Soyinka: Nigerian Education System Is Horrifying

The renowned writer Wole Soyinka has described the Nigerian system of education as horrifying and said Nigeria was in trouble.

He disclosed this during the presentation of a play entitled ‘Folly of Men’ on Sunday, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The play was an adaptation of three plays from Soyinka’s ‘Trial of Brother Jero’, Femi Osofisan’s ‘No More the Wasted Breed’, and Bode Sowande’s ‘Mamiwater’s Wedding’.

While addressing journalists at the programme that was held as part of activities to mark the 90th anniversary of the Government College, Ibadan, Soyinka applauded the organisers for the initiative.

“We are in serious trouble, education wise in this country. Let me not kid you; it’s horrifying. That was why I was happy about the initiative of creating a model school and trying to resurrect this Government College and present it as the ideal. We are really very low, education wise.

“I have learnt how much they (old students association) have done in the last few days and I am very proud of their work. I just hope the government leaves them alone; don’t interfere with them. Let them bring back to everybody’s mind the possibility of what education can be,” the renowned writer said

Soyinka, Osofisan and Sowande, who were old students of the college, were presented with different awards, along with Dr Christopher Kolade, and the late T.M. Aluko.

Osofisan noted that government needed to invest more in education, adding that infrastructure and teachers’ salaries should be improved.

“What pains us now is that the school (Government College Ibadan) could produce people of worth before, but the whole thing has gone down now. We are hoping that this help generate new impetus and action about the school and education.”

The President of the GCI Old Boys Association, Wale Babalakin, said the college had fallen into disrepair.

“There is nothing called general education. Education must be good. It is better not to provide education than to provide poor education because an half-educated person is a danger to himself and the society. We have to make conscious efforts to invest in education and create a proper school that will further the development of Nigeria,” he added.