Dear Tony:
In an earlier comment, I likened Bolaji Aluko's well deserved appointment as Founding VC
of the Federal University, Otueke, Bayelsa State to an onerous task which demands tremendous
sacrifice from whomever is chosen to head anyone of Nigeria's nine brand new universities.
I could not help but suggest then that Bolaji Aluko was about to embark on Advanced National Youth Service
Corp (NYSC) Part 2. Tha amount of sacrifice that would be required of Bolaji Aluko and his colleagues for the next 5 years
is of the order of a thousand fold of what we all experienced during the NYSC program.
The question should not be about why Bolaji Aluko was appointed as the founding VC of FU, Otueke
but about why he accepted such an onerous responsibility considering the adverse work and political climate
in Nigeria.
In assessing why Bolaji Aluko decided to accept this position, I came up with the following
plausible reasons--the Enablers
ENABLERS:
a) after several decades spent in academia abroad--during which he rose to become a full Professor and the Head of Department
of Chemical; Engineering, accepting the position of the Founding VC in Nigeria would seem like a crowning glory to his academic achievements.
b) through the acceptance of this Bolaji Aluko has demonstrated that his vaunted interest in and perennial number crunching on Nigerian'issues including the educational sector is not just about talk. He is ready to walk the talk.
c) he has been fully engaged with the workings and the personalities of the NUC (Nigerian Universities Commission)
for decades and has participated in developing programs which were aimed at annexing the contributions
of Nigerian academics in the Diaspora to bolster the standard of education in Nigeria. Unfortunately, with the
single exception of the Nelson Mandela Mathematical Institute none of these initiatives came to fruition either due to logistical reasons or for simple lack of funds.
d) the VC position is at the nadir of an academic's administrative accomplishments as it combines the deployment of managerial skills with the development and fostering of academic excellence in all faculties and departments in which the new university would offer its students.
e) even more challenging but equally more rewarding is to be charged with the responsibility of nurturing a brand new university right from conception to its birth, and through the neonatal period all within 6 months time frame and on a trajectory towards a full fledged university --a never ending task that will definitely not be completed by the time his tenure expires in five years.
f) availability of funding for both capital projects and for recurrent expenditures such as would be required to cover the salaries and wages of academic and administrative staff as well as other employees of the new institution.
g) local support--
-----1)goodwill
------2) financial
as we were informed a few days ago--the local community (? with the help of the Bayelsa state government) has already
raised and committed the sum of 3 billion Naira (approx. US $20 Million) and that the federal government will top this up by an additional
1 billion Naira (approx.US$ 6.666 Million).
3) land--the state government has earmarked 15 hectares for the development of the main campus of the university.
Counterbalancing the above enablers are also many constraints that an appointee must also consider before accepting or declining
the appointment. There is no doubt that Bolaji had the time to weigh the enablers and the constraints and that after discussing the issues
with his wife and children he decided that the former outweigh the latter.
For the purpose of this exercise, I consider it necessary despite being a moot point to enumerate the constraints
he would be facing in this position:
CONSTRAINTS:
1) the need to manage expectations--Rome was not built in a day --and be able to communicate the
salient fact that not all qualified indigenous and non indigenous candidates for all available jobs from the menial
to the higher hierarchies of academia and administrative can be employed by the new university.
2) the lack of commitment to on time execution of projects already approved for funding by the FGN --as there will always be bureaucratic log jams--the kind that are outside of the control of the VC. Let us hope and pray
that Bolaji Aluko will be steadfast and refuse to succumb to the habit of having to bribe civil servants and law makers so they could faciliate the release of funds that have already been approved for the new university.
3) managing the indigene-non-indigene dichotomy--relating to employment opportunities in the new university. For example
are federal government funded educational institutions required to put in place an indigene first employment protocol in all hirings?
4) adjustment to the level of remuneration from the USA to the Nigerian environment--which will be partly ameliorated by the
lower cost of living in Nigeria and the perks that go with the office of being the VC e.g. official residence, official cars with drivers,
house help etc. I do not know the salary scale of a VC in Nigeria--but I doubt if it would come close to that of the Chief Justice or Justice
of the Supreme court of Nigeria--recently reported at between 3 and 3.6 million Naira per annum or $24,000.00 US dollars--($2,000.00) per month
as opposed to the salary of a tenured full professor in the USA who might be earning between US$200,000 and US$225,000.00 before taxes.
Regardless of the exact amount of compensation in Nigeria, Bolaji Aluko and Dr Okogba will be taking a huge financial hit--a major loss of income--which will only be partly ameliorated by the fact that they do not have to pay the attendant taxes and the cost of living is lower in Nigeria.
Bolaji Aluko is well placed at this stage of his career to make this kind of sacrifice on behalf of his motherland Nigeria--considering he cannot ask to be paid in dollars (as he was a vociferous opponent of the dollar salaries that were being paid to Dr Okonjo Iweala and Ambassador Adeniji in 2004)
through a program that was partially funded by the UNDP during the OBJ regime. Considering that by now the mortgage is fully paid off and the children have all but concluded their college education, Bolaji Aluko is definitely well placed to adjust to the considerable loss of income from Howard University. As a tenured professor, he also has probably built up a good pension base that would supplement his meagre income as VC in Nigeria. Alternately, he could still retain a part time faculty position at Howard considering he is well respected at this institution by his colleagues, The reason for the preceding financial analysis is to highlight the amount of financial sacrifice one must make to take a position in Nigeria and to state that not every Diaspora Nigerian academic, however brilliant and committed is well suited to make this sacrifice. It all depends on the an individual's financial status, career stage as well as family preferences.
5) The initial bid to add an additional runway for the Abuja Airport submitted by Julius Berger Ltd and approved by the UMYA government was 72 billion Naira. They finally settled for about 55 billion Naira after a lot of hue and cry. If it costs 55 billion to add an additional runway to the an existing airport--how much of infrastructure e.g buildings, roads, sewage etc could a total sum of 4 billion Naira ($US26.66 million) provide for brand new university starting off temporarily in an existing facility of a technical College (which must be upgraded) and at the permanent site
of the Federal University in Otueke.
On the other one hand a sum of 30 billion Naira might seem to be a huge amount. An average building for a faculty including lecture rooms, offices for the academic and administrative staff as well as laboratories and campus dormitories might cost at today's prices--about 60 million Naira each. By my own calculation the sum of of 30 billion Naira will only provide about 50 major buildings
not accounting for the network of roads and other subterranean infrastructures e.g. sewage, fibre optic cables etc. To make matters worse,
it would appear that the available endowment sum of 30 billion Naira is a one time commitment. Once spent it is gone. Where will the funds to maintain the new buildings and construct additional ones in the future come from considering that the new universities will also face the same funding constraints that have paralysed the older universities.
In summary, I believe strongly that Professor Bolaji Aluko and Professor Geoff. Okogba must be commended for having the courage and the selfless spirit which compelled them to accept the onerous responsibilities that have landed on their laps at this stage of their illustrious careers. They will both be walking the talk. They deserve our prayers and support!
For those wondering about looting let me state clearly that by the time all the expenditures are accounted for, the politicians in Abuja would have ensured
that there isn't much left to be looted in all other federally funded programmes including tertiary education and teaching hospitals. There isn't much left after the executive and legislative assemblies have finished allocating 80% of the revenues to cover their own expenses.
Let the Pull Him Down Syndrome sufferers sheathe their swords!
I salute Profs. Bolaji Aluko and Geoff Okogba. You are both nationa heroes--who will undoubtedly prove that the Adeniji's, Okonjo-Iweala's Oby-Ezekwesili'e and others are not simply just one time wonders.
The Diaspora can indeed make a positive difference in the lives of ordinary Nigerians and contribute tremensously to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria. Dalu! !
Bye,
Ola
---- Original Message ----
From: tony egbe <tegbe2003@yahoo.com>
To: igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com; 'USAAfrica Dialogue' <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>; 'World Igbo Congress WIC' <WorldIgboCongress@yahoo.com>; 'my brother' <talknigeria@yahoogroups.com>; chatafrik@yahoogroups.com; 'chatafrik' <CHATAFRIK@msn.com>; ChatAfrikPublisher@msn.com; nigerdeltaforum@yahoogroups.com; 'Edo Global' <edo_global@yahoogroups.com>; 'Edwin Dyke' <lmed@sbcglobal.net>; IgboEvents@yahoogroups.com; IgboWorld Forum IgboWorld Forum <IgboWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>; WorldIgboforum WorldIgboforum <worldigboforum@yahoogroups.com>; Igboorgnyforum Igboorgnyforum <igboorgnyforum@yahoogroups.com>; Naijapolitics Naijapolitics <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>; IgboOrgNYForum@yahoogroups.com; NIDO-USA NIDO-USA <NIDO-USA@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: 'Chukwuma Agwunobi' <agwu22@yahoo.com>; 'collyezebuihe' <Collyezebuihe@hotmail.com>; ogbuonyeiro@yahoo.com; 'Emmanuel U. Obi' <bizon586@yahoo.com>; 'Punch me I deck U' <nigeria360@yahoogroups.com>; 'igbo events' <igboevents@yahoogroups.com>; ikeagbor@yahoo.com; 'afis' <odidere2001@yahoo.com>; 'Oga Ade' <adeajayi@aol.com>; 'san-val' <SAN-VAL@comcast.net>; 'Val Ojo' <valojo@md.metrocast.net>; 'olakassimmd' <olakassimmd@aol.com>; 'usgemology' <usgemology@yahoo.com>; 'Emeka Okala' <reukal@yahoo.co.uk>; 'Vin otuonye' <vincentotuonye@msn.com>; 'Vincent Modebelu' <vin_modebelu@yahoo.com>; 'naijaintellects' <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; 'Wharf Snake' <wharfsnake@yahoo.com>; 'femi awobusuyi' <femi_awobusuyi@yahoo.com>
Sent: Mon, Feb 14, 2011 1:54 pm
Subject: IF NOT BOLAJI ALUKO FOR THIS APPOINTMENT WHO ELSE??
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-- From: tony egbe <tegbe2003@yahoo.com>
To: igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com; 'USAAfrica Dialogue' <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>; 'World Igbo Congress WIC' <WorldIgboCongress@yahoo.com>; 'my brother' <talknigeria@yahoogroups.com>; chatafrik@yahoogroups.com; 'chatafrik' <CHATAFRIK@msn.com>; ChatAfrikPublisher@msn.com; nigerdeltaforum@yahoogroups.com; 'Edo Global' <edo_global@yahoogroups.com>; 'Edwin Dyke' <lmed@sbcglobal.net>; IgboEvents@yahoogroups.com; IgboWorld Forum IgboWorld Forum <IgboWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>; WorldIgboforum WorldIgboforum <worldigboforum@yahoogroups.com>; Igboorgnyforum Igboorgnyforum <igboorgnyforum@yahoogroups.com>; Naijapolitics Naijapolitics <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>; IgboOrgNYForum@yahoogroups.com; NIDO-USA NIDO-USA <NIDO-USA@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: 'Chukwuma Agwunobi' <agwu22@yahoo.com>; 'collyezebuihe' <Collyezebuihe@hotmail.com>; ogbuonyeiro@yahoo.com; 'Emmanuel U. Obi' <bizon586@yahoo.com>; 'Punch me I deck U' <nigeria360@yahoogroups.com>; 'igbo events' <igboevents@yahoogroups.com>; ikeagbor@yahoo.com; 'afis' <odidere2001@yahoo.com>; 'Oga Ade' <adeajayi@aol.com>; 'san-val' <SAN-VAL@comcast.net>; 'Val Ojo' <valojo@md.metrocast.net>; 'olakassimmd' <olakassimmd@aol.com>; 'usgemology' <usgemology@yahoo.com>; 'Emeka Okala' <reukal@yahoo.co.uk>; 'Vin otuonye' <vincentotuonye@msn.com>; 'Vincent Modebelu' <vin_modebelu@yahoo.com>; 'naijaintellects' <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; 'Wharf Snake' <wharfsnake@yahoo.com>; 'femi awobusuyi' <femi_awobusuyi@yahoo.com>
Sent: Mon, Feb 14, 2011 1:54 pm
Subject: IF NOT BOLAJI ALUKO FOR THIS APPOINTMENT WHO ELSE??
| NIGERIANS, Out of INTRINSIC ADMIRATION, tinted with ENVY & JEALOUSY, the good looking child will be asked to go and have a Clean bath so that he/she will be good enough to be seen in public. All these Noise Makers know very well that they Cannot have Bolaji's Background and Training, even if given another Life Time, hence the innuendos going on over this Well Earned Appointment. If NOT Prof. Bolaji Aluko, who else from all ye Pull Him Down Bunch? Most of you, who are Pulling Down this Appointment, are YOU Qualifed or More Qualified than Prof. Aluko for this Job? What a bunch of Uneducated Minds!! This kind of Thought Process, is Very Typical of the Uneducated Minds, who are filled with Envy and Jealousy, period!! If you were more qualified, and given the chance, you will NOT look back before you Jump into it. Knowing your inadequacy, YOU rather Pull Down the Appointed and the Appointement Down!! Some of us know YOU better!! KWEPURU OBU NNU, KA OBURU NNU YA JEBE [Give Praise, where it is Naturally due]. This is Divine!! Otoiheoma Egbe. --- On Sun, 2/13/11, Ken Okey <uniqueken@yahoo.com> wrote:
|
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