ASUU chairman, what is your alternative plan? 

SIR: Do you have a plan B? I mean an alternative strategy to the one you have employed since 2009? In these 15 or so years, there have been seismic and paradigm shifts in educational philosophy, finance technology and culture but all these seem not to have influenced or affected your strategy. It might be sending wrong signals to your students, some of your colleagues, the government and private sector about your abilities at problem solving including problems confronting the nation. 

Mr ASUU chairman, do you or any of your members read the Financial Times of London, the world’s leading financial newspaper? I read it and I know there are trillions of idle dollars’ profit and non-profit looking for projects to finance as long as you are making impact.

There is what is known, for instance, as impact investing or impact philanthropy. There is also wealth within Nigeria which you can tap into as knowledgeable as you are. There is wealth in the hands of Nigerians in Diaspora, products of Nigerian educational system, including Nigerian universities. Please have a plan B. You need a change of strategy. How much are you asking for? 

Intellectual Property Law! There is wealth in intellect! You have 9,000 professors and 60,000 lecturers. You even have 1.8 million dynamic and resourceful youths as your undergraduates. They are daring, dazzling, dedicated darlings of the 21st century breaking records and shattering glass ceilings. They are your ambassadors! Including 300,000 post graduates!! You’re in business!!!

You have to use what you have to get what you want. This is a central message in the book titled ‘Scholarship reconsidered priorities of the professoriate’ by Ernest L Boyer.
• Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth wrote from England.