Reminiscence – by Frank Ofili

Seven years ago, my daughter Uche, then in SS2, decided to try her luck with JAMB – She had done so earlier with GCE. I approved it without much thought, but flatly rejected the private University she was to choose as first choice.

She was curious to know why I wouldn’t agree to any private University despite their much-hyped high academic standards. My simple answer was (still is) that education is not only in terms of academics. There are other elements involved – the school environment, the varied background of people, interaction, the social normative, sports, the distractions and other allied and extra-curricular activities, etcetera – most of which private tertiary institutions do not have – and which truly help to mould the child.

I explained that a university is, and should be, where you are allowed to express yourself in ways you wish and develop your skill to adapt to any situation, favourable or untoward. When you have gone through all the challenges and come out successful, and still retaining your sanity, you can then be truly said to have gone through a tertiary institution; and the school, too, would have gone through you.

Of course, money was also a factor in my decision to reject private Universities. But it wasn’t the overriding one. I remain convinced, even today, that private universities are not better than public tertiary institutions. But let’s leave this for another day.

How and where did we get things wrong and messed up our country. Genuine statesmen are needed in these trying times of our nationhood

Now, back to the reason for this post. My daughter and I struck a deal. If I was to insist on a federal university, then I would have to allow her to choose any one anywhere in Nigeria. I agreed, and she chose Ahmadu Bello University Zaria as first choice.

Exam day came, she wrote, she passed. Then it dawned on us that she would have to travel all the way to Zaria – where we knew no one – for her post-UTME examination. The distance was a factor to consider, and of course I couldn’t afford flight for two to Kaduna.

And this was a time Boko Haram was at its inchoate, still developing.

So, I suggested she forget it, more so as she hadn’t done her SSCE yet. But she insisted on having the experience. Reluctantly, I budged.

In the end, journey by road via luxury bus became the only option. We settled for ABC, and my wife and my daughter set off for the journey three days ahead of exam day.

They arrived Zaria 24 hours later – safely – and went straight to ABU. They knew not where or who to turn to, so they ended up at a food vendor’s restaurant – a pleasant Hausa woman running her “buka” with two of her children. One thing (or should I say one discussion?) led to another and the kind madam took in my wife and daughter. They ended up spending 2 days in her family home. She fed them, accommodated them, made them comfortable and introduce them to her husband and other extended family members who were no less kind and nice.

A journey set off in trepidation ended in fun and fond memories. My daughter, though, eventually didn’t secure the admission – which was a blessing in disguise in a way because she hadn’t, at that time, written her SSCE.

We remain friends with Madam Zainab and family till this day.

In Nigeria of today, characterized by insecurity and ethno-religious hatred, can this kind of scenario still happen? How and where did we get things wrong and messed up our country in the past 7 years? Our country never used to be like it is today. Genuine statesmen are needed in these trying times of our nationhood.

(first published 27th January 2017)