The Convocation Ceremony that Excludes Some

-
If you are a Nigerian, you cannot dispute the absence of a Nigerian factor in virtually every aspect of our lives. The Nigerian factor is capable of just anything. It is the Nigerian factor that makes it possible for one to score as high as 250 on a scale of 400 in UTME but is unable to secure an admission into a tertiary institution. If it is not on the basis of catchment area, it would be that you were possibly dropped in favour of some other candidate who comes from an “educationally disadvantaged state”. The Nigerian factor is indeed a reality. Amidst all these, candidates still struggle to secure a slot every single year.


As a graduate of a public school in Nigeria, there are things you can easily relate with. That you learn in an overpopulated class with little ventilation is one of them. That you do numerous “practicals” and yet have little or no opportunity to lay your hands on the apparatus is another.  That some lecturers walk into the class to teach without recourse to whether or not the students understand is yet another heartbreaking one. Did I dare forget  the numerous ASUU, NASU and SSANU strikes? I dare not.

Despite these challenges, millions of graduates are churned out from these public schools every year. Some with first class degrees, some second class, some third class degrees.

Isn’t it crazy that going through these challenges, expectations are not always fully maximized?


There are expectations that come with attending higher institutions whether private or public. One of which is being able to solve a problem. After leaving school, one ought to make good of the knowledge gathered to make an impact in one field or the other. This is not always the case as some expectations are cut short. Many persons die as students and some do not live long enough to make good use of these skills gathered in the past years. We would  all die one day, wouldn’t we?  When? That becomes the problem.


And so, there is a Goodnews in my class, he made a first class and being the only first class student in my class, all eyes would naturally be on him. Few months after graduation, he dies. Just while we were still in shock of his death, another Marvelous classmate of mine who ought to be convoking on the 29th of March 2019  would instead be buried on that day. A  quite appalling situation if you ask me. I questioned God and I know many persons did the same too. Many questions ran through my mind. Who am I to interrogate GOD? Rest in Peace Goodnews. Rest in Peace Marvellous. Rest in Peace to other fallen heroes.



Nevertheless, I'll cease this opportunity to wish all the graduates of the University of Port Harcourt, particularly the graduates of English studies department a happy convocation ceremony. Against all odds, we came, saw and by God’s unfailing grace, we conquered! We need to be grateful at every point in our lives. I bet you, those that died hoped for this day but didn't live to actualize it. You did. GLORY!
Congratulations !!!💃💃💃








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Did You Know?

-
Image
The United Nations sets out March 14th every year to celebrate World Kidney day. In Nigeria, it is estimated that 18,000 patients need dialysis yearly and about 25 million Nigerians have kidney failure . https://m.guardian.ng/news/25m-Nigerians-have-kidney-failure-says-nephrologists/  Did you know that for over a decade, the Aminu Kano teaching hospital has been into the business of giving patients with Kidney failure another chance of living through successful Kidney transplants. Not many persons or hospitals know about this. Just last year, a woman I know had kidney failure and the best the hospital could do was to place her on dialysis while advising the family to take her abroad for a transplant. When I came back home during Christmas and was told the cause of the death, I was very disappointed. Disappointed that a teaching hospital could not do a Kidney transplant and disappointed that I could have done something about it after all. I felt the regret in the eyes of the bere...
Read more

Quick Tips for Prospective Corp Members.

-
Image
Dear prospective corp members, you are about to get into one of the most stressful weeks of your life. The next three weeks you are going to spend in camp would be one you would never forget in a hurry. Without trying to scare you, you should get ready for a strictly regimented and militarized lifestyle immediately you step into camp. Life on camp is similar to life in a military regime. Did I just say that? First, if you are the type that wakes up very late in the morning, then get ready because you might just get into trouble with the soldiers. As early as 5:30 am, you should be on the parade ground. Well, if you think you didn’t have enough sleep, not to worry. You could continue at the parade ground. I for one slept on the parade ground while standing. You can do it too.  After parade, you’re given some minutes to take breakfast and get yourself ready for one activity or another. In camp, there’s very little or no time for personal upkeep which is why most persons had thei...
Read more

The Leftie Myth

-
In the part of the world where I come from, using your left hand to receive or give something to someone (especially an elder) is more or less seen as a taboo. Two things they say: you're not respectful and your mother didn't train you well. They cast aspersions on the left hand and ascribe negativism to everything that has to do with the left. Have you heard this saying "you woke up from the left side of the bed"? This is not very far away from the myth that asserts my original stance. So waking from the left side means you're automatically going to have a bad day. Have you also heard the myth that insinuates that giving a toast with your left hand is the same as placing a curse on the person you're saluting? Oh well, my mum said I had the tendency of using my left hand since I was an infant. She watched how I consistently used the hand with so  much vigour and power. She was convinced that she had given birth to an "Onye aka ikpa" and there was ...
Read more