By Dele Sobowale

“Whoever reads history with application will perceive that the same scenes are often repeated and that we need only change the name of the actors”, Frederick the Great, 1712-1786.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 92).

ADMITTEDLY, Frederick the Great, exaggerated a little bit.
The Prussian warrior and philosopher, who was faced with total destruction of his army, until he was saved by what, in history, had become known as ‘reversal of alliances’, still had a point. Several scenes, in history repeat themselves all over the world, sometimes in the same country, such that it is difficult to disagree with that broad generalization.

All the stakeholders of Nigerian varsities, private and public, face the toughest year in our history since 1948 when the University College, Ibadan, opened its gates to admit students. The closest experience we have had to what we can expect from this year and several years after, was in the 1980s when the historical Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, was introduced by President Babangida. Then, as now, the global price of crude oil fell suddenly and uncontrollably – resulting in major upheavals on Nigerian campuses. The most noticeable then was the brain-drain, as hundreds of Nigerian academics, mostly the youngest, brightest and the best, fled abroad when their take home pays at Nigerian universities could no longer take them home.

The Second day protect of students of Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye in Abeokuta the Ogun State Capital turns violence snatching cars windscreen and others on Friday 15-08-2014 BY WUMI AKINOLA

Brain-drain is still a possibility; but, not on the same scale as that of the 1980s. Nigerian certificates, including Ph.Ds have since been seriously devalued. One only has to listen to the utterances of some doctorate degree holders in Nigeria these days to realize how far we have climbed down the greasy pole to mediocrity – even in academia. But, that is subject for another day. Those under focus today, among the stakeholders are the Visitors, the Pro-Chancellors, the V.Cs, the Council Members, Ministers and Commissioners of Education and the Senates of the universities. Without realizing it, they are in the trenches in the front lines of what will definitely become several battlegrounds, currently called university campuses. Peace is the last thing anybody with sense should expect. The reasons are clear to those who have learnt anything from the verdicts of economic history everywhere. But, first permit me a diversion, whose relevance will become clear later with respect to V.C

Emeritus Professor Tekena Tamuno, OFR, former V.C of University of Ibadan, U.I, and one of the best historians the world has ever produced (history is my hobby, so I should know), set an enviable example as VC of U.I which others, in the perilous times ahead, might want to emulate. Offered a second term, my second favourite Prof (sorry my brother is also a Prof and blood is always thicker than water) in Nigeria, turned it down. He wanted to return to the classroom and teach history. To him, despite the perks of office attaching to the office of VC, history came first. What some of our current and future VCs might learn from Professor of Professors is a simple lesson, being VC is not a do or die affair. And, it might save your life. Professor Akesode’e story at LASU in there as lesson.

Let me now return to the matter on hand. Back in the early 1980s, when the first major decline in the price of crude oil was experienced, after a prolonged and steady increase from 1973, aggregate national revenue dropped drastically and the Federal and State governments were forced to slash allocations to universities sharply. All hell broke loose immediately. Now, let us pause to examine the similarities between our experience in the 1908s and the present unfolding drama.

First, in each case governments and the universities were locked into several agreements and plans covering several years based on the assumption that the price of crude oil, which had by then become dominant in our economy, would remain so. And, for almost a decade, that assumption was correct – until 1982, when the decline started. Suddenly, agreements reached with academic and non-academic staff regarding salaries and entitlements could no longer be afforded by governments. That was sufficient cause for disruptions on campuses. Then, as the Federal Government introduced measures, aimed at stabilizing the economy, but, which had hyper-inflation as one of the unintended consequences, everybody’s salaries was no longer sufficient to meet their needs. Universities wanted more money to cushion the impact of devalued currency at the same time governments had less.