by Cheta Nwanze

Nigeria does not have nearly enough people with technical skills. I daresay it as gotten worse in the last year, being that those who get the vocational training have been on enforced holiday. Meanwhile, on another hand, some of their age-mates yesterday chose to go and set firewood in front of the Lagos blazer’s office.

Two years ago, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos state’s bricklayer, came under fire for the cost of road construction in the city, which, according to his detractors, is among the highest in the world. In his defence, Dr. Hamzat pointed to the (now completed) Ikoyi-Lekki Bridge, and mused that Lagos had to import artisans such as welders, in order to make sure that the bridge was done right. This answer caused a lot of outrage, but in all of that hubris, we missed the big elephant in the room. Nigeria does not have nearly enough people with technical skills. I daresay it as gotten worse in the last year, being that those who get the vocational training have been on enforced holiday. Meanwhile, on another hand, some of their age-mates yesterday chose to go and set firewood in front of the Lagos blazer’s office.

It is to Mr. Fashola’s credit that he was calm about the situation. I wouldn’t be so were I the Lagos blazer, but then, maybe that’s why I’m not, in addition to being an Igbo man (realities of Nigeria sadly). But let’s face some hard facts: higher education is a) not for everyone b) very expensive and c) Nigeria needs a lot more in infrastructure, so more people need to get vocational and technical education, not more people in universities. But given that we tend to do a lot of things upside down, should anyone be surprised?

Take as an example, the separatists who want to form their own country, led by someone who defines himself as a Barrister. I’d have thought that being so “learned”, he’d have informed his people that there are legal ways to undertake such exercises, so as not to make them exercises in futility. First, you get enough people to make enough noise and be recognised as a legitimate political movement, then you force a referendum. It takes a lot of work to do that, it takes a lot of patience, it takes a lot of thinking. Thinking, is something that our entire educational system, at this point in time sadly, does not equip our people to do. In a sane country, the full weight of the law would be brought down on these characters from yesterday, but in Nigeria, we’d forgive them, and probably hand over some territory to them.

Bits and Bobs
The new tie at the glass building has told us that his regime will be distinctly pro-people. Being that it’s impossible to get a loan from where he’s coming, I wonder how this leopard will pull off a spot change. Guys in khaki have clamped a girl-child for spying for #BokoHaram. Well, going by the proclivities of some of our lawmakers, she’s actually an adult, so responsible for her actions. Those chaps getting paid huge sums for having a chat want to give civil servants more public holidays. Breaking in the last few minutes, the Emir of Kano has passed away.

Right of Reply
Austin wrote,
And to think that my 36 year old Benin wife who was born and bred in Lagos, works in Lagos (and probably has payed more tax than ignoramoses like Ade pedro and Segun Balogun) can’t freely vie for political office is the tragedy of this country of ours. It may take a while, but am still hopeful that reality will make us accept this very logical sense of life one day, that people should actually claim where they where born, live, work and pay their tax!

Dapo Okubanjo wrote,
The way Ambode’s original state of origin is raising dust is unfortunate but I don’t understand why it’s an issue.Is it because it’s Lagos?

it’s sad but true that no where in Nigeria would people not raise eyebrow if they suspect that a “non indigene” is eyeing the government house.

That’s also why we can’t successfully have a Fashola/Oby or a Duke/Fashola presidential ticket in 2014 Nigeria.

Curiously Nigerians won’t mind an all Igbo or Edo/Delta Super Eagles provided they have a long winning streak (US 94 or the Atlanta Olympics soccer team were close to that)
Now, I don’t know how we got to this point but I think it began with elite manipulation and that’s why hardly would you see a Northern youth that’s not opposed to GEJ (at least on twitter).

Yes GEJ is “clueless” to many of them but would they back a Donald Duke(@Xeenarh flew this kite recently but it didn’t trend) or is it a Northern president or nothing. I pray we don’t walk down the path of Rwanda.
And sorry I had to move from the Ambode issue(state of origin) to ethnicity at the centre because I don’t think there’s too much difference.

Chxta responds,
After Big Boss won the Nations Cup in South Africa last year, the House of Assembly in Kwara started asking questions as to why there are no Kwara indigenes in the Papa Eagles.

Lolade Nwanze wrote,
Chxta stop quarrelling with your readers. Was gonna caution you yest . now today you’ve gone a notch higher. Stop. Its unnecessary.

Chxta whimpers,

Choi! The wife has spoken.

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.