Our role model: Obiageli Ezekwesili

Our role model: Obiageli Ezekwesili

Born April 28, 1963, Obiageli Ezekwesili happens to be a Nigerian Chartered accountant, she is also a Master’s degree holder of International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos as well as a Master of Public Administration degree from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. She trained with the firm of Deloitte and Touche and qualified as a chartered accountant. She was a co-founder of Transparency Internation, serving as one of the pioneer directors of the global anti-corruption body based in Berlin, Germany.

Oby served as Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and then as Federal Minister of Education during the second term presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. Since then, she served as the Vice-President of the World Bank’s Africa Division from May 2007-May 2012.

Ezekwesili was instrumental to the start of the viral BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media which trended internationally after nearly 300 mainly christian girls were abducted from Chibok by the islamist militant group Boko Haram.

In March 2014, she delivered a keynote speech at the National summit of the All Progressive Congress (APC) the ruling party in Nigeria.

One on One with Sodunke Oludotun Michael, Director of Studies De Pathfinders Tutorial Consult

You mentioned that Lagos State Government is not trying to help students, why do you say that? Many would tend to disagree you know?

Yes! But most of their effort is counter-productive as sighted previously (May-June, 2015 Publication), because they deviated from the original plan. Now, they call it reading time. That is the name given to the 2-4pm belt. Why not leave the students once it is 2pm, since they cannot run the programme again. Let them come to tutorial.

Can they be given an hour break before going for extra classes or perhaps reading time?

The intention of engaging these students within that period is good because these students are lagging. They are not doing well. They need extra classes and there is nothing bad if that extra class should be for final examination students only i.e. JSS3 and SS3 only. I believe even the SS2 should be allowed to go home and we should concentrate only on SS3 students. A teacher who handles the morning class will also be assigned to take the 2-4pm class which is supposed to be handled by experts. What I mean is that, the extra class should be contracted to freelance teachers with the mandate that if the students should fail, the contact will be withdrawn from them. I’m sure the school teachers will sit up because if the students fail, their contract will be withdrawn. Then questions will be raised about the school teaschers who have six hours to teach these students. With these the teachers will brace up. Most teachers remember to come to class with the but forget their lesson note. All these can only happen in public schools not in tutorial. Mind you, I’m not saying tutorial is the best. Tutorial is designed to consolidate and it came on board as a result of poor teaching in public schools. Since we’ve found ourselves in this situation, to proffer solution is what we are concerned about and believe me we need to work with good  tutorial centers because there are bad eggs amongst us as well. I mean in tutorial centers, and please I must also add that there are very good teachers in public schools as well. I remember one Mr. Oye, who taught us Chemistry when I was in secondary school. The man was very sound unfortunately he was never rewarded for his good works. Same goes for many teachers out there who are not rewarded for their struggle.

Do you subscribe to the students starting tutorial class earlier irrespective of their class so that they could have a firm foundation?

De Pathfinder started like that by teaching in a Private school, called Olowu Private School as a K.G. teacher, primary 3 and later primary 5 teacher. So I understand what you mean. During our time in the seventies I know how we used to have what you call ‘lesson’ at a place called Aunty Fatimoh. We will carry our chair, slate and chalk on our head to learn. That is the traditional way to learn. So, when I started my tutorial center we had the primary section. Now, it seems Nursery and Primary schools have been handed over to private schools by the government while the government is concentrating on secondary school. Well, private schools are out there to make more money by not releasing the children all in the name of extra lessons. And parents like that because they just want something that will keep the children busy and far from home since the parents won’t be back home till 7pm. And they are less concerned about what happens within the extra lesson period. Invariably, those children will be choked. When they grow up they speak good English but write bad English. They lack practical knowledge. At De Pathfinders we admit from JSS 1 to SS3 students. I have a very well known person by the name Chinenye Ochuba, the winner of the most beautiful girl in Nigeria immediately after Agbani Darego was my student and she was not yet in University back then. She is just concluded her SS2 class then. During one of her interviews; she was asked how she came about her good diction and command in English language? She said it openly, thanks to Dotun of De Pathfinders, the tutorial she attended. This lady was my student from JSS1.

What is your word of advice for parents?

My advice to parents is that they should take special care of their kids. Especially when it comes to education. Look for a good tutorial center around your environment. The truth is that school is not enough and the school lesson is a waste of time, money and other resources. And that’s just the truth.

It seems you are veering into politics, do you want to tell our readers how you intend to relate politics and education?

During the last election, I showed the man that won the election my programme for education. If he could articulate it but I guess he had his own agenda for education. I must add that I was going for the House of Representative simply for education. Simply, because I’m very passionate about it. Education is life, when I look at myself sometimes I say if I was not educated honestly I would be worse than Shekau. My own case would have been more  than those “bad boys”. I know some of my friends who did not go to school at all I tell you my case could have been more dangerous. So, we need to take education seriously. Every year I give free GCE forms to those that can’t afford it. I don’t call them “area boys” I call them “strong boys”. I go to under the bridge where they stay, I give them the form, fill it properly and get them to attend lessons for the subjects they filled freely without paying a dime. Two of such people are in the University of Lagos studying Law. Before, when they see me and wanted to greet me they would shout baba oh! And punch me. I met one of them recently and I called him “Lanky”, he said baba no no no..he just gave me a hand shake. Look at the miracle education has done. Money is not everything; you can imagine a terrible area boy tormenting the entire neighbourhood becoming rich. That will make him more terrible but you can imagine if along the line he gets educated, he would not want to be perceived as an area boy and would manage the money well. What actually motivated me into going into politics is education. If I can get into the corridor of power my name will be written in the history book in gold, because of what I will do in terms of education. Let me tell you, what I have achieved in the past twenty years is not really about money. I really thank God for everything for everything I got is through De Pathfinders including my wife and by extension my children. Honestly, education is very important. Thank God I’m in this job my students are all over the world. There is no place I will go to that I will not see my students including outside Nigeria and they are in top positions. I believe one day one of them will become INEC chairman. They always say Pathfinder helped them. Most of them don’t know my surname. They call me Dotun Pathfinders even my mother calls me Pathfinder. And it is a good thing to bear a name with God because he is the only Path-Finder. He creates way where there is no way. Amongst my colleagues they made me the National President for Association of Tutorial Centers. We think you must be a professor before you can proffer solution to the problem on ground which is wrong. Prof. Oderinde of JAMB, we had confrontation some time last year about some of my students’ results. I said in an interview on STV that he called me a tout and he should know when I started dealing with JAMB in their office since 1993 going there to buy forms. I’m sure he was still doing his masters programme then. He was not a professor then thus he knew nothing about JAMB. So, if I say that JAMB marked my students down, I really mean it. Government should get the right people into the field not those that will be in their offices playing with theories. Those who relate with the students directly and are practical with their approach. The reality can be heard from us and then they can use it to formulate their own policy to suit what’s on ground. These students now are not ready to learn from any teacher that is a dull or that is too much of a teacher. You have to be lively and as much blend with them before they can listen to you. Today’s students love and listen to music a lot. They don’t like a  atmosphere. At times if I want to capture their attention, I’ll start singing some of their favorite songs, we then analyse the music or edit for improper grammar or blunders. I will then put it to them that see the kind of music you are listening to. They’ll suddenly give me the needed attention. There is certainly a lot of problem facing our education sector that needs urgent solution. Well, if not, though I’m not a prophet of doom but the whole system may collapse, if care is not taken.

A radio veteran, Femi Sowoolu once stated that there is an extinction of intelligence i.e. today’s generation are no longer reading or truly developing themselves. Do you agree with him?

Yes! There is no more intelligent people again, no natural talent, no creativity.

Thank you!

 

Edu-Focus: Dream big & go for it

A dream for some is a state of unconsciousness. While some believe in their dreams others don’t. How, we choose to examine and perceive our dream is up to us. The bottom line is we all dream and that is a fact. On this special edition of Edu-focus, we will be shedding light on the word “Dream” and analyse how to actually realize it at our respective levels or fields of life. It is also important to note that the ‘dream’ we are referring to is simply the picture of our desired future which in other words can be substituted as vision.

Before we go any further, it is important we see the definition of the term “Dream”. The word is a noun and according to the Oxford Dictionary, it is; (1) series of scenes or feelings in the mind of a sleeping person. (2) day-dream or fantasy. (3) ideal, aspiration. (4) a beautiful or ideal person or thing.

A renowned writer and motivational speaker John C. Maxwell spotted the following five key reasons why dreams never take flight;

Ø  We have been discouraged from dreaming by others

Ø  We fall into the habit of settling for average

Ø  We are hindered by past disappointments and hurts

Ø  We lack the confidence needed to pursue our dreams

Ø  We are missing the imagination of our dream

Having identified the five reasons mentioned for not being able to dream, the question now for us at our respective level is “what then are steps to be taken to enable us to accomplish our dream?”

There are several steps one can take to accomplish one’s dream but we will streamline them to just four as stated by Late Dr. Myles Munroe as follows:

1.       Being able to Prepare Prayerfully as a student, teacher or career person: We all would agree to the fact that irrespective of our faith, there is always the Supreme Being who leads us in all we do and we have to acknowledge that.

2.       Being able to Plan Purposefully is also paramount in realizing our dream. As the saying goes ‘when you fail to plan, you plan to fail’. More importantly, you have to see your plan through by taking steps or action.

3.       Being able to Proceed Positively is another. In life to achieve success one has to believe strongly in what one is doing either as a student, teacher or administrator.

4.       Finally, being able to Pursue Persistently. The true mark of great people is that they never give up their dreams no matter what. Thomas Edison wouldn’t have discovered the electric bulb if he had given up. Think about that.

After carefully identifying dream blockers and their catalyst, we are expected to take a leap, simply, by returning to our closet during the long vacation and rediscover ourselves once again steering us back to our dreams. We want to wish you all a happy holiday. And don’t forget to dream big and go for it!

Examination Fever

Anxiety, panic and nervousness before anything one intends to do will surely becloud one’s mind and this can easily lead to a great disaster or failure. Examination fever breeds failure if the student concerned is unable to brace up as quickly as possible. A student’s lack of preparation will make him/her lose confidence when it is required at the battle field. Inability to do what is right during examination can be traced to many reasons that are preventable except health related issues which are not noticeable before entering the hall.

1)      Unpreparedness- This is the act of doing nothing towards set goal(s). It is practically impossible to win without good planning. Proper preparation precedes proper performance; therefore, if all hands are not on desk before the “D” day examination fever is inevitable. Putting your heart together in the following areas will make you avoid draw back.

A)     Reading – You cannot give what you don’t have, so if you treat reading with levity there is no way you can do justice to any examination for then uncontrollable emotions will set in during examination proper. The best way to avoid this is to read and read ahead of time.

B)      Feeding – Try as much as possible to eat something before going into the examination hall even if it is a light food. A hungry stomach has a way of slowing the speed at which a person can recollect facts or point particularly in an exam that will take hours. If you can’t remember at the speed you used to because of an empty belly frustration can set in.

C)      Timing – Don’t be a late comer to any event much more an examination. No matter how prepared you are, when you arrive late to the venue it will put pressure on you. So be time conscious even when you are writing because there is time which you cannot exceed, if this is not observed you will not be pleased at the end.

2)      Environment – These are the surroundings where the examination is taking place, which consists of inside and outside the hall or classroom. Environment consist of man and materials. Take note of anyone that can make you nervous and develop a means of ignoring them so that you concentrate on the job at hand. Never allow your fellow student, invigilator(s) or any other person or things make you apprehensive. Be focused!

3)      Confidence – This is self-assurance, an expression or feeling of certainty that you will give your best in every situation and hope for the best as well, a student must not lack this because there could be an interruption, be calm and calculated. With this you will be far away from examination fever.

Recommended book: Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie