I say a big thank you to all the teachers that have taught me all through my academic sojourn. They moulded me to the extent that I am proud of myself today. A big appreciation to you all that I tapped from your cup of wisdom. I will never forget your contribution to my person today. Our teachers are our parents. They are our Guardian. We should hold them in the high-esteem.
However, it is morose to say the Nigerian academic environment is the most corrupt institution we have in the country. It is more corrupt than Andrew Yakubu’s NNPC. It is more corrupt than the Nigerian Senate.
In fact, it is an insult to the word ‘corruption’ to use it to describe the destructive nature of our academic environment. If you are searching keenly for moral decadence mixed with high-level hypocrisy that stinks to high heaven, just work into a Nigerian higher institution. Behold, you will find these descriptions in different colours, attire, and forms.
And who are the architects of this moral decomposition? They are our lecturers, our teachers, who sometimes see themselves as demi-gods who shouldn’t be corrected. In all sense of justice, I may be unfair judging from my title to generalize and associate the menace to all lecturers. There are some good eggs among them.
It is also disheartening to know that these good teachers are aware of the evil in their colleagues but do nothing to correct them. Loud and clear – ‘Any male lecturer, who in his habit assault/blackmail female students to get gratification (with high reference to sexual pleasure) does not have the moral justification to come to the public sphere and criticize any politician for being corrupt’.
We have seen and heard of many cases in our University/Polytechnic/Colleges demigod blackmailing/threatening Female students to satisfy their sexual wants, or they face the music – either failing them in their course work, exam or project.
If they had remained silent in their devilish act and keep mute on public affairs, I would have minded my business. However, appearing on pages of newspaper, television, writing on the internet to criticize corrupt politician is what I tagged ‘moral self-contradiction.’
What kind of corruption is more than bedding your female students with the promise of improving her academic grade? What genre of corruption is more than intentionally giving a female student missing script to (or “intending to”) bed her when she comes for your help? What sort of corruption is more than frustrating a female project student with the intention to make her beg you to fulfill any of your desire so she can move on? What generation of corruption is more than failing a female student so she can be at your mercy and offer you a comfortable ride to her sacred home?
A higher institution is a place where emphasis are laid on character and learning. Isn’t it an irony that some of the custodians of knowledge who supposed to inculcate satisfactory and decent behaviour on students are the front-runners of all forms of societal ill? Please, the defense that higher institutions are saturated with female students who walk half-nude to class is insane. There should be no justification for your moral decadence. If you still feel your acts is presumably right and justified, then you should not be anywhere found screaming that some politicians are corrupt because you are not in any way better off.
Sodiq Omolaoye, Abuja, [email protected]
