Deep Thought

 Dogged and Kindhearted Hassan Gimba: Celebrating Four Decades of Bosom Friendship By Prof MK Othman Our friendship, forged in the crucible of the School of Basic Studies of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was a unique bond that transcended the typical student camaraderie. We were both teenagers and graduates of our secondary schools, where we emerged as local champions and gained admission into the famous school, SBS. Gaining admission into ABU, the most admired university through its famous gateway, SBS was the lofty dream of every form five (final year) student who intellectually constituted the top 5% of their class.  The SBS summer term was a harvest of brilliant students from various secondary schools nationwide whose names were listed in the national newspapers as successful candidates after the entrance examination. Fresh from secondary school, the breeze of academic freedom on the university campus blew as we schemed to find our feet and cope with the cutthroat demands o

 #StopASUUStrike: Can the Nation Afford ASUU’s Strike? By Prof M.K. Othman Perhaps the 10-page Press statement presented to the media by the ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, issuing a 21-day ultimatum was a bit disappointing to ordinary ASUU members. The document did not fully convey the urgent need for action to address the dire state of the public university system nationwide. Perhaps Osodeke was displaying his new diplomatic mien, not to strike a match stick in a highly explosive atmosphere considering the growing tension after the recent hardship protest that claimed many lives with no significant change in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.  This could be why the 21-day ultimatum did not mention the resumption of ASUU's suspended industrial action if the government fails to do what is needed after the warning period. Whatever the case, the truth must be told to avoid repeating the ASUU-FGN imbroglio of yonder. The university system in Nigeria faces several herculean challe

 Readers’ Comments on Dangote’s Refinery and Food Security By Prof M.K. Othman A weekly article has always been a tasking assignment in the face of several contending issues demanding time and attention. Academic activities- teaching, research and knowledge dissemination, community services – consultancy, mentorship, etc- are time-consuming and attention-seeking events. So, the best way to sustain weekly articles is to allow the views of my readers to be published from time to time. This week, I am publishing views on two critical issues – Dangote’s refinery and food security. The articles on these issues were published some weeks ago.     Dangote Refinery: Pride to the Nation and Beacon of Hope Many odd things are happening in our oil industry in quick sessions and getting out of control. The sector has been tirelessly working to produce overnight multi-billionaires while milking the nation and impoverishing the citizens. First, the International Oil Companies work upstream of the ind

 Re: Hardship Protest - Let's Avoid Doom's Day By Prof. M.K. Othman   The period from 1st to 10th August was the most challenging time for our nascent democracy and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his cabinet members. It was when Nigerians vented their anger, frustration, and dismay to political officeholders with grave consequences. Some people lost their lives, and some lost their personal belongings in addition to the devastating hunger with ravaging alacrity that swept many communities. Many of us had premonitions of the likely unpleasant outcomes of the protest. We prayed for a swift government intervention to ease the hardship and end the agitation for the demonstrations. Some optimists or mischief makers went beyond the limit. They fabricated the supposed speech of President Tinubu, assuaging the protestants with measures to address the causes of the protests, which the presidency promptly denied. Later, the President addressed Nigerians when the protests were flaring un

 Dangote Refinery: Pride to the Nation and Beacon of Hope By Prof M.K. Othman A business mogul the size of Aliko Dangote is assumed to say less outside his business engagements. Yet, as a guest speaker at the 38th ABU convocation lecture on Friday, January 29, 2016, he held an unusual audience: the elites, industrialists, technocrats, academia, and teeming youths, spellbound to breath-taking silence, listening to his soft-spoken golden voice deliver his lecture. Perhaps the silence was not unconnected to the audience's desire to learn how Aliko Dangote built his empire from the horse's mouth, hoping to replicate the "how" for other Dangotes.  The lecture titled "The Role Entrepreneurship in National Development: The Story of Dangote Group." The message was educative, thought-provoking, inspiring, and a beacon of hope for the teeming unemployed youth, instilling a sense of optimism and encouragement.  It was a fleeting moment with a profound sense of pride an

 Hardship Protest: Let's Avoid Doom's Day By Prof. M.K. Othman Pressure is mounting, the time is ticking, and the atmosphere is pregnant with flammable air waiting for a minute spark to explode, marking the arrival of Doom's Day. The inferno of Doom's Day may consume all of us and our belongings. In the inferno, there would be no king or enslaved people, as all would have one status: fire victims. We must do everything to avoid the arrival of Doom's Day by relieving the pressure causing the atmospheric pregnancy, which has disastrous potential. The last four days in Nigeria have witnessed exponential pressure increases, resulting in turmoil due to the nationwide protests under the banner #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria. This is akin to inches toward Doom’s Day. When the idea of nationwide protests surfaced, we all hoped for a swift resolution to ease the hardship and bring an end to the protests. However, as the protests began, it became clear that our prayers for immedi