Following the challenges recently besetting some of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Human Right Activist, Mr Femi Falana has decried the poor state of the country’s education sector, laying the blame squarely at the feet of Nigerian Leaders and policy makers.
Speaking at a lecture in honour of the graduating Philosophy Class of 2017 at the Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan, on the topic: “The Right to Education and the Challenge of Knowledge Production in Nigeria”; Mr Falana, explained that the deteriorating standard education in Nigeria is a consequence of bad policies made by Nigerian leaders.
The Senior Advocate emphasized that education, just like other necessities of life, is a basic and fundamental right that is compulsory for all citizens and should be provided free as and when practicable. He said “Section 18 of the Nigerian Constitution provides that every child shall be given primary education, secondary education and university education which shall be free as and when practicable. Who determines ‘as and when practicable’? the Nigerian ruling class.”
* A cross section of audience at the Philosophy Class of 2017 Graduation at the Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan
Falana who categorised the Nigerian ruling class as all the country’s leaders irrespective of political parties, stated that they are responsible for the poor state of the country’s education. While noting that many Nigerian leaders, top government functionaries and policy makers enjoyed free education when they were youths, he stated that these beneficiaries of free education have however, united against standard education.
“For people of my generation, we had free education” Falana said “As an undergraduate at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, all I needed was 50 kobo to feed in a day, we were not paying tuition fees, we never paid tuition fees. It was cancelled by the government. We had access to loans and bursary awards by the Federal and State Governments.
“In my generation, before we finished our final year examinations, we had jobs. People came to interview us for jobs. When we were undergoing our youth service, they also came. So, by the time we were completing our youth service, we had three or four jobs on our hands. And we were then deciding which of the jobs was likely to give us car loans or housing loans or both. Then I ask, what happened to our country?
“The Nigerian leaders wasted enormous resources of our country. There was no investment in the future of our youths, in the future of our children; no serious investment in education. And so, we have found a gradual decline of education in our country. So what happened? The children of the elites go to the best schools in Nigeria and abroad, while the children of the poor are consigned to backwardness. But I did predict publicly about 10 years ago when I saw the dangerous trend, that the children of the poor will make it impossible for the children of the rich to enjoy their lives in Nigeria and it’s already happening,” he stated.
* Femi Falana (SAN) (M), Prof Isaac Ukpokolo, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Ibadan (R) flanked by graduands at the Philosophy Class of 2017 Graduation at the Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan
On the unresolved crisis currently facing the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Oyo State, the Human Right Activist condemned the way and manner the Oyo state government is handling the situation. Falana said “A university was closed down for eight months. It should be an impeachable offence in another clime and the governor (Abiola Ajimobi) had the temerity to say ‘I’m I the one that closed your school? I’m I not a constituted authority? In this same Oyo State, primary schools were closed down and the governor said they have to beg him. And I say to myself that the late Awolowo will be turning in his grave that these governors are calling themselves Awoists.
“Over 60 years ago in 1965, education was declared free in this part of the world. And what you call the development of Nigeria today began in the South-west. The south-west was ahead of others not because of any special blessing but because of free education. But it is the reverse now. I don’t know of this year; but last year, during WAEC, Oyo came 26th, Osun came 29th, Ekiti is likely to be worse because of the clime there. Fayose has reintroduced payment of fees in Primary school in Ekiti. So what kind of education are you going to get in the future?” Falana queried.
Still talking about the poor state of education in the country, the activist made reference to the recent development at the University of Ibadan, saying “At the University of Ibadan, the Vice Chancellor closed down the school without contacting the senate. While that school has been closed down indefinitely, I saw something on the Internet; I saw the photograph of the Vice-chancellor abroad at the graduation ceremony of his own child.
“Now, there is no way you can run a modern University without allowing students to run their unions. It is backward and barbaric. Many of these guys attended schools where Vice-chancellors recognise student unions. As for the situation in University of Ibadan, we will fight it because we must help our children to be independent,” he said.
He continued “Most countries are investing maximally in education because that is the future of every country. All the money gotten from oil will pale into insignificance.” Falana further expounded on the importance of knowledge and ideas to national development, stating that investment in education and development of ideas will be of tremendous impact in the growth of the country.
“How much was made from the sale of Apple computers and Facebook last year?; much more than oil. And that is the fate of knowledge. Without knowledge, without ideas, no country can develop. But while other nations are being ruled by ideas, Nigeria and many other African countries are ruled by primordial considerations like; ethnicity, religion, sectional interests.
“Where is our president from? It is now the turn of my zone to produce the governor of the state. All these sayings are arrant nonsense. It is nonsense to say that someone must be the governor because of where he comes from or the President of the country must come from a particular section of the country.
“When you hear all these, unconsciously, you join the backward debate. These are all deliberate diversionary ploy by the ruling class to keep our people divided. Go and find out about the looting of the treasury; Igbos are represented, Yorubas are represented, Hausas are represented. At the time when they are going to steal and loot the treasury, nobody remembers your religion,” he noted.
* A cross section of audience at the Philosophy Class of 2017 Graduation at the Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan
While noting that many states in the country have child right laws and Universal Basic Education (UBE) laws which the states have deliberately ignored, Falana explained that Nigerians have also refused to demand the enforcement of these laws, stating that the danger of not demanding our rights is that the government will have access to steal so much money because they are mot answerable to anyone.
Speaking about the actions he has taken against the government, the Senior Advocate stated that he sues the government quite regularly. He said, “I sue the government very regularly because most of the time, our government are irresponsible. So I sued the Attorney General of the Federation because by virtue the law on Nigerian education, the Nigerian government should have set up a bank to give loans to needy undergraduates and indigent students… After addressing the issue in court, the government was directed to set up a Nigeria education bank. However, since 2012 up till now, the government has not set up that bank.”
Falana further explained that the content of our education nowadays is filled with Western imperialism, recalling that back in the days; students were taught local content and culture. He advised the government to review the content of education. “The content of our education must be examined because the United Nations states that you must adapt your education to your local needs.”
The Human Right Activist, who emphasized on the importance of funding Nigerian tertiary institutions, noted that many institutions were funded by several foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation, McArthur Foundation and many others, adding that these wealthy people did not leave their wealth for their children but left it for the development of others.
Mentioning the success of his son Folarin Falana popularly known as ‘Falz the Bahd Guy’ who was trained as a lawyer but chose to become an entertainer, Falana noted that he allowed his son the freedom to follow his passion which earned him fame and fortune. He advised parents to ensure that they educate their children and endeavour not to live wealth for them.
He said “If you are educated and you have educated your children, there is no need to leave your wealth for them; leave it for others so that it can be used to address a need or the other because this is how schools are funded in developed countries. I have made it clear to all my kids and my wife and I have agreed that if we leave the world, whatever we leave behind is not for the children but for the society, so that it can be used to promote human rights and education,
“The best people in the world are those that ensure that their children are given the independence and autonomy, so that when you are talking about the right to education, we can be organised to challenge our government to do that which is right,” Falana stressed.
Falana encouraged the graduating students to develop the habit of reading beyond their fields of study in order to empower themselves better. He also urged the students to be wary of temptations lurking in the society, waiting to lure them into criminality. “Please, ensure that as a graduate, you must be able to hold your own. Don’t allow your parents to have too much influence on you and also ensure that you make your society better than you met it,” he counselled.
Some of the graduands who spoke to CEOAfrica after the event expressed their pleasure at the delivered lecture. They noted that Femi Falana is an intellectual who leaves a strong positive impression wherever he goes. They noted that they learnt that it is important to learn what is adaptable to their society. Some of the graduands added that they have set a legacy for the school and advised those coming behind them to do their best and ensure they surpass their predecessors.
James Ovie, a graduands who spoke to CEOAfrica said he was delighted that the guest speaker showed up for the event. He noted that he was impressed by the speaker’s decision to pass his wealth to the common man, adding that the decision was worthy of emulation. He also advised youths not to give up on their goals because there are people fighting for their success.
Also speaking to CEOAfrica was Prof Isaac Ukpokolo, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Ibadan who noted that there is need to think of the education we have received and how best we can employ this education to develop ourselves and our society.
