Image is mine
Nigerian lecturers will stain your white, and by this, I mean Nigerian lecturers will disgrace you.
Back then, when I was still doing my second degree, we had this particular lecturer who doesn't come to lecture.
His style is, during exam period, he will bring some of his textbooks to sell and that automatically becomes our continuous assessment (CA) of 30 marks. Knowing the behavioral pattern of this lecturer, students like me do not bother showing up on days of his lecture.
So this particular time, the NGO I was working with sent me on a field job to Lagos. The time frame for this job coincide with this lecturer's class, and I was glad I didn't have to miss out on my study because I was already struggling with work and school.
I got packed and headed off to Lagos. I was prepared and pumped for my visit to the family we were to render our assistance to.
*Paying a visit to our special cases that involves huge financial support was an initiative I thought of for the NGO I was working with.
Usually, with cases outside our base, the NGO just sends the money down to the people without any investigation or interview. There is also no supervision of how the money is being spent.
Often times, the money sent ends up being diverted by the family of the incapacitated or invalid. Thus, the purpose for the financial support ends up being defeated.
After suggesting to the management of the NGO for an officer to always be on ground, to oversee the appropriate use of funds for the intended purpose, the NGO designated that responsibility to me.*
I arrived at Lagos in good faith and with strong confidence. The next day, I was already at the house of the incapacitated/invalid and his case requires surgery. I spoke with him briefly and then spoke with his family.
According to his family, they already started with a hospital, but they ran out of fund. I requested to speak with the hospital, and we were preparing to pay the hospital a visit when my course mate called in a panic tone.
“Where are you?”
“I'm in Lagos, why?”
“You are in Lagos? Your mates are writing test, and you are in Lagos? Better look for a way to come down here.” Before I could say another word, the line disconnected. I tried calling back and it wasn't connecting again.
That moment eh? My heart sank, and I felt this cold feeling gravitate from my stomach to my throat. I started experiencing heart palpitations and I almost collapsed.
The father of the boy noticed I was uneasy, and then he asked if I'm ok, I told him I just needed a seat to sit on.
They brought a plastic chair and I sat down first to think about my life. After managing to calm myself down, I texted my course mate. At least if the call will not go through, the message should go through because I suspected the lecturer might be in the class.
“What's up? What test are you talking about?” I had texted, anticipating a response.
“What do you mean, what test? Are you not supposed to be having lectures today?”
After reading my course mate's response, my mood spoiled some more because how does a lecturer not show up for lectures then managed to show up, and the first thing to do is to give continuous assessment for a course he did not teach.
I got really pissed and at that point I was ready to damn all consequences because even if I were to book a flight, there was no way I can get to the Uni in time for a test that is already in motion.
To cap it all, it was a Friday, any attempt to abandon my job on the field and go to school will leave me loosing at both ends.
Thus, I went with the parable which says, “a bird at hand is the very bird and there are none in the bushes.” I texted my friend back and told him, I cannot make it for the test and I will settle for the exam.
He texted back and told me good luck. I fixed myself up and tried not to be distracted by what had just happened and proceeded to the hospital to get the job done.
I rounded up with my field work in Lagos and then went back to Uni. The next day, I got to class and my course mate wanted to have my head for missing the test.
He felt I wasn't serious with my education, and I'm ready to put my degree on the line for my job. All effort to explain my situation to him fell on deaf ear.
In his words, “I will see how you will be able to contend with at least 50 marks for the exam to pass the course.”
I took those words of his as a challenge. I felt he was daring me and when exams came, I read like crazy.
For a course I wasn't taught, with no CA, I knew I have to be Houdini to pass. Regardless of whatever the outcome may, I was ready to take responsibilities for my actions.
Exams came and I did my best. When results came out, I scored 55 and had no CA.
Despite having a C, my proud moment was that I came out top 3 in the exams and the respect my course mate had for me grew.
