MUSIC, BOOKS AND THE NATION

It is stale news that more young Nigerians are becoming 'olodo' as the day goes by. The recent performance in may/june WAEC and failure in the universities post-UME is one major yardsticks i use to grade a national academic performance.

In the sixties, seventies and eighties our parents boasted of enjoying the multiple abundance of this wealthy nation and were beneficiaries of the then Nigerian quality education. I can also boast of the mid nineties and the first two years of this new millenium obviously not as a time of quality education for all but a time of serious attitude on the path of students in a crumbling education sphere. Then, we understood the need for more, we noticed that academic competence on the path of the instructors were lacking thus sought refuge elsewhere. Private schools were beginning to spring but were no match for the then government schools and those who matched government schools were only for the rich and mighty. I remember that after school hours most of us would go to lessons far from our respective schools, pay attention to lectures and try to pass our exams; and we passed. I had my secondary education on the island but after school hours, would head to yaba for extra lessons before going home. I was tutored amongst public school students with good diction, good grammer construction, intelligence and intimidating challenge; that mixture spurred me to be me an academic oliver twist, all of us wanted some more..

Now, government schools are worse and parents prefer to send their kids to private schools regardless of their quality. I do not see a total capitalist economy as a means of aggressive national development rather as a red flag indication incompetence on the government. When there is a healthy competition between the government and the private sector, it is towards the growth of a nation but this sudden rise of private schools everywhere intimidating and taking public school out of the picture says one thing: lack of quality. Now, Lessons are folding because even if they are paid for, no student turns up and if they do, they appear with funny hairdo, rainbow coloured trousers, cleavage and breast displaying tops. How the teacher wan take teach.

As a young person, It really bothers me that the youths of today care less about books but venture in droves into music; i don't really blame them. Does it mean that this sudden influx of money into the music industry has added to the increasing drop in academic performance.

Before everyone can start throwing stones at me for identifying music as a stimulant for failure in academics, be patient, i never write finish; when you're done reading you can throw stones, microphones and bling blings at me..

Before putting this thought to paper, i passed it through the fire of oral discussions. Most of them criticised me for 'beefing' musicians and artistes basically because my little runs no dey bring enough money. Chai! Nigeria as a society is crumbling and we are now at the mercy of the private sectors. Multinationals, corperate organisations and companies organise Shows, entertainment events, eviction and reality shows in their hundreds that costs billons of naira yearly and these go into few individual pockets. How has our education been affected. We blame the government everyday for poor infrastructural and human development yet organisations with the money choose to spend such on just few individuals with little value to the public, i see the private sector like the new government but with a different objective unlike our failing government they are power by a few people, for a few people and ....

I analysed the cost of building an ultramodern hospital and it was not up to the amount that some companies pay few artistes for endorsement deals. Yet these same people will blame the government. Their mouth watery offers to a particular sector of the society is negatively affecting the society. Can a banker be compared with tuface, can a doctor be compared with terryG or your papa with wizkid.Chai! These are the views and opinions of our youths.

One problem we have as a nation is imitating the western world. There, they run reality shows and give out money because they have a society that balances the need of every other person.

I can feel some hands raised with stones to be thrown at me, relax throw all the tantrums when i'm done i offer myself as a willing sacrifice.. On a second thought make i commot my slippers hol for hand, not ready to be a matyr.

Seriously, i understand that the right to spend money lies within the jurisdiction of a company board of directors but my plea is, let your decision be such that affects a wider range of people, that is the right way. A sole objective of making profit puts the company at a gain and the nation at a loss. I yearn for social responsibility and would love to see hospitals, more shows like the bournvita brainmatch, debate programmes; more schools buildings, scholarships, incentives for academic performance, loans and aid to farmers. I also want my kids to enjoy the quality of education that i sparsly witnessed but enjoyed by our elders. Perhaps many haven't noticed but with a declining performance such as this puts the future of this nation in the hands of a ruling class of illiterate, celebrities and artistes. There must be a balance, a divide where everyone should be for the development of this nation. I must add that Me sef no min endorsements besides, who no like better thing.

Now throw your stones..