Gentlemen, We should not get personal on what anyone writes on any issue or issues. Academic or intellectual discussions are meant to generate ideas. Our freedom to say or write what we have in mind must be guided in such a way that it does not offend anyone. We need to respect the dignity and rights of others. And when we do that in my view, we communicate well and effectively. Let me say further that criticism is the hallmark of academic discourse and it requires mature minds to tolerate any view or views expressed without unnecessary prejudice. Therefore, I implore everyone of us to keep to the rule of the game of scholarship. Segun Ogungbemi.
--- On Thu, 2/17/11, a.dasylva@ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org <a.dasylva@ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org> wrote:
From: a.dasylva@ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org <a.dasylva@ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: University town, why not an economy boom?
To: "Wilson Iguade" <iguade@hotmail.com>, usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 2:54 AM
Wilson, I do sincerely believe you need help. Unfortunately,I cannot help you. I do not waste my precious time with adult delinquents like you. DAO Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
From: Wilson Iguade <iguade@hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:26:05 -0600 To: a.dasylva@ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org<a.dasylva@ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org>; <Esan_Community@yahoogroups.com>; Nigerian IDentity<NigerianID@yahoogroups.com>; NaijaPolitics e-Group<NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>; naijaintellects<naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; <iguade@hotmail.com> Cc: toyin.falola@mail.utexas.edu<toyin.falola@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: Re: University town, why not an economy boom?
Quote "Dear Wilson Iguade, kindly direct your tirade and pontificating at me, and not Toyin Falola. I wrote the piece under reference and simply asked Prof Falola to assist in forwarding it to the group because it kept bouncing back each time I sent it. Dr Toyin Adepoju drew attention to that when one or two others made similar error of mistaken authorship. Again, I am Ademola Dasylva, I wrote the piece ..." unquote
Folks, In view of the above, please adjust appropriately the context of my original posting below. I am sorry that Mr. Falola dragged himself into this stunt by abetting Mr. Ademola Dasylva.
As Ademola indicated 2 people [at least] were mistaken based on the manner in which Mr. Dasylva message was posted by Prof. Falola. Therefore, i think Prof. Falola and Mr. Dasylva need to apologize to this audience for such misleading post, or at least a confusing post. Good day. Iguade
Sent from my iPhone
Dear Wilson Iguade, kindly direct your tirade and pontificating at me, and not Toyin Falola. I wrote the piece under reference and simply asked Prof Falola to assist in forwarding it to the group because it kept bouncing back each time I sent it. Dr Toyin Adepoju drew attention to that when one or two others made similar error of mistaken authorship. Again, I am Ademola Dasylva, I wrote the piece and I think you should apologize to TF both for accusing him wrongly and for displaying so shocking an ignorance which you cast in a rather puerile arrogance about the person and personality of one of the greatest patriots and academic icons of all times, Prof Toyin Falola. I am simply amused by the controversy my posting has generated. It was good enough that it brought out the different characters that make up the nations now referred to as Nigeria. It is also an eye opener that shows a country that is dynamically cyclic in its movement, the reason why as a country we are not making any progress. The issue of 9 universities have further and suddenly divided us on matters of principle and opinions! The politicians are already drinking beer over the gains of their well planned political calculation. Save your steam for the near future because you will need plenty of it for the real enemy of progress of our dear Fatherland. Condolences! Dasylva, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:32:00 -0600 Subject: University town, why not an economy boom?
University town, why not an economy boom? By Wilson Iguade Dallas, Texas I read the doom and gloom presentation of Mr. Toyin Falola (see below). With people like Mr. Toyin Falola Nigeria should just fold its flag. The flag for economic independence, the flag for superior educational system that will put Nigerian universities in the next 10 years at least in the ranking of top 1000 universities of the world (currently no Nigerian university rank in the top 5000 of universities of the world, Uniben, in the last ranking I saw, I believe was ranked 5006 and that was the highest if I remember correctly as the best ranking from any African Universities). Only people such as the likes of Mr. Falola, consumed with jealousies and disdains for social advancements in our country will vomit the following statement "Have you sat down to weigh the implications of such political abracadabra the power of pronouncing 9 universities into existence as if they were 9 bottles of beer? I wonder where colleagues kept their memory and simply jumped at celebrating a cleverly orchestrated Trojan horse or Greek gift." Unquote Mr. Falola, you reported that you are located at Austin, Texas. Do you have any idea of the economic impact of the University of Texas at Austin – I mean, do you have any inkling how many jobs, I mean good jobs created by the mere fact that this university exist? - Do you have any idea of the social impact of the University of Texas in the greater Austin area?
- Do you have any idea whatsoever how the University of Austin has impacted science and technology, such as the number of patents issued, licenses signed, licensing revenues received, and the formation of new companies based on university technologies?
Wow! I am truly dumbfounded by this posting, and sometimes by similar postings I see posted in these forums, which is an indication of where we are as a people and country. Moving on! Let me say the following about a university because I totally disagree with Mr. Falola statement "… political abracadabra the power of pronouncing 9 universities into existence as if they were 9 bottles of beer?" unquote Wow! I needed to say wow one more time to calm my nerves before I say what I have to about a university. (a) A university should provide a larger role in developing the economy in its located community. In developed and emerging nations, there is absolutely no argument that universities and other institutions of higher education contribute to economic development. Perhaps, only in third world nations are universities "bottle of beer[s]" to be popped off, drank and pissed off. (b) The discussion thus far has majored on individual personalities and cynicisms, ignoring the larger economic and social developments and contributions of universities to the local markets. I think the purpose of creating a university should be to improve education, broaden economic development considerations that will lift the country to compete internally and externally in all markets. Instead of us to be analyzing the contributions of these nine new universities and how it should grow the local economy and influence the real estate or property values in the immediate area we have focus on denigrating the goodwill of our government. And, we wonder that we have a third world nation. Yes o! We have A THIRD WORLD NATION BECAUSE WE HAVE A THIRD WORLD EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. Is this not obvious even to a blind man? I think it is certainly obvious. Given Nigeria's educational system, the majority of Nigerian graduates from last the 40 years have failed the country woefully. Therefore, we must revamp our educational system in this 21st century. In fact, we need to turn loose all universities to generate their own funds to run itself and STOP them on depending solely on the governments for perpetual funding. (c) I guarantee you that if the NASS passes a bill that force all Universities in Nigeria to be responsible for generating its own funds, but the federal governments will match naira for naira say up to ten billion naira (cut off is not important just for illustration). Therefore, if a university does not raise one penny it might get emergence fund but the VC is automatically removed for violations of laws. If a VC raises one million naira it gets a matching fund of one million thus that institution has two million naira to use for its budgets. Of course, my point here is that we need to push the universities to generate adequate funding and rely less on the government. (d) I bet you that if we have a system where the universities are held accountable, to some degree, in generating there own funding - no only will the university produced superior quality programs and students, it will start to produce citizens that will make a difference in the prosperity of our country and we would reduce corruptions and lootings. (e) Nigerian universities must be partners with the different industries/sectors of the economy as well as support government initiatives towards active technology transfers to boost jobs, jobs, and more jobs. (f) Nigerian universities must be an or the anchor in local communities fostering community stability and vitality, creating economic empowerments and unlimited opportunities through local procurements and employment practices, and bringing in investors to invest in the community. In conclusion, we are who we are and our country is a reflection of the people and there is no magic to this. Nigeria is what it is today because of our education, and the people. Our leaders are a reflection of what they know or don't know. God bless. Iguade
To: NigerianID@yahoogroups.com
CC:
From: valojo@md.metrocast.net
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:44:06 -0500
Subject: NigerianID | Prof. Aluko, remember the famous Trojan saying:
If any serious and worthwhile comments have been made on the recently announced appointment of Dr. Bolaji Aluko as the first VC of the yet to be established Federal University, Otueke, Bayelsa State, these must be among them.
And Bolaji may do well to listen up...not all that glitters is gold!
And remember the famous Trojan saying:
"I fear the Greeks, even when they bring a 'gift'!"
---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Toyin Falola <toyin.falola@mail.utexas.edu>
>> Date: Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 5:11 AM
>> Subject: Fwd: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Government appoints vice
>> chancellors for new federal universities, Prof. Aluko, my condolences!
>> To: USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
>> From: a.dasylva@ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org
>> Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:36:44 +0000
>>
>> Dear Prof. Aluko,
>>
>> I am genuinely worried at your recent appointment as one of the VCs for
>> the
>> newly created federal universities, and disturbed by the avalanche of
>> congratulatory messages from colleagues,friends and well wishers. No
>> doubt,you eminently qualify but that is not the issue. I see a deliberate
>> distraction by political schemers of the ruling party playing on the
>> naivity of the citizenry.
>> Have you sat down to weigh the implications of such political abracadabra
>> the power of pronouncing 9 universities into existence as if they were 9
>> bottles of beer? I wonder where colleagues kept their memory and simply
>> jumped at celebrating a cleverly orchestrated Trojan horse or Greek gift.
>> On Federal appointments: Tai Solarin of the blessed memory and the People's
>> Bank, Wole Soyinka and the Federal Road Safety Commission, Prof Sam Aluko
>> and the National Economic Intelligence Committee,etc., and most recently,
>> Prof. Jega and INEC. The story has been the same, frustration for lack of
>> tools to work with, for lack of the right people to work, undue
>> interference from Government, etc. The first three were deliberately nearly disgraced
>> out of office. It was their pedigree and good reputation they had built for
>> themselves over the years, their dedication and passion for their beloved
>> nation that bailed them out!
>> Jega's is still a question of time, and that is almost predictable, except
>> there is a divine intervention. The case of stolen DCMs, registration
>> manipulations and other desperate moves by the do-or-die politicians are
>> mere tip of the iceberg. Sufficient to remind Jega that being an academic
>> or a former President of ASUU does not make him a magician that is capable of
>> running an efficient INEC given the existing structure he met on ground.
>> Prof Aluko, you are more or less a moving encyclopedia of information on
>> Nigeria and as such possesses an impressive knowledge on how Nigeria has
>> continued to be misruled by the current ruling Party,so I actually thought
>> that you would turn down the offer on the grounds that
>> (1) creating a Federal university in every State of Nigeria is the least
>> of options to cater for many of our youth seeking university admission,
>> (2) existing Federal universities could be better funded, expanded, and
>> equipped to accommodate more students,
>> (3)the so called money given to establish each new university is
>> inadequate to develop a world class Faculty of Science. Besides, don't be deceived as
>> contractors appointed by the same government agents are already laying
>> ambush to pounce on the money so that less than a third of the money will
>> finally end up doing the work on the site. If the project finally
>> fails,guess who will carry the blame? You of course. That is the tradition
>> here. I think well meaning Nigerians should insist that Federal govt
>> should be concerned more with making all our redundant refineries work, repair
>> our road network, make the trains move on our railways again, and find
>> permanent solution to electricity generation and distribution
>> (4) FG should create employment opportunities for our youth. Alas, a
>> nation without visionary leadership perishes. The well wishers,no doubt,may have
>> had good intentions,but it also puts a question mark on the fragile
>> principle of followership. How come suddenly we all forgot to remind
>> ourselves that most Nigerian universities have severally been described as
>> 'glorified secondary schools'!
>> The same proprietor-government of the Federal Universities no sooner than
>> it announced the creation of additional 9, that President Jonathan
>> suddenly turned a super hero, Ikole people were at war in the course of which lives
>> were,as usual,wasted!
>> A country where every house is its own local government - must produce its
>> own water by bore hole or buy 'pure water', must generate its own
>> electricity, construct its own road, provide its own security "vigilantes",
>> will find it very hard to convince discerning minds that creating
>> additional 9 Federal universities is capable of solving all the problems highlighted
>> above or remove the pathological greed in most if not all the serving
>> politicians in Nigeria.
>> My fear with your kind of appointment has always been that when good
>> people like you accept FG's Greek gift, you not only end up being messed up, your
>> credibility is all they need to legitimize the many crimes they are
>> committing on daily basis against all Nigerians who do not belong to the
>> ruling class.
>> So my dear brother Bolaji, I love you so much, but as things are right
>> now, my condolences.
>>
>> Demola Dasylva
>>
>> Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
>>
>> --
>> Toyin Falola
>> Department of History
>> The University of Texas at Austin
>> 1 University Station
>> Austin, TX 78712-0220
>> USA
>> 512 475 7224
>> 512 475 7222 (fax)
>> http://www.toyinfalola.com/
>> www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
>> http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs
>> http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
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