Back to Professor Anosa’s lamentations, I should say that the debasement of the worth of the Nigerian academic is not new, although the situation has grown worse in recent years. As far back as 1982, the great Nigerian mathematician, Professor Adegoke Olubummo, saw the first signs of the deliberate devaluation of the worth of the Nigerian academic, first by military leaders and later by politicians. In his valedictory lecture, titled: “The Emergent University”, the renowned Professor regretted the declining appreciation of the academic, asking in a simple mathematical quip, if, indeed, “that’s all it adds up to”.

Professor Olubummo’s regret was that an increasing number of the graduates produced by him were being attracted to the banking industry and manufacturing sector while only a few of them were accepting his offer to join the academic profession. He also observed that many of those who had rejected the ivory tower were exhibiting signs of affluence, driving flashing cars, and building mansions in the choice areas of Nigeria’s major cities. Even more regretful, the Professor was finding it increasingly difficult to attract the best of his graduating students into the academic profession.

Olubummo’s observations, unlike the lamentations of Anosa, were not about money; they were about the erosion of the dignity of the academic profession. He and his other colleagues, at the time, were still perceived to be at the highest echelon of society, insocial status, prestige, and even in material terms. True, Nigerian professors were among high court judges, full military generals, permanent secretaries, etc., who topped the consolidated salary scale of the Federal Government. So, by all accounts, Professors were never so poor that they couldn’t cater for their own basic needs. However, Olubummo saw emerging signs of debasement and disrespect, coming from government officials, especially the military in power.

Many of the acclaimed scholars, who made Nigeria proud in the 1960s-1990s were at the University of Ibadan. In fact, some of them were foundation students of the University when it was established in 1948 as a College of the University of London. The names should be familiar – Professors Oladipo Ogunlesi, Oritse jolomi Thomas, Cyril Onwumechili, Olumbe Basir, Victor Oyenuga, Pius Okigbo, Kenneth Dike,Emmanuel Emovon,and many other academic legends, all of whom, sadly, have passed away.

But there are many other seasoned academics, still alive, although uncelebrated by Nigeria and Nigerians, including Professor Adetoun Ogunsheye (98), first female Professor in Nigeria; Professor Emeritus Ayo Bamgbose (93), father of linguistics in Nigeria and Foundation President (FP) of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL); Professors Bolanle Awe (92); Mark Nwangwu (92) and A.B. ODesalu (93). These were among the men and women of the Nigerian premier ivory tower who toiled relentlessly with their foreign colleagues of all races – blacks, whites, browns and other shades of human colours! – to make Ibadan truly international inreputation.

The professors we knew and sought to emulate, as young men in our days, were noble in character and respected, nationally and internationally. Not only were they regarded as sources of wisdom, they were, indeed, revered as “living ancestors”, endowed with privileged knowledge. When they spoke, younger colleagues listened with rapt attention; and their word was authoritative. Above all, then and even now, the average professor has always been an epitome of simplicity and modesty; humble, descent, unassuming, moderate in need and thrifty in spending. The academic is not driven by excessive acquisitive urge or greed, even in a hostile environment such as Nigeria.

Generally, the academic career is full of challenges, many of which are the consequences of the instinctive urge, in many practitioners, to want to reap the benefits of the profession, without the required discipline, hard work and dedication. One common challenge, for instance, is when a young academic researcher has to go through the harrowing experience of confronting a difficult supervisor. These are the earlier hurdles and sad moments during which an academic is totally consumed in despair, depression, self- pity, and the temptation to surrender his career ambition!

There is also the agonising “publish or perish” syndrome which, in the traditions of almost all academic institutions, is an acceptable practice. Every academic has no choice but to come to terms with the fact that scholarly publications play a major role in the assessment of a practitioner’s suitability on the job. Then, there are various lures, pitfalls and temptations, including: the lure of the material world, greed, acquisitive urge, corruption, etc; pitfalls of emotional desires, sexual urge, indiscipline and problems of sexual harassment, known to have derailed many young academics, especially in the Nigerian academic environment.

There is also the challenge of delayed or unfulfilled life expectations, such as marriage, childbearing, property acquisition, etc., which are either delayed or not fulfilled at all. At the University of Ibadan, for instance, the academic is comfortably housed in official staff quarters, with all the necessary utilities adequately provided – electricity, water, good access roads, market, etc. Anybody familiar with University campus at Ibadan can testify to a self-sufficient community, almost insulated from the immediate environment of the sprawling City of Ibadan. The official provisions are so comfortable that most academics fail to prepare for retirement. And when, finally, they retire, they move out into the harsh Nigerian environment, the way they came in – empty handed!

Even more challenging is an academic’s responsibility of educating his children. In Nigeria, an average family, with 2-3 children, is saddled with the task of having to pay millions of naira (far beyond their meagre earnings) as school fees. And, by the time, the couple finishes educating their children, both are close to retirement age, and unable to do anything for themselves. Then, there are all sorts of distractions, including undue involvement in university politics, national politics or political appointments, which are the major obstacles that derail the ambitions of many young academics in Nigeria.

Everywhere in the world, the academic community is a microcosm of the larger society, meaning that the situation that obtains in the in the larger Nigerian society always rubs off on the nation’s academic community – the challenges of politics, crimes, corruption, inefficiency, social inequality, ethnic tension and many more. Also, the Nigerian academic, being human, is not insulated from the rest of the people, and shares in all the imperfections that afflict other Nigerians. It is only natural, therefore, that the academic community has its own share of social deviants and misfits. Today, the academic profession in Nigeria has become so unattractive that instead of recruiting first-class graduate into its fold it now admits those with the weakest records. A large number of academics, already in service, are frustrated, ill-motivated and, therefore, not as productive as expected.

The harsh realities of the Nigerian situation have driven many sound academics into believing that the choice of an academic career is a mistake. However, in comparison with the larger Nigerian society, the academic community is still a model of sanity and decency.

I believe that, in spite of the chaos, frustrations and pervading sense of hopelessness in Nigeria, the life of an academic remains the best. From personal experience, I know that it is a journey that is full of excitement and joy. Indeed, many see intellectual satisfaction as an end in itself, something close to spiritual fulfilment. can still remember, as a first-year undergraduate in 1968, the indescribable feelings I had when we were first exposed to the creative articulation of Aristotelian syllogism and the fallacies we commit in our day-to-day conversations. Such is the intellectual joy or knowledge for its own sake, as it is often described. This kind of intellectual fulfillment exists almost in all disciplines, whether pure or applied. Beyond this satisfaction, academics have practically transformed the world into the wonders that it is today.

It is only in an academic community that one experiences the best of humanity, comprising unwritten rules, values, and behavioural norms into which all young men and women deserve to be socialised. It is within such a community of scholars that there are all kinds of freedoms – freedoms of choice, speech, movement, worship, and the freedom to do your job, when and how you like – and something at your own pace! In an ideal academic community, there is no master-servant relationship, whether you are an assistant lecturer or a professor.

It is among academics that individuals are perceived as equal and treated equally, where you do not need to bow or prostrate before anybody, except to express traditional forms of respect and greetings that have nothing to do with official status or position.

In all societies, the academic is perceived as belonging to a privileged class; always respected, or even revered as society’s precious treasury of knowledge. Indeed, being an academic earns you respect, honour, integrity, recognition, and even material comfort, if adequately compensated! Above all, the academic life is that of eternal contentment, joy and fulfilment. And, if you are looking for an example, I am a living one.
Concluded.
Sogolo is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, at the University of Ibadan and the National Open University of Nigeria.