By Kehinde Akinpelu
The Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ore Depot, Dr. Shina Amoo, has bagged a Ph.D in Business Administration from the Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the ceremony, Amoo urged the federal government, 36 governors and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja, Nyesom Wike, to declare a state of emergency on education in Nigeria.
He called for deployment of pragmatic and proactive strategies to advance the education system so as to improve the quality of education in the country.
He also said that ‘Japa’ syndrome is inimical to national growth and individual development.
He advised Nigerians against immigrating to other countries in search of greener pastures.
The Chairman also decried a situation where many Nigerians have fallen victims and languishing in hardships and regrets after selling their possessions.
He urged Nigerians to tap into the opportunities that are available in the country.
Japa” is a popular Yoruba slang term in Nigeria, which roughly translates to “to flee” or “to escape” in English.
In recent times, it has gained widespread usage, particularly among young Nigerians, to describe the act of leaving the country, usually in search of better opportunities abroad.
The term “Japa” is often used in informal conversations, social media, and online forums, where people discuss their plans or experiences of relocating to other countries, often due to the challenging economic and social conditions in Nigeria. So, if someone says, “I’m planning to Japa,” it means the person is planning to leave Nigeria for another country.
Amoo, who is also the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Mania Petroleum Marketing Company Limited, urged the government and other education administrators to enhance the acquisition of skill development and entrepreneurship in the education system.
He noted that such would reduce graduate unemployment and rather make the graduate becomes self-reliant, job creators and even employers of labour.
The Ph.D holder also called for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and more use of information communication technology in our educational institutions.
He, however, advised that the adoption of AI such be in such a way that it does not make pupils and students lazy and mentally redundant.
Amoo also Chairman Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ore Depot, said he aspires to become an associate professor so that he would impact his knowledge on the students and help mold them to become useful citizens of the country.
He said : “Skills development and entrepreneurship are other key areas.
“Some of our children are willing to become business gurus while still in school.
“With skill development and entrepreneurship, a lot of them will be happy.
“Many of children do not want to apply to any company after graduation.
“They want to get the certificate and do business or some skills such as tailoring.
“I know of somebody who after graduation from a university opened a shop, doing sowing of clothes and she is making her money.
“We give her a lot of referral and she has many customers who are patronizing her.
“So she does not need to be employed. Infact she has become an employer of labour.
“Likewise entrepreneurship. Many graduates have gone into business and made it. Some of them prefer it to japa.
“We do not need Japa syndrome. Many of them that emigrated abroad are just dying there.
“Some of them are idle or not doing anything meaningful simply because what they expected was not what they got when they reached there.”
He added : “I am happy bagging Ph.D in Business Administration from Lead City University, Ibadan.
” It is a dream fulfilled. I is something that I have been targeting from childhood.
“I have been carrying a title from childhood of ‘oba academics’ rather than chieftaincy title.
“I have now achieved the feat. I made a professional achievement of becoming a member of Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE).
” My major target is to become a professor. I will try to achieve it, at least to deliver to the youths the knowledge that I have acquired so that I will have an opportunity of becoming an associate professor. This is my target and my dream.
“The educational sector should be improved upon. A state of emergency should be declared on the educational sector.
” If you watched around, a lot of people are taking their wards and children abroad for learning either secondary or Tertiary education.
“This is not a major thing to contribution to national development. It is very important for us to ensure the development of the educational sector in the country.
“Federal and state government should declare state of emergency on education.
“They should improve on the stomach infrastructure or improved welfare for the teachers or lectures and other personnel in the learning institution.
“They should be allowed to see enjoy being a teacher or a lecturer but if you expect to see a situation where a politician with HND or OND is earning N15,000,000 and a teacher is earning less than N200,000.
“What are you expecting? Schools are no where you will be expecting PR, bribe or any of such offer.
“Teachers will only teach and go back home, except you go with the method of teachers selling puff-puff, biscuit and other wares alongside teaching.
“Many teachers do not read again to gain more knowledge. Because what will encourage them to be reading or researching when they are not well paid or well-motivated?
“There is difference between ability and willingness. If somebody is willing to perform it is different from the ability of the person to perform.
“He may have the competence to discharge his duties by his professional training but what about the willingness to perform that duties, teach and take care of the children well.”
(vitalnewsngr.com)
