Last week, the University of Lagos announced that it has produced a First Class graduate by name: Daniel Dada Ayodele, from the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, with a CGPA of 5.00.
Nice one! and kudos to the kid for such an unprecedented display of academic excellence but in the real sense, I am not really inspired and I will tell you why.
On University convocation days, the insightfully impecunious Nigerian system has designed it to be a day when first class graduates are being enunciated from the realm of productive thinking and initiated into the world of corporate slavery. They become automatic employees to the school drop outs or the third class graduates instead of being harnessed and mentored into employers of labour.
I am not insinuating that graduating with a first class is not a laudable feat but if the homosapien behind the degree is bereft of how his or her academic excellence can foster sustainable development especially in the sub Saharan Africa, then I want to state unequivocally that the degree hitherto is utterly useless.There has been a compass evolution in the true definition of success especially in this century and having a First class certificate is not close to the corridors of that chart.
I have always been a principality when it comes to academic prowess but I have refused to allow my schooling affect my education. I have been offered several merit awards and scholarships for academic excellence but I do not term them as success because they do not have a direct impact on the society.
Steve jobs says and I quote
"If all Steve gets for academic excellence is a standing ovation and a job, then give Steve poor grades so that he can keep creating more jobs".
The future of Africa rests upon we the youths and until we begin to provide viable solutions and assist the government in variegating the economy, there can never be any meaningful sustainable development.
A man is said to be successful when he makes the society successful.
A man can only make the society successful when his mind is educated.
A man can only be said to be educated not by having a first class degree but when he can learn, unlearn and relearn for societal development.
#ThinkingThoughts!
#TickTock!
EndieUMUNNA.
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