Inside national library of outdated books

ADE ADESOMOJU reports that readers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja crave for a functional national library

It was the Monday after the weekend the Congo national team defeated the Nigerian Super Eagles in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, in an African Cup of Nations qualifier. The highlight of the match was being shown on a TV set mounted on the wall outside the main building of the National Library in Garki, Area 2, Abuja.

But the supposed spectators were about 20 persons who were using a make-shift reading space outside the library for study.Cont'd at The Punch

For History, Zoology, Agriculture, it’s going, going…

Several courses in Nigerian universities are undersubscribed and on the verge of extinction, CHARLES ABAH reports

When a personality such as a vice-chancellor speaks on an education issue, people are bound to listen to him with keen interest. His listeners have every reason to do so. After all, a VC is not just an average person; he is someone who has enough academic information at his disposal, especially as he has attained the pinnacle of teaching, learning and administration.

Therefore, when the VC of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, raises the alarm about the uninspiring manner Nigerians are responding to the study of certain courses, his concern calls for deeper reflection and attention.Cont'd at The Punch

Nigerian elite bury their public schools

Discrimination against public schools puts many ‘unfortunate’ children at the mercy of low-quality education, FOLASHADE ADEBAYO writes

The Golden Jubilee Library in Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State has the wear and tear of several seasons. Books have largely left the shelves of the 31-year-old library while its glass doors and windows, broken in several places, tell a vivid story of a conquered facility.

During a visit to the school by our correspondent on Monday, three bags of cement sitting on a table in the front of the dusty main hall mocked the concept of true civilisation. In another part of the white building – the conference room was a rickety table.

Cont'd at The Punch

54 years after, TBS a shadow of itself

GEOFF IYATSE captures the decadence that characterises the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, which used to be a pride of Nigerian independence

At the Tafawa Balewa Square, there is, interestingly, something admirable to grin at. A sparkling painted Banqueting Hall now stands a few metres away from the old Defence Headquarters. It is within the neighbourhood of the TBS, a monument past leaders proudly named after the country’s first head of state. Though small and tucked away from the humming main arena of the complex, it is, somewhat, a sharp contrast to the other parts of the complex, which are in a deplorable condition.

Otherwise, the once adorned TBS is sickening memory of the hard-earned independence. As Nigerians across the country lament the dwindling fortune of the country, wondering whether it has not failed nearly five and half decades after it attained independence, the condition of the stand where the country’s flag was hoisted raised questions as to whether the subsequent generations valued the freedom beyond the ritual of lip service.

Whereas similar historic sites in different climes are preserved as tourist destinations, the TBS, which many agree, is about the most outstanding Nigeria’s heritage,   now serves as petty traders centres and a parking lot.

It had been in this condition before the Federal Government put it up for lease in a controversial manner. The civil society community did move against the planned concession, arguing that it was a national heritage of unequal importance whose fate should not be decided by capitalists. But the government insisted a concession would improve its lot and better protect it against sundry abuses.

After years of squabble and even protest, the government dismissed dissenting voices as self-serving and went ahead with a concession plan that saw BHS International Limited emerging the winner. The company, under the chairmanship of the late Fred Archibong, secured an initial 30-year concession agreement.

Cont'd at The Punch

No Independence Day for Chibok girls

It is Independence Day. Today, Nigeria marks her 54th anniversary as a sovereign nation. As expected, the occasion calls for celebration. Nigerians are traditionally easy-going and fun loving. Every October 1, there is an opportunity for the people to gather together, irrespective of tribe and creed, to celebrate the common cord that binds them together as one nation. On such an occasion, there is much felicitation across the country and a chance to appreciate the labours of the nation’s past heroes.

Unfortunately, not many children will be opportune to witness or participate in this year’s celebrations. They include the 218 pupils of the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, still held in the captivity of the violent Islamic sect known as the Boko Haram.

Cont'd at The Punch...

Of bigger economy and leaner citizens

Fifty-four years after independence, the majority of the citizens are not better off despite a huge leap in the size of the economy, EVEREST AMAEFULE writes

It was a Sunday. There was an important gathering in the nation’s capital. It was not a Christian worship service, but those who manage the economy had gathered to break a cheering piece of news. That Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale, had an important announcement to make to the world.

Specifically, on April 6, 2014, Kale announced to the world the result of the rebasing of the country’s Gross Domestic Product; a process that was carried out by independent consultants with support from the World Bank.

He announced that the nation’s GDP stood at $510bn (later adjusted to $522bn). By that statistical exercise, Nigeria became the largest economy in Africa. The nearest economy by size was South Africa’s, which stood at $350.6bn.

Cont'd at The Punch...

Sports in epileptic state

"I have been to Rio de Janeiro to see the Maracana stadium sitting 250, 000 fans then. I’ve also been to Niger and the Stade Seyni Kountche is a fantastic stadium. But I have not seen anything special about our sports development as far as infrastructure is concerned,” veteran sports journalist, Segun Adenuga, summed up his assessment of sports in Nigeria, 54 years after the country gained independence from the British.

Indeed the poor state of the country’s sports facilities in the last 54 years have been worrisome despite the individual brilliance of the sportsmen and women. Even the once functional facilities like the Naitonal Stadium, Lagos, have been converted to non-sporting activities.

“It gives me a lot of worries because a National Stadium (Lagos) shouldn’t be a place for worship, where Christians and muslims congregate and pray. It’s a sports edifice built for that purpose and whoever is encouraging that should stop that. I am not antagonising any religion but we should do what is expected of us. You won’t see anybody preaching at the Wembley stadium,” Adenuga, a former reporter with The PUNCH, added.

“We need to have sports facilities. Samuel Ogbemudia did something with Afuze and he is still alive. Somebody should go to Ogbemudia and learn a lesson from him irrespective of his political affiliation. I think a lot is lacking and it is a societal malady.”

Nigeria was touted to become a global powerhouse as far as sports was concerned, when the country gained independence in 1960. What with the performances of the likes of long jumper Emmanuel Ifeajuna, who became the first Black African to win a gold medal at an international sports event when he won the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

...Cont'd at The Punch