By IBRAHIM ONYINOYI SALIMAT

The final school bell rings, and twelve-year-old Tunde begins the long walk home with a school bag heavy enough to bend his shoulders. Inside are textbooks, notebooks, and a pile of assignments due the very next morning. After a full day of lessons, he hurriedly eats his meal and spends the rest of the evening racing against time, driven not by the joy of learning but by the fear of punishment for an incomplete assignment. By the time he is done, his mind is too exhausted to read ahead, explore ideas beyond the classroom, or simply enjoy the childhood every child deserves with friends and family. The next morning, he returns to school with neatly completed assignments, yet perhaps with little or no genuine understanding of what he is said to have learned.

If this routine has become our definition of academic success, then Nigeria must ask itself a difficult question: Are we raising critical thinkers and innovators, or are we merely producing children who complete tasks to avoid punishment, earn their teachers’ praise, and pass the next examination?

Behind the walls of many Nigerian classrooms lies a silent crisis that is often mistaken for academic excellence. The education system has gradually become more concerned with how much students can memorize than with how well they understand, analyze, and apply knowledge. Success is frequently measured by examination scores, completed assignments, and neatly copied notes rather than by problem-solving ability and intellectual curiosity.

Some educators argue that homework develops discipline and reinforces classroom learning. This is true when homework is purposeful and reasonably assigned. However, excessive academic workload often defeats its own purpose by leaving students with little time for rest, reflection, independent reading, or meaningful engagement with what they have learned. Instead of inspiring curiosity, it encourages students to work against the clock simply to avoid punishment or criticism.

This concern is supported by evidence. According to , millions of children continue to face learning challenges despite increased school attendance, demonstrating that time spent in school alone does not guarantee quality learning. Similarly, findings from the have consistently shown that effective education depends more on the quality of teaching and students’ understanding than on excessive academic workload.

Another challenge is that many classrooms still promote one-way communication, where the teacher speaks and the students listen. Learners are expected to accept information without questioning, exploring alternative ideas, or engaging in meaningful discussions. Over time, this weakens confidence, suppresses curiosity, and produces graduates who can recall information but struggle to think independently or solve practical problems.

The consequences extend far beyond the classroom. Students gradually begin to associate education with stress rather than discovery, fear rather than confidence, and obedience rather than initiative. As these learners become graduates, many find it difficult to adapt their knowledge to real-life challenges, contribute fresh ideas, or compete effectively in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy.

Ultimately, the quality of a nation’s education determines the quality of its workforce, leadership, and national development. When an education system produces individuals who are trained primarily to pass examinations rather than solve problems, society bears the consequences through reduced productivity, limited innovation, and slower progress. By contrast, an education system that encourages critical thinking, ethical values, creativity, and effective communication is more likely to produce responsible citizens, competent professionals, and accountable leaders.

Addressing these challenges requires more than minor adjustments; it demands a bold rethinking of what education should achieve in Nigeria. The goal should no longer be to produce students who merely excel in examinations but to nurture individuals who can think independently, communicate effectively, solve problems creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.

The first step is to invest in continuous teacher development. Teachers should be equipped not only with subject knowledge but also with modern teaching methods that encourage discussion, collaboration, and active participation. Classrooms should become spaces where students feel confident to ask questions, express opinions, and learn from their mistakes without fear of humiliation or intimidation.

Equally important is the need to make classroom learning more engaging and practical while reducing excessive homework. If students spend most of their day in school, then the classroom should remain the primary environment for meaningful learning. Lessons should incorporate experiments, projects, debates, presentations, case studies, and problem-solving activities that help students understand concepts rather than memorize facts. Homework should reinforce classroom learning, not replace it.

Schools should also recognize that leisure is an essential part of education, not a distraction from it. Sports, reading, music, drama, debate, and other extracurricular activities help students develop confidence, leadership, teamwork, emotional resilience, and creativity qualities that are just as important as academic achievement in today’s world.

Furthermore, assessment methods should shift from rewarding rote memorization to evaluating students’ ability to analyze, apply knowledge, and develop practical solutions to real-world challenges. Such an approach will prepare learners not only for examinations but also for higher education, employment, and responsible citizenship.

Finally, sustainable educational reform depends on effective strategic communication. Government agencies, school administrators, teachers, parents, students, and communities must communicate openly and work together to ensure that educational policies are clearly understood and effectively implemented. When stakeholders share a common vision, reforms become more practical, transparent, and sustainable.

Nigeria’s future will not be determined solely by the number of schools it builds or the number of students who pass examinations. It will be shaped by the quality of minds nurtured within those schools. A nation that values curiosity over fear, understanding over memorization, and innovation over routine is preparing its young people not merely to earn certificates but to transform society.

The weight of a school bag should never be mistaken for the weight of knowledge. True education is measured not by how much students carry home, but by how much they understand, question, create, and contribute.

IBRAHIM ONYINOYI SALIMAT
200 LEVEL DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA.

By Ahmad Danyaro
Housing is more than bricks and mortar. It is about dignity, economic opportunity, social stability, and national development. Countries that have transformed their housing sectors have not merely built homes; they have built systems that make homeownership accessible, urban development sustainable, and investments attractive. Nigeria has long struggled to achieve these ideals, but the first 100 days of Engr. Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma as Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development have offered encouraging signs that a new era may be unfolding.
Since assuming office on 27 April , Dr. Darma has approached Nigeria’s housing challenge with a clear understanding that lasting solutions require more than commissioning housing estates. Rather, they demand comprehensive reforms that address the structural barriers responsible for decades of inadequate housing delivery. His administration has focused on land administration, investment promotion, institutional coordination, industry regulation, and social inclusion—areas that form the bedrock of a sustainable housing sector.
One of the defining initiatives of his first 100 days is the proposed nationwide Social Housing Programme, designed to extend affordable housing to all 774 Local Government Areas of the federation. The programme represents one of the most ambitious efforts to decentralise housing delivery in Nigeria’s history. If effectively implemented, it has the potential not only to reduce the country’s huge housing deficit but also to stimulate local economies through construction activities, job creation, and infrastructure development.
Equally significant is the programme’s emphasis on social inclusion. By prioritising women, children, victims of insecurity, internally displaced persons, and communities affected by natural disasters, the Minister has demonstrated that housing policy must also serve as social policy. In a nation grappling with displacement caused by insecurity and climate-related disasters, such an approach reflects both compassion and strategic thinking.
Within his first 100 days, Dr. Darma has also underscored the indispensable role of private-sector participation in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit. Recognising that government resources alone cannot meet the nation’s housing needs, he has actively engaged international investors and development partners. His discussions with Japan’s CHODAI Company Limited and other prospective partners signal Nigeria’s renewed commitment to attracting global expertise, innovative technology, and long-term financing into the housing and infrastructure sectors.
Across the world, successful housing programmes are anchored on strong Public-Private Partnerships. By assuring investors that Nigeria remains open for business and committed to creating an enabling environment, the Minister is laying the groundwork for increased investment capable of accelerating housing delivery and modern urban development.
Perhaps the most transformative aspect of his reform agenda is the renewed focus on land administration.
For decades, access to land has remained one of the greatest obstacles to affordable housing in Nigeria. Lengthy registration processes, insecure titles, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and ownership disputes have discouraged investment while placing homeownership beyond the reach of many citizens. Dr. Darma’s commitment to the Nigerian Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme (NLTRDP) represents a bold effort to tackle these long-standing challenges.
The proposed digitalisation of land records, deployment of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), electronic documentation, and the establishment of a more efficient land administration framework promise to improve transparency, shorten processing timelines, and restore confidence in land ownership. These reforms may not generate the excitement of housing commissioning ceremonies, but they are precisely the institutional changes capable of transforming the sector over the long term.
The Minister has also demonstrated commendable resolve in addressing the persistent challenge of building collapses through stronger regulation of Nigeria’s built environment. His insistence on ending quackery, enforcing professional standards, and strengthening regulatory oversight reflects a commitment to safeguarding lives and restoring confidence in the construction industry.
By advocating a coordinated regulatory framework involving all professional bodies and stakeholders, Dr. Darma is reinforcing the principle that sustainable development must be underpinned by professionalism, accountability, and strict compliance with building standards.
Institutional efficiency has equally featured prominently in his first 100 days. Through engagements with Federal Controllers of Housing across the federation, the Minister has emphasized improved project monitoring, stronger inter-agency coordination, and enhanced accountability in project execution. These administrative reforms may receive less public attention, but they are essential to translating policy into measurable outcomes.
Naturally, the true test of any administration lies not in policy announcements but in implementation. Nigerians have witnessed ambitious programmes in the past that faltered due to inadequate funding, bureaucratic delays, weak political will, or inconsistent execution. The reforms initiated during these first 100 days must therefore be sustained through transparency, measurable targets, stakeholder collaboration, and rigorous monitoring.Even so, the direction being charted deserves recognition.
For perhaps the first time in many years, national conversations on housing are moving beyond the mere construction of houses towards broader institutional reforms encompassing land governance, digital transformation, investment attraction, professional regulation, and inclusive urban development. This holistic approach aligns more closely with global best practices and recognises housing as both a social necessity and a catalyst for economic growth.
Housing remains one of the strongest multipliers in any economy. It drives manufacturing, construction, transportation, financial services, and numerous small businesses while generating employment across multiple sectors. A vibrant housing industry strengthens communities, improves living standards, and contributes significantly to national development.
In his first 100 days, Engr. Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma has outlined an ambitious roadmap for the sector. His priorities are becoming increasingly clear, and his early interventions suggest a willingness to confront some of the most difficult structural challenges that have hindered Nigeria’s housing development for decades.
The journey ahead will undoubtedly be demanding. Expectations remain high, resources are limited, and implementation will ultimately determine the success of these reforms. However, if the momentum generated during these first 100 days is sustained with consistency, professionalism, and accountability, Nigeria’s housing sector could be on the threshold of a genuine transformation.
For millions of Nigerians who still dream of owning a decent and affordable home, that is a vision worth supportingand one that deserves every opportunity to succeed.
Danyaro is a Media and Public Affairs Analysts based in Abuja.

A Story by Nurse Ekwem Chinwendu Blessing (BNSC, RPHN, RM, RN)

I was out on my routine duty at Murtala Specialist Hospital for my ambulance service when I decided to take a walk to a centre I had heard about from Sir Muhammad Sunusi Specialist Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit. The centre is called WARAKA–SARC — ‘Waraka’ meaning ‘healing’ in the English language. It is housed in the same building with the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), a beautiful block within Murtala Specialist Hospital. The centre comprises three offices and two toilets. Inside, the offices are adorned with colourful posters of alphabets, numbers, GBV survivors support, pathway for initial care after sexual assaults and domestic animals and pets, creating a quiet and therapeutic atmosphere. The staff are warm and friendly.

The centre was sponsored by non-governmental organisation’s (NGOs) and championed by four ministries in the state: the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and the State Police Force. Unfortunately, the NGOs have since pulled out. WARAKA–SARC attends to cases of sexual assault and gender-based violence for both males and females. I was informed that between 7 and 12 September 2015, training was conducted for doctors, nurses, and counsellors on the management of such cases. Due to the high rate of reported incidents, the NGOs and the four aforementioned ministries pushed for the official opening of the centre.

During my visit, I met several members of staff: a nurse nearing retirement, counsellors, a receptionist, and a volunteer who also serves as the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. She conducts serological tests such as pregnancy test (serum), HIV, HBsAg, HCV, and VDRL. I had expected to see a doctor trained to assist with forensic examinations, but none was present. I was told that doctors had indeed been trained to provide evidence-based care to clients; however, due to the high demand for medical personnel, they were redeployed to other hospitals and units. Due to that, When a client presents — whether as a case of domestic violence or assault — they are referred to the Gynaecology Emergency Unit, the Gynaecology Ward, the Accident and Emergency Unit, or the Paediatric Unit, depending on the client’s age and the nature of the assault. Following examination, the client returns to WARAKA–SARC for further management, including counselling and serology. On average, the centre sees about fifty clients per week.

Notwithstanding these challenges, this is the only functioning centre in the state that attends to cases of sexual assault and gender-based violence. I noted that all services rendered to clients are free of charge, and the centre also provides continuous follow-up care.

Based on my observation, WARAKA–SARC is a sensitive and vital centre. I therefore suggest the following measures to improve the care and services provided to clients:

· The deployment of medical personnel — including doctors, nurses, and counselling psychologists — to the centre.

· The four ministries should consistently include the centre in their annual budgets.

· Continuous engagement of staff through training, rural outreach programmes, community sensitisation, and the provision of incentives.

· NGOs should resume and sustain their collaboration with the centre.

· Proper referral pathways for clients to the centre must be established and maintained.

· The Ministry of Justice should make it mandatory for all cases of sexual assault and gender-based violence to pass through WARAKA–SARC before trial. This will enhance the centre’s visibility among individuals and communities.

· Additional centres should be established in strategic local government areas to bring services closer to rural communities far from Kano town, thereby improving access and utilisation.

· Community enlightenment on the importance of the centre and the need to seek help freely when necessary.

· Religious and community leaders should partner with the centre to promote peace and encourage community members to utilise its services.

Speak out, get help — end the cycle of violence.

WARAKA SARC: Your path to healing and justice.

Stop GBV. Support survivors. Strengthen justice.

WARAKA SARC: Restoring dignity, rebuilding lives.

Supporting survivors with care, dignity, and compassion.

WARAKA SARC — A Safe Space for Healing.

WARAKA–SARC HOTLINES

0903 042 4123

0902 894 4933

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