Who thinks for Nigeria?

 

While Jeff Bezos is going to space on a commercial ride, where are we

thinking of going in Nigeria?

The same thought process that produces such a venture is surprisingly present in Nigeria. The difference is the mind set.

Please do not for once think or believe that the Blackman is inherently less mentally endowed than the white man.

Nigeria has legions of Ivory towers and several Research Institutes and you will be shocked at what goes on in these brain workshops.

In the US, do not be surprised that academics are given a pride of place but in Nigeria, this can only happen when they are in partisan politics or are swimming in wealth.

A society that worships money is inherently defective.

There has to be a clear cut line between the thinkers and the doers. This is what is referred to as the meeting between the gown and the town.

In Nigeria, the gown is there and more and more are being made each passing day but the Glory is fast departing from them courtesy of poor funding.

The private Universities are taking over but the question is how far can they go in ensuring the interplay between the gown and the town?

I once had an encounter with Dotun Phillips of Phillips consulting but it was not direct, but what I got from that encounter was mind boggling. It was about the thinking and the future of South Africa.

It made me wonder, who is thinking for Nigeria? Do the Politicians believe in the gown? The many ASUU strikes tell all the story of the place of Academia in their thinking.

Yet, there are thinkers there. Why bother setting up Ivory towers if they would be neglected in all materials particular?