A Nigerian university lecturer and former Chairman of the National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, has come under attacks over his comments faulting the high number of first class graduates churned out at the last convocation of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Amadi, a former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Imo state, had taken to his Twitter page to describe as ‘horrible’ the graduation of 300 first class graduates from the university, saying he is confident that the graduates cannot justify the first class.
He further said Nigerian University education has become shit.
He wrote,
“I am a University teacher and I am watching on TV as Unilag graduates 300 first class graduates. Horrible. I can swear that these graduates cannot justify the first class. Nigerian university education has become shit.
“In the past all Nigerian renowned literary giants were university teachers. Today I can’t point to one university teacher who is a great global writer. Our best are either in diaspora or in media or NGOs. The university has failed in Nigeria. Our future is failing.”
Amadi added
“My evidence is that our teachers are no longer first rate as measured by lack of first rate production. I have not read anything written by a Nigerian university teacher and I said wow. None at all. Quality does not exist at all. Sorry that is my view.
“These guys may be first class brain but have not received first class education. When they go abroad they will receive first class education that will fire more their first class brain and they will be too hot.”
His tweet evoked more negative than positive reactions from social media users. While many lambasted him for the comments and described him as one of the problems of the Nigerian education system. However, some Twitter users were of the opinion that he made a valid point.
Gimba Kakanda a Nigerian post-graduate student at the London School of Economics wrote,
“Dr. Amadi, you are the embarrassing face of everything Nigerian university system shouldn’t be: a hub of incurable sadists and local champions who confuse their deficiency with excellence. First Class is a category of degree for God’s sake, not a spiritually transmitted honour.”
Another Twitter user in her reaction to the Tweet wrote,
“I encounter many CV’s of fresh/young grads in the course of my work, I have seen CV’s boasting of 2:1 and a few 1st. I get excited expecting to be wowed. . . And then the interview. . . And I wonder if the CV genuinely belongs to the interviewee. I think he has a point.”
A respondent wrote,
“Unless I’m wrong, he comes across as someone who thinks the number of 1st classes should be limited and that not majority of students should be average or below. A brilliant person would provide data to backup his claim, not just throw a wild claim based on anecdotes.”
Omasoro Ovie Ali wrote
“These students will go US and UK, and become the best in those schools also. I’m sure some of those 300 UNILAG graduates are more knowledgable than you in some fields.”
These are some of the reactions:
That’s terrible conclusion by you sir. Saying you can swear as if you are empirically sure makes your statement worse.
— Mr. E ? (@Eldino_09) April 9, 2019
But note that the problem is our curriculum not the country.The IQ of the present generation is now above what the curriculum requires from them.We need upgrade in our curriculum, technology has made these kid wiser than their age.Our lectures repeat old questions over and over
— SAVE NIGERIA DEMOCRACY (@truth_about_nig) April 8, 2019
D issue of quality of education is not the same as d quality of those guys . Only 1 guy made 1st class in my class in d same UNILAG & we can all attest to d fact that the guy na iwin iwe. A butterfly in Nigeria will still fly in America may be higher due to better exposure
— Dave (@Ayanfeolorunni) April 10, 2019
I think your point about the failure of the Nigerian system (education inclusive) is germane but the way yo communicated it is unclear. I don’t think there is anyone, except the usual liars of course, who doesn’t agree that Nigeria is at the threshold of becoming a failed state.
— Tee (@sonofomenuko) April 10, 2019
I concur with Sam amadi we produced many”acclaimed first class graduates”but we don’t have first class institutions , depilated facilities,unqualified teachers decay and rot in our educational system,not that we don’t have first class among them./1
— Onyeka Okafor (@OnyekaOkafor11) April 10, 2019
And u are one of them,a University Teacher,local, sub-standard who can’t contribute to global intellectualism&therefore can’t produce a first class graduate? Shouldn’t u be quitting the job already?
This sweeping generalisation&casting aspersions on folks/Institution is shameful!— PositiveMantra (@skaalbgroup) April 9, 2019
It is even the more very shameful for a man who at a point in time headed a government parastatal. This guys look down on everybody except themselves and their kids. Sam Amadi with his first class brain was not able to add anthing meaningful at @NERCNG
— Obansa P. S (@Piusobansa) April 9, 2019
With all due respect sir, you need to bin this idea of yours. Please allow these hardworking students get their First class in peace. Even if it is shitty education they got, they worked hard for it and they deserved their first class
— Michael (@likemik_e) April 10, 2019
When they told us “A is for God, B is for my wife” we thought they were joking. They went further and said they ain’t first class products so how would they determine who deserves first class?. They retain those they deprived first class as lecturers and the trend continues.
— Femi Ola-Olu (@Femiolaolu1) April 9, 2019
I graduated with second class lower from LAUTECH and proceeded to UK for my MSc. I graduated with a distinction and was the best graduating student in my class.
Nigeria lecturers are one of our biggest problems because they see themselves as gods and giver of our future.
— عبد الجليل مصطفى (@JO_Mustapha) April 10, 2019
I stand with Amadi on this.
A’s are easily bought now in schools, use this last election as a case study where lecturers disgraced themselves on National Tv. Bribery and couldn’t collate figures properly..
— Good Vibes ? (@obkishoka) April 10, 2019
Maybe Dr @SamAmadi is talking from experience when he was the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Electricity Regulations Commission (NERC).
Maybe the new recruits under his administration were 1st class dummies who could not deliver and defend their grade.— Damilola A Adegbite (@DammieAdegbite) April 10, 2019
I teach students here in the UK ??. @SamAmadi has a point. 60% of Nigerian teachers who come here for MSc/PhD knows nothing in their various field, you wonder what they now teach the students. The students we claim to be doing well in the UK/US are just few among many.
— EgoOyiboConstantine™ (@Ethel_Nedu) April 9, 2019
