The #SaveMapoly Campaign, the Average Nigerian Student Dilemma and Need for Proactive Policies
Olanrewaju Oyedeji
When I woke up and saw students thronging to the social media with their hashtags, right in my head I knew they have been frustrated and saw the Need to act.
Nonetheless , it Is worrisome that even with the embarrassing state of Nigerian Education and what students are made to pass through, constant disagreements on policies continue to ravage our campuses.
I have heard arguments that politicians act the way they do because they don't have their kids in Nigerian public Varsities, while I agree to some extent, I believe it still boils down to lack of basic urge for responsibility. It is funny that it is when students file out or launch a Social Media campaign that conflicts receive very fast pace of resolution. In a situation where the world is clamoring for better Educated individuals, it is funny that our own country keep diminishing in quality but improves in quantity.
One can begin to ask questions of if the Ogun State Government made a unilateral decision in deciding to turn Mapoly to a University, in a normal setting, the staff Union should be carried along when the decisions were made.
It seems in Nigeria we care less about the time factor, administrators sometimes I think feel students should be ready to wait even longer.
A responsible government should not wait till students protest or take policies that would harm them.
While it is encouraging that students now explore the Social and Digital Media, the fundamental question one needs to ask is why disagreements need to take place from time to time in Nigerian Education sector, there has been arguments that Education is too cheap in Nigeria but Education especially for a developing country like ours should be made accessible for as low as possible.
The #SaveMapoly Campaign shows the continued dearth we have in the Education sector, the need to revamp the sector and the need to allow more funding which would be monitored from time to time.
Sometimes it's not just about establishing a University, it's about not delaying even the future of the thousands of students policies affect, only those that take Education seriously, build a future.
All stakeholders should join the voice to #SaveMapoly and bring everyone to listen to the plight of this beautifully made students even as they cry in pain.
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