Message from Nigerian professionals in Malaysia

Students also added their passion to the dialogue and contributed their ideas with a beautiful careless-fearlessness that only youth can sculpture. Business men, experts from oil industry and other energetic Nigerians gathered at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to commemorate the 49th anniversary of our independence and to dialogue “Nigerians in Diaspora: contributions toward the re-building […]

Students also added their passion to the dialogue and contributed their ideas with a beautiful careless-fearlessness that only youth can sculpture. Business men, experts from oil industry and other energetic Nigerians gathered at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to commemorate the 49th anniversary of our independence and to dialogue “Nigerians in Diaspora: contributions toward the re-building of our national heritage.”

The Malaysian chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO-MY) organised the dialogue which took place on the 27th September, 2009. Because of the richness and variety of the ideas contributed, the day was a productive one. And for the benefit of those at home and for the people at the top to understand how Nigerians conduct their affairs here and how they think about their country; I’ve adapted and reproduced below the document that was the culmination of the dialogue:

The following represents the position unanimously agreed upon at the dialogue session organized by NIDO-MY which had the Nigerian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Chief Peter J.E. Anegbeh, as the special guest of honour, with large attendance by Nigerian students and professionals in Malaysia. Vital issues bothering on the state of the nation after 49 years of its independence and the condition of Nigerians resident in Malaysia were exhaustively discussed.

 Education

 Members traced the origin of the crisis bedeviling the Nigerian education system from the 1980s when the Structural Adjustment Programme was introduced. The foregoing significantly contributed to the pathetic condition of the system, while the outright negligence of the sector by other administrations including that of the present leadership, has further exacerbated the situation. Members noted with dismay that the education sector is still in a state of coma despite the enormous wealth generated through the exponential increases in oil prices during the administration of the immediate past democratically elected president and at the inception of the present administration. This illustrates the extent to which the government is apathetic to the development of the nation as the development of any nation is dependent upon the vibrancy of its education system.

 Against the backdrop of the above, it was therefore concluded as follows:

 i. that in the event of the government’s failure to address the persistent crisis in the system, the onus lies on Nigerians, most especially those in the Diaspora including professors, experts of various disciplines and students to take up the challenge and establish a project that will serve as a model for the development of the system.

ii. there is need for Nigerians in Malaysia to facilitate linkages through agreements between Nigeria and Malaysia in order to enhance the standardization of the learning facilities of the Nigerian universities such as library facilities, laboratory equipments and resources that are in consonance with the demands of the contemporary world driven by the knowledge economy.

iii. there is urgent need for the establishment of a linkage scheme between Nigerian and Malaysian academics to promote development of the system through the LEADS programme.

iv. there is urgent need for the creation of a network among Nigerian students most especially at the post-graduate level across Malaysia before their departure from Malaysia- preferably to Nigeria. This is to facilitate the establishment of a community of young and energetic Nigerians that will promote and herald the desired development for the nation.

v. there is no moral justification for Nigerian students under state scholarships in Malaysian universities to remain in Malaysia after the conclusion of their programmes.

vi. there is need for the introduction of new courses in the Nigerian universities that will be in consonance with present demands of the knowledge economy.

Economy

NIDO-MY appreciated the fact that the challenges facing the bid towards development in Nigeria is not peculiar to the nation, but noted that the leaders have not displayed sincerity in tackling these challenges headlong, and are complacent in actualizing the development agenda of the country like other leaders had successfully done in different countries such as Mahathir Mohammed of Malaysia, who doggedly implemented policies that have engendered speedy growth of Malaysia. Members noted that the present government has not been able to revamp the economy of the nation through the framework of its Seven-point agenda. The abysmal state of infrastructures in the country is frustrating business cum economic activities, while the rate of unemployment is constantly on the increase in the country. The increasing trends of crime in the form of kidnapping, armed robbery, financial and internet scams, money rituals, illegal migration and prostitution are apparent results of this level of unemployment among the Nigerian graduates. Based on the foregoing, it was therefore agreed;

i. that Nigerians in Malaysia should present a position paper on the state of infrastructures most especially on electricity, and facilitate its sponsorship as a bill at the National Assembly,

ii. that President Umar Musa Yar Adua’s administration should revisit its Seven-point agenda and possibly reduce it to One-point agenda that will only tackle the issue of electricity supply as this will serve as the propeller of growth of the economy,

iii. that more collaboration is required between Malaysia and Nigeria that will facilitate the inflow of foreign investments into the country which will advance the course of development in Nigeria and Malaysia ,

iv. that at individual levels, Nigerians should seek means to establish viable business links with the Malaysians. And also, update their knowledge on the dynamics of the Malaysian business environment by seeking knowledge of their fiscal policies and procedures to enhance the operation of legal businesses in the country,

v. that rather than expending much resources and energy on seeking foreign investments from foreigners, Nigerian government should concentrate more on Nigerians with viable potentials abroad to promote investments in the country.

To be continued