Square pegs in a round hole economy.

                                

As a country, there is no gainsaying the fact that we are lagging behind in critical disciplines that shape the modern world. Disciplines such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Sadly, these disciplines merely have theoretical value without an iota of pragmatism in our economy.

We graduate Medical Scientists who cannot find new antibodies/antibiotics/cures. We graduate Computer Scientists who rarely design apps or write codes. We graduate Engineers who design and build nothing, and those who do hardly innovate. We'd rather look to God for help than engage in enterprise and innovation in this country. This is bad enough.

And then it got even worse.

Most of us have friends and families who in the University studied a course that is not even tangentially and remotely related to what they are currently employed to do. It is bad enough that we lack the innovation to lead in science, technology and engineering. It is now worse that these potential innovators are everywhere they shouldn't be.

Ours is a square peg in a round hole economy. And herein lies the driving force behind our collective retrogression. We spend time and resources on and in our higher institutions of learning to acquire knowledge that would not serve any significant purpose in the relevant sectors.

A Philosopher in a PR company.

A Biochemist in a Banking sector.

An Agriculturist in a Telecoms industry.

A Botanist in an Engineering company.

A Computer Scientist working as Cashier.

A Structural Engineer working as Farmer.

A Scientist working as Financier Adviser.

A Lawyer working as Banker.

A Geologist working as Strategist.

Etc.

In my country, the mismatch is endless. But we also console ourselves, and we do it so pathetically well. We say things like;

"What matters is intelligence and not certifications."

"Certificates are mere papers. What counts is result." Etc.

By so doing, we fail to appreciate the broader implications of this ungodly trend. We are deceived by our own indifference.

Imagine a Department of Banking & Finance of a University which trains students that would lose their future banking jobs to Botanists. Imagine the waste of both human and financial resources in that Department as a result of this eventuality.

Imagine the Department of Psychology of a University which trains students that would end up as Cashiers in Banks. Imagine the waste of both human and financial resources in that Department as a result of this eventuality. And so on.

Why set up these Departments/Disciplines and earmark huge funds for them only to churn out graduates who would find no direct use for them in the broader economy? Is it not wasteful that we spend so much on faculties and educational facilities that would not impact the larger economy? Why have a paid Lecturer for Banking & Finance when most of his students will end up in non financial sectors? This is a systematic waste of human and nonhuman resources.

But should we expect anything less when even at the federal government level our federal Ministers are misfits. Except the law requires it (e.g Minister for Justice must be a lawyer), we do not take care to ensure that we put the rightly qualified people in the right spaces. We can, as it were, 'shake up the cabinet' (or what some call 'cabinet reshuffle') and put the Minister of Agriculture in the Aviation Ministry. This is very 'Nigerian'. Yet, we wonder why it seems as if when we take one step forward, we take three steps backward. In fact, a roller coaster almost feels better.

This is Intellectual Waste. No progressive entity can progress with this model. We must abort fast. We must adopt a new paradigm. We must begin to as much as practicable avoid this fledging culture of waste.

Let us make our universities and faculties of learning fulfil the purpose for which they were established. A Law Faculty producing Lawyers for Law Firms and Courts. A Chemistry Dept. producing Chemists for Labs. A Banking & Finance Faculty producing Bankers for the Banks. A Botany Dept. producing Botanists for plants and gardens. Etc.

This is the fastest way to maximize our national human capital.

                                      Truth is Sacred.

Written by Olakunle Allison

www.facebook.com/barr.olakunleallison