OA would be overjoyed!
Gowon did further studies and so did Valentine Strasser...
We know that he is an ardent Christian and that some years ago, the rumour (confirmed or unconfirmed) was that Mr. Obasanjo had enrolled for a course in theology. Aha, I thought, a very serious man enters a good environment for both reflection and repentance and maybe to put some finishing touches to the story of his life's pilgrimage. Like a Hindu he has now entered the 4th Ashrama of life, time to retire to the forest to contemplate the reality of eternity. At least it's better to enter the 4th Ashrama than to wait for the sixth and seventh stage , according to Shakespeare's life cycle known as the seven ages of man, and what awaits us all, imagine this man of action:
"The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."
I can't imagine a man of action like him being caged up in some monastery at Mt. Athos where even "female dogs are not allowed!"
"O for a life of Sensations rather than of Thoughts!" (John Keats)
But for an outsider (someone other than he) enrolling for his life's desire a PhD in theology , is the kind of thing that's a little difficult to fathom, considering perhaps, how much more beneficial he would be to Nigeria and the world outside of Nigeria, taking into account his vast experience in the army and in running Nigeria for so many years, wouldn't former president Olusegun Obasanjo be invited as a visiting professor at any of the Ivory League Universities in the United States and some of the top commonwealth universities, think tanks, and military academies – lecturing for example the Africom people - advising them and imparting to them some knowledge, wisdom and understanding?
Rabbi Akiva (a convert to Judaism) said that Study is greater, for it leads to practice – so all that theology will probably lead to devekut !
Let us wish him God's help and success in obtaining his cherished desire !
On Tuesday, 30 September 2014 22:38:01 UTC+2, ugwuanyi Lawrence wrote:
Interesting!
However these do not seem to me to be good and convincing reasons to run a Ph.D program.
As for NOUN, well for a country that has witnessed signification allegations of certificate forgery you can critically ask what it is in a position to turn out and offer the public and how the public has been positioned to perceive it.
As the saying goes- cheap things are costly and costly things are cheap!
And I dare add dangerously cheap!
L.O.Ugwuanyi,Ph.D
--- On Tue, 9/30/14, Kola Fabiyi <fab...@live.com> wrote:
> From: Kola Fabiyi <fab...@live.com>
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Obasanjo Enrols For PhD At NOUN
> To: NaijaO...@yahoogroups.com, naijain...@googlegroups.com , naij...@googlegroups.com, niger...@yahoogroups.com, usaafric...@googlegroups.com , Talkn...@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2014, 6:50 PM
> Obasanjo Enrols For PhD At NOUN
>
> INFO NIGERIA / 2014-09-30 18:35
>
> Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has enrolled for a Master
> of Arts (MA) and PhD degrees at the National Open University
> of Nigeria (NOUN). He registered to study Christian Theology
> in the School of Arts and Social Sciences.
>
> Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Vincent Tenebe
> stated that although admission and registration in
> universities were not usually announced or celebrated, but
> for a special case like this, it is allowed. Obasanjo
> however urged the management of the institution to treat him
> like any other student. Although he said he recognised the
> role of courtesy in his case, but he said he would be more
> comfortable being treated like an ordinary student.
>
> The 77-year-old explained why he decided to register at NOUN
> when he first did years ago.
>
> "Primary, to acquire knowledge, particularly in Christian
> Theology, not because I want to be a pastor but rather, to
> know God more and be able to serve Him better.
>
> "Secondly, I wanted to make a statement that no matter
> one's age or position, there should be no barrier to
> continuous learning.
>
> "Thirdly, I wanted to showcase this university, knowing
> full well that this country will at no foreseeable future be
> able to provide adequate access to millions of Nigerians who
> are yearning for knowledge," he said.
>
> Obasanjo, who graduated with the first group of students in
> January 2009, therefore called on Nigerians seeking for
> knowledge to consider enrolling at NOUN. He said NOUN is by
> no means inferior to the conventional universities.
>
> He also urged the alumni of the university to try their best
> to support the school.
>
> Tenebe commended Obasanjo for resuscitating NOUN, as part of
> numerous efforts by his administration to develop education
> in Nigeria. He described Obasanjo as a leader to be emulated
> for his quest to see Nigeria develop through the use of new
> technology in education.
>
> Obasanjo's enrolment in NOUN, according to Tenebe has
> boosted student population; which had increased from 16,000
> in 2010 to 308,000 in 2014 with over 150,000 active
> students.
>
> Tenebe pleaded with the federal government to start allowing
> NOUN law graduates for study at the Nigerian Law School. He
> also asked that other graduates of the university be allowed
> to participate in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
>
>
>
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