Suleiman Goro, keep up the good work
As we are heading closer to election season, as an astute observer of almost entire political developments, we can exclusively derive some lessons from Aminu Suleiman Goro, the Chairman House of Representatives, Committee on Tertiary Education and Services. No doubt, if a politician works round the clock in transforming people's lives, whatever political uncertainties that might follow, as beneficiaries, the majority of his constitient will in exchange struggle to ensure his victory. I know, few people might say, there is no any reason to commend our rulers for adding whatever impact to the people's lives, because whatever we benefit from them was not favour, but rather, our right as taxpayers. I always used to heartily counter this view, and my perception mostly used to counterweight this assertion.
For me, if social media habitués are quick to hook up on various social media platforms to post withering criticisms to political office holders for behaving improperly, to be fair and just to them, they must also in return be quick to commend them if they fortunately do right. These commendable remarks, might eventually serve as a booster to their effort in the future. In view of the above, doing this becomes paramount, especially in this time that we rate different aspirants' scorecards. Hence, the reason that influenced me to take a gimlet glance into comrade's score sheets.
To be precise, what must capture one to be interested in Goro is the way he embraces and invests heavily in young people. To be honest, most of our politicians use youths as pawns for achieving political interests, and sorrowfully relegating them to political thugs after winning elections. But amazingly, this trend that has been normalized in our politics is alien to Goro's politics. Certainly, Suleiman Goro's sincerity to the plights of his people cannot be ignored. His erstwhile motion on flooding that afflicted some parts of his constituency reinforces this point. Even Goro's entourage is always mostly filled with educated university graduates. The common trend is, if you want to be part of Goro's political journey, go to school. He rightly used his position as Chairman House Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to solicit multiple opportunities for his people. As our youths living in wretched condition courtesy of unemployment, thankfully, Goro is always centralizing his effort towards alleviating the condition of our youths living in extreme poverty as a result of unemployment. That's why the need becomes vital to unveil the curtain that covers the efficient performance of this workaholic Member.
His proposed bill for the establishment of nine new tertiary institutions is nearing conclusion. Talk less of creation of numerous centres of learning for students of Open University in most parts of Nigeria. That's why I must use this juncture, to call for the need of immediate passage of that bill for creation of those new universities. And at the same time, Aminu Suleiman as member of the National Assembly from Kano, canvass for the inclusion of Kano State in that proposed list of nine new universities. Because Kano, taking into consideration its nature as densely populated State, presence of only single Federal University (BUK) might not satisfy the utmost emerging demand for tertiary education of its large people. Abbas Bashir Datti, Kano
There has been this argument mostly amongst industry players, and by extension the larger segment of today’s society about whether class of degree matches being creative as well as product at work places or not. Some are of the view that they go handin-hand, and others went strongly against it. It all depends on how one looks at it based on what is being obtained in the real world - where the two sides have been properly tried.
An interview granted by Professor Saminu Ibrahim, the present Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi once again resurrects and brings to the fore this argument. He was answering questions about issues ranging from promoting academic research, partnerships with foreign universities to scarcity of funds for technological and scientific research. It is interesting however, going by the VC’s accounts, that one would be quick to agree that a lot is being done to further strengthen the university in every respect. I commend him for the giant strides.
Sadly enough and truly disturbing however was reading a segment of the interview where the VC openly regretted not employing a graduate of the university who happened to build a DRONE simply because of the university’s condition of service. In his words: “We have a student who graduated with third class degree and has been able to build a drone and did his NYSC with the military. Unfortunately, we could not employ him because our condition of service does not allow us to employ graduates with third class degrees, and we regretted it because we would have held on to this guy; he would have been an asset to us.”
While I completely share the believe that higher institutions, including universities should engage only high class degree graduates, they should also make it an EXCEPTION for creative minds who, for reasons beyond my comprehension, could not have graduated with first or upper second class degree to join the system. This is because of the value these creative minds could add to the system, and to a large extent the Nigerian state in its desperate bid to evolving a new empire of creativity and productivity for national development.
It is a fact today that creative minds are what catalyse and propel development quest of most countries of the world. That is why we often wonder and marvel at China, Japan and Germany. We must give such rare creative minds in our midst the chance and unhindered support to realise their dreams; our collective dreams and aspirations as a people.
Mustapha G. Jama’a, Makarfi, Kaduna.