OPINION

By Caleb Onah

Several good decisions and policies have been made in the past but when decisions are made, including educational ones in the absence of empathy or empathic intelligence, it creates a corrupt system and future that indirectly affects us and not others. Hence, to cure Nigeria’s educational sector of this malady, we have to make very large self sacrifices in order to achieve a change in the system, sector or the society.

During a speech at Northwestern University, Barack Obama once said that there is a more pressing challenge in our society, federal and institutional arena which is the “empathy deficit”. According to the former US president, it is empathy that will bring together a nation divided by ethnicity, class and political ideologies.

An article published by Alan Kirman and Miriam Teschl, entitled “Selfish or Selfless? The Role of Empathy in Economics”. They argue that although empathy has been practised, and incorporated into every aspect of life to some extent throughout history, as well as in other policy areas, much of its application in the educational system and current world has faded away, which I will say is the case of Nigeria’s educational sector. In Nigeria, according to the latest World Bank records, as of November 2022, her literacy rate was 62% in 2018. According to verified Statista, 68% of young Nigerians in 2020 will have a secondary education. About 15% of them completed their primary education, while 17% went on to further education after high school.

According to UNICEF later sources, cited by Reliefweb, 18.5 million children were out of school in Nigeria as of May 2022. 60% of these children are girls and 20% of all Nigerian children are out of school in mid-2022. Statistics on the most educated states in Nigeria by their literacy level shows Lagos State is the most developed state in Nigeria, has a literacy rate of 96.30%, Imo State has a literacy rate of 96.43%. Enugu State has a literacy rate of 96.00%, home to the first Federal University in Nigeria. Rivers State’s literacy rate is 95.76%. Abia State is the 5th most educated state in Nigeria with a literacy rate of 94.24%. Akwa-Ibom State has a literacy rate of 93.00%. The literacy rate of Anambra State is 92.11%, Ogun State is 90.57%. Edo State has a literacy rate of 90.53% and Osun State has a literacy rate of 90.00%.

However, out of the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory, it would not be a bad idea to say that the entire Nigerian education system is suffering from a multitude of problems and the situation is getting worse every day. Some of the problem which some of us have become aware of includes: lack of funding, lack of quality staff; inadequate facilities, lack of furnished and quality classrooms, offices and laboratories for teaching and research; indiscipline among staff and students; inconsistent and erroneous educational policies; corruption in high and low places; worship of authority figures; irregular pay; exam malpractices; sexual acts for grading; the use of ghost labour force; fake sourcing and the provision of resources; bogus education data; appointments and promotions based on ethnicity and tribes instead of base on merit; as well as trivialisation of retirement.

It should be noted that of all the issues, corruption is a widespread problem in the political and economic sphere of Nigeria. It is not contradictory to say that educationally, Nigeria is in chaos. Corruption is already deeply ingrained in the country’s institutional structures. But it becomes a more worrisome and tragic issue as it creeps into the educational sector. Understandably, corruption in politics is enough of a “tragedy” for a country as Nigeria; when practice in the educational sector is a “double tragedy”.

Unfortunately, it is also not out of place to say “educated illiteracy” and lack of “empathy” is what has pervaded Nigeria’s educational sector and continues to threaten economic growth. Because it has shown over the years no values to showcase leadership and initiative for growth and innovation in the sector or perhaps system by those concern, in policy making, and lack of common sense in ways to know that “one good turn deserves another” which why in a way critical thinking, empathy and cost-benefit analysis of others in today’s corrupt, polarised and divided world will revitalise and lead us to a better place in our country.

Empathy will show an understanding of challenges and difficulties that all students and staff face. It will serve as a great catalyst, serving as a pathway to correctly perceive and express concerns for citizens, and using those emotionalconcerns to facilitate policies, not only about and for self but the adjustment and growth of systems.

Several good decisions and policies have been made in the past but when decisions are made, including educational ones in the absence of empathy or empathic intelligence, it creates a corrupt system and future that indirectly affects us and not others. Hence, to cure Nigeria’s educational sector of this malady, we have to make very large self sacrifices in order to achieve a change in the system, sector or the society.

On the hand, if we are to employ empathy but it only produces benefit for people who look, think, believe, or vote like us which is the case of Nigeria today, then I would argue that not only we will keep falling back to our most base of tribal, corrupt nature, there is little chance that diverse nations like the U.S, UK, China, Finland and South African can continue to achieve great heights. The idea of these nations is based on the idea that it is because of their diversity and inclusion that they remain prosperous, strong and united. It also means that there is a national value created when we “sacrifice” ourselves for the greater good of others.

Caleb Onah is a Public Policy Analyst.

For when we are concerned with the educational system or intellectual growth of citizens, we pay attention with keen awareness, to how current economic situation affect others, we remain close to them and their stories, whether physically or cognitively, we seek to understand how our lives and actions intersect with theirs, including desires and actions.

By investing in education through empathy; governments, communities and NGOs can help prepare young people for the challenges ahead. If children are truly the leaders of tomorrow, and education is the bedrock for economic and national growth, it is time we start investing in them with empathy and not mere thinking or rulership! Therefore, if we begin to act with empathy, think with empathy, serve with empathy, and live with empathy there is always hope that we can get closer to the stability we seek in our educational system, nation and world.

Caleb Onah is a Public Policy Analyst.

Tunde Rahman: The Unseen Voice Behind Tinubu’s Incoming Administration

By Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah

Yes, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is here, his time has come, and it is time to get to work and restore Nigerians’ hope. The elections were never served à la carte; they were fought for, and a multitude of factors contributed to making them a reality today.

The little things in life are what really count, but we miss them because we are preoccupied with the major moments.

The journey to today’s success, which we now witness the high and mighty swarming Tinubu’s official residence in Abuja, was packaged by individuals who believed in the cause even before it was formed and worked tirelessly to give it substance.

If not for the newly expanded hatred and demonization of Tinubu from apparently predictable quarters, Tinubu has been and remains one of the most well-behaved politicians in terms of his carriage, political, social and ideological pronouncements.

As we all know, Nigeria is full of cruise, so you hear cases of respected leaders throwing tantrums at themselves all because of ideological differences. We all recall the great War of Generals in 2011, when Obasanjo fired the first salvo, claiming IBB was a fool at 70, to which IBB replied, Obasanjo is a bigger fool.

We’ve seen governors take jabs at their colleagues and vice versa, unnecessary heating up of the system. Former Lagos State Governor and President-Elect Asiwaju, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never been caught up in such needless distractions by leaders who should be guiding the nation in the right direction.

Even when respectable clergymen, politicians, tribal police, and amebos continued to poke fun at Tinubu, Asiwaju never fell for their idiocy; instead, he respected their opinions and made sure that his communications remained goal-focused.

Tunde Rahman is one of the unseen voices that has worked alongside Asiwaju to keep the mission alive and focused. As the President-Elect’s official spokesman, he has distinguished himself as a core democrat who knows what his principal wants and keeps to it.

Rahman possesses a Master of Science in Communication Studies, a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Additionally, he took classes at the Lagos Business School.

Mr. Rahman began his media career in 1989 as a Political Correspondent for the Lagos Horizon, a community newspaper, and later transferred to the former Daily Times, where he climbed to the post of Political Editor.

He later joined Punch Newspapers as News Editor/Assistant Editor in its Abuja branch, and then as Group News Editor in its Lagos headquarters.

He left the Punch in 2004 to become Deputy Editor of THISDAY’s Sunday title, where he helped launch the paper’s political branch, CICERO.

Mr. Rahman rose through the ranks to become the Deputy Editor of the daily newspaper, and then the Editor of the Saturday and Sunday editions.He left THISDAY to launch the WESTERN POST newspaper.

Being meticulous with the little adjustments or details is the key to creating a fantastic dinner. At a time when the opposition is anxious to tarnish Tinubu’s name in the eyes of the entire world, playing the worst type of reputation one could imagine, Tunde Rahman has played a significant part in moulding the identity of the President-Elect.

Tunde Rahman, the doyen of journalism, is best described as a spokesman after the heart of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the incoming president on May 29, 2023.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the Chairman and CEO of Bush Radio Academy.

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

In an avowed drive to further deepen the capital market and attract more young people to the market, the need to embrace fintech has again been emphasised.

This was stated by the Director General Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Lamido Yuguda during the Supernews Nigeria Fintech Conference held in Lagos Thursday.

Yuguda who was represented by Director Registration, Exchanges, market Infrastructure and Innovation of the SEC, Mr. Abdulkadir Abbas stated that fintech is a game changer in deepening the capital market and enhancing financial inclusion.

He said the theme ‘Imperative of Fintech in Promoting Financial

Oando introduces electric vehicles to Lagos transport sector

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL) has made inroads into the transportation business in Lagos State, acquiring and taking delivery of an undisclosed number of electric vehicles from Chinese carmaker, Yutong Bus.

OCEL is the clean energy arm of Oando Plc, largely owned by Wale Tinubu. His company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lagos State Government through the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on April 28, 2022.

The Oando, Lagos State agreement will see Oando Clean Energy roll out 12,000 electric mass transit buses, supporting charging infrastructure, and service centres (EV Infrastructure Ecosystem).

In a statement released to the capital market authority on Wednesday, it was disclosed that the electric mass transit deal would lead to the phase-out of current combustion mass transit buses in the state.

Commenting on the acquisition and deal between the state and his firm, Wale Tinubu, who is the Chairman of OCEL, said: “The arrival of our electric mass transit buses and development of an EV infrastructure ecosystem is a reminder that the only way to remain ahead of the curve is by being unafraid to break new ground and consistently looking for opportunities to leapfrog.

“Public-private partnerships have been critical to getting the project to this point and will continue to fuel our expansion across the entire country.”