Dr. Omotayo O. Tope is an Associate Professor at the Department of Adult Education, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun. Ogun State. An expert in Gerontological Studies (with special focus on ageing and retirement) and an advocate of a restructured Nigeria, Dr. Omotayo speaks on a broad spectrum of issues covering Nigeria’s journey since independence till date. Excerpt:
Nigeria is 59. How has the nation fared over this period?
The performance of Nigeria as a nation in the last 59 years is a mixture of success and failure. Initially we did well as the Africa Giant in such areas like the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 (now the African Union, AU). We kicked out colonialism in African countries like Zimbabwe and led the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa to free that country from White Minority rule. Liberia, Sierra Leone erupted in violence and again Nigeria led the processes which restored normalcy in these countries and others. So in Africa and on the global stage we have done well.
However, our score-card has been less impressive in recent times. We have lost part of our prestige and the goodwill we enjoyed in the past. We can see this in the hostilities Nigerians get around the World, especially in Africa, and particularly in South Africa, even Ghana.
The major reason for this is failure in leadership. Though our leaders have kept the country united, including fighting a civil war, the socio-economic situation they engendered has not allowed for the expected national development. Certainly, our people have not enjoyed a commensurate measure of this country’s wealth.
We still have a lot do to make Nigeria a success story. We need a better Constitution which would facilitate good governance, human capacity development and efficient natural resources utilization that would translate to infrastructural development for the betterment of all.
How do we achieve these?
First, Nigerians have to agree that we want to live together. In a house all occupants know each section of their dwelling and everybody uses the different parts of the house as designed. There will be chaos if an occupant should cook in the restroom or bath in the kitchen. So there is a need for Nigerians to have a Peoples’ Constitution which cares for the traditions, religions and other particularities of the different ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. The present Constitution is like you trying to drive a spark plug engine with diesel. It cannot work.
The Constitution of any nation is the foundation upon which the country rests or better still the compass it navigates with. Once this is out of order progress is impeded. So as a nation we need to rewrite our Constitution, perhaps through an independent national conference.
You are a passionate advocate of restructuring the country. Why should Nigeria be restructured?
The present Constitution is too restrictive and does not allow different parts of the country to develop at their own pace based on preferences, priorities, etc. Nigeria is populated by diverse people with assorted cultures, attitudes. religions, preferences, etc. A Constitution that centralizes so much as we have now can only breed chaos. And we can see where we are today. Look, Ogun State established its state university – Ogun State University (OSU) now Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) – in 1982, about 40 years ago. But some states are just establishing their own universities. This is a reflection of preference or priority. Imagine if we had stopped Ogun State from doing this then. Our Constitution needs to open up other spaces to engender local, state and regional growth at each federating entity’s pace and preference.
How would you assess the Nigerian State’s approach to the welfare of its citizenry?
The situation is pathetic and this is traceable to years of neglect by the government. Successive administrations have not really attended to the welfare of citizens, which is the primary role of government. The first welfare is meeting the basic needs of citizens. This has to do with living in abundance such as the approach of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the defunct West Region. The cost of basic human needs in Nigeria is insalubrious. Cost of food and other staple items is too high, especially when compared to the minimum wage.
Unemployment is endemic owing to non-expansion of the economy. The functions of government include creating the enabling environment, especially public infrastructure, so citizen can explore these for personal and national advancement.
The establishment of the contributory pension scheme has helped retirees to an extent but there is room for improvement. Government should activate the National Seniors Citizen Act of 2017 to ensure better care for retirees and older persons in Nigeria.
Old peoples’ homes operated by private investors are springing up in Nigeria like never before. Why?
Basically, the increasing number of private old peoples’ home is being driven by demand. Thanks to modern Medicine, Nigerians are living longer than before. There are more older people to care for now, more so when the traditional care system has been ruptured by the pressure of modern life. Children now live abroad or far away from their parents. Even if they live near their parents, the pressure on their time makes it practically impossible for adult children – who also have their own families to raise – to take adequate care of their older dependents, hence the increased patronage of old peoples’ homes.
In 2005 I submitted that the issue of ageing was an emergency second only to security. I postulated the 4Rs of Ageing concerning how the increasing number of older persons will restructure the economy, family, politics and social institutions. The needs of older persons in the 4Rs schematic would continue to increase. This is just the beginning and government needs to act now.
How do we improve the social work or welfare sector?
The way to go is research and documentation. Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) should focus more on this. Government should prioritize research and teaching of social work in tertiary institutions owing to increased need to care for Nigerians. Social work is not only for the less-privileged. The dynamics of human society has made dependence on one another inevitable and social work codifies this natural scenario into a practice.
Social work cuts across all strata of society. The specializations include school social work, psychiatry, correctional (prison and remand home) family, gerontological care (ageing and retirement) and even industrial social work and others.
I advise all tertiary institution to have at least a degree course in social work. It is important for government to legislate for all formal establishments to engage a social work expert, set up a unit or department of social work to attend to personnel’s human needs beyond pecuniary challenges.
What reforms would you like to see in the Nigerian university system?
University should be allowed to enjoy more academic freedom, especially in terms of regulation and floating of courses. University Senate should be able to float courses. Government should set up a forum where university research results can be implemented to address social and economic challenge.
Where do you see Nigeria in 100 years?
I see a Nigeria evolved from its present constitutional quagmire, its current social, political and economic anomie, ethnic and religious sentiments that determine voting patterns and choice of leaders to a country where merit, fairness and equity reign supreme.
Leave a Reply