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IN fact, during my
little experience as a teacher that was between 1972-1980, I have
learnt a lot regarding teaching profession. I however understand
that, some people are born teachers even before they under went
intensive course for being one. I could vividly think that, when I
was in primary school some of the pupils could then write and read
in Hausa language, this had made me to realize that some people are
born teachers. From 1960-1967, I had never anticipated that I would
be a teacher all my life, but reverse was the case as I have
attended Kano Teachers College from 1968-1972. I read a lot of books
concerning such various methods but these were drawn from the
western nations, to which they had no resemblance with our
traditions. Even when all the teaching methods and techniques were
recommended especially in English-speaking countries and Nigeria
ought to embrace it for obvious reasons. Still our syllabi and all
other educational matters must go hand in hand with that of British,
hence embracing it is necessary for these obvious reasons. Our
government of 1960-1966 had actually done its best to smoothen the
effects of the methods bequeathed to it by the colonial
administration.
In primary schools in-between these years were taught by “pupil
teachers’’ who did not even have grade III, but certainly they were
capable enough to impart knowledge to the younger ones. By that time
in question, the government was serious enough in raising the
educational standard of its citizens and did not by far underrate
those teachers as all incentives were provided to them despite the
meager resource at its disposal.
One could realize the difference between those pupils of 1960-1966,
only six fruitful years. If you are to equate the levels of
performance the difference is clear. I do understand however, even
by 1970-1980 things were equally marvelous as the students and of
course primary school pupils were as good as the university students
of the present time. True, there have been modern approach to
learning, hence computer and others are there glaring but such
innovations have really weakened us educationally.
Actually, our education standard particularly in the north is always
getting a serious set –back, this has come about because of the
“Don’t care attitude’’ of the ministries of education, and other
relevant authorities. Most ministries of education have people with
questionable characters who are non-challant towards the development
of education of our children. One must say so, judging by the manner
they go about introducing out-dated polices into our school system.
The national policy on education meant nothing good to us because it
is over loaded with some unreasonable data, which by all indication
were introduced to limit our choice Areas. Take the example of the
obnoxious abolishing of Teacher Training Colleges. What were the
authentic reasons for such abolition of teacher training colleges in
Nigeria? Will such obnoxious act bring about any good? By these
unthinkable actions, does it mean that Nigeria no more needs
qualified teachers any more? Whatever way you think of this unkind
decisions, there is no way to suggest that it is good for this
country. I understand that, even in Europe especially England, still
teachers training colleges exists without any modification. Why
Nigeria? We borrow ideas from those who for hundred years did
developed and still go smoothly far away from you, but still we
think we have come of age! We however, deceive ourselves that we
reach our destination education-wise while we go nowhere. Someone
has said that, education is the right development of the mental,
physical and spiritual capacity of the children to help them to grow
according to God’s purpose and to be of service to the nation. I
wonder whether this is what we do presently.
IBRAHIM ABDUL ZANGO, Kano, Kano State.
Yar’adua and power crisis
THE importance of
power supply in na
tional development cannot be overemphasized. It has assisted
tremendously in fast-tracking the economic growth of many developed
nations.
The giant of Africa, Nigeria has not joined the league of those
countries that have developed economically, socially and
technologically as a result of improved and constant power supply.
The epileptic power supply in Nigeria has become the order of the
day. This has adversely affected the development of the entire
nation particularly its quest to reduce the poverty level of its
people. The administration of Olusegun Obasanjo was said to have
committed 16 billions dollars to overhaul the power sector. In spite
of the huge investment the situation on ground has not improved.
Questions have been asked by Nigerians with regard to the power
sector. Have the funds made available for the sector made any
impact? Obviously, the answer is in the negative. The reason behind
this abysmal failure is not far-fetched. Evidence abounds that the
power sector has been characterized by insincerity and corruption.
Government officials saddled with the responsibility looted the
funds with impunity. The consequence was massive closure of
industries.
Many people whose sources of livelihood depended on power suffered
untold hardships. That had led an increase in crime in the country.
Most productive workers have lost their jobs due to the poor power
situation in the country.
The present administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua has
expressed its displeasure with what it described as a wasteful
spending on the power sector. Yar’adua showed his administration
determination to improve power supply nationwide. He remarked that
for the country to become one of the most developed industrialized
countries by the year 2020, the problem of power must be solved.
To prove he meant his word the president has given four billions
dollars to the power sector in this year’s budget. This gesture
would go along to make the President’s seven-point agenda a reality.
While Nigerians view this effort as timely, it is hoped it would be
pursued to its logical conclusion. The resources meant for this
gargantuan project should be closely monitored. This will forestall
the hiccups and corruption that marred previous efforts.
IBRAHIM AL-MUSTAPHA, 136F Zaria Road, Pambegua, Kaduna State.
Sanitizing hajj operations
HAJJ is one of the most important pillars of
Islam, where the Muslims visit Almighty Allah (S.W.T). It is a
religious obligation which Muslims make during the month of Ramadan.
This is made at least once in a lifetime.
Visiting the holy land brings one closer to Allah (S.W.T) and to
know the rules and regulations guiding the ritual. Muslims all over
the world come together to perform this act (Ibada) of worship to
receive bountiful blessings from their creator, irrespective of
their social status.
However in some state, in Nigeria, Muslims have their joy tempered
by difficulties that are largely man-made.
In fact, every hajj operation especially in the last ten years come
and went, leaving behind a multitude of problems and mixed public
reactions—problems such as lack of cooperation among members of
adhoc committees; abandonment of pilgrims in the holy land, problems
associated with travel documents and allowances. All these problems
occur yearly.
Nigerians, therefore, have wondered why pilgrims must go through
such untold hardships. Why do those charged with the responsibility
of looking after pilgrims’ welfare always abdicate their
responsibility? Is our record of inefficiency beyond redemption? Why
can’t we pull off national tasks like hajj? These are troubling but
relevant questions if we are sincerely committed to moving forward
by refurbishing our sorry image of poor organisation, especially
hajj matters.
In view of these problems encountered by pilgrims, everyone thought
with the inauguration of the new National Hajj Commission (NNHJC)
there would be a marked departure from the previous years. The
establishment of the commission was a testament to government’s
determination to reform pilgrimage administration in Nigeria in
order to enhance and safeguard the welfare of pilgrims by
eliminating undue hardship and difficulties experienced by Nigerians
while performing their religious obligations.
I was privileged to interview the director of finance administration
of Muslim Welfare Board in Kaduna State, Abubakar Sadiq Musa on the
conduct of the 2007 hajj operation. He said the 2007 hajj operation
began early because the Federal Government requested that there
should be no hitches but every hajj operation has its own problems
at the execution stage. Many states have performed wonderfully well,
but many have not due to requests for basic travel allowances (BTA),
online visa applications, manual ranking of passports, public
enlightenment, purchase of uniforms, materials, suite cases, hand
bags etc.
I inquired about the per-deposit requirement for hajj introduced by
the states and his response was that the pre-deposit issue was
raised to help the less privileged pilgrims so that they will save
money before the commencement of hajj operations. In Kaduna State,
he said hajj preparations usually started in the month of March when
intended pilgrims are supposed to pay 51,000 Naira or more so that
by September/October a pilgrim would have paid about 300,000 Naira.
Talking about medical care, Sadiq said every state has its own
arrangement. There is that of federal government which happens to be
under the supervision of hajj missions in either Mecca or Medina. He
added that many states do provide their doctors and nurses to assist
pilgrims in the holy land. Where there are complicated cases, they
are referred to the hajj missions and from there they go to Saudi
general hospitals for treatment.
The issue of age limit for pilgrims was also brought up and the
administrative director said there was no age limit but it was
advisable that when an aged pilgrim be occupied by someone to
Saudi-Arabia. They will then be advised what to do.
The issue of international flight was also discussed. He said the
situation of international pilgrims was a peculiar one. “There are a
lot of problems in that regard,” he said, adding that the federal
government decided to allocate a particular flight to them parted by
Bellview Air. Other pilgrims are allocated flights operated by Kabo
Air, Meridian Air, Mangal Air. These airlines are not authorized to
airlift international pilgrims.
Sadiq ended the discussion on an optimistic note, saying this year’s
hajj operations would be computerized. It is hoped that this change
will sanitize what until now had been a shoddy preparation towards
hajj.
KEHINDE ADEBAYO, Dept. of Mass Communication, Kaduna Polytechnic.
The Nigerian brand of politics
FROM whatever angle one looks at it, there seems
not to be any good thing or anything inspiring from our political
terrain. It is all about problems and problems, violence today and
nullification tomorrow.
It is sad that instead of moving forward after the 2007 elections,
the past mistakes have decided to draw us backward. Our politicians,
political thinkers and media, seem not to have anything to offer the
masses if not one crisis or the other.
Nothing could be said to be right with the people of this country;
no infrastructure, no job, and no light, nothing that can make life
worth living. This is a result of high level of corruption
perpetrated by public office holders. Despite the fact that the ICPC
and EFCC were set up by the Obasanjo administration to apprehend and
prosecute corrupt officials, the cankerworm seems not close to
reduction as it is the order of the day in every aspect of our life
as a nation.
I always feel this temptation to conclude that the quality of people
we call our leaders is the bane of our polity coupled with the fact
that the people are hardly interested in asking questions. They just
sit and watch as these people run our lives anyhow. The most
disturbing aspect of this crisis-ridden political arena is that
these politicians deny people their basic rights and use public
money to fight their political battles, election petitions,
political violence and the rest. Somebody needs to tell these
opportunists who prefer to call themselves leaders that, the bad
polity they are trying to create is not good for democracy to
thrive. It is only where there is peace and justice that they
themselves can aspire to an office and serve out their tenures.
We must as well blame the dirty nature of our society for the manner
of leaders it is breeding. No good society can nurture the low
availability of leaders we have at the helm of affairs today, hence,
we can say that the Nigerian society is in need of urgent reforms.
Our politicians need to change their ways, we need to start seeing
mature politics, whereby somebody will lose an election and embrace
the winner instead of threatening to bring down the sky.
Only the above suggestions can take us to the dream land of
accountability, transparency, economic transformation, rule of law,
and employment opportunities.
Nasir MansUr Karofi
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