MY PROBLEM WITH SCHOOLING.

Honestly, if certificates and credentials weren’t a part of strategic inclusion, I WILL NEVER BE A PROPONENT OF FORMAL SCHOOLING. The thing dey tire me abeg (it tires me). But it is what it is.

My daughter’s teacher sent me a message during the Sallah break to report that my girl left some of her books in school. My first impulse was anger ‘why would she do that?’ Then in the same breathe, I recollected my chat with a friend who told me ‘your daughter likes to read sha. She even reads your own library. How does she do it?’ Irony!!! How do you explain that a child LOVES MY LIBRARY but forgets her ACADEMIC LITERATURE in school? One other reason why I couldn’t stay angry with my daughter is that I WAS JUST THE SAME WHEN I WAS HER AGE.

At around 10 old years, while we lived in Bauchi state (North East Nigeria), my Dad once returned home on his fortnight visits from work (He worked in Ashaka Cement Plc Gombe State for some years before we joined him fully. Gombe State is North East Nigeria too). During the weekend, he said ‘let me see your books’. I replied ‘okay Sir’. Then I left his presence and stalled in the bedroom. After what looked like hours, I came out with no books and he said ‘I said bring your books’. I faked a surprise and replied ‘oh okay!!!’ I cannot remember why I was reluctant to bring my books but I know that I did not like book work as a child.

In Boarding secondary school, I had a reputation of not being committed to reading. I was naturally brilliant but I hated reading. I finished University with a 2’2 (second class lower division) and I felt like ‘I try sef’. I have not done any Academic work for 16 years until I started an MBA in 2019. That is how lethargic I am about academic work BUT THEN: every single person around me knows HOW ADDICTED I am to reading (NON-ACADEMIC) BOOKS. I have a very large library. I am constantly spending a fortune buying books from Amazon and Roving Heights (@RovingHeights). I read every single day. And I can attest that I have a very sharp mind towards arts, music and entrepreneurship content.

Hmmmmmm… so I have an issue with schooling.

Schooling should:

1. Identify our trajectory and long term potentials.
2. Prepare us for the MAIN THING and stop carrying us around in circles. I still cannot understand the relationship between CALCULUS and ENTREPRENEURSHIP in the sectors I have worked or consulted so far. This is only an example. There are so many subjects and courses we have taken that have no direct impact on the money we are looking for 🤣😂😂. ButWhatDoIKnow!!!
3. Help us understand LIFE and NOT ABSTRACTS. Even the teachers and lecturers are disconnected from life.. in the course of their teachings. I think LESS THAN 1% REALLY CONNECT THE DOTS.

Well sha.. maybe this is a vent. Maybe it made sense. Use it as it may. 😁

m a k t u b!!!

SO