I went to an elite school – one of the then top Federal Government Colleges in Nigeria. Our school was established as a way to promote unity of the country. At school, we worked hard at our academics. We had great teachers who took time to build children of the future. I am not sure we have taken the country by storm. We have however contributed to the growth and development of Nigeria, UK, USA and Canada to say the list.
In school, our social events include traditional dances, and some show of social talents. I cannot recall any exhibition of creativity or innovation.
I have since grown to be a mother of three children. They attend top private schools for their secondary school and A levels. These schools always show off creativity and innovation when parents gather. They share with us how the kids have won laurels and how they continue to excel through in-school and out-of-school activities.
I went for the 40th anniversary celebration of my alma mata. Of course, we were entertained with traditional dances. In addition, girls showed off some of the dresses they had sown for themselves. The teachers spoke in English and whenever an alternative language was spoken, it was Yoruba. Of the six times prayers were offered, only once was the prayer led by a muslim. Once during the event, we had to force the master of ceremony to recognize the head of the alumni as a woman. He chose of say Madam Chairman and not Mr Chairman only after what could have turned into a riotous moment. The day ended with the crowning of a beauty queen.
A sat through the process and I wondered, the school had evolved over the 40 years to become less friendly to diversity, equity and inclusiveness. It pays lip service to these songs but have nothing to show for it. The school does not treasure innovation and creativity. It has nothing to show for it. Yes, we bought the story book written by a student – a burst of difference I guess.
For me, 40 years later, we had no significant difference in the girls, their activities, a pointer to their future that suggest they are anything different from what the school was 40 years earlier.
I think, where and how is Nigeria going to produce the matches of the new generation of leaders we see – the stories of Austria, New Zealand, Canada, France, and Luxembourg. What system is in place to produce these young leaders who are products of creative and innovative minds that impact significantly on the world? Great private schools sadly are not as they produce students that 90% of their students are exported to developed countries for their university educations. No, we hardly can look that way for help.
All of a sudden I feel tired and wonder what more investment we can make to drive the needed change. I think we can. However the changes need to be radical as the world is not waiting. If we are still 40 years the same, the prospect for 40 years different looks less likely.