WHEN THE GOWN IS DIRTY, THE TOWN CANNOT BUT STINK
When The Gown is Dirty, The Town cannot but Stink
The academia has served as the bedrock of innovation for the society from time immemorial. It has been the brain box of idea test run, idea validation and cutting edge creativities that drives success in the societal economy. No human society has experienced a major breakthrough either in her economy or social development without the fruits of research and innovations from the academia.
These gives credence to the importance of Universities in any country. An ideal University is a think tank that supplies the immediate society with tested and trusted innovations, policy arenas and creative ideas that will drive development. Every society should be a reflection of what their universities are. There may be some correlations or direct relationship between the quality of universities and the qualities of development we see in the societies where the universities are located.
It is worthy of note that most of the global problems in health such as malaria and other diseases that seemed incurable years back had solutions through cutting edge researches in universities all around the world. Mention should be made of the transformation in science and technology and how technology has changed the course of humanity. All these are exuding out of universities where support is given to research and development.
In Nigeria however, we have seen the distance between the gown and the town growing wider by the day as the universities are losing their relevance in providing solutions to societal problems. We have seen the trust of industries in University research outcomes deteriorate right in front of our intellectual nostrils. We have seen how the academia became more of problem discussants rather than solution providers. We saw it, how funding for research and development deteriorated and postgraduate students in biochemistry are using water dripping from Air conditioners as distilled water.
A society whose industries and government do not use the research outcomes coming from her universities is nothing but an Innovation degenerative society. What do we expect? When the laboratories in some of our public universities cannot afford to buy test tubes for undergraduates to perform experiments. When Bunsen burners are being replaced with local locomotive lantern. When theses written by students are being trashed after some years.
A society such as ours, gives no regard to research and development and our public tertiary institutions seems to struggle to maintain relevance. We have many doctoral degree holders in Nigeria but yet with little Innovation. Could it be that something has gone wrong with our educational system? Are Nigerians actually receiving expired education as stated by a United States of America Professor in a Nigerian National Dailies some weeks ago. Are we producing graduates who can compete with their colleagues in other parts of the world?.
I guess a new generation of intellectuals are evolving. A generation that will jettison the conventional Universities and still deliver premium genius to the world. A generation that will not be bound by location but globe trot based on their skills and innovative minds. A new university is emerging, and that is the University of Intellectual Rebels.
