The National Universities Commission (NUC) has informed necessary government agencies that two new universities have been created in Lagos state. The schools are Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUST) Ikorodu, and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) Ijanikin.
LASUST came from Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) while LASUED was a concatenation of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Ijanikin, and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED) Epe.
Did you notice something? Lagos State has weaned itself off colleges of education and polytechnics, thereby fixing the national paralysis where polytechnic graduates are treated unfairly. This is a very bold call by Governor Sanwo-Olu and one I support 100%.
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If Nigeria cannot fix this HND-BSc dichotomy, the best option is to phase out polytechnics and colleges of education. Lagos State has drawn the first blood, I expect other states to follow. Just like that, we will be out of HND-awarding polytechnics even though the OND levels remain fair.
Simply, there is no need preparing young people only to frustrate their careers because of papers their nation gave them. If HND cannot equal BSc, close all polytechnics or better, convert them to universities! The Americans have translated Nigeria HND qualifications as full degree equivalents even when the nation which awards them does not offer the same blessing.
So, with the Lagos state government phasing out the whole distraction, it is either the National Assembly fixes it or everyone follows the same path. Yes, more universities, no matter the quality. But it is all good as everyone comes with the same paper and can compete from the same starting point.
I experienced this unfairness as a young banker in Lagos. I was put to manage more than 53 people, merely HND and OND graduates. Some of the people I was to supervise had been in the bank before I wrote JAMB. Yet, I was the boss, even though they were teaching me the job! I earned multiples more than them. And I felt that it was simply not fair. Nigeria has to change that and Governor Sanwo-Olu is leading therein.
Mr Sanwo-Olu said converting LASPOTECH to University of Science and Technology will bring about innovative engineering, science invention and other innovations that are critical to the development of the country and the state.
He said the two additional universities will assist in meeting the demands and needs of teeming youths.
“It is about the future of our citizens. It is about the future of our youths, who truly believe in us to do the right thing. It is about our commitment to taking tertiary education to a level that all of us would be proud of. It is all around ensuring that we give hope and opportunity to our teeming youths that believe in us to do the right thing.
“We are giving a commitment that what we have done in LASU, we will also replicate it in the two universities. We will ensure that the two great children that we are giving birth to today are not left alone. All of the various development infrastructure; human and materials that are required to make the universities one of the best in the country, Lagos State would make those resources available for them.
“We say this with every sense of responsibility, knowing fully-well what we are doing in LASU, the level of infrastructure we are putting into erstwhile polytechnic and colleges of education, we would double up those efforts at ensuring that they can turn into great citadels of higher learning and universities that would be reference points in the years ahead.”
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Has Nigeria ever fixed anything? Converting polytechnics and colleges of education to universities doesn’t solve any major problem, because those with university degrees are not problem free, we specialise in painting job, but never great at foundations and structural development, of course the result is visible everywhere.
The dichotomy of Bachelors/HND comes from where: government jobs or private establishments? The former is exactly why Nigeria is in big mess, because we prepare a whole generation with a certificate that is only great at securing you job where you do nothing, that is why we remain confused as to how to manage both certificates.
When you now hear that university graduates earn less than or a minimum wage, what would be the reactions? We will likely shout and then scream, ‘how can you pay graduate such meagre wage?’ Well, the people that ought to earn meagre wages are now carrying degree certificates, but the meagre wage jobs and companies that pay them haven’t disappeared, and they still need to hire! Do you see why we are atrocious at problem-solving? Our thinking is so shallow that we mistake branding for development.
We changed NEPA to PHCN, and then amalgam of acronyms, how far with our energy level?