Education
A Garbage in, Garbage About Educational System
Prince Charles Dickson PhD
The easiest and most attractive national pastime remains buck passing, especially with the bunch of leaders that we have, who can hardly peel a banana or wash an already white handkerchief. Not many of us want to take responsibility for anything, from personal, to family or national life.
The blame is on the system. We do not need to create demons out of our leaders because they are already specimens of demons, so we hang our sins on them appropriately and inappropriately too. And unfortunately, their behaviour has made it easy for the critic to descend on them.
We at most, talk, write and discuss the Nigerian myth with a sense of fatalism. If everyone thought as much as I did about justice and fairness, life would be better. I am a critic, but I am also the critics’ critic, the unrepentant believer that the best way to keep the government on its toes is to keep harping on their flaws so they can improve.
Often, I say I believe the things I write about, are as important for our nation as they are for other nations, but when it appears to me, Nigerians especially those in authority do not react to these issues as people in other lands do, I repeat them in new essays to remind old readers and recruit new ones to participate in the continuing dialogue.
Sadly, this is Nigeria where nothing works and no one cares, when it works, it is because someone’s interest is about to be served or being served not the people’s interest. We talk about our institutions despairingly. Our leaders do not watch network news except when their faces are there on the occasion of their sons/daughters’ weddings or such. They do not need the newspapers anymore because it is full of their lies, or paid adverts exchanging banters together.
Government bashing remains a national past time and every drinking joint, and suya spot has a sitting parliament with an expert on every and any issue but we forget that no matter the input, if the politicians and actors in our national scene have questionable lives both on a personal and domestic level, nothing will change, the best government policy cannot change the individual. It is because the policies are formulated on a bad foundation and by people with warped thinking.
When a witch proclaims her presence, and an invalid does not make away; he must have money for sacrifices at home.
So, for several weeks, it has been a back-and-forth between the regulator of our education, in this case, the Ministry of Education and parents, on exactly the right age for a child to write the regulatory transitional exams, and let me say whether it is 18 years or 5 years, a dullard or an intelligent kid, it is garbage in, garbage out.
That may sound cold, especially in the light of the exploits of Nigerian graduates in other climes, remember I said other climes and the few who do well here in Nigeria. As my friend Ndo puts it, the quality is scarily dropping.
Have you noticed the ever-increasing cases of graduates and interview candidates having shallow knowledge of the subject matter, poor command of the use of the English language, poor knowledge of the examination techniques, as well disregard for correct interpretation of questions before attempting them?
Or that many candidates lack requisite mathematical and manipulative skills for subjects involving calculations, while the handwriting of some is illegible and their answers scripts are full of spelling errors. (Not that my maths is so good either)
Many candidates try to cut corners by engaging in various forms of examination malpractice to obtain marks.
A good many of us spat on the education we had yesterday, and of course what passes for education today. And there is, certainly, a stratum of our society that looks back, nostalgically, at the quality of yesterday’s education”. How many of us today can argue that this is not the truth, even the generation that had its education in 2000 now looks back with nostalgia.
By and large, however, most of us believed that there was very much missing in the content of yesterday’s education. What we have today, despite innovations and the bold attempts to re-orientate it, remains, as it was yesterday, orthodox, slow foot, myopic.
Our educational system today only sharpens the head to near-pin end quality and this is even rare but it also makes the possessor limb atrophied by long disuse. Our education is money-centered. It is an education which goads the possessor asking “what can my country do for me?”
In 2024, we are left to define the quality of education we want for tomorrow when our peers have gone far in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and neighbouring Ghana have even refused to wait for us. To chart out how to tread to win through, we now send our kids anywhere so far it is outside the country the education is better be it Iraq or Zimbabwe.
Do we have an education in which a possessor wants to elevate the less privileged that surge him around, the answer is no. Today what is the value of the education given to a young man who lives or is doing his mandatory service year in a guinea worm-infested area and yet is incapable of causing a revolution in the lives of the villagers by transforming their drinking water into a healthy supply?
Please, what is the use of education given in physics to a young girl when the lights go out, she does not know what to do to get light again. In Nigerian education, how many graduates can carry aloft an oasis of light, very few because the education is short on quality and is therefore poor.
While there is despair, there is hope and despair, a case of “we can” or “we can’t”. While we battle the scourge of local terrorism, bad leadership, kidnap, health, and countless issues, there is a need to come up with some measures that could help both the students and schools improve their output and, by extension resuscitate a nation’s dying if not dead educational sector.
Our students need to develop a good understanding of questions and also learn the basic rudiments of the English language for a better and clearer presentation of their answers. The sex for grade and bribe for certificate syndrome needs to be checked.
There is a need to ensure the appropriate textbooks in all subjects are procured and studied side by side with the examination syllabus and should be completed before the commencement of the examination. Libraries need to go info-tech, not littered with books of 1914. While practical hands-on learning away from just examination should be incorporated.
There is a need to provide basic infrastructure, and a conducive atmosphere in schools, only qualified and committed teachers who will teach their subjects effectively and guide students to become exemplary in their studies should be employed. Not like the teacher in Bauchi State (SUEB) who inherited his grandfather’s grade II certificate and was teaching with it or University dons that have become experts in plagiarism, selling handouts pirated from other works.
The question of whatever happened to the old school inspectorate system should be addressed.
We must move away from the eccentric, conversation curriculum that takes away critical thinking and qualitative reasoning and educates with intention for a future world. If these and even more rigorous steps are taken, we may be saved the irony of the clowns we are churning out these days—May Nigeria win.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Global cryptocurrency platform, Luno and AltSchool Africa, an accredited online learning platform, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at demystifiing crypto to 15,000 Nigerians.
The initiative at that scale makes it Africa’s largest crypto education programme.
According to a joint statement on Wednesday, this is a significant step in Luno’s continued efforts to strengthen trust in digital assets and support safer participation in the digital economy.
This is hinged on Africa’s fast-growing digital finance landscape where 33 per cent of the country’s population already engage with digital assets, and a rapidly growing youth population are eager to participate in the digital economy.
According to the statement, the partnership aims to bridge the knowledge gap by providing structured, practical, and safe crypto education.
This will be done by combining Luno’s experience in promoting safe crypto participation with AltSchool Africa’s capability in delivering accessible digital skills training.
“The course directly addresses the misinformation and financial risks associated with unregulated digital assets, while demonstrating real-world applications tailored to African contexts,” the joint statement added.
The initiative will be implemented in three cohorts of 5,000 learners each. Applications for Cohort 1 will be open from January to February 2026, with the course commencing in March 2026. Cohort 2 participants will gain access to the course in July 2026, while Cohort 3 participants will begin the programme in November 2026.
The programme will be led by Web3 expert Mr Abdulsamad Tiamiyu, who will provide a practical, Africa-focused introduction to cryptocurrency, showing how it can be used for saving, remittances, global trading, and entrepreneurship.
The curriculum consists of five core modules and is designed to be completed within three to four weeks.
Learners benefit from up to one year of access to all course materials, including online, self-paced video lessons, slides, quizzes, and case studies. The course combines theory with hands-on experience, where learners interact with wallets, exchanges, stablecoins, and research tools like CoinGecko and Etherscan.
According to the organisers, this approach gives learners the tools to confidently use digital currencies in everyday financial activities. Successful learners, upon passing the assessments, earn an AltSchool Africa Certificate of Completion.
Speaking on the partnership, Mr Ayotunde Alabi, CEO of Luno Nigeria, said: “This initiative is a crucial intervention in Africa’s digital ecosystem. As crypto adoption accelerates, formal literacy must grow alongside it, so individuals can benefit safely and meaningfully,”
“Our partnership with AltSchool Africa is a deliberate step toward that goal and a foundational investment in the integrity of the industry. By delivering structured, high-quality education, Luno is helping ensure that Africans can participate confidently, securely, and sustainably – turning what is often seen as risk into real economic opportunity,” he added.
Adding his input, Mr Adewale Yusuf, Co-founder and CEO of AltSchool Africa, said “This partnership between AltSchool and Luno is a major step toward financial education that truly serves Africans and helps people gain the knowledge and tools they need to understand crypto with confidence and use it in practical, life-changing ways.”
The programme is open to Nigerian residents aged 18 and above who are able to commit to completing it within four weeks. Applicants must have a Luno account or create one before enrolling.
Starting January, Interested participants are encouraged to submit application through the AltSchool Africa portal, with scholarship decisions communicated within one week.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on Tuesday destroyed pirated books valued at N141.5 million seized from booksellers and suppliers during various enforcement operations.
The NCC Oyo State Coordinator, Mrs Oluropo Oke, supervised the destruction in Ibadan on behalf of NCC Director‑General, Mr John Asein.
She noted that the pirated books were seized over the past three years from bookshops and markets in Abeokuta, Sango-Otta in Ogun, and the Oyo state capital.
“We valued the books before destroying them and found their total value to be N141,550,000.
“During the operations, we discovered that some booksellers could not prove the source of their purchases.
“There are several features that differentiate original books from pirated copies, including the binding, colour, grammage and point of purchase.
“We need to establish whether the books were bought from the original owners or publishers, or acquired on the streets,” she said.
The director-general warned that the Nigerian Copyright Act empowers the commission to punish any citizen caught pirating or illegally dealing in intellectual property.
She said those in possession of the seized books faced penalties ranging from fines and forfeiture to other punishments under the law, adding that book piracy continued to harm national economic growth and deprived authors and publishers of the benefits of their work.
The NCC explained that the books would not be burnt but shredded to prevent recirculation and protect the environment.
“We are making every effort to prevent pirated books from returning to the market. We are using a shredding machine because it is environmentally friendly. We believe that shredding will ensure the books do not re-enter circulation.
“We understand this is a significant loss to booksellers, but instead of buying from pirates, we encourage them to purchase from the original sources, publishers or their representatives, rather than from the streets,” she said.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Mr Rotimi Iyiola, said book piracy had eroded much of publishers’ livelihoods.
“Witnessing the destruction of the seized pirated books by the NCC is a welcome development.
“Economically, book piracy causes enormous damage, not only to authors and publishers but also to workers and their families, and it deprives the government of revenue.
“Our jobs as publishers have been stolen, and our means of livelihood eroded,” Mr Iyiola said.
He lauded the NCC for its commitment and dedication to eradicating book piracy in Nigeria and reiterated that the NPA was ready to cooperate with the commission to ensure that piracy was effectively addressed.
Selecting the best online trading platform starts with knowing your investment goals and matching them to the right tools. The best platform fits personal strategy, trading style, and comfort level with risk while keeping fees low and execution simple. A clear goal helps narrow the choices among platforms that support stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, or crypto.
Each investor values different features. Some want research tools and education to make informed decisions, while others care more about speed, order types, or mobile access. By focusing on what matters most, investors can find a platform that supports progress instead of creating obstacles.
The following sections explain how to connect platform features to investment goals and what factors make a platform stand out. With the right knowledge, choosing an online trading platform becomes a straightforward step toward better investment results.
Aligning Platform Features With Your Investment Goals
A trading platform should fit the trader’s goals, experience, and preferred markets. Account types, asset range, and trading tools must align with how the trader manages risk and pursues returns. For example, a top-tier platform for online trading provides flexibility through account choices, broad asset coverage, and a focus on both control and accessibility.
Additionally, such platforms should provide features that allow traders to make informed decisions, such as advanced charting tools and real-time market data. A seamless user experience ensures that traders can navigate the platform with ease, enabling them to focus on their strategies without unnecessary distractions.
Identifying Your Investment Objectives
Every trader benefits from defining clear objectives before using any trading platform. Goals guide decisions about account type, instrument choice, and trade frequency. For example, a short-term trader often values low spreads and fast order execution, while a long-term investor may care more about stability and portfolio tracking tools.
Traders should separate needs like income generation, wealth growth, and capital preservation. This simple step helps decide whether to focus on active trading features or automated portfolio tools. Goals tied to frequent trading need strong charting and order types. Long-term investing benefits from dependable account management and planning features.
Setting realistic time frames and risk limits gives direction. Without such clarity, even the best platform can feel confusing and mismatched to its purpose.
Evaluating Investor Profiles and Experience Levels
Trader experience affects which features matter most. Beginners often need clear interfaces, education materials, and easy mobile access. A platform that simplifies order placement helps them gain confidence and avoid costly errors. Tools that automate some decisions, such as copy-trading or portfolio balancing, can provide structure.
Intermediate and advanced traders often need deeper analytics, customizable charts, and multiple trading platforms like MT4 or MT5. These tools support technical strategies and allow faster market responses. Traders managing larger accounts or complex positions benefit from customizable dashboards and transparent fee structures.
A suitable match balances comfort and control. The more experience a trader has, the more value they place on flexibility, speed, and precision.
Considering Account Types and Asset Availability
The account type shapes cost and accessibility. Some accounts feature zero or raw spreads, while others include fixed commissions that may simplify cost planning. The right choice depends on trading style and trade frequency rather than just headline prices.
Asset variety also matters. A platform offering Forex, indices, commodities, shares, and crypto pairs lets traders adjust portfolios as opportunities change. A broad selection can support diversification and reduce dependence on one market.
Convenient funding options and quick execution complete the picture. Together, these factors decide how well a platform supports different goals, from steady income pursuit to active market participation.
Necessary Factors in Choosing an Online Trading Platform
Each trading platform shapes how efficiently a trader can analyze markets, place orders, and manage accounts. Careful attention to usability, available assets, cost structure, and account protections allows traders to align technology and support with their investment goals.
Platform User Experience and Accessibility
A functional and intuitive interface helps traders act quickly on market opportunities. An online broker should provide a clean dashboard, simple navigation menus, and customizable layouts that suit different trading styles. Clear watchlists, charting tools, and technical indicators allow analysis without confusion or delay.
Mobile and desktop platforms should both maintain a consistent design. Traders often rely on mobile apps for order execution, so stability and low downtime are important. Speed of logins, quick access to order types, and clear trade confirmations affect confidence in daily use.
Accessible educational resources such as video tutorials, basic webinars, and research and data tools can help users improve their skills. The ability to test a platform with a demo account before funding it offers insight into usability and execution quality. For traders who value convenience and clarity, interface design matters as much as cost.
Product Offerings and Supported Financial Instruments
An online trading platform must provide enough asset classes to match a trader’s strategy. Stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, and options are standard choices. Some platforms also include commodities, bonds, or digital assets to support diversification.
Access to different order types, such as limit, stop, and trailing stop orders, allows traders more control over trade execution. Platforms that include margin trading or access to international markets give users broader exposure and strategy flexibility.
A diverse product lineup also helps investors adjust portfolios as goals change. Many stock brokers include research reports and screening tools that guide investors toward suitable securities. Educational content combined with strong product coverage supports both beginners and experienced traders in making informed choices.
Fee Structures and Commissions Analysis
Trading costs directly affect returns. Many online brokers now advertise commission-free trades on stocks and ETFs, though hidden charges can still appear in other areas. Traders should review all account fees, including inactivity fees, transfer fees, and withdrawal charges.
Commissions on options, mutual funds, or futures may differ by platform. Some brokers also generate revenue through payment for order flow, which can influence execution quality. Evaluating how quickly trades execute and whether spreads stay competitive reveals a more complete picture of cost.
A simple fee table can help users compare platforms:
- Trading commissions: Zero or low for common products
- Account minimum: Varies, often no minimum for standard accounts
- Inactivity fees: Charged after long idle periods on some accounts
Choosing low fees is helpful, but not at the expense of slower order execution or poor trading tools. Balance is key to maintaining value.
Account Security, Regulation, and Customer Support
A secure trading environment protects funds and personal information. Platforms should use strong encryption and two-factor authentication for every account. Regulation by agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) adds an important layer of oversight and transparency.
Traders should verify the broker’s registration status and review its history of compliance before depositing funds. Platforms that handle transfers through the Automated Customer Account Transfer process also add convenience by simplifying movement between brokers.
Customer service plays an equally important role. Responsive customer support through chat, phone, or email can prevent small issues from turning into major problems. Support teams that provide fast answers, clear explanations, and accessible hours add value beyond fees or features. In a market that moves by the second, reliable service and strong protections help build trust in the trading platform.
Conclusion
Selecting the best online trading platform depends on understanding goals, trading style, and the type of assets a person plans to manage. Each feature, from pricing to account options, directly affects outcomes and ease of use.
Security, speed, and clear fee structures help traders make smarter decisions. Platforms that align with user needs give more control, fewer surprises, and smoother execution during active market hours.
Before opening an account, traders should confirm the regulations, test the platform’s usability, and compare costs. Small differences in order execution or available research tools may influence long-term performance.
By focusing on safety, functionality, and cost transparency, investors improve their chances of consistent progress with fewer obstacles.
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