Opinion
The Crisis In Education Sector
Rapid growth and expansion of universities, both public and private ones, can rarely be described as real evidence of development. Rather, the phenomenon points towards competitiveness arising from availability of surplus funds calling for investment. Rapid growth of tertiary institutions which does not translate into a rapidly expanding economy can result in an overproduction of unemployable graduates. A historical event known as South Sea Bubble, involving scrambles to invest capital for quick gains, ended up in regrets and losses. We have scrambles in education.
Thanks to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) as well as availability of money from oil and gas resources, Nigeria can afford to have a rapid growth of tertiary institutions. Apart from the federal government taking the lead, state governments and private organisations and individuals are investing rapidly in establishing universities. Despite stringent conditions required for establishing a private university, there are many applications for approvals to do so. Yearly, a large number of Nigerians apply for university admission.
With jobs hardly available after graduation, many Nigerian graduates go back to university for further studies. Consequently, the number of Nigerians with postgraduate degrees rises higher every year, including Ph.D holders, some of who now teach in public and private primary schools. The situation has become such that some of the women who sell “bole and fish” by the roadsides, may be holders of post-graduate degrees. Can we not say that there are lots of unemployable graduates in Nigeria currently?
A vital phenomenon or truth about academic learning is that knowledge which is not applied, refreshed and reinforced regularly, soon goes into a state of atrophy. Therefore, having a university certificate a few years ago is not same thing as having knowledge of current value and relevance, in spite of what the certificate testifies. Knowledge and skill can become stale, obsolete and irrelevant when not utilised, updated and challenged for validity.
Current trends in education of value and relevance include activity-based experiential learning, skill competence, on-the-job training and orientation, coupled with some aptitude and proficiency tests. It is not difficult to identify serious, diligent and creative people looking for jobs or admission into some institutions. Little and insignificant things which people do or say in casual manners can reveal real character and capacity. But in a situation where patronage and sponsorship take the place of impartial and impersonal testing and selecting process, then corruption destroys what it takes to select best candidates.
The result of a faulty and corrupt system of screening and evaluation is usually the enthronement of fake certification and an unproductive economy. Advanced and productive countries apply the true principles and ideals of bureaucracy which demand impartiality and impersonality in selecting and staffing activities. It takes such reliable, transparent and just process to be able to install an efficient, effective and sustainable public bureaucracy. Thus, a vibrant and strong economy would not condone indolence, laxity or low productive capacity. Similarly, “sorting” in the school system would carry severe penalty.
Absence of diligence and seriousness at work often reflect in the value of a nation’s currency and monetary system. In serious economies, employees work diligently to be able to keep their jobs, such that vibrant workforce produces a vibrant economy. Industrial policies of downsizing and closures are not only intended to revamp and strengthen the economy, but also serve as means of capacity-building and waste-reduction. Organisations and nations where unproductive workers are protected, pampered and promoted run the risk of closing down.
Crisis in the Nigerian education sector is largely the crisis of sustainability. To say that All’s Well That Ends Well, is to say that the litmus test of any undertaking is the end-result, joyful or sad. It is not enough to have hundreds of universities and produce millions of graduates; neither is it ideal to become obsessed with high-sounding certificates as we are in Nigeria. There is a need for some shifts away from prevailing euphoria and trends towards enhanced productivity and creativity, whereby an educated individual must be a role model.
Crisis in Nigerian education sector is rooted in a copy-cat mentality, whereby personal conviction is not the driving force and steering element in what an individual does. Imitation, wanting to be like someone else, rather than who and what we are inherently, etc, manifest in various ways. To attempt to clone and fake everything cannot amount to intelligent use of ability. Nigerian students, from undergraduates to those on Ph.D programme, rarely produce anything original, but engage more in padding, cloning and compiling of bits, here and there.
Behind the condemnable activities of Boko Haram insurgents lies a philosophy of rebellion against the hollow rituals of intellectual learning and the culture of imitation. Western education and religion carry some elements of cultural imperialism from which we have not separated ourselves. To design an indigenous education system would obviously take a long time and focused leadership. Any curriculum of an indigenous nature would place emphasis on personal productive capacity and honesty.
Omereji, Ezeji, etc, as traditional names of honour give a testimony of a typical value orientation which we have estranged ourselves from. Industrial and agricultural revolutions in Europe brought about radical shifts in every sphere of life, including education. Currently, we are going through some inevital crises arising from some errors of the past, one of which is embracing Western education curriculum without modifications to suit our traditional values and ideals.
Hostility towards academic learning in some quarters arose from the failure of academic and learned giants in the society to be role models and examples to the masses. Talk about corruption, hypocrisy and sharp practices, they play leading roles; talk about conceit, arrogance, greed and avarice, the educated class are the pace setters. Then what are book learning and academic laurels for? Learning without character is hollow, neither must we glorify those who intimidate others with high-sounding academic qualifications. Does the Nigerian reward system place emphasis on productivity and creativity?
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
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
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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