KOK cries out

W

hile we have been busy talking about Nigeria of today, I wonder if we have spared a thought about how this country will be in the next 25 years. On October 1, 1979, when Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari was sworn in as President, GEJ was just a 22 years old undergraduate of University. Alhaji Shagari was 54 years old. Ayo Fayose was 19 years old, Bukola Saraki was 17 years old, Yemi Osibanjo was 22 years old. The generation of the likes of Shagari, Richard Akinjide, Edwin Ume Ezeoke, Barkin Zuwo, Sunday Awoniyi, and so on has gone for good.

Some of us in our 40s and 50s, when in school, either in the University or secondary school had lofty dreams. We were always motivated by Nationalists and inventors who had impacted positively on the cause of humanity. We even named our children after them. We were voracious readers of novels and other books – NELKON for our ordinary level Physics, LAMBERT for Chemistry, B.O. Adeleke and GO CHENG LEONG for our Geography, Achebe and Soyinka for our Literature.

·        We were always flaunting our knowledge of current affairs. Inter-school quiz, literary and debating competition were the-in-thing.

·        NOWADAYS, students can hardly string a sentence together in English without errors.

He has hundreds of downloaded songs on his phone and can sing all of them off hand but cannot sing the National Anthem off hand.

·        He/she knows nothing about the History of Nationalism in the country. Ideas about good society, responsible family and good conduct do not motivate him. He just wants to make money, because his friend who does YAHOO is rich and rides a good car.

·        He has Google but never uses it to advancement of knowledge but download porn and other inanity. YET, in 20 years time, they are the ones who will be contesting to become Governors, Senators, Rep members and even the President. They belong to a generation that unfortunately does not care about morality. They belong to a generation that is motivated only by MONEY and its acquisition. By 2035 to 2040, they will be our Governors, National Assembly members, e.t.c. Have we wondered how this country will look like in their hands?

·        If a guy (Yahoo) in Lagos could use false pretence to obtain say $30,000 from someone in the USA, what do you think this guy will do if he becomes a state Governor and is in charge of an allocation, he does not have to obtain under false pretence?

·        How did we get into this mess?

·        How can we get out of this predicament?

Mentoring provides the direction, restoration of values and culture, motivation, support, empowerment of those who work hard.

NEED ASSESMENT/HOW DO WE COME IN?

KOKMA CAN BE NIGERIA’S YOUNG INVENTORS LIFELINE

It is common to hear wonderful technological/scientific feats credited to young Nigerian students. Year in year out the tabloids are agog with such news as:

• ·        Young inventors Olympiads: Nigerian student triumphs over UK.......pulse.ng

• ·        NTIC student bags International young inventors Olympiads beats US.....leadership,ng>news

• ·        Made in Nigeria: Young Enugu student builds aeroplane.

• ·        Unilag students design electric car – thenationonline.net

But these heartwarming news never see their fruition – they end at Pilot level. KOK Young Entrepreneurs & Employees Schemes can stand between the government and the student inventors to work out a programme where the inventions can see the light of day.

KOKMA can go in partnership with the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish NIGERIAN INNOVATORS MENTORING PROGRAMME

WHAT TO DO: To identify young innovators in the six geo political zones and mentor them to bring their ideas to the market.

THE VISION: To raise the next Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates

The process for this launch will be unveiled further as the Minister may approve.