By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
Agitation for the abolition of quota system in Nigeria’s education policy has intensified.
It became a topical issue at the 2017 (12th) Annual Lecture of Aelex Legal Practitioners and Arbitrators held in Lagos recently.
Dr. Adamu Jatau Noma, one of the discussants at the event, stirred the hornet’s nest when he talked about the dangers of doing away with the quota system.
Chairman of the occasion, Chief Folake Solanke (SAN) – Nigeria’s first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria – and many others disagreed with the view expressed by Noma who is a director at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Universal Basic Education (UBE) Board.
In his reaction, Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG) said: “Quota system must go. It is wrong to give admission to one who is lesser gifted. Quota system is one of many things that put Nigeria in chain.
Ibidapo-Obe who delivered the lead paper at the lecture titled: “Schooling Without Learning” pointed out that quota system works against nation-building.
Majority of the contributors on the occasion were at one that if the various regions of the country produced good students that can measure up there will be no need for quota.
There is injustice in quota system, and it is political. Quota does not work, anti-quota advocates stressed,
Noma who was the only pro-quota activist that spoke on the issue stated that quota goes a long way beyond being applicable in education as it is operational in other aspects of the country’s position sharing. “Why,” he asked opponents of quota system, “do a governor and his deputy come from different locations?”
Mrs. Adora Ojo, former Principal, International School, University of Lagos and Ms. Swanta Blessing Bonat, Principal, Kataf Youth Christian Academy, Kaduna were also discussants at the Aelex lecture.
