The systemic discrimination in our school educational system

Princess  Aladegoroye a broadcaster, life style coach. The  Executive  Director of Nubia Africa, Founder -  Nubia Heritage Humanitarian Foundation, a fashionprenur, and an amiable Entrepreneur.

In my advocacy for the recognition of NABTEB certificates: I firmly posited that most of the students in Technical Colleges are not dullard but gifted children who needs to be encouraged on their skills in this era of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), particularly in our beloved country Nigeria. 

My son with *Examination  No; 5251101693 sat for the GCE, WASSCE in Nov/Dec, 2024. Sadly, his result was withheld up till now and it has not been released. Writing the GCE Examination was as a result of discrimination in many of our UNIVERSITIES against NABTEB certificates.

Consequently, we wrote a protest letter to WAEC via our solicitor, Olufemi Balogun & CO, Attached with copies of my son school excellent performance and other certifications he got in school but no response from WAEC. 

During the examination one particular invigilator harassed and violated my son because he was wearing traditional beads( Ode - Ifa & Osun) beads  on his hands which has been so from birth. The said invigilator demonize him and threatened to destroy him. That may have been the sole reason why his results are not released. My son is an ONISESE with every of such privileges.

Can this  happen to a child wearing cross or rosery?,No.

It's time we start embracing our African tradition and accept who we are as African, our spirituality must not be demonised. People should have the free will to be associated with their beliefs.

"People should know their history, where they come from because our culture define us. You cannot separate a people from their culture or else they will be lost trying to find themselves (Professor Wole Soyika)"

This is a brilliant promising young man with various certification such as: FESTO - GERMANY, CISCO - USA, and passed his NABTEB Examinations with distinction. One then wonder why WAEC will sized his result.  

As a result, he is so depressed and down that he locked himself in is room all day,not eating.The young man became so withdrawn to himself, not talking to anyone and the fear of unknown grip the whole house. 

My son is a talented coder, programmer, graphic artist, he builds Robots , drowns, makes different softwares, produces game apps , good with hydraulic system & fluid,  MECHATRONICS and  ICT. He repairs anything that moves. He is a great engineer from cradle and we help develop his innate  engineering abilities from birth and nurture him into Technical college where is gifts were greatly harness.

The young man wrote professional exams at a tender age and passed all at a sitting with distinction. We believe this great country Nigeria produce this young Talent and should be given the opportunity to give back to same

Interestingly, my boy sat for the Technical Colleges examination and passed in flying colours, he decided to pursue his career in UNILAG- as an  Engineer, unfortunately the faculty of Engineering in UNILAG- does not accept TECHNICAL COLLEGES STUDENTS into their Engineering department because they don't accept the  NABTEB certificate. One would wonder why NABTEB certificate is not acceptable because they see these students as unqualified to be in the department of Engineering, while they accept WAEC,NECO ,and GCE from Secondary school without any practical examples. We even want him to take JUPEB ,to our suprise JUPEB still don't accept NABTEB CERTIFICATE. One then wonder  with the positive efforts that the president has created Technical colleges, and giving free accommodation, 45k stipends and free tuition,such students cannot pursue a degree because their certificate will not be recognised in some universities in the same country.

So, as a result, the young man had to go sit for GCE which was withheld. Therefore, on behalf of many other parents, I wish to respectfully appeal to the President (PBAT),Minister of education, both chairmen committees on Education NASS to weigh in on this sensitive issue and make NABTEB CERTIFICATE mandatory acceptance in all Universities. 

Furthermore, JAMB needs to also make it mandatory for all UTME SCHOOLS to accept the NABTEB CERTIFICATE.

THIS DISCRIMINATION OF NABTEB CERTIFICATE IN NIGERIA should stop because the Technical Colleges should be considered first in administration into Faculty of Engineering in all Universities. Particularly, now with the incentives and encouragement from government on technical education.

My son's, other certifications are:

FESTO - GERMANY 

CISCO - USA

NABTEB 

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND PRODUCTIVITY CERTIFICATE  I, II, III

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRADE AND CRAFT CERTIFICATE

LAGOS STATE ICT CERTIFICATE.

*Princess  ALADEGOROYE*