The National Association of Seadogs, (Pyrates Confraternity) in Nigeria, has condemned the sorry state of education in tertiary institutions in the country, especially the public universities.
The group said it was scandalous that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would have to embark on strike to prevent a total collapse of the public university system.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Confraternity’s 70th anniversary logo/theme, NAS Capoon Abiola Owoaje, recalled that many of the members of the body who had excelled in their chosen careers and made the country proud both home and abroad, had their university education in Nigeria.
“We are, however, saddened by the sorry state of education in our tertiary institutions, especially Nigerian universities,” he said.
He lamented that successive governments in Nigeria, had habitually treated education with the same levity.
“This unfortunate state of affairs imperils the very future of an entire generation of young people.
“It beggars belief that a government can be so indifferent to what becomes of a largely youthful demography that is the most populous in the continent,” he added.
Abiola further said, “as we inch closer to the 2023 elections, the confraternity will also continue to push for a just society where no one would be a victim of colour, gender or creed.
“We shall join Nigerians to demand for free, fair and credible elections in 2023,” he declared.
The NAS Capoon recalled that seventy years ago, seven passionate young and patriotic Nigerian undergraduates, namely – Wole Soyinka, Ralph Opara, Nathaniel Oyelola, Pius Oleghe, Olumuyiwa Awe, Ikpehare Aig-Imoukhuede and Slyvanus Egbuche, at the University College Ibadan, now University of Ibadan, took a giant revolutionary leap towards greatness and etched their names in the sands of time by standing up to obnoxious conventions to form the Pyrates Confraternity.
“In 1952, when the Pyrates Confraternity was formed, its fundamental ethos was not just limited to fighting for the oppressed, speaking for the deprived, and resolving myriad injustices in the march towards the attainment of a just and egalitarian society.
“Certainly, it was a trailblazing initiative by these seven undergraduates, which restored dignity, confidence and an enduring sense of worth and justice to a large segment of Nigeria’s population in those heady days of colonial subjugation,” Abiola stated.
