Nigeria: House Speaker Gbajabiamila Receives Backlash for Getting Education Abroad

Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila tweeted on Tuesday via his verified twitter account @femigbaja about his current acceptance into Harvard University where he will be taking a leadership course. He wrote that no one is too old to improve their skills.

“Back to class. In a leadership course at Harvard. Forget the number of grey hairs no one is too old to learn, broaden or sharpen your skills”

However, Nigerians reacted unfavorably to the news, saying that he was abandoning his duties here in Nigeria and going abroad to study. Considering the current state of the country’s educational system, how University lecturers has been on strike and students have been at home for over five months, questions were raised on how and why he could not further his education in Nigeria.

“Abandoning your duty here as the speaker of the house. One of the many reasons the senate or the House of Rep should have been a part time affairs” Aake Ogunati wrote.

“If Universities in the USA were to be on strike how will you be able to experience a working system? Walk around and see how basic things work in a normal university…” Akintude wrote.

“This tweet should have been inspiring if this government is doing well with our education sector. This is so disheartening to see our young folks are home due to ASUU strike and you can post yourself studying abroad. Posterity will judge all of you,” Folusayo Bolawaye wrote.

Meanwhile during the chat on The What’s Trending Show on The Morning Show on Wednesday, Dr Reuben Abati made a comment about this situation saying that he put out the tweet on a day that a solidarity protest was organized in defence of university and polytechnic teachers. He adds that it’s the timing that is the problem.

Rufai Oseni also posed a question “saying why can’t we as a country make the University of Ibadan and the University of Ife be like Harvard?”

Although some Nigerians disapproved of Gbajabiamila’s study abroad other Nigerians supported him saying that he has a right to seek further education regardless of him being a speaker of the House of Reps, emphasizing that this has no effect on his duties and that it will help boost his performance.

“So he should not seek further education because he is a speaker of the house? And how does that affect his duty? Let me tell you this, Gbaja is a fantastic lawmaker and I strongly believe that seeking more knowledge outside the country will further boost his performance,” Okodoro Oro tweeted.

“Respectfully Sir, this area of leadership courses and development is another key area neglected by the government. If one doesn’t go for continuing education in any area of his or her endeavors, how can such progress in trial and errors? I commend your effort, ” Amadi Nenweayizam also tweeted.

Faith Ituen

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