Nigerian activist and social critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has launched a new non-governmental organization to reform the country’s public education sector, focusing on National Youth Service Corps members.
The initiative he said is seeking to improve education standards by deploying intelligent and capable NYSC members to teach in public schools, particularly in rural areas, where students often lack role models and dynamic teaching methods.
In a detailed statement shared on social media, Otse highlighted the deteriorating state of public education in Nigeria, contrasting it with the past when young, vibrant teachers were more prevalent in classrooms.
He said, “There was a time when education was engaging, and students were eager to attend classes because young, vibrant individuals were employed as teachers by the government,” he said.
However, he lamented that older, less dynamic teachers now dominate the public education system, making learning dull and causing students to lose interest.
To address these challenges, Otse’s NGO aims to place young NYSC members in public schools to mentor students and make education more engaging.
“The public schools are no longer interesting because the teachers are old… the young people no longer want to teach in public schools,” Otse explained, attributing the disinterest to poor government remuneration for teachers.
Within 24 hours of announcing the NGO, Otse revealed that he had already received N30 million in donations.
“Most of the money contributed was from 500 naira, 200 naira downwards. It means most people don’t really have, but they still want to support,” he said. The largest single donation was N2 million.
Otse stressed the importance of providing positive role models for young students, warning that in the absence of mentorship, students may turn to negative influences like cultism.
His vision is to make education more appealing through engaging activities and modern teaching tools such as projectors and interactive lessons.
However, he acknowledged the need for public support, stating that while he cannot personally fund the initiative, collective contributions would allow the project to thrive.
The activist promised transparency, stating that all donations would be fully accounted for and made public.
“Any money that is being put in the NGO, I will publicize the whole amount. Everything will be out there for people to see,” he pledged.
He urged the public to support the project, which he believes could significantly reshape the Nigerian education system.
“It is time for us to start doing things if the government will not do it for us,” he said.
