I read with disappointment the decision of the Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, to close some schools in Abuja in order to accommodate participants of the Abuja carnival which held between November 24 and 28.The closure is a highly regrettable action as it came when the pupils were preparing for their first term examination. The ministers action brings to the fold the sincerity of the Federal Governments stand on raising the standard of education and diversifying the economy from a petroleum-based one by opening up other sectors such as the Information Communications Technology, agriculture and tourism.Since my grouse is between the trivial treatment meted out to the education sector and the lack of importance attached to tourism, I would start with the former as it is said to be the best and only lasting legacy any loving parent can give to their children.The falling standard of education in Nigeria is well documented so I will not bore us with the many issues but must mention a few among which are the poor results annually recorded in the WACE, GCE, NECO, UTME and the much talked about half baked/unemployable graduates (as if those who were full baked have done any better) our higher institutions churn out year in year out.Lest we forget, there is the recurrent FG/ASUU fight which often leads to strikes/closure of schools over the non-compliance of the former over the agreement reached with the latter.These disputes among others have over the years led to the terrible state of our education but this new trend of closing schools for a "few days" because of events (both relevant and otherwise) is taking a dangerous dimension.In January, schools were closed for Nigerians to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission so as to vote during the 2011 elections and we were told it had to do with national interest.This latest action is one too many and should not be accepted at all! I do not understand why these kids should suffer because our leaders are not focused!They should pause for a minute and imagine what psychological setback these five days disruption would be for final year pupils preparing for WAEC and UTME.Tourism, the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, 6th edition, says is the business activity connected with providing accommodation, services and entertainment for people who are visiting a place for pleasure. The world over, tourism is known to be big business and as crude oil (petroleum) provides about 90 per cent of Nigerias GDP so does tourism provides a similar rate for a lot of countries.So for the FCT minister to turn a deaf ear to the pleas of the Hotel Owners Forum, Abuja chapter, who went as far as making an offer of 50 per cent discount to all hotel troupes to lodge through the duration of the carnival is a sad development and a clog in the Presidents transformation agenda in repositioning the tourism industry.But the most shocking of all is the Minister of Tourism, Chief Duke Edem, who has such a good and an intimidating record in this field more so as he owns a hotel, standing aside and watching this happen to his colleagues in his primary constituency. This is someone who should stand up for the hoteliers who are big stakeholders in the industry if not the biggest.It only goes to show all the talk about diversifying our economy is mere lip service and until we start walking the talk, Nigeria will continue to toe the same line government after government.Adedayo E. Makinde, Ibadan, Oyo State. 08066243322adebai@yahoo.com.
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