Opinion
Dilemma Of Paper Qualifications
Education is the foun
dation of socio-economic political and manpower development in any country. It is the avenue through which individuals and the society is enlightened.
In the Webster Encyclopedia Dictionary, Professor Read Allen Walker had focused on education in different dimensions viz: “Education a systematic development and cultivation of natural powers by inculcation, instruction and training in an institution of learning. The knowledge and skills resulting from such instruction and training in an institution of learning. Teaching as a system, science or art.” Read, further described education as “an educational institution; the place in which formal instruction is given; a period or session of an educational institution; a course of study at a school; a subdivision of a university devoted to a special branch of higher education – a school of education”.
Invariably, education deals with the impartation of knowledge, learning, culture, refinement and wisdom which shapes actions and habits. The question is, how do the many institutions of learing in the country contribute to the quality of education? It is sad that our nation has become one of paper qualification. This may sound unreasonable but the truth is that the many institutions we have are worsening matters for us in the question of education.
Orobor, M.E. (2008), in his book ‘Theory and Practice of Adult Education’ asserted that schools may educate but they do not necessarily educate. To equate schools with education is like taking salvation for church membership. The establishment of schools or education institutions without adequate infrastructural facilities amounts to nothing.
Similarly, acquiring education that makes one unemployable is useless and of no value. It is of no use having educational institutions established in all nooks and crannies of the country without adequate instructional facilities to enhance learning and boost the education standard.
In my examination of the state of our education, I identified seven problems. These are lack of commitment on the part of the facilitators; economic achievements, instability of study curriculum; eradication of creative artworks, paper qualifications by all means, the rise of cultism in the school environment and extortion syndrome.
Following the abuse of discipline in the school system, indiscipline has taken the centre stage and become the order of the day. The widespread extortion from educants by the educators which has eaten deep into their marrows has led to the laxity in our education system. The result of this is the unemployability of our graduands. Many of them are unable to defend their certificates.
Besides primary and post-primary institutions in Nigeria, there are over one hundred and seventy (170) tertiary institutions of learning in Nigeria and they produce hundreds of thousands of students graduating every academic session without skills . It is unfortunate that most graduates of institutions of higher learning are only concerned with obtaining paper qualifications. This menace has infiltrated even the teachers and lecturers in our institutions of learning. Recently, a university don was disengaged for claiming to have certificates that were discovered to be fake. Several cases of this nature abound. It is unfortunate that some employers of labour, without verifying the certificates brandished by job seekers, go ahead to employ them. They later discover that they have employed illiterates.
It is disheartening that many graduates cannot construct simple but correct English. Many of them have been tested with something as simple as letter writing but failed hopefully. This is because of the way they obtained their certificates. All that matters today is to present paper qualifications from institutions of higher learning and every other thing would be taken care of by employers of labour.
For instance, a one hundred level student in an institution of higher learning could not pronounce the word ‘chemistry’ boldly inscribed on a blackboard before his lecturer. One begins to doubt whether that fellow even attended primary school how much more secondary.
One way of solving this problem is to encourage students who are unable to cope with the rigors of academics to take to vocational education. The time has come for our policy makers to think in this direction. Vocational education must be given prominence as much as regular education.
Let the Federal Ministry of Education and the authorities concerned map out strategies to run our education system in a way that it can produce quality graduates. This must be done if our society will develop.
Ominyanwa, a public affairs analyst resides in Port Harcourt.
Goddey Ominyanwa
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Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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