On-the-purpose-of-education-is-it-to-acquire-knowledge-or-certificates
September 7, 2020 | News
ON THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION – IS IT TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE OR CERTIFICATES?
While the answer to the subject question might appear simple and straightforward, but if we look at it critically in relation to what is prevalent in our Nigerian society, we would realize it’s a bit complicated and really not a straightjacket. While education can best be defined as the acquisition of knowledge (be it formal or informal), and the right application of such acquired/developed knowledge or skill to transform one’s society for one’s good and that of others; certificates are simply the evidence/proof that indicates/suggests that one has passed through a formal education. Sadly, education in Nigeria, especially amongst the political class and some elites, has been defined education in “quantities” rather than “qualitative terms.” This means that “paper qualification” (certification) has been substituted for knowledge/skill acquisition and its right ‘application’ to solve humanity problems. In other words, certificate acquisition has been highly rated amongst the Nigerian political class and elites, at the expense of knowledge/skill acquisition and its right application or evident performance in solving our societal problems.
Whenever we consider our Nigerian politicians and elites, most of whom who despite all the certificates, diplomas and degrees that have piled up through their lives, they still act like people who are devoid of education. Compared to many others out there in developed societies, who, despite not being able to have any (or little) certificates/degrees, but have positively impacted their environment and humanity more.
To the Nigerian political class and most Nigerian elites, education for them is to acquire certificates, diplomas/post graduate diplomas, degrees and use same as a ‘societally-acknowledged symbol of status’ to show off, climb political space, acquire public wealth by being active within the Nigerian Governments at different levels. As such, we can conclusively say that about 99 percent of Nigerians who have held political positions at one level or the other, usually come out as very/super rich persons. Most of them, who did not have their own personal houses before they went into government, usually came out owning several houses/mansions/estates in major cities of the country and across different parts of the world. The question we should always ask is, what was the financial status of these politicians before they joined Government? For example, what were the financial status of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, and present Governor Ifeanyi Okowa before they joined politics and the Delta State Government? From what we all knew; their financial status was nothing much to reckon with. But today, we believe they own estates and assets that are worth billions, as evidently noticed. The question is, where did all that money and wealth come from?
We agree that one is expected to progress in life, especially when one is active in the public service of government. But when one’s “known income” does not commensurate with what one has in terms of ‘supposed acquired wealth and assets’, then we are bound to ask questions. For instance, how much was/is the honest Salaries and allowances of a State Governor that has been in Government for eight years and more? When compared to a politician’s current wealth, vast estates and assets across different parts of the country and the globe, can we honestly say such a politician’s known income commensurates with what he owns? If he cannot justify this, where then did he get the wealth from? When we put one or two things together, we need no soothsayer to explain to us and the Nigerian people that such a politician has got his hands stained with ‘misappropriated public funds’ meant for the collective development of his people and the country at large.
Sadly, we as a people, have allowed ethnicity, religion, tribal nepotism and favouritism to so blind us that we have developed an ‘abominable culture’ of ‘celebrating public thieves’ rather than shaming them out of the country’s public/political space. The most renowned African anti-corruption crusader of our time, Prof. Patrick Loch Otieno (PLO) Lumumba, in one of his well circulated video when delivering a speech to a cross section of Nigerian political leaders, noted that: “The culture in many African countries is that if a thief is from your tribe, you say yes, we know he’s a thief, but he’s our thief; this must stop. This ownership of thieves, because they come from our ethnic group, or they come from our religious circle; is one of the things that undermines the fight against corruption in many parts of Africa. We must therefore, create an environment, where those who engage in graft do not have places of refuge in their ethnic groups. We must not create an environment where, when we punish people because they have engaged in graft, we then give them protection because they come from our tribe. It is a problem that is going to persist in a country such as Nigeria. But it is only through the legislature, which comprises of people from all parts of Nigeria, that we can ensure that these thieves are not given oxygen to breath, so that they can suffocate through their iniquities.”
The Kenyan anti-corruption crusader, Prof. Lumumba, in another interview video while advising African leaders, said: “…If the population has been welded to the idea that corruption is a bad thing, then that is the beginning of the success of that battle… impunity is well and alive in Africa. And we the electorates, as I have said times without number, are in the business of celebrating thieves. We must stop this! We camouflaged theft, by giving it modernized English names like ‘money laundering’, ‘fraud’, ‘embezzlement’, and all those venial that makes them look as if it is some kind of nice game. Let us call these men and women by the right name, they are Thieves – stealing on an industrial scale. They are murderers. And once we begin to call them by that and mount it on their forehead, and we shun them…it has been done in other African countries…such as Tanzania they have been dealt with, in Rwanda they have been dealt with, in Mauritius they have been dealt with, in Botswana they have been dealt with. Once we begin to deal with them like this, then the others will that may want to behave like them may begin to take cue… That is the only way Africa will realize their potentials.”
It is one thing to pass through ‘formal’ education and gather all the certificates, diplomas and degrees one can gather, but it is a different thing entirely to allow formal education to really pass through one. Let us also not forget the importance of having good ‘informal education’ that adds in the shaping of one’s character and view of life. As a matter of fact, informal and self-education is even far more important in building one’s character with high moral values like honesty, integrity, sincerity, empathy, being good and responsible citizens. Most of these values are not gotten through formal education but can best be instilled through informal education. There is also the very important part played by one’s religion and belief system.
With this at the back of our mind, we can then conclude that a person without a ‘conscience’ and empathy for others, no matter his/her attained level of education/training, can best be described as a certificated-illiterate. Education, formal and informal, are supposed to produce an ‘all-round’ developed individual whose character, mind and human intelligence are well groomed to serve and meet, not only his/her needs, but most importantly the needs of others, especially if in a position of leadership and no matter the level of leadership. That is why when we look at our present crop of leaders and what is going on in our society, we can say that our political leaders of this era are mostly certificated-illiterates. They are certificated-illiterates in the sense that, it is only ‘illiterate’ persons that will pay armed thugs to snatch ballot boxes and stuff them with fake voting cards in their favour during elections.
It is only ‘illiterate or uneducated’ persons that would bribe electoral officials to declare fake results in their favour, and then they go to the Church to give Thanksgivings for stealing political mandates. It is only ‘illiterates or uneducated’ persons that would take our collective wealth meant for the development of society to benefit all, as if it is their private money which they can mismanage and misappropriate as they like without any iota of accountability. Educated persons will not hire our jobless youths to harass/intimidate or assassinate political opponents just to remain in power. Educated persons will not carry armed thugs wherever they go as body guards. Educated persons will not loot our collective public treasury through the awards of highly inflated government contracts, and at the end of the day still abandon such contracts with impunity. Educated persons will not be involved in ‘praise-singing’ and sycophancy just to be in the good books of the so-called political fathers or their political bosses. Obtaining degrees upon degrees, doctorate degrees in law or fellow in medicines and becoming Nigerian Professors of any discipline, does not make one act like somebody who is truly educated. It only means they have been trained/skilled to become this or that without actually being educated.
The bottom line is that, in our own opinion, the primary purpose of going through formal education is to acquire knowledge for an ‘all-round’ development of one to be properly equipped to better his/her life and most importantly, the lives of others and the general society at large. Anything outside this, we cannot say that person is really educated.
Zik Gbemre, JP.
While the answer to the subject question might appear simple and straightforward, but if we look at it critically in relation to what is prevalent in our Nigerian society, we would realize it’s a bit complicated and really not a straightjacket. While education can best be defined as the acquisition of knowledge (be it formal or informal), and the right application of such acquired/developed knowledge or skill to transform one’s society for one’s good and that of others; certificates are simply the evidence/proof that indicates/suggests that one has passed through a formal education. Sadly, education in Nigeria, especially amongst the political class and some elites, has been defined education in “quantities” rather than “qualitative terms.” This means that “paper qualification” (certification) has been substituted for knowledge/skill acquisition and its right ‘application’ to solve humanity problems. In other words, certificate acquisition has been highly rated amongst the Nigerian political class and elites, at the expense of knowledge/skill acquisition and its right application or evident performance in solving our societal problems.
Whenever we consider our Nigerian politicians and elites, most of whom who despite all the certificates, diplomas and degrees that have piled up through their lives, they still act like people who are devoid of education. Compared to many others out there in developed societies, who, despite not being able to have any (or little) certificates/degrees, but have positively impacted their environment and humanity more.
To the Nigerian political class and most Nigerian elites, education for them is to acquire certificates, diplomas/post graduate diplomas, degrees and use same as a ‘societally-acknowledged symbol of status’ to show off, climb political space, acquire public wealth by being active within the Nigerian Governments at different levels. As such, we can conclusively say that about 99 percent of Nigerians who have held political positions at one level or the other, usually come out as very/super rich persons. Most of them, who did not have their own personal houses before they went into government, usually came out owning several houses/mansions/estates in major cities of the country and across different parts of the world. The question we should always ask is, what was the financial status of these politicians before they joined Government? For example, what were the financial status of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, and present Governor Ifeanyi Okowa before they joined politics and the Delta State Government? From what we all knew; their financial status was nothing much to reckon with. But today, we believe they own estates and assets that are worth billions, as evidently noticed. The question is, where did all that money and wealth come from?
We agree that one is expected to progress in life, especially when one is active in the public service of government. But when one’s “known income” does not commensurate with what one has in terms of ‘supposed acquired wealth and assets’, then we are bound to ask questions. For instance, how much was/is the honest Salaries and allowances of a State Governor that has been in Government for eight years and more? When compared to a politician’s current wealth, vast estates and assets across different parts of the country and the globe, can we honestly say such a politician’s known income commensurates with what he owns? If he cannot justify this, where then did he get the wealth from? When we put one or two things together, we need no soothsayer to explain to us and the Nigerian people that such a politician has got his hands stained with ‘misappropriated public funds’ meant for the collective development of his people and the country at large.
Sadly, we as a people, have allowed ethnicity, religion, tribal nepotism and favouritism to so blind us that we have developed an ‘abominable culture’ of ‘celebrating public thieves’ rather than shaming them out of the country’s public/political space. The most renowned African anti-corruption crusader of our time, Prof. Patrick Loch Otieno (PLO) Lumumba, in one of his well circulated video when delivering a speech to a cross section of Nigerian political leaders, noted that: “The culture in many African countries is that if a thief is from your tribe, you say yes, we know he’s a thief, but he’s our thief; this must stop. This ownership of thieves, because they come from our ethnic group, or they come from our religious circle; is one of the things that undermines the fight against corruption in many parts of Africa. We must therefore, create an environment, where those who engage in graft do not have places of refuge in their ethnic groups. We must not create an environment where, when we punish people because they have engaged in graft, we then give them protection because they come from our tribe. It is a problem that is going to persist in a country such as Nigeria. But it is only through the legislature, which comprises of people from all parts of Nigeria, that we can ensure that these thieves are not given oxygen to breath, so that they can suffocate through their iniquities.”
The Kenyan anti-corruption crusader, Prof. Lumumba, in another interview video while advising African leaders, said: “…If the population has been welded to the idea that corruption is a bad thing, then that is the beginning of the success of that battle… impunity is well and alive in Africa. And we the electorates, as I have said times without number, are in the business of celebrating thieves. We must stop this! We camouflaged theft, by giving it modernized English names like ‘money laundering’, ‘fraud’, ‘embezzlement’, and all those venial that makes them look as if it is some kind of nice game. Let us call these men and women by the right name, they are Thieves – stealing on an industrial scale. They are murderers. And once we begin to call them by that and mount it on their forehead, and we shun them…it has been done in other African countries…such as Tanzania they have been dealt with, in Rwanda they have been dealt with, in Mauritius they have been dealt with, in Botswana they have been dealt with. Once we begin to deal with them like this, then the others will that may want to behave like them may begin to take cue… That is the only way Africa will realize their potentials.”
It is one thing to pass through ‘formal’ education and gather all the certificates, diplomas and degrees one can gather, but it is a different thing entirely to allow formal education to really pass through one. Let us also not forget the importance of having good ‘informal education’ that adds in the shaping of one’s character and view of life. As a matter of fact, informal and self-education is even far more important in building one’s character with high moral values like honesty, integrity, sincerity, empathy, being good and responsible citizens. Most of these values are not gotten through formal education but can best be instilled through informal education. There is also the very important part played by one’s religion and belief system.
With this at the back of our mind, we can then conclude that a person without a ‘conscience’ and empathy for others, no matter his/her attained level of education/training, can best be described as a certificated-illiterate. Education, formal and informal, are supposed to produce an ‘all-round’ developed individual whose character, mind and human intelligence are well groomed to serve and meet, not only his/her needs, but most importantly the needs of others, especially if in a position of leadership and no matter the level of leadership. That is why when we look at our present crop of leaders and what is going on in our society, we can say that our political leaders of this era are mostly certificated-illiterates. They are certificated-illiterates in the sense that, it is only ‘illiterate’ persons that will pay armed thugs to snatch ballot boxes and stuff them with fake voting cards in their favour during elections.
It is only ‘illiterate or uneducated’ persons that would bribe electoral officials to declare fake results in their favour, and then they go to the Church to give Thanksgivings for stealing political mandates. It is only ‘illiterates or uneducated’ persons that would take our collective wealth meant for the development of society to benefit all, as if it is their private money which they can mismanage and misappropriate as they like without any iota of accountability. Educated persons will not hire our jobless youths to harass/intimidate or assassinate political opponents just to remain in power. Educated persons will not carry armed thugs wherever they go as body guards. Educated persons will not loot our collective public treasury through the awards of highly inflated government contracts, and at the end of the day still abandon such contracts with impunity. Educated persons will not be involved in ‘praise-singing’ and sycophancy just to be in the good books of the so-called political fathers or their political bosses. Obtaining degrees upon degrees, doctorate degrees in law or fellow in medicines and becoming Nigerian Professors of any discipline, does not make one act like somebody who is truly educated. It only means they have been trained/skilled to become this or that without actually being educated.
The bottom line is that, in our own opinion, the primary purpose of going through formal education is to acquire knowledge for an ‘all-round’ development of one to be properly equipped to better his/her life and most importantly, the lives of others and the general society at large. Anything outside this, we cannot say that person is really educated.
Zik Gbemre, JP.