Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015—59
More Nigerians come for visa due to elections —Monaisa, S-African Consul Gen Philosophy, humanities and the national question in Nigeria (3) Continues from page 58 advances in science and technology are making us smarter, and our society more interconnected. This is actually true, but at what cost? Can we say we tolerate more? Do we empathise more? Have we not lost the essence of friendship and relationship that isn’t mediated by technology? Has honesty not disappeared within the anonymity and distance that the phone confers? Are we still human? Hasn’t technology eroded love or even virtue? In the Nigerian universities today, there are two critical steps I have noticed in the attempt to rethink the curricula into a balanced model. One involves the conscious restructuring of the humanities curricula to reflect relevance. Thus, I have heard of ‘History and Diplomatic Studies’ and ‘Philosophy and Public Affairs.’ The second critical step in the right direction is the efforts that are concentrated into fostering a rounded education through the General Studies programmes. The objective of the GSP is to facilitate a student’s understanding and appreciation of a broad range of disciplines outside the student’s primary discipline. However, what is required goes beyond General Studies or rejuvenated nomenclature. I am really alluding to the institutional re-enactment of the educational arrangements and dynamics that could facilitate the re-creation of a liberal arts education that will de-emphasise the false dichotomy between science and technology on the one hand, and the humanities on the other.
Broad range of disciplines The humanities without mathematics, the sciences and engineering would essentially be a lame set of disciplines. But then, all these others without the humanities would also be essentially blind! And in the final analysis, the nation would be the poorer for it. Yet, like I argued in the second part of the serial and in the original article, we don’t find humanistic scholars regularly in the public sphere confronting these issues, analysing educational policies, taking, say, the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to task over what the humanities require or can do, making high power representation to government ministries, parastatals or government’s education summits, and so on. We simply lament our fate and keep glumly silent. I trust that the scholars and intellectuals of the humanities should have no problem with proving the relevance of their disciplines, like Prof. Dukor did for philosophy and Mr Ifeanyi did for Classics. My considered opinion, however, is that we cannot do this, and hence save our beloved humanities from slow and painful death, by wilful silence or a deluded conviction that we are immune to the relevance question. More significantly, we have a great opportunity in this dispensation of our nascent democratic experiment, to demonstrate how a massive investment in the humanities by the government, can lead to a strong consolidation of our democracy. In other words, the Nigerian government wants to know how the humanities can delivera healthy, engaged, educated and responsible citizenry that understands the task and urgency of nation building in Nigeria. The challenge however is: Can the humanities deliver? •Dr. Tunji Olaopa is Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications Technology.
The Republic of South Africa High Commission’s Consul General, Ambassador Amb. Mokgethi Monaisa has expressed the need for a violence-free and credible elections come February 14, 2015 in Nigeria. The Consul General said he expects a display of togetherness among nationals, before, during and after the elections, concluding that Nigerians and the aspirants should uphold the values for which the country is known for and avoid any form of violence, intimidation or overbearing interferences to their choice in the forthcoming polls. He also stated that Nigerians have a lot to do towards sustainable democratic rules, saying that it is imperative for Nigeria nationals to fully support democratic principles by not allowing themselves used as tools to generating unfair elections. In this exclusive interview, Ambassador Monaisa also shared his thoughts on investments in Nigeria and South Africa, the similarities, and other issues. Excerpts:
By Vera Anyagafu, Prisca Duru &Victor Gotevbe
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HAT do you hope to see in Nigeria’s forthcoming elections? Although, this would be the first elections I would be witnessing in Nigeria, I hope to see violent-free elections. I cannot say much on this election, because I do not know how elections are handled here, but I do hear that so many companies are sending their people out and more Nigerians who come to apply for visa also want to run out in panic, but this should not be the case. Normally, in so many countries people are eager to go and vote. In my country for instance, people jubilate during elections. People are always eager because you have the right to vote who you want. But here, I do not know if Nigerians themselves are afraid of the elections day. Yet, I want to see people going to elect a person they want and they must be eager to do it. They must not be afraid to do it. They must not be intimidated into doing the things they would not want to do. They must have that freedom. We talked about the right to elect and that right goes with the freedom to choose who you want to be your leader. It is democracy. Nigeria has gone through many years of coups and democracy was ushered in 15 years ago, and it is important to sustain that democracy.
Sustenance of democracy If you look at Nigeria, there is no way Nigeria would change from its current democracy status. Nigerians cannot even dream of letting go. We must see that whoever wins the polls is the person of their choice, people of their choice. We must see people rejoicing, people parting, celebrating the day they go to the polls to elect that leader they want. That is the kind of mood we want. Since the exit of Nelson Mandela, do you see a leader emerging from South Africa possessing similar values as Nelson Mandela? I am hopeful that we have leaders who carry similar values as Nelson Mandela. South Africa is a country that is rich with lots of leadership material within their ruling parties. And as you rightly pointed out, it might not be an identical twin of Nelson Mandela, but there would be a leader with great values also. I should also point out here that after Nelson Mandela, there was Thabo Mbeki. Thabo Mbeki was not a replica of Nelson Mandela, but he was good too. I hope that my country
was in April 27. That was the first time a black person would come to the polls in South Africa. After our National Day in April, we have another event known as the Mandela day. We dedicate a week to this event, and South Africans would, firstly, go and visit places and spend 67 minutes doing something good. It is 67 minutes of doing something good, because Mandela spent 67 years of his life, doing good to humanity. The United Nations adopted or recognized that day as Mandela’s birthday. It is called ‘Nelson Mandela international day’. It is celebrated all over the world. People are called upon to do something good to the people. They would go and spend 67minutes of their time doing something good to
would continue to have such leaders, who are eager for a prosperous South Africa and her citizens. How strong is South Africa partnership with Nigeria? Our partnership is very strong and tight too and this is evidenced by our investment in Nigeria. There are so many South African companies that invested in Nigeria and a few of them that people know are Shop-rite, MTN, Multi-choice, South African airways, Stanbic, The Federal Palace Hotel, Protea Hotels, Southern Sun, Wheat-baker, and several others. South Africa has roughly over hundred companies doing business in Nigeria, and this S-African consul general, Amb. Mokgethi Monaisa prompted our government (r) with Vanguard admin manager, Victor Gotevbe decision to establish a Consulate General here in Lagos. the people or the community. Obviously a consulate general In 2014, we held this Nelson mandate would then be to look after Mandela event in Asaba, Delta State. the citizens of South Africa and also Asaba has also become so important protect their interests here in Nigeria. to us in the sense that, some two years Previously, the office here was part of ago, we inaugurated a garden, known the High Commission in Abuja, and as the ‘Nelson Mandela garden of 95 then the government decided to trees’ Dr. Newton Jibunoh was the upgrade our presence here in Lagos. initiator of that project. There, statue How do South Africans in Nigeria of Nelson Mandela was also celebrate historical events? unveiled, and his two grand children Well, every year we celebrate our were there to witness the occasion. We national day in April 27. Our national have a good relationship with the day is not our independence day. government of Delta State. South Africa got independence in South Africa also celebrates 1961. Our history is such that our women’s month and within that independence was left in the wrong month, we indulge in what we call hands. So we continued with our ‘Pick a girl-child to work’. During the struggle for the elimination of occasion, we partner with universities apartheid. It was in 1990, that we saw and companies, and then we take the fruit of that struggle. Then in 1991, students to go and experience a work we held our first democratic elections. place. This helps these children to The date for that democratic election choose a pathway in life and at the end, the students will share their experience with others. There is also a festival in September, where South Africans in Lagos will participate in traditional Potjiekos competition. How can you describe NigeriaSouth Africa relationship? It is important to note that we have so many South Africans here in Nigeria. And they are here because of the good relationships both countries share. There are also many If you look at Nigerians in South Africa. South Africa-Nigeria relations in key sectors Nigeria, there is no of both countries economy, grow from way Nigeria would strength to strength every year. Some would say Nigerians and South change from its Africans are competing and if it is so, current democracy that means there is a healthy status. Nigerians relationship going on between us. And this is so, because you need cannot even dream of someone to compete with in order to letting go progress and develop.