Prof Michael Faborode, former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, has stated that it will be impossible for Nigeria to abolish certificate racketeering among Nigerian students studying at home or abroad.
The don stated that he bases his opinion on the fact that most Nigerians, especially parents, now place greater value on negative things than positive ones.
He stated that children nowadays face several distractions from serious reading and studying, citing the desire to get wealthy quickly and unlimited access to the internet as important examples.
Faborode, who made this observation in an interview with the media on Tuesday, stated that what makes the situation worse is the emphasis on obtaining certificates without considering the holders’ ability to defend such certificates, as well as the collusion of some parents and even teachers to aid exam malpractice.
He stated that even at institutions where the leadership does everything possible to avoid racketeering, certain school employees, particularly those in control of exam records and certificates, may compromise and engage in racketeering without considering the ramifications of such activities on society.
He stated that this was also one of the major reasons for mass failure among students in public exams such as the UTME and SSCE in the country.
Faborode, who is also a former secretary-general of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), pointed out that unlike now, students in the olden days studied hard by burning the midnight oil to earn whatever grades or scores they had in their exams.
“This is no longer the case nowadays as society has really played down on the value system. People don’t seem to value hard work as one of the means to achieve success in life,” he said.
He added that he didn’t know where to place a father helping his son to sit for an exam, noting that such instances really showed how degraded the value system had become in Nigeria.
He, however, urged those who indulge in such practices to desist, as nemesis will catch up with them one day.