NYSC-Now Your Suffering Continues

Fresh university graduates in Nigeria are obliged by law, since 1973, to serve the country for 12 months, in a location other than their geographical region of origin. This is otherwise referred to as the NYSC-National Youth Service Corps.

Well, I have just approached that stage in my life, and it is only normal that I give it more thought than ever before.

In my first sentence, I emphasized the word ‘serve’. Why, you ask? From my survey only a minute fraction of these service corps actually look forward to ‘serving the nation’. This is simple to explain; patriotic service in this nation gives you a public image of a naïve or unwise person, even if it gives you personal fulfillment. I remember, twice, being the subject of a practical joke (by grown-ups) for using a public waste bin instead of the more convenient floor. “He is still a student”, they said and giggled; which translates to “He is still being taught the ideals in school not knowing how impracticable they are in the real Nigeria”

In spite of this, there are two reasons why graduates go ahead to serve: 1. Certificate of NYSC is a requisite for a lot of job applications; 2. To stay busy straight out of school since you’re probably not yet earning a decent living.

So let me create the familiar scenario of an intending corp member from, say, Anambra State (South-Eastern Nigeria). This means that this corp member would most likely be posted to a northern state say Zamfara State, which has an unfriendly, religious extremist public image. There are 7/10 chances that his primary assignment would be in a remote location in Zamfara. When I say remote, I mean remote. Perhaps, faded cell communication signals or inaccessible transportation (canoes as some ex-corp members experienced). Yet, you’re expected to live on an allowance of N7,500/month, i.e. $52/month, or somewhat above. That explains why a lot of corp members are still dependent on parents and well-wishers. “It’s not all that bad; it’s an experience” some say. On such issues, I’d prefer to learn from someone else’s experience.

Naturally, one of the objectives of NYSC was to foster unity, but I wonder if it has made any impact since inception. Unity, unfortunately, is another ideal concept in Nigeria. Jingoism is zealously projected in the media but deep down in the hearts ethnic separations and diverse beliefs are its greatest enemies. The future seems bleak as to when these enemies may turn around to become strengths.

Now, these enemies as well as the case of my pitiable fictitious corp member, cause a lot of graduates to nurse uncertainties over the NYSC programme. So, what are the defense mechanisms commonly employed?
1. You make an attempt to influence your posting, through officials, to at least a civilized location.
2. You sort out for yourself a convenient primary assignment may be with pecuniary gains or better professional experience; and still act on (1) above.
3. Boycott the entire service, if you have momentous plans for life, and device a means to obtain an NYSC certificate after 12 months
4. If you are a lady, and you’ve gotten spliced, look out for, and enjoy concessionary benefits with regards to posting.
5. Be patriotic; serve the nation even if she is considered undeserving, and ignore opposing opinions. After all, to do what no man has done, you must go where no man has gone.

Nevertheless, I hope to serve my nation soon. The next batch of corp members will start by March, another by September. I hope to be enlisted. I hope to make a difference. I hope I have communicated!!

Afro Hip-hop; made in Nigeria

I was, about 24 hours ago, racking my brain to write on an issue that really summed up 2005 in a social context, and I slapped myself two minutes later in disappointment. How come I even had to ‘rack’? Nigerian hip hop had settled in so nicely that I almost lost sight of the massive leap it experienced this year. Proudly, I tagged it “Afro Hip hop; made in Nigeria”.

So, what made the immediate past year different?
To start with, I must state that hip hop has been in Nigeria. I can’t even guess how long. Most of what I see in the Nigerian artists are styles, concepts, and themes adapted from foreign (especially American) artists. However, the real ingenuity is revealed in the use of pidgin English blended nicely with the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or any other local language, to produce melodies just as nice as any of the foreign ones we have craved all these years. The most improved area of the business was the music videos. The production was television-worthy; I mean internationally. That’s the key for export, and that’s why it was exported. A few Nigerian artists are unbelievably popular and adored in so many African countries; thanks largely to MTV Base, and Channel O who beamed these artists to the world on satellite TV (predominantly DSTV® for Nigerian viewers). Hey! I must also add, to the credits, Soundcity, our local alternative for those of us who do not subscribe to satellite TV.

2Face, D’Banj, P-square, Rugged Man, Faze, Styl-Plus, Ruff Rugged n’Raw, Majek Fashek and a host of others were the star names. In particular, two artists: Sunny Nneji and Lagbaja caught my attention. I singled them out because I can not exactly classify them as hip hop. Sunny Nneji captures highlife in Rhythm and Blues, while Lagbaja does the same to Afrobeat, or Afrocalypso as he calls it. Hence, they both appeal to a wider age range of audience, whereas the others have the bulk of their fans as youths.

2Face was undoubtedly the ‘Revelation of the Year’ as the Kora® Awards puts it. ‘Best African Act’ according to MTV; and that gesture by MTV is probably what shot 2Face well ahead of the others. He is indeed, at the moment, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the game.

Despite all the accolades of the hip hop scene, Lagbaja remains top on my list. A high export value. His concept is unique; the man without a face who speaks for those without a voice. A masked man; the only visible details are his eyes and mouth. That, alone, is sufficient to instigate interest and suspense. The orchestra of percussionists, the brass section, and the melodious coarse voice, defines this persona.

The radio stations had a rich harvest. For once they had good reason to play a lot more local content; an issue encouraged by the government’s regulatory body (NBC). The DJs virtually play Nigerian and the preferred foreign music back-to-back, and most importantly, leaving you still tuned in.

The image which this Afro hip hop portrays creeps up as an afterthought. Is that what music in Nigeria is all about? NO, but it is the popular music because it is unremittingly on the air, which in turn is aligned with our desire as a developing country to keep up with the Joneses. There is a massive variety of Nigerian music out there yet too unrefined for outright popularity, in the commercial sense.

Besides the national football team, Super Eagles, Afro Hip hop might be the proudest ‘Made in Nigeria’ product a lot of youths here can identify with.

Plane crashes galore

“We are at a critical moment in the crossroads of air transportation. We see continuing decline in overall industry quality, and we are nearing complete gridlock at many crucial airports.”
(Brent Bowen, director and professor UN Omaha Aviation Institute/Department of Public Administration, www.aviationaccidentlawnews.ntsb.com)

This isn’t news that is worth celebrating but if you live in Nigeria, at the moment; it’s hard to ignore. Here are the stats so far:

22 Oct 2005 : Bellview Airline crash, or explosion, or whatever fatality. The cause remains unknown to the public almost two months on. Occurred three minutes after takeoff from Lagos enroute to Abuja. Notably some VIP victims, now of blessed memories

Nov 28 2005: Two passengers on a Beechcraft 200 executive jet died when the aircraft on its way to Abuja crashed soon after take off from the Kaduna

10 Dec 2005: Sosoliso Airline crash at PortHarcourt Airport (destination). Occurred just at the landing. Notably, over 50 secondary school kids kicked the bucket. This was the final straw!

This means three local flight crashes in 48 days and over 200 deaths recorded. Yet, the Census 2006 figures will only be reduced minutely!
I almost wept when I had to see parents crying over the death of their kids, on TV. What went wrong? These are not the first instances of crashes in Nigeria, but never has it come in such quick succession. Any suggestions of calling it a ‘fluke’ is quite unpopular at the moment, even though you can never rule out coincidence in life.

However a majority of Nigerians would rather think of coincidence divinely. As I heard a couple of people comment: “God may be telling us something; perhaps we have drifted too far away from him”, and as the President, himself, said: “God allowed it happen…”
From a human point of view, it’s quite unfair; but sorry, this is God’s point of view. I don’t expect the bereaved families to bookmark my last phrase, but ironically, it’s the only genuine consolation they’ve got.

The most impressive thing was the immediate action of the government, insisting on thorough inspection of all local airline operators, as well as suspending flights of two airlines. Erstwhile, I took such proclamations with a pinch of salt. This time I can feel the conviction; the exigency of the decision, supported by public unanimity. Definitely, I expect the favourite action of ‘probing’ officials to still follow.

I have only travelled once by air (within the country), largely owing to cost of air fare, but for the sake of the more frequent passengers, we must be aware of precautions we can take to reduce the fatal risks of air crashes. From my research, this spans from attentiveness to the flight attendant’s pre-flight presentation on use of emergency exits and accompanying manuals (***hoping these are available on our local flights?!***), as well as dress consciousness. Dressing for a flight should not just be based on comfort, rather to minimize risk. Wearing certain materials can keep painful injuries from occurring. For example, wearing synthetic materials can melt under severe heat and burn your skin. Sturdy shoes can protect your feet, and contribute to a safe exit.
Understanding the safety measures you can take while using air travel can save lives should the unlikely event of an airplane crash occur.

Nonetheless, aviation accidents can not be absolutely curbed. Hence, in spite of the sanitization and reassured probity that is expected soon in the aviation industry in Nigeria, the best aim is a maximal reduction in crash per flights statistics. Even if such fatalities become a rarity, we wouldn’t humanly become happier. Historically therefore, if Man must fly, then Man must die.

The Personality of lecturers in the Electronic Engineering Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Analysis of personality of lecturers in the department of Electronic Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

This is intended to be an extremely incisive post. Being a student in this institution; and at the verge of graduation, my eyes have not been closed, and suddenly I feel I have what it takes to champion an analysis of this sort.
Thanks to my love for reading and writing, accompanied with the rigorous training I’ve received at the hands of these lecturers, I intend to tell the story as it is.
Frankness and succinctness will be my watch words in this article. I love all my lecturers, for the avoidance of doubt.

I want to capture the interest of;
(i) Secondary School Leavers who intend to join us at the Department, because they will never get access to ‘real’ information, which is rich in my menu. The JAMB brochures, nor specific Federal University brochures, do not go this far. They offer you general, unrevised information, and allow you experience the rude shock when you matriculate;
(ii) Current undergraduate students in the Department (esp 1st, 2nd & 3rd years) who may not see, standing up, what the adults see even while sitting down. They simply haven’t been around long enough.
(iii) My fellow colleagues, to verify or refute my claims.
(iv) My dear lecturers…………………what would school be without you?
(v) You, reading right now.



1. PROF .C.C. OSUAGWU:

“The Fountain of Knowledge” as he chooses to call himself. A title I wouldn’t want to dispute because you simply can’t be a student here and not have your life influenced in one way or another by him. This probably accounts for his popularity within and outside the Department, not to mention his academic achievement as a “Professor”.
An expert in Microprocessor Systems. How he manages to keep up-to-date with the ever-changing world of microcomputers remains a mystery, being that I rarely see him around this wonderful device, nor in such public ‘utilities’ as cybercafés, where you may spot one or two of his colleagues. Sometimes it’s a common joke that we are taught extreme computer expertise by an utter non-computer user.

I have to hand him the best teaching techniques I have seen anybody device for such a large crowd of students, giving the obvious limitations of our Educational System. One only wonders what an excellent grooming of students would occur had the crowd been a manageable number. Personally, if all other lecturers taught the way he did, a First Class CGPA would have been an average student’s target.
He definitely keeps the hard-working student very busy. Research assignments and discursive classroom lectures have been his renowned qualities.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m alone on this opinion, but though he be a great orator, he seems to have developed talking as a hobby, such that sometimes, in class, the words coming out may become surplus, unnecessary clichés, and annoying!

However such excellent talking prowess seems to have endeared him to the female folks. It’s a common and non-perturbing sight to see one female student or the other marching out from the colossal Computer Communication Center. Wow! I mean they seem to enjoy his company so much. The naïve thinker may want to imagine immoral professional ethics violation, but I think the personality of power and invincibility he has developed in academic circles seems irresistible to today’s undergraduate ladies who like a reliable solution in anticipation of troubles which always come their way, especially in the masculine world of Engineering. A ladies man you are, Sir!


2. PROF. A.N.NZEAKO:

The only other Professor in the Department. Currently, the Head of Department. Well known for his favourite teaching method of anologies between Engineering Systems and Man. I’ll always remember his statement that, “God created man in His image and likeness; Man created computer in his image and likeness.”
An expert of Control and Systems Engineering, but sometimes it may be difficult to distinguish his lecture sessions from a lecture in Philosophy or Sociology. Has a very hard line view against the current trend of religious fanaticism on campus and in Nigeria as a whole, as well as other social spheres of life, and politics.

I must commend his somewhat athletic build, even at his age. Has a characteristic forceful poise, and is a lover of cars; uses a few of them interchangeably unlike his colleagues.

He doesn’t seem to get close to students. I doubt if he could identify at least ten out of the two hundred students in my class, facially or by names. His relationship with students obviously ends in the classroom. Nevertheless he identifies with a few; the origin of such relationships I am unknowledgeable and uninterested.

He his also reputed for making a lot of mathematical errors on the board, while teaching. Even though he his ever apologetic about them, you can’t help but notice that they could be avoided to save some professorial integrity. I mean, a quick look into a book while teaching, or proper pre-lecture preparations wouldn’t hurt. Or could it be an aging factor?

3. DR.C.I. ANI:

Physically you can’t help but notice his whitened hair; more an indication of his belief or style than of age. Exhibits a very diplomatic manner of approach, good command of the English Language, and somewhat reserved.

He spearheads all courses relevant to Communication Networks. Generally, seen as a knowledgeable and good teacher, but he has refused to resign his age-long beliefs that mathematical problems should not be solved in class. This leaves students at the utter mercy of the unavailable textbooks, or gurus in their class, or worst still practicing how to solve those problems during the actual exam. Sir, just one example would do, please! Lest I forget, this makes him a suitable candidate for one of the lecturers dreaded for their examinations.

His lecture periods are usually the most serious; hardly is there time for comic relief or digressions. This is a hundred percent lecture session. However, this allows him to utilize efficiently his teaching time. Hence he rarely sees the need to fix lectures at unscheduled periods, like others do.

An extreme conformist at times. Has absolute respect for public holidays, and other officially designated lecture-free periods. In the third year class, he has maintained a tradition of a viva vocé accompanied by a check on taken class notes for every student.


This is funny; but I have a hunch he’s in a very romantic marriage. You can always see his wife drive him to his office almost on a daily basis. How lovely!


5. DR. OPARAKU:
It’s amazing that even after five years I have not been around long enough to write on this personality.

Currently, the Director of the Energy Research Institute on campus. Ever since this appointment, and even prior, he developed a phobia for the classroom. Thanks to this personality, I now know what it feels like to write an exam without any, or minimal, contact with the lecturer, even when you register as a full-time student.

He is identified as a religious person. However what you will definitely see is a fair, lethargic, but calm, figure, chauffeured in a grayish Peugeot 406.

Professionally, he is well-read in Semiconductors, Solid-State Electronics, and Crystal logy, but doesn’t seem to do a good job in transferring that knowledge. Whenever he attempts to lecture, they are rather dreary, to say the least.


6. DR T. NWODOH:

The newest member of staff. Accorded an almost messianic status (when heralded by Prof. Osuagwu) on his debut lecture.

He introduced VHDL (Very High Speed IC Hardware Description Language) to us, and a very contemporary approach to digital designs, like we had never seen before. This certainly justified our expectations of a lecturer, who was recently at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

Nevertheless, some of his attributes like stammering, and an outrageous obese stomach, have incited more distractions in class than learning.

He is due to commence full duties as a lecturer next session. Owing to the completion of my studies by that time, I won’t be one of his students (at least not too soon), but the interesting and viable designs he intends to teach should endear students to him.


7. ENGR. J.I. ANOKWULU:

This is an exceptionally peculiar personality; the Radio and TV Engineering specialist. Judging from his strides and behaviour, he could pass for a septuagenarian, but it’s highly unlikely he’s attained such a feat.

Well-known for non-punctuality to lectures, as well as outright absence, and consequently often unofficially scheduling lectures. More recently, is his attitude of selling lecture handouts which the students never see.

His lecture sessions are characterized by inaudibility and lifelessness; yet we may be in attendance because an exam is to be passed.
However he is an extremely approachable lecturer, and has a knack of diverting all consultations to his home rather than his office?! Hence it’s really difficult to track him down in the department.

It seems to me he’s despondent with a career as a lecturer.


8. ENGR. M.A. AHANEKU:

Has only been a member of staff for two academic sessions; handles Telecommunications-related courses.
His teaching techniques are characterized by dictating notes, or strict conformance to a particular lecture material or textbook, which apparently seems favourable to most students, whose sole aim is to pass exams.
His lecture sessions are never devoid of laughter, mostly associated with his witty remarks and obvious phonological interference.

Amazingly, unlike others, this personality can actually identify a majority of students in my class, facially and by names.
He creates an environment that is usually friendly for students to interact with him, and as expected, it has been well exploited, and one can’t help but think it’s costing him a loss of respect in certain areas.


9. ENGR. NATHAN DAVID:

Arguably the youngest lecturer, and still a bachelor; an eligible one. Normally involved with courses in Digital computer systems, Microprocessor-based designs, and aspects of Networking.

The obvious distinction, here, is that this personality is a half-caste; of a paternal Indian descent.

He also fancies dictation of notes, and periodic issuance of lecture notes as teaching techniques. Generally, he tends to be a fast talker, and accompanied with his inherent phonological interference, comprehension becomes a tall task for a few students. Quite knowledgeable in his field of study, but he isn’t endowed with patience; a crucial tool for educators.

Ever since his arrival at the department, exam invigilation has been top-notch, like never before (since my first year). Yet this very commendation seems to be the bane of enmity which has developed between him and students who turn out culprits at exams. This is largely understandable, but it takes an ironic posture with the overt relationships he keeps with certain other students, in a very amateurish manner.