Poverty is fast becoming a more challenging problem in Nigeria that certificates and academic qualifications without hands-on mastery cannot handle. Universities are churning out more graduates that are not fit for industry. Most academic curricula in Nigeria have no plans for entrepreneurship, a critical demand needed for young graduates to succeed. Industries today want experienced hands that can get today’s things done yesterday. I will not be using this medium to blame government for not massively funding research, weak educational policies or its poor implementation. Everyone has his share of the fault.
Global Finance Magazine ranks Nigeria as the 62nd poorest nation on the face of the earth amidst lots of human resources eaten up by corruption, executive embezzlement through excessive government spending, bid rigging, inflated pricing, price fixing etc. which has in tactical ways moved the huge national income into the hands of privileged few.
A continuum of this trend according to Human Development Report (2006) has left 92.4% of the Nigerian population earning less than $2 a day. It has left 57m Nigerians with no access to clean, safe water. Most importantly, Nigeria claims a large population of unemployed and underemployed people by contributing a whopping 14% of the entire global unemployment. The Nigerian Bureau of statistics declared that unemployment rate is 10.4%.
It is not uncommon in Nigeria these days to have graduates who have no mastery of any skill, art, sport, application or equipment. You may discover more and more certificate holders but may be shocked to find shallower understanding of even the language of instruction by which those certificates were acquired!
Looking closely at an analysis of successful entrepreneurs across Nigeria, it has become glaring that one-on-one mentoring and training has been one of the major ways great businessmen have emerged in Nigeria outside politics. The old generation of wealthy men such as the Odutolas, Ibrus, Fajemirokuns, Dantatas, Fagboyeguns succeeded through mentoring and hard work enmeshed in executive mastery.
National Training Laboratories (2015) stated that one-on-one training and teaching others transmits 90% of shared knowledge which is highest among other forms of learning such as group discussion, audio-visual learning, demonstration, Practice by doing etc That lecturing is the least mode of knowledge transfer by this report is most worrisome. Lecturing is more prevalent in Nigeria!
Africa’s richest multibillionaire is a product of teaching and mentoring. He was trained by Alhaji Dantata and directly taken through the rudiments of trade. He started out early, yearned to understand, worked dutifully, and paid his price for more than 5 years. Without much academic qualification, Dangote remains the wealthiest black man on earth and one of the greatest employers of labour in Nigeria. The rest is history.
The likes of these old generation of successful men and even the younger ones has proved that Lagos is not automatically the source of mastery but may be a good upgrader and rewarder of it. They have shown to all that mastery through mentoring may be a better precursor for long lasting creativity and innovation. They have shown to all that knowing what to do is the most important thing and no matter how naturally endowed you are, there is no better replacement for training. Whether that training will be in a class, store, workshop or on a computer is a different line of argument entirely.
The Ibos of South Eastern Nigeria and the Fulanis of Northern Nigeria are major cultures that have sustained this agelong culture and legacy. It is very difficult to see an Igbo man begging on the streets. He might not be able to keep you in the classroom but within 6 years of hard work in his shop, you are empowered for life! You will learn how to weather the storms of business, trade or artisan-ship and will have acquired so much of financial education. Interestingly after years of true stewardship, he hands over to you your start-off Capital or start-Off Cattle. What an extremely organic yet most excellent way to raise true business leaders!
This was why I was not surprised when Steven Spielberg in his book, The Jewish Phenomenon mentioned the Igbo people of south eastern Nigeria as one of the most enterprising tribes on earth. This could also be linked to why the south eastern states ranks least on the poverty index report. As soon as Nigeria begins to align economically, no sooner than later will we discover that Aba is Nigeria’s China.
The over reliance on government-paid jobs may not be a way to self-fulfillment for citizens of a country of 170 million people. Infact, salaries may continue to be underpaid and unpaid in government parastatals. More countries after Ghana and Angola will continue to discover oil hence giving Nigeria’s main buyers other options. But masters in their art will not only create goods and services but most importantly Value. Life never resdponds to credentials. It responds only to current form and consistent training with knowledge update is the only way to stay in form. Training for mastery under an experienced and informed mentor or facility is pertinent for true economic empowerment in Nigeria
Global Finance Magazine ranks Nigeria as the 62nd poorest nation on the face of the earth amidst lots of human resources eaten up by corruption, executive embezzlement through excessive government spending, bid rigging, inflated pricing, price fixing etc. which has in tactical ways moved the huge national income into the hands of privileged few.
A continuum of this trend according to Human Development Report (2006) has left 92.4% of the Nigerian population earning less than $2 a day. It has left 57m Nigerians with no access to clean, safe water. Most importantly, Nigeria claims a large population of unemployed and underemployed people by contributing a whopping 14% of the entire global unemployment. The Nigerian Bureau of statistics declared that unemployment rate is 10.4%.
It is not uncommon in Nigeria these days to have graduates who have no mastery of any skill, art, sport, application or equipment. You may discover more and more certificate holders but may be shocked to find shallower understanding of even the language of instruction by which those certificates were acquired!
Looking closely at an analysis of successful entrepreneurs across Nigeria, it has become glaring that one-on-one mentoring and training has been one of the major ways great businessmen have emerged in Nigeria outside politics. The old generation of wealthy men such as the Odutolas, Ibrus, Fajemirokuns, Dantatas, Fagboyeguns succeeded through mentoring and hard work enmeshed in executive mastery.
National Training Laboratories (2015) stated that one-on-one training and teaching others transmits 90% of shared knowledge which is highest among other forms of learning such as group discussion, audio-visual learning, demonstration, Practice by doing etc That lecturing is the least mode of knowledge transfer by this report is most worrisome. Lecturing is more prevalent in Nigeria!
Africa’s richest multibillionaire is a product of teaching and mentoring. He was trained by Alhaji Dantata and directly taken through the rudiments of trade. He started out early, yearned to understand, worked dutifully, and paid his price for more than 5 years. Without much academic qualification, Dangote remains the wealthiest black man on earth and one of the greatest employers of labour in Nigeria. The rest is history.
The likes of these old generation of successful men and even the younger ones has proved that Lagos is not automatically the source of mastery but may be a good upgrader and rewarder of it. They have shown to all that mastery through mentoring may be a better precursor for long lasting creativity and innovation. They have shown to all that knowing what to do is the most important thing and no matter how naturally endowed you are, there is no better replacement for training. Whether that training will be in a class, store, workshop or on a computer is a different line of argument entirely.
The Ibos of South Eastern Nigeria and the Fulanis of Northern Nigeria are major cultures that have sustained this agelong culture and legacy. It is very difficult to see an Igbo man begging on the streets. He might not be able to keep you in the classroom but within 6 years of hard work in his shop, you are empowered for life! You will learn how to weather the storms of business, trade or artisan-ship and will have acquired so much of financial education. Interestingly after years of true stewardship, he hands over to you your start-off Capital or start-Off Cattle. What an extremely organic yet most excellent way to raise true business leaders!
This was why I was not surprised when Steven Spielberg in his book, The Jewish Phenomenon mentioned the Igbo people of south eastern Nigeria as one of the most enterprising tribes on earth. This could also be linked to why the south eastern states ranks least on the poverty index report. As soon as Nigeria begins to align economically, no sooner than later will we discover that Aba is Nigeria’s China.
The over reliance on government-paid jobs may not be a way to self-fulfillment for citizens of a country of 170 million people. Infact, salaries may continue to be underpaid and unpaid in government parastatals. More countries after Ghana and Angola will continue to discover oil hence giving Nigeria’s main buyers other options. But masters in their art will not only create goods and services but most importantly Value. Life never resdponds to credentials. It responds only to current form and consistent training with knowledge update is the only way to stay in form. Training for mastery under an experienced and informed mentor or facility is pertinent for true economic empowerment in Nigeria
No comments:
Post a Comment