By: Kariola Mustapha
In my school, we have a big, tall, square clocked-tower. I supposed it is the pride of the institution. In fact, I once heard one of the top officials of the university (the then registrar) proudly said during an orientation speech he was giving that there were only two of such in Africa.
Just then, at the event, my mind roamed through Africa’s largest country, Nigeria. I found one in Idunmota/Idumota, Eko Akete, Lagos. It is called Agbo Tower, I commuted past the area just last month (July 2016). Realizing that, I let my mind wander again. Some kilometers away from Idunmota, I realised there is another, just on Broad Street, Marina, Lagos. I also, visited that just last month.
So, I assumed I didn’t get what the speaker meant or perhaps should I say that he was simply wrong? Yet, to be honest, my school’s tower is the biggest of its kind I have seen face-to-face.
Taking to the web, to my surprise, there are more than two of such towers in Africa, at least remarkable once. To mention more besides the two mentioned above. In Egypt, there is the University of Cairo Tower; in South Africa, there is the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Clock Tower. So, what is amidst? The speaker? His speech? Or the ignorant audiences who would also go out to publish such obsolete statement, like I once did? I leave you to figure that out.
Whichever it is, it is really not my concern, but the fact that all these clock towers mentioned in Nigeria can best be categorised as Dead-Clock Towers.
One may understand the fact that, that of Idunmota was situated in a market place, and possibly under the management of a local government. You understand what I mean, right?. That gives no headache! That of Broad Street, Marina, Lagos, well, but at least it was not a university that hosts that tower.
But the one that gives headache is that of the premier institution. It is hosted in a place where we have the best brain in the society. The ivory tower that inhabits the critics of a society where nothing works, with publication upon publication, upon publications for international applause! Haba!
It only reminds me of a story in the Bible where Jesus says “judge not”. This doesn’t mean that we should not judge, but that we should examine ourselves and make sure that we are not guilty of that we want to accuse others of.
But really, the premier university has in many capacity fronted initiatives that are a dream to many popular universities in Nigeria. I am proud to be a student here.
Only that, it hurts to imagine how when I wish to stand tall and say ‘AND OF THE GREATEST U…’ in a gathering of some local champion universities, and students of such pinch one another in mockery and say ‘what will this babbler say? our friend from the Dead-Clock Tower University’
I believe we can make things work! A call to the people that have always maintained that this great citadel of learning should lead while others follow, should rise to this occasion.
