Nigerian educational system faulty, non-functional – US-based author

US-based Nigerian author, Sunday Akande, uses his craft to tackle social issues and empower young people. In this interview with GRACE EDEMA, Akande says Nigerian curriculum should be designed for innovation and independence

With your experience in the US, what are the issues in our education system you would suggest the government improve on?

A country is as prosperous as the quality of her education. Our system of education in Nigeria is faulty because it is not functional. I have written on this several times. Our curricular are designed for white collar jobs that are not there; they are not designed for innovation and independence. We have universities which advertise fine courses but which have no prospects in our society. Those who go ahead for postgraduate study are not those who are interested in scholarship and thorough research; most of them are just doing so because they need the certificates for jobs, while some are doing it because they are unemployed and they need to get themselves engaged in something. That is both pathetic and dangerous. It means the quality of our research would be, and of course it is, in shambles! What should the government do? Invest more in deliberate, quality and functional education. Functional education means focusing on practical skills that can be applied in real life. Our government needs to coordinate and harmonise all the proceeds of education in order to translate them to economic growth and national development. This means identify the hands you need for economic growth, then train your people who can step in to solve the need. You don’t just educate people for the sake of education. What would you want them to do with the education? Here in the US, every thesis or dissertation is written with the purpose of solving a specific problem in the society. So, if your dissertation is approved, then it means it is a potential problem solver. The Nigerian system of education is wasteful. Researches are conducted, papers and theses are written, only to be thrown away in the trash can. That is wastage! The government should intentionally use education to solve problem by investing more in researches and making sure such target specific problems in our society.

As a doctoral student working on how to transform violence among young people, tell us how this is applicable in the Nigerian system…
During my M.Ed. in counselling psychology, I researched ‘Personality Types and Gender as Determinants of Aggressive Behaviour among Secondary School Students.’ Ever since then, I have been an advocate of curbing violence among young people. I specially introduced creative writing into solving this complex and multifaceted menace, especially in Nigeria. The reason for that is not far-fetched. There are several factors which can stimulate violence among the Nigerian young people. Poverty and lack of functional education are those major factors. For instance, apart from the Boko Haram insurgents in the North, we also have cases of banditry, kidnapping, ritual killings etc. in the South. I realised that young people are at the receiving end, either as perpetrators or as victims of violence. So, I stepped in to write books which start conversations in this direction. Not only that, I proffer solutions as a professional counselling psychologist.

What role do you believe reading plays in our lives?

Reading is the fuel that powers destinies; it is the light that brightens people’s paths in life. If a man would go far in life, he needs to do two basic things: open the pages of books and open the gates of cities. Those are the two places where treasures are hidden. You are as bright as the books you read. When we read, we commune with superior minds; this is because writers operate at a realm higher than themselves. So, when we read their books, we engage with their world, their thoughts, and their ideas. That transforms us from our crude, local state into a refined, polished, and global state.
I read plays. You see, our elders say, ‘When an eye makes pus, we remove the pus and show it to the eye.’ That’s exactly what a play does – it shows us what we do, how we do it, and the consequences of what we do. It makes us do a recapitulatory exercise and see who we are in and out. Works of art generally are meant to be interpreted by the audience; that’s why a literary work may have diverse interpretations. However, some plays tend to lead the thoughts of the audience by interpreting the contents. Plays are more real because the characters are livelier. So, plays can influence the audience faster than any other genre. They can easily shape every aspect of our culture, be it language, dress, food, music, or spirituality. But I’m not currently reading plays. I’m now a doctoral student working on how to transform violence among young people. I’m reading lots of books on victims and perpetrators of violence. I’m reading about trauma. I’m reading about theories and ethics of nonviolence and peace-making. All these will eventually translate into more literary works from me. I will be using writing as a tool for peace-making in our world.

Do you think Nigerian writers can thrive in the US?

Very well! Writing is a transferrable skill and can be done anywhere. This is because every society has a story to tell. American culture has the capacity to enthrall, inspire, and change people through their entertainment, artwork, and creativity. They all share it, whether they unconsciously quote lines from their favourite films, dance to the same beat, or reenact a national sporting event on a local street. It helps us to recognise and value our diversity; in fact, some of the greatest important democratic expansions were made possible by significant cultural turning points. Such can lead to significant historical change and crucial dialogues, and these are made possible through writings. However, writing in a new society and for a new audience requires you to study the culture of such a new society in order to avoid conflicts of communication, culture etc. Also, writing is one thing, publishing it is another. Nigerian writers who are new in the US need to acclimatise themselves to the publishing world of the US; this is easier when you join relevant associations of writers, publishers etc., where books are discussed from time to time.

Can Nigerian writers survive in the US basically as writers?

That depends on several factors, including the way their immigration status and length of their stay in the United States. Are they here to basically write? Are they here to work with some organisations? Are they here to study? What exactly do they write? Do they want to be freelance or employed as professional writers? These and many other questions would determine the amount of time they have to do the writing. Of course, there are writing and editorial gigs you can do and get paid. Like I said before, the success of any writer coming from other cultures depends largely on the relevant groups they join when they get here. When your expertise is known by the relevant people, especially in your field, then you can survive in such a context.

How can writers thrive successfully abroad; what should they do?

They should keep writing and talking to people in their field. They should talk to other writers and publishers. They should engage in conversations that lead to further writings. They should submit their manuscripts to publishers and competitions.
For aspiring writers, what advice would you offer on crafting compelling stories and achieving publication?

Publishing a book goes beyond writing compelling stories. It is an art you must understand. While it often takes one person to write, it takes several professionals to get it published. Now, as a young writer, don’t let the idea of wanting to be read by all means make you waste your stories, energy, money, and time. The most important aspect of writing is getting the right publishers to work with. The right publishers know how to get your book published and make sure it gets into the hands of your target audience. That is very essential; otherwise, you would be the only one reading your compelling stories.

Your previous work was featured at the 24th LABAF, and you met Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka. How did this experience influence you?

The 24th Lagos Books and Arts Festival was my first and it was a turnaround for my writing career. My book, Sorosoke, was featured as one of the books of the festival and the acceptance was overwhelming. My book was unofficially named the best book of the festival in terms of its relevance to the theme of the festival, “Pathways to the Future”. I was able to meet the movers and shakers of the Nigerian arts and literary world – writers, artists, filmmakers, journalists, actors, publishers, musicians, etc.

They all loved my book and they all had one message for me, ‘Please, don’t stop writing.’ When I met Professor Wole Soyinka, he thanked me for writing such a book. One of his goddaughters hugged me and said, ‘Here’s a book Soyinka would have written when he was your age.’ To me, that was not only a compliment, but it was also an invitation to the hall of great writers. I was glad, and that experience keeps challenging me to write more.

Your new book, ‘We Are the World and Other SDGs Plays’ is your eighth, what emotions does this milestone achievement evoke in you?

We Are the World and Other SDGs Plays is my 8th book, having been actively writing for fifteen years. However, of all my books, this is the dearest to me, and that is because its manuscript stayed with me for 12 good years! So, I’m excited that it’s finally out. Not only that, but I also can’t wait to witness the positive influence that the book will undoubtedly exert in literary and scholarly circles, and most importantly, the value it will add to young people all over the world.
What sparked the initial idea for We Are the World and Other SDGs Plays?

The idea for We Are the World came during my one-year mandatory National Youth Service in 2011/2012. The two-week orientation camp exposed me to the details of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals, and I fell in love with the idea behind the whole goals. So, towards the end of my service year, I thought about telling stories around those goals in a way that children would understand and relate to. Then I wrote the first draft but couldn’t get it published. When the MDGs metamorphosed into the Sustainable Development Goals, I had to rewrite the manuscript to suit the present reality.

The idea behind the book is to expose younger ones to the contents of the SDGs and inculcate in them the moral value and responsibility to partner with their leaders in actualising the dream behind the SDGs and thereby making our world a better and more secure place to live in.

How is your recent relocation to the US influencing your writing?

Well, the American culture is different from the African culture, and so does their literary scene. We have an oral tradition in Africa as against the writing and reading culture here in the US. Everywhere you turn to here, you see people reading, young and old, male and female, on streets, in transit. People are reading. This makes literary work a successful endeavour here. Writers are eager to write more because readers are waiting to consume their works. I live in California, the home of Hollywood. So, I know the kind of attention and investment that go into literature in the US. They know that literature preserves and shapes culture, which in turn shapes society. Writers and filmmakers, for instance, influence policymaking, inventions, and governance here. They see ahead and suggest things to their government. And they are taken seriously! So, more than ever before, I see myself not just as a writer, but also as a major stakeholder whose words are important for direction.

What do you miss most as a Nigerian living abroad?

I miss the warm weather. Nigeria has the weather that makes you feel at home.  You can remove your clothes and sleep. Here in the US, you cannot feel at home even in your home. Even though I live in a state with relatively fair weather, I still miss the Nigerian weather. I can’t wait for summer.