JOKER OF THE DAY (NIGERIA, EDUCATION)
Only recently, the Federal Executive Council of the Nigerian Government, at the end of one of her weekly deliberations announced plans for the establishment of six new universities, across the six Geo-political zones of the country i.e. one each in the North-west, North-east, North-central, South-east, South-west and South-south zones of Nigeria.
The Federal Government’s position is predicated on the fact that the growing numbers of admission seekers in the country, has far outstripped the capacity of existing higher institutions of learning. Take-off grants have also been approved for the take–off each new university!
A cursory look at this development might elicit feelings of hope and happiness but I believe that fundamental issues affecting education in Nigeria have once again been ignored!
With close to two score federal universities already in existence, most once pristine but now in sorry states due to years of neglect, inchoate and inconsistent policies, under funding and under staffing as well as other germane issues going unaddressed, it will take more than the establishment of new colleges to pull the educational sector from the doldrums! Even as I write this piece, academic staff members of universities run by state governments in the south-eastern part of Nigeria, have been on an industrial action, for four months and counting. And to think that this issue was not even given mention at the Federal meeting smacks of a sinister indifference by the federal Government
I think that common sense dictates that the decay in the educational sector should first be tackled, existing educational institutions and facilities must be upgraded and expanded, the quality and quantity of faculty and related staff shored up in addition to improving conditions of service
In closing and using an analogy, it makes no economic sense adding six new cars to a fleet of automobiles if the cost of such procurement could easily pay for far-reaching repair and maintenance works on the other vehicles, which are still serviceable


ACE OF THE DAY (NIGERIA, SPORTS)
The body charged with the administration of football in Nigeria, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) signaled its intention of breaking free from the past of hiring expatriates, by announcing the engagement of Mr Samson Siasia, as the Head Coach of the Senior men’s national football team; the Super Eagles.
Samson Siasia, himself, a former Nigerian football player, had before now coached the National U-21 and U-23 men’s football teams, achieving second place finishes in both the 2005 U-21 world cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In addition to the terms of the contract being juicy, the NFF has pledged to give the new helmsman free rein and offer all the support he will need to succeed, in the task of rebuilding the Super Eagles.
However, the NFF must go a step further. As part of general reforms, all the other coaches of the country’s other national teams(male and female) should also be given formal contractual engagements, that will guarantee the leverage, support and resources needed by them to restore Nigerian football to its glory days of yore!