By Donu Kogbara

I went on to say that I wasn’t distraught when my son adopted this stance because many graduates are complete failures while many non-graduates have done very well in life, so I’ve never regarded university education as crucial.

Most of the Vanguard readers who contacted me to react to this article sternly informed me that they opposed my relaxed attitude and felt that I was being irresponsible and should find a way of persuading Oliver to change his position.

This aspect of the reaction from readers was no surprise. Nigerians are famously obsessed with self-advancement; and most Nigerians view degree certificates with reverence and regard them as passports to success.

But, much to my amazement, most of the Vanguard readers who e-mailed or text me went beyond expressing a generalised respect for tertiary education and firmly sided with Oliver instead of sympathising with me and his Dad!…and instructed us to do whatever it takes to get him to an American university.

I must say that it shocks me that so many of you think that kids who aren’t even old enough to vote in elections should be permitted – encouraged, even! – to dictate agendas and become powerful decision-makers within a family context.

But I’ve already annoyed my beloved offspring – who understandably craves privacy – by discussing his matter in public. So I won’t say much more. But I do wonder what happened to the traditional African values that once firmly elevated the preferences of seniors above the preferences of juniors! And, for the record, American universities are much more expensive than British universities.

Furthermore, Oliver’s father is English and is, therefore, entitled to want his only child to develop a more positive attitude towards his own country.  Enough said, by me at least.

Here is a small handful of readers’ comments on this issue:

From: Ifeka Okonkwo <[email protected]>

Your son Oliver is being pig-headed by refusing to go to university in Britain…

+2347037212475 J Onokpasa

It most certainly can’t be the son of the consummately intellectual Donu Kogbara that won’t go to university. Enough of the nonsense please.

+2348052333185 Anonymous

For Oliver’s sake, make him toe the line. If he has his way at all times what happens when he gets employed? It is my humble submission that you cajole him into going to university.  You have given him the best within your reach. Abandoning him now to his whimsical tendencies surely will spell doom.

+2347037421476 Rodsimeon Idaewor

Re: Does university education matter?

My dear Donu, please do whatever it takes to get Oliver into a university even if it entails borrowing to get him his preferred American one.

From: Peter Udosen <[email protected]>

University education is a veritable tool of life. It may not, in all cases, guarantee material wealth; but it does add value. However, taking a job at age 17 is not a crime. He can come out the better for it. Besides, taking a job does not foreclose academic pursuit/development.

Contrasts

LORD Rennard, an influential UK politician, has just been exposed as a serial sexual harasser who takes delight in inflicting unwanted passes on female subordinates.

Rennard has been thoroughly disgraced by his accusers, despite desperate attempts on the part of his sleazy political cronies – the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, for example – to silence his victims and critics.

Rennard’s reputation has been severely undermined by this scandal and Clegg will surely pay a heavy price for trying to stand by such a philandering bully.

There are many Rennards and Cleggs in Nigeria. But because our society is tiresomely under-developed and unjustly skewed in favour of unscrupulous men, there is no hope, currently, of justice for the many female victims of Nigerian sexual predators who get away with abusing their powers.

I pray that such Nigerian males will get their come uppances one day. If not now, by the time our daughters or granddaughters come of age.

There are women who specialise in seducing male bosses who can be useful to them. But there are also many women who have no interest in sleeping with the men they work for. And I am speaking for them.