Awo

By Fred Igbeare

The man was so controversial he drew fervent reactions from his friends and foes alike.  His opponents called him a tribalist and a leftist.  His supporters praised him as a sage and a visionary.  Few today could argue successfully against this: Chief Obafemi Awolowo hit the bull’s eye on education!

As we mark the 20th anniversary of his death, Chief Awolowo’s policy on education cannot be ignored.  An imperfect man and a Nigerian ‘founding father’, he wanted free education for all.  Yes, all Nigerians, not just those from his immediate neighborhood! 

In the western region of Nigeria, the beloved and hated leader found a promising environment to apply his educational policy.  That region’s impressive intellectual capital today can be traced largely to Awo’s policy.  He gave many grateful people opportunities to rise above destitution.  A lack of education can limit one’s potential to advance in life.  This deprivation almost invariably ends in poverty. 

A society that educates only a few of its citizens also limits its own potential to advance among other nations.  Ignorance is not bliss because what you don’t know can kill you!  A country filled with ignorant people is doomed to keep making ill-informed decisions.  For external or internal forces, that country is much easier to dominate or colonize.

What would Nigeria be like today if the whole country had come under Awo’s free education policy?  It is not quite clear.  And that’s not because Awo’s policy was bad.  It is because educational content and policy implementation matter.  Quantity can be good, but without quality, the education may be of questionable value.  Misdirected education moreover can be almost as bad as ignorance.  Add that to the less than perfect implementation of a noble policy, and you give ammunition to opponents of Awo’s idea. 

Nigeria nonetheless would be better off making education available and affordable to everyone at all levels.  The quality or content can be improved, with better implementation worked out over time.  Think of what increasing the number of educated Nigerians could mean: a more astute and politically aware public.  We are still suffering the effects of widespread rigging in the recent elections.  An advanced degree understandably would not discourage someone bent on rigging from doing so.  But a rigger would find fewer followers when the electorate understands how empowering free and fair elections can be. 

In science and technology, the benefits of free education may be clearer.  Nigeria would have a much greater pool to draw from to solve its compelling problems.  There is no shortage of problems in electricity, food, health, shelter, etc.  A point worthy of note: progress here cannot be isolated from an enabling political, social or economic environment.  Great ideas to meet these needs, for instance, that don’t receive financing, would probably not see the light of day. 

What this realization entails is a free education system that values content (and quality) as much as quantity.  The system has to produce outstanding financiers, entrepreneurs, innovators and others equipped to deal with Nigeria’s compelling needs.  Things would fall apart if the educational system does not also produce incorruptible politicians who are competent!  As present-day Nigeria reveals, politics pretty much drives everything else.  Bad politicians make for a bad and destitute country!

The Political Rights & Duties course would ensure that students understand the Nigerian Constitution and are “aware of their civic rights and responsibilities”.  Students would be trained to “exercise their power to organize and change governments”.  

Under Entrepreneurship, each student would “learn how to start and sustain a business”.  The goal here would be to empower people to become self-employed in greater numbers and with better business acumen.  Small businesses especially need great infusion of 1) intellectual capital and 2) financial capital.  The educational system can supply the first, while government-guaranteed loans could jump-start the second.   

In the Skills segment, students would graduate with "at least a specific skill useful for setting up small businesses". With Science and Technology emphasized, the training could cover carpentry, construction, plumbing, farming, PCs, electronics, etc.  A practicum component would provide the students with hands-on expertise.  To partly offset the cost of education, this component could involve offering goods and services from the practicum for sale.  

Chief Awolowo has given us all food for thought.  We should not let the opportunity to build on his educational policy slip away.  We can criticize it.  We can learn from it.  We can improve it. But we cannot ignore it!

(fredlintaz@yahoo.com)

Robot  Villager

# 1 var sbtitle1562=encodeURIComponent(Awo); var ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 06.05.2007 15:55

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 2 Very few can argue about the great qualities of Awo. I was an ardent follower of the late sage until his demise. But your focusing on his education legacy started me thinking. One great beneficiary of Awo's education is Ekiti State. The people whole heartedly embraced the programme and, as such, we have so many educated people in that part of the Country. But has that high level of educated citizens been translated into any significant improvement in the way the people are administered? I guess not. Has it significantly impacted on the level of living of the people? I don't think so. Has it made it difficult for "do-or-die" politicians to rig their way to power? Not on your life. What then is the benefit of their education when they are not better than their uneducated brothers in Zamfara or Katsina? The Ibo man realized long ago that education does not speak, but Naira does and many of them decided to dump schools for business. Today, they are being vindicated. You have multi millionaire businessmen who are barely educated. If they like the apellation of Dr. they can easily buy one from Oluwole or any of those mushrooming Universities in the country. Dangote sits atop one of the biggest business empire in Nigeria today without so much education, ditto for Sir Igbinedion while the many professors in Ekiti are wearing "dirty ties" in the Universities. Until education can be practically demonstrated to be better than non education, many will not see reason for investing in it. Maybe that explains why Awo's manifesto was not acceptable Nationwide. Posted by Mikky jaga| 07.05.2007 06:23

tanibaba  Villager

# 3 Thank you for this beautiful piece. I agree with you completely that we need to revisit education urgently. We have to make it available to every Nigerian child irrespective of tribe or religion. Do you know that Awo's free education policy was attacked severally by the ruling party in the second republic and they promised us "QUALITATIVE EDUCATION" which was alive only on the pages of newspapers. I have read most of Awo's books (voice of reason, voice of wisdom, voice of courage etc) It is amazing that he had provided blueprints for solving most of the problems that we encounter today - fiscal federalism, revenue allocation, resource control, ethnicity etc. It is amazing. But how problems will continue to be with us until we realise that every Nigerian or friend of Nigeria who has something to contribute should be given a chance. Chief Awolowo did not have the opportunity to rule Nigeria not because of his inability but the fact that Nigerians did not want him to rule. I was opportuned to gain an insight into the struggle between power and development during the second republic. A senior member of the then ruling party was asked to make comments about Awolowo. He said : we are all certain that he is the best leader that the country should have. His credentials and abilities are not in doubt. However, for us, it is a choice between national development and personal freedom. This is because if Awolowo becomes the President, half of us if not all will be in jail (this is a close representation of the exact words) This conflict between the liberties of a few powerful Nigerians and the development of the nation (as is desired by so many) is a major problem begging for analysis and resolution. Until this is done, Nigeria may not get to the promised land. It is a real problem. For me i have learnt an important lesson from the response of this Nigerian leader. That i should not condemn or criticise any leader just because others are doing so. I carry out my analysis and with the information available to me make my own decision. Indeed if some of the critics tell you their intentions you will indeed discover that you are nothing but a "willing accomplice" ! Once again thank you for this beautiful piece and i hope you will look at other aspects of the Awo legacy. taslim Posted by tanibaba| 07.05.2007 06:38