For asking what appears to the officials of the Federal Ministry of

Education a hate-filled question, I was asked to leave the venue of

the 19th Stakeholders Meeting on Unity Schools/Colleges.

The order came in such an uncharitable, direct and malevolent manner!

It matched the same venom that gave vent to it. I was not allowed to

pick up my files and say a few words to colleagues. I must leave, and

leave immediately within split seconds.

What did I say?

Priscilla Ihuoma, the spokesman of the Minister has just announced

what appeared to me, the information that brought me to Abuja. I was

waiting for this announcement. I got it. I predicted the minister.

She played into my hands. I had waited for an opportunity to share my

thoughts on my hatred, opposition and stance against Unity Schools and

the injustice in Nigerian education system.

I missed the opportunity in 2016 and 2017 to present my views. Then,

the meeting was a hushed one. This time around, we were told the

meeting would drag to two days. And stakeholders who have views could

easily share them as the Minister would entertain such.

Mrs Ihuoma, the announced the breakdown of the registrations for the

2018 Common Entrance Examinations. A total of 71, 294 young boys and

girls were registered for the examination, a little shortfall from the

81,930 that registered in 2017.

Lagos State hit the top with 24,465, FCT came next with 7, 699. Of

course you know why? Igbos in Lagos and FCT are included! Then, she

murmured a well rehearsed statement: Zamfara 28, Kebbi 50, Taraba 95.

These three states came first from behind.

She went ahead to tell us the obvious: that the nation has 104 unity

schools; that most of these unity schools don’t get up to their

carrying capacity; A budget, running into billions of naira goes into

their maintenance each year and that The Unity Schools take up to 45%

of the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Education.

I was bitter. I was overtly burning with rage and hate. I couldn’t

wait for the question and answer session. I did all I could to get

hold of the microphone and finally, I got to the aisle, looked

directly to the raised table and heaved a sigh of relief. I glanced

through my notes and let loose the canons:

Why do we have 12 Unity Schools in the East where more than 50% of

candidates come from? Mr Minister, why are kids from Igboland not

given admission to those Unity schools that don’t get up to their

quota/carrying capacity?

Honorable Minister, can you explain why a young girl from Imo state,

seeking admission into any of the country’s 104 Federal Government

Colleges (Unity Schools) must score 139 points out of a possible 300

to stand a chance of being taken. But her counterpart from Zamfara

state only needs to guess two answers right?

Why does the young boy from Abia be denied admission even when he

scores 198 while his counterpart from Gombe who merely wrote the

examination (but scored zero) is allowed to study in any unity school

of his choice?

Why do we have only 2 Igbo principals in the 105 Unity schools in

Nigeria? Does this reflect intellectual preparedness or merely a

reflection of the wishes of the leadership of the nation and that of

the ministry?

Why must the federal government set up a well funded advocacy team to

persuade villagers, traditional rulers in North and clergy to

encourage their citizens to send their wards to unity colleges while

efforts are not made to accommodate thousands of kids from the East

who are denied admission yearly.

Our Minister, I hope you are aware that Last year, Nigeria’s four

Federal Government Colleges did not produce a single candidate that

scored five credits that included English and Mathematics, needed to

gain admission into the university.

Hon Minister, I hope you are aware that, Federal Government Girls’

College, Bajoga (Gombe State); FGGC, Bauchi (Bauchi State); FGGC Gboko

(Benue State), and the Federal Science and Technical College,

Kafanchan (in Kaduna State) did not produce a single pupil with

credits in English and Mathematics.

Honorable Minister, I hope you are aware that in 2013, human rights

lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr.

Olisa Agbakoba, filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Lagos over

admission inequality in Federal Government Colleges. The court

declared as unconstitutional, the decades-long state-based, quota

system admission into federal government colleges.

John Tsoho, the trial Judge, in his ruling declared that the action of

the Minister of Education in prescribing and applying different

requirements for candidates seeking admission into unity schools is in

violation of Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution. If this is the

case, and definitely that is the case, Why does the Ministry of

Education under you refuse to adher to the court ruling?

Why does, Zamfara State, with 28 candidates for the 2018 common

entrance examination have three Unity Schools, while my state of Imo

has only two!!! Why do we have three Unity schools in Taraba (that has

only 95 students this year) while Enugu State has only two. Hon.

Minister, I can go on and on to...

It was at this point that heavens were let loose. Stop there!!! Voices

from the elevated table raged. It was amidst claps and jeers, heckles

and clear disapproval from those whose benefits have been threatened;

acclamation from those whose grievances have been let loose, that i

was ordered and whisked away from the ICC, venue of the stakeholders

meeting. No harm befell on me.

I retired to my hotel room, got enough rest and made a Lagos-bound

journey. I am sure, the organizers wouldn’t invite me to subsequent

meetings. But who cares?

•Dr. Modestus Ezenwa first published this account under a different

title on his Facebook wall.

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