Deep Thought

 Re: Nine Years After Prof Ahmad Falaki- The Fall of Farmers' General By Prof. M. K. Othman   The late Prof. Mustapha Ahmed Falaki had a larger-than-life personality during his working career that made his name ring the bell nine years after his assasination. As expected, my tribute last week to the academic colossus, social-justice crusader, power of the powerless, and farmers' general, Mallam Falaki, attracted praise and happy testimonies from those whom his human kindness touched. It was a life well spent; we pray that his maker, who is also our maker, the Almighty Allah, forgives Falaki's shortcomings and admits him to Aljanna Firdausi. I am sharing some of the comments. Happy reading.   Mallam Falaki, as we respectfully called him, was a father, a teacher, a colleague, a mentor, and an advisor to me. I may be correct to say that among his students and colleagues, I was the closest to him. As you rightly mentioned, he was instrumental in the admission and employment o...

 Nine Years After Prof Ahmad Falaki: The Fall of Farmers' General By Prof. M. K. Othman   On Saturday, February 14th, 2015, my phone repeatedly rang in the middle of my lovely squash game. I cursed myself for not putting the phone on silent mode. I hesitatingly answered it. The distance caller said, "Prof, you are in the court playing, so you didn't hear that Malam Falaki (as we fondly called him) is dead; he was assassinated." Shockingly, my phone fleetingly fell out of my hand, momentarily confused. After confirmation, I witnessed Falaki's burial in Kano on the same day. Today, Wednesday, February 14th, 2024, marked the ninth year since we lost Professor Mustapha Ahmad Falaki through cruel and gruesome murder in cold blood by yet-to-be-identified assailants. My esteemed readers, I am dedicating my column this week to pay tribute to my excellent mentor, teacher, and farmers' General, Prof. Falaki, again. I am paraphrasing my earlier tribute, which was written...

 Re: Nigeria's Perilous University System- SOS Mr. President Tinubu By Prof M.K. Othman As time ticks, our university system's perilous situation is deepening, creating an unpleasant scenario. The current administration seems irresponsive to the happenings on our university campuses. Apart from the sweet-coated but unfulfilling statements, award of 25/35% salary increase, presidential amnesty to release four months withheld salaries of the striking workers, approval to remove payment of university workers from IPPIS, etc, the hopes of the university workers for a brighter tomorrow are dashed. The students are oblivious to the flight of their teachers; they are only interested in graduating even if they will be "half-baked" and join the labor market. Why is society unconcerned about the deteriorating quality of Nigerian university graduates? The academics are under exacerbating economic pain, and their Union, ASUU, cowed by the past administration through a judicial te...