The Continuous Decline in Critical Thinking among Nigerian University Students and the Role of GenX

I was teaching a first-year class in 2013, it was an engineering class, and I paused to ask this question: "If you are asked to pay the remaining 4 years of school fees and then you graduate at the end of the semester, how many of you will go for it? And about 95% of the class raised their hands. I asked why and one of them was courageous to tell me that they came for a certificate and that if the university is willing to give it at the end of the first semester, then why to wait for 5 years. And Dr. Jean Twenge, a US-based Author in 2017 stated that an iGener is more likely than previous generations to go to college to get a good job and less likely to go to get an "education. I reflect over my 16 years as a university teacher and I realized how the quality of students and thought have reduced. I used to teach a course that a number of students struggled to pass. It was actually a simple course but my style was such that you need to have a basic understanding of the concept of the course to pass. Cramming the entire lecture note without understanding the concept may not help you to pass. Of course, I got all kinds of names. Then, I had a 6 years break and when I returned to teach the course I observed a sharp difference between the students I taught from 2005 to 2008 and those that I have taught between 2016 and 2019. If I should give the same question paper of the exam conducted in 2007 to the current students, the best student in the class will struggle to pass even though he may even be taught better than 2007 students. To make the students attend class, I take attendance during every lecture. In 2019 I declared that I won't be taking attendance and it was not a surprise that only about half of the students attended my class for that year and it also reflected on their performance. The kids of this generation are supposed to be smarter, but that does not reflect in their academic activities, especially in Nigeria. So, what are we getting wrong? Can this be linked to their slow and protected upbringing and/or the poor state of early childhood learning and development? Early Childhood Learning and Development from the age of 2 to 5 years is very important within that crucial age of a child. As stated by Kerry McDonald, a one-year-old is barely walking while a two-year-old gleefully sprints away from you. A four-year-old is always moving, always imagining, always asking why, while a five-year-old may start to sit and listen for longer stretches. At the age they are supposed to be running around the house and learning to talk, they are enrolled in school and confined in a classroom. And the school has no provision to properly cater for Early Childhood learning and development. At that age, they are supposed to be imagining and asking why, they are forced to learn how to write and read. Unfortunately, early childhood learning and development is not captured in our primary school curriculum in Nigeria. The respective schools design a program for the kids and it varies from school to school and they use different books. The parents most times influence the curriculum. I had an interaction with the Head Teacher of a private school who said the kids in their Nursery section don't use to write but do more play, but that some parents complained why their kids are not writing while their friends' kids in other schools are writing. They are wondering why they are paying for their kids to go play in a school. I was informed they even want their kids in pre-nursery to be writing to justify the fees paid. That was how they introduced writing in the nursery section. There are different stages of early childhood learning development. Up to the age of 5, before they will begin to sit to listen and learn, the kids are meant to be aware of their environment. They naturally wonder why things are the way they are around them. That is the reason they naturally ask a lot of questions that the parents are supposed to answer, but they are confined in a classroom and unfortunately, the Teachers will most of the time not have enough time to answer all the kids in the class. They are supposed to learn to identify letters with the sound, be able to put different sounds together, then learn to write them. But instead of developing programs that help the mental development of the kids at that stage, they are unfortunately made to learn States and Capitals, A for Apple, C for Cup, etc., and copy from the board what they don't know. How the learning of States and Capitals helps in their mental development beats my imagination. These programmed kids with low IQ are then carefully guided through primary school with beautiful end of term results based on how the parents want it, then through expensive private secondary schools, WAEC and JAMB results are arranged for them based on the parents' spec. As far as the parents are concerned, their kids are academically sound following the data in the report card/sheet. The necessary buttons are then pressed to get admitted for any available course in the university. They get to write their first real examination in the University. With reality staring at the faces of some of them, some poor students from some Government Science Secondary Schools will have to conduct Tutorials for them to pass their courses in the Public Universities. They will eventually graduate and the parents press the available buttons to find jobs for them or even buy them a job. Most have no initiative, they are not goal getters. That is the making of our leaders of tomorrow's leaders. I tried to compare my experience with our students with an experience with a student in a University in Europe. I supervised a Master’s student in 2015 during my Postdoc fellowship and her work was in two phases. A preliminary study and the actual research which was part of my Postdoctoral activities. Somewhere along the line, time was not on her side and the deadline was approaching. The supervisory team met and it was agreed that she should write her report using the preliminary report. I conveyed the message to her and she disagreed with our decision. She said the whole aim of her dissertation is not achieved without concluding the second phase. She said she will do whatever it will take to conclude it. I reported back to the committee and she got a two weeks extension. I took her to the lab to set up the high voltage source for the work and the work was done, published and she is working with Siemens. If she was one of our students here, she will go and do testimony that God answered her prayer and her work was reduced. We are not developing critical thinkers and goal-getters like we use to and i think the damage started from early childhood education. Early Childhood education is getting worse for the post-iGen generation born from 2013 to date and we all pretend all is well with the kids. We are rather working harder to make more money for their comfort without a critical thought on the mental development of these kids. Their protected upbringing from our perception that we do not want them to pass through the hardship we passed through that actually shaped our world, has shielded them from the reality of the world we live in. With their slow and protected upbringing, independent nature, and weak mental development, what future are we preparing them for in a tough and rough country like Nigeria? We seem to have little or no time for our kids from age 2 to 5, an age they need their parents most. The kids spend more time with the Nanny and the classroom. And unfortunately, our education curriculum for Early Childhood Education does not make provision for the required mental development from age 2 to 5. Creative thinking and asking questions are not part of the program. We need to find a way to fill in the blank. It is not enough to push them to schools to give us the time to make enough money for them to spend, they need the wisdom to spend the money. We need to give them the tools to make a difference. We need to equip our kids with the confidence and the knowledge of real-life experiences. We (GenX) are tough and the world is getting tougher. We need to raise tougher kids that will bring joy and positive change to our communities and not the quick cash kids. Abdelghaffar Amoka Abdelmalik, PhD Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

“The Idea Of Oduduwa Republic or Biafra Nation is As Artificial As The Nigerian Entity We Are All Crying Against”* - Dr Ope Banwo

I recently saw on another thread a piece allegedly written by Chief Okunnu titled “GEDEGBE LEKO WA’ where he was trying to make a case that Lagos is ‘Sui Generis’ and not even part of the old western state or even the proposed Oduduwa as a matter of fact. He wants Lagos to be totally separate from any new yoruba country 🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️ I cannot but laugh at the clever-by-half sophistry of the learned senior brother and his doomed attempt to rewrite the history of lagos for us even if we were born in the ‘operation weti e’ era . The intellectual dishonesty in that piece however illustrates why I think an Oduduwa republic will create more problems than it would solve . The kind of Balkanization of the Ethnic peoples of Nigeria that some of us who are not convinced that splitting the country into Oduduwa and Biafra and Arewa are afraid of, was starkly revealed in that ‘Gedegbe Leko Wa’ argument, albeit unintentionally by the writer When we start carving Nigeria as is, where would it stop? It would be naive for anyone to think it would end at Oduduwa, Biafra and Arewa republics. Those are just as artificial as monolithic entities as the concept of Nigeria itself . Truth is: Yorubas were NEVER under one Oduduwa nation Pre-colonial times , just like the igbos were never all in one Biafra nation prior to the coming of the white man. It’s all a myth easily debunked within 5 minutes of research into our history . Sure, Russia broke into many parts peacefully but we can all see what happened to many of its constituent parts economically, politically and socially. Yugoslavia did their own after a war of ethnic cleansing such as nigeria is headed and we can all see what happened to the small constituent parts socially, economically and politically . How many people can even remember more than 2 of the many countries it broke into? Peacefully or by war, splitting up the nation is a BAD IDEA that won’t solve our MAIN PROBLEM of corruption, wickedness, greedy and visionless leaders. We must therefore find another way to solve these very serious issues instead of carving it up. Restructuring devolution of powers is an infinitely better and less risky idea than the split into regional ethnicities 2. In my considered opinion, This idea of an Oduduwa republic and Biafra republic is just another escapist idea of replacing one non-existent Pre-colonial entity called nigeria with 3 other also previously non-existent entities called ‘Biafra’ or ‘Oduduwa’ or ‘Arewa’ Just like there was no nation called ‘Nigeria’ before, So also there was never any nation called ‘Biafra’ or ‘Oduduwa’ or Arewa. So it is crass intellectual dishonesty from top to bottom to deflect and distract us from the REAL problem in the land which is not so much an ethnic problem but a problem of wicked and greedy and incompetent politicians whipping up ethnic sentiments when it’s suited them in their incestous quest for power among themselves every 4 or 8 years When these leaders are sharing salaries and benefits and priviledges among themselves, none of these selfish and greedy leaders remember any Oduduwa or Biafra or Arewa. They only remember it during major elections when they feel among themselves that power must shift from one zone to the other. It’s a all a political bargaining chip with lives of innocent Nigerians on the balance Some of us will still keep calling it as we see it even if yet call us bastards. 3. For those who are saying ‘split it along natural ethnic lines’ that preexisted independence or amalgamation, Can any of them tell us anywhere in HISTORY where anything called ‘Oduduwa Nation’ or ‘Arewa Nation’ or for that matter ‘Biafra Nation’ existed as entities before amalgamation? It’s all in their imaginations. Just like the 1999 constitution was not a natural creation, those 3 major ‘countries’ being romanticized never existed before either. So, we must borrow ourselves brain and ask the obvious: why exchange one artificial entity for three other ones instead of fixing the problems in the one we have right now? 4. Also, if we really want to go back to Pre-amalgamation structure then you have to be asking for the old Oyo empire, ife kingdom, Ijebu Kingdom, Eko, Bénin Kingdom Kanem Bornu empire, Opobo kingdom, abeokuta kingdom Etc . That’s what existed in reality before the white men came but I don’t hear any advocate for a pre-amalgamation structure talking about that o. So, Where will it stop? It’s ridiculous and we are beginning to see EXACTLY what would happen with some of the ‘new’ Yourba leaders already talking about the so-called ‘Eko Kingdom’ that stands apart as ‘gedegbe’. Yet this Eko in historical reality does not go past yaba, and does not include Badagry or Epe or even Ikeja but they are already trying to say ‘gedegbe Leko wa’ ‘Gedegbe where? Truth is, There was no expansive Eko Kingdom sef to begin with before the white men came. It was more of a vassal outpost for the Bini Kingdom then! Yep. Most of the rulers of the so-called ‘gedegbe leko wa’ were minions sent by Oba of Benin to come and manage their empires ‘tiny’ outpost near the sea. I read my history books too. 5. Where do we stop this call for diving Nigeria? Fact is, as Soon as Oduduwa becomes a possibility, look out for Egbaland and Ijebuland to demand their own separation as separate countries.. Afterall they were all separate before the white man came!

Secessionist agitations: Edwin Clark sends strong message to Igboho, Kanu, others

Chief Edwin Clark : Asks those agitating for breakup of the country that they are on the wrong path as Nigeria will remain as one country now and in the future.View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Chief Edwin Clark : Asks those agitating for breakup of the country that they are on the wrong path as Nigeria will remain as one country now and in the future. Chief Edwin Clark, elder statesman and leader of Niger Delta on Saturday told those agitating for breakup of the country that they are on the wrong path as Nigeria will remain as one country now and in the future. Clark spoke in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria as agitations for the breakup of the Nigeria, especially continue in some parts of the country. Significantly, agitators for creation of Yoruba Nation out of Nigeria had on Saturday grounded socio-economic activities in Osogbo, Osun State on Saturday as they staged massive protest to back up their demand. The agitators, mostly made up of youths under the aegis of Omo Oduduwa United led by Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, had converged in Osogbo on Saturday, marching through the streets in agitation for a Yoruba Nation. Also, recent killings of security operatives, security facilities and buildings of government’s agencies in the Southeast and South- south are believed to be linked agitations for the creation of Biafra Republic out of Nigeria as being championed by Nnamdi Kanu led Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB. Clark however told NAN in Abuja that he did not believe in Nigeria’s breakup in spite of rising insecurity and economic challenges in the country. According to him, rather than fan the embers of war by making cessation calls, workable strategies should be evolved to solve the problem of insecurity and other challenges making life unbearable for Nigerians. Clark said, “Nigeria will remain one. Some of us do not believe in the call for secession. Where do we go to, who are we leaving the country for, who owns it. “We cannot flee, where do we go. Though I am seeing this danger but I do not believe that Nigeria will split. “Recently 17 Southern governors met and they also agreed that Nigeria will remain one. They are not just PDP but also APC governors. “Even during the civil war in 1967, we never believed Nigeria would break up and the war eventually ended in 1970. “That was the nearest we got to breaking up but Nigeria did not break up,” he said. Clark advocated for restructuring rather than break up of the country. He referred to reports of the 2014 National Conference and the committee headed by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, saying the recommendations would go a long way. He said, “all we are saying is that we should restructure the country. Let us devolve power to the states. They should be the federating units. “We should refer to the 2014 National Conference report of over 600 recommendations. We do not need to convoke another confab. “The confab report in addition to what APC produced under Gov. Nasir El-rufai’s committee are enough to create a true federal system of government in Nigeria.” Clark stressed that unless Nigeria returned to a federal system of government, as obtained in 1963, the restructuring process would not be complete. “Let us have a federal system of government as we had in 1963. Once that is done, there will be peace in Nigeria. With that, every region will have a State Police. “So, the only cure to the problem of insecurity in Nigeria is to return to the 1963 Constitution with a few amendments.” Clark further said, “I have been in politics for about 70 years in this country and I have seen it all. “In 1960, there was the Independent Constitution, drawn up in Britain by the Whites and Nigerians. “They agreed that this country has more than 250 ethnic nationalities, therefore a unitary form of government will not work and that there should be a federation which we had. “The 1960 constitution made it that every region had its own constitution and develop at their own pace and keep half of what is developed in their area. “That was why Obafemi Awolowo was able to develop the West because we had the cocoa boom at the time. The price of cocoa was very high in the international market. “So he was able to introduce free primary education which other regions could not do at the time.” He blamed the military for the present economic and security challenges faced by Nigerians, saying the military changed into a unitary form of government. “Aguiyi Ironsi changed this country into a unitary government. “It continued until the Army handed over in 1999 and they left behind a unitary form of constitution. “That is why we are facing so much problem as a nation and that is why we are calling for restructuring,” Clark said. On attacks on schools, Clark called for provision of security in and around schools through the building of fences and adequate surveillance. He said that it might not be possible to guard all schools with the few number of security men in the country. He advised that vigilantes could be employed to provide the Police with necessary information in the case of attempted attacks. He, however, kicked against mounting surveillance cameras in schools, saying, “it will not work unless the people are ready to prevent kidnapping and other forms of attacks in schools. “Even if we mount CCTVs they will be compromised as has happened on different occasions in some parts of the country.

US Speaks on Setting Up Hotlines For Reporting Buhari’s Govt Atrocities By Don Majemite

NewsWorld News The US Speaks on Setting Up Hotlines For Reporting Buhari’s Govt Atrocities. The US embassy in Nigeria claims it has not established hotlines to report crimes committed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime. It slammed a social media post claiming that it had established designated phone numbers for reporting terrorism and government abuses in Nigeria as a hoax. See Why On May 4, it was discovered that a Twitter account known as “Helper” posted a tweet on the timeline claiming that the US Department of State has set up hotlines in Nigeria for reporting terrorism and government abuses. Two phone numbers supposedly belonging to the US Department of State were posted by the Twitter user, who has over 6,000 followers. The lines, according to the handler, were set up for Nigerians to contact and report “government terrorism and atrocities. People were also encouraged to retweet the post extensively. “For Nigerian issues, contact the US Department of State at +1 202 647 6575 or +1 202 647 3469. The phone numbers listed above are for reporting our suffering to the Nigerian terrorist government in Washington, DC,” according to the account. The “Helper,” according to its Twitter bio, backs the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which was founded by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The post has also gone viral on Whatsapp, with individuals being asked to save the number and report any killings in the country to the US. “The State Department of the United States of America. For Nigerian issues, dial +1 202 647 6575 or +1 202 647 3469. The WhatsApp message stated, “Save these numbers.” “ISIS, al Qaeda operatives, and secret Boko Haram agents associated to attacks on indigenous people or villages in Nigeria will be of interest to the US State Department if you phone these numbers to report any atrocities committed by the Nigerian government or acts of terrorism known to you or by ISIS, al Qaeda operatives, and secret Boko Haram agents. “Nigerians from the south, Please put your phones to use. Share this post with all persons from the Middle Belt and South Nigeria, Biafra, Yoruba, and other ethnic groups in the UK, Nigeria, and the United States. God bless you for your patriotism.” WERE THESE ‘HOTLINES’ SET UP BY US? In response to the article, The embassy branded the material circulating on social media as a hoax in a tweet posted on the US Mission in Nigeria’s Twitter page. ads 15 The material purportedly coming from the US Department of State, according to Jeanne Clark, spokesperson for the US Mission in Nigeria, is “false.” “In the United States, there are no public calling lines available for these alleged purposes,” Clark said. “While the United States remains committed to preserving human rights in Nigeria and around the world, we do not use a system like to that described in the disinformation you cite.” Read More at : https://ejesgist.com/us-speaks-on-setting-up-hotlines-for-reporting-buharis-govt-atrocities.html

Buhari leaves Abuja for Paris tomorrow -Agency Reports

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Sunday, 16 May depart Abuja for Paris, France, on a four-day official visit. He will be attending the African Finance Summit, which will be focused on reviewing African economy, following shocks from Coronavirus pandemic and getting relief, especially from increased debt burden on countries. The Summit, to be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, will draw major stakeholders in the global finance institutions and some Heads of Government, who will, collectively, discuss external funding and debt treatment for Africa, and private sector reforms. During the visit, President Buhari will meet with the French President to discuss growing security threats in Sahel and Lake Chad region, political relations, economic ties, climate change and partnership in buoying the health sector, …. particularly in checking the spread of Covid-19, with more research and vaccines. Before returning to Nigeria, President Buhari will receive some key players in the oil and gas sector, engineering and telecommunications, European Council and European Union Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Commission, and members of the Nigerian community. The President will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsua Ahmed, Minister of Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, and Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire. Also on the trip are: National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mohammed Monguno (rtd) and Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar. *Aso Rock Statement

APC to release Congresses, National Convention schedule next week - By Jide Orintunsin

The Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to release the timetable for the conduct of congresses and the National Convention of the party before the end of next week. A party source told The Nation that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee to perfect their acts, as he (President) was not ready to entertain any tenure extension. To this end the Caretaker Committee is slated to meet any moment from now to ratify the timetable and the list of members of various committees drawn for the conduct of the congresses and the National Convention. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party at its last meeting in December 8, last year gave the Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee till 30th of June to conduct congresses and the National Convention for the election of new leaders to run the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. The CECPC which was constituted in June last year following the dissolution of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee was initially given six months to reconcile all the various fractions in the party, ensure aggrieved members of the party in court withdrawal all litigations and conduct a National Convention for the emergence of a new NWC. But the Caretaker Committee had to embark on the conduct of a new party register through membership registration, revalidation and update exercise as a precursor for the conduct of a credible national convention. It also used the exercise to clamour and secure additional six months at the December 8, 2020, NEC emergency meeting. A chieftain of the party who spoke in confidence to our Correspondent in Abuja said that the Caretaker Committee in the last two weeks has been compiling names of members of various committees for the conduct of the congresses and the convention. ADVERTISEMENT It was further gathered that the ward, local government and state congresses of the party are tentatively slated for the first two weeks in June, while the national convention is billed for the last weekend of the same month. According to our source, “I can tell you that the coming weeks are loaded for the Caretaker Committee. They (Caretaker Committee) are to release the timetable for congresses and the National Convention after the Sallah break. “Already the list of various committees and sub-committees for the congresses and the National Convention have been drawn. This will also be released after the necessary consultations may have been concluded by the party with those to serve on the committees.” Giving an insight into the schedule for the congresses and the National Convention, our source disclosed, “the tentative arrangement is for the ward, local government and state congresses to hold within the first two weeks of June, while the National Convention is billed for the last weekend of the month. “In the weeks ahead, the Caretaker Committee will be receiving reports of the just concluded nationwide membership registration, revalidation and update exercise from Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello Committee, while the Prof. Tahir Mamman led Constitution Review Committee will also be submitting his report.” READ ALSO: PDP, APC trade words over ex-gov’s aide’s kidnap This development has foreclosed all speculations that the Caretaker Committee may be spoiling for another tenure extension. For members of a pressure group in the party – The Concerned APC Members, the release of the timetable and other activities that will lead to the conduct of the congresses and the National Convention were long overdue. The Bauchi-based spokesperson for the group, Comrade Abdullahi Dauda in a telephone interview on Saturday said party members have been expecting the timetable. “The fact is, many party members have been expecting the timetable since President Muhammadu Buhari told the Caretaker Committee that he will not sit in any meeting for tenure extension for the Mai Mala Buni led Committee. We learnt that Baba’s decision may have forced them to act,” he added.

Insecurity: FG not overwhelmed, has capacity to crush bandits, terrorists –Lai Mohammed. By Kayode Oyero

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says contrary to widespread belief, the Federal Government is not overwhelmed with the escalating insecurity in the country. Mohammad, who spoke at a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, also said the government and its security agencies have the wherewithal in terms of personnel and fire power to crush bandits, insurgents, criminals and other enemies of the Nigerian state. He said, “It is no longer news that our dear nation is facing security challenges. However, I have read comments saying the Federal Government is overwhelmed and doesn’t have a clue as to how to tackle the challenges. Some have even gone as far as suggesting a truncation of the democratic order, a clearly treasonable stance. “Well, I am here today to assure all Nigerians that while the government acknowledges the security challenges we face at this time, from terrorism to kidnapping, banditry and farmer-herder conflict, it is definitely not overwhelmed and indeed it has the wherewithal, as you will see in the days ahead, to confront the challenges headlong and restore law and order, peace and security.” Continuing, the minister said, “One of the most difficult things to do, for a democratically-elected government, is to use the instruments of coercion against its own people. For example, while the nation’s military have superior firepower over the rag tag band of Boko Haram and ISWAP, the terrorists most often than not operate among the populace, either in our villages or towns, hence the military, in tackling them, is usually careful to avoid collateral damage. The same applies to the kidnappers who abduct our school children. “Usually, the location of the kidnappers is not unknown to the security forces, but they still have to exercise caution in order not to hurt the same children they are trying to rescue. Despite these inhibitions, the security forces have the wherewithal to decisively tackle the challenges.” “For the avoidance of doubt, the government retains total confidence in the ability of our security forces to tackle the security challenges we are facing now, whether it is terrorism, banditry, kidnapping or even the farmer-herder conflict. “We therefore appeal to all Nigerians to continue to support our security agencies, who today face the added task of having to watch their backs while working to protect us. The least we can do is to give them our unalloyed support,” he added.