great, more attention must be paid to the education sector. We may not need teachers to build this sector, as we all know how corrupt the world has become, and anyone could have become a teacher anyway. However, I want you to correct me. We need people who are passionate about the future of Nigeria, people willing to give up their comfort for the good of the nation, people with visions. We need leaders, not managers. Leaders work by vision, managers work by sight.

Website design By BotEap.comOur educational system is obviously headed for doom and the future of our nation is in jeopardy if people who understand education as the teaching and training of mind and character, and not just passing exams, direct. Saving our education is the only way to save the future of Nigeria. Future leaders need to know what leadership is all about, their character needs to be developed. This can be done through education. We must save our education from the savages who make the decisions.

Website design By BotEap.comI don’t know if I’m the only one who has realized that not only are the decision makers killing our education, but the corporate bodies aren’t helping either. In times past, schools used to be interesting for bright students as the other students strive to be better than them at other things to strike a balance. This is how great men were born in the past in various fields. There used to be various contests and competitions where a healthy rivalry played out between students, and it brought out the best in many.

Website design By BotEap.comThere is a disease in Nigeria now that would see corporations and individuals only doing things that others are already doing. Maybe it existed then and that’s probably why there were a lot of companies that sponsored a lot of competitions in schools. The spotlight shifted to entertainment a few years ago and it has been hard on our education sector ever since, with various competitions and talent search programs springing up daily with major corporations as sponsors. Almost all the companies that are doing well and sponsoring things in their giving back plan have left the education sector. Youngsters earn millions of Naira in various talent search shows across the country and their counterparts are struggling to keep up with the challenge of focusing on education despite distractions from the sides. No one seems to be waiting for what the future will bring if they do well in their education when there is an opportunity to earn millions if they can showcase their talent. The era of educational contests and shows seems to be fading. Now we hear headlines like “21-year-old boy wins N2.5 million in talent search show.” MTN’s “Who wants to be a millionaire?” It seems to be the most popular and rewarding educational program left, but how many young people in the 16-25 age range have earned anything substantial from the program?

Website design By BotEap.comYoung people seem to be losing their minds. There are general knowledge books, motivational books and the like. How many have you bought in the last three years when you were young? There are organizations with educational programs like talk shows, contests, etc. Have you ever had a chance to get good sponsors? Some young people showed me their organization’s brochure and I was impressed to learn that there are still young people who have a lot going for them. Unfortunately, I have not been able to connect them with a sponsor since then.

Website design By BotEap.comI’m not saying the headhunter is bad, nor am I saying it should stop. I’m just a crusader for change who thinks we could use more sponsors in the education sector to support organized essay contests, topic contests, poetry contests, etc. Let’s give the education of the youth our best chance and see what happens to our great nation.

Website design By BotEap.comAs the old people say; “What an old man sees sitting down, a child cannot see even if he climbs a tree.” Let’s listen to the old men who have always been here and follow their good advice. They may have seen what we may never see.

Website design By BotEap.comNigeria is fifty. Let’s join hands and work hard to make this country a better place for those who come.