Great work here. I like how you essentially exposed that our honours system lacks a distinct and clear methodology. I may be reading too much into it but that can hardly make a source for inspiration if we’re not clear why people receive them. One conclusion I drew from your detailed research is that government officials are more likely to get these honours than anyone else. I don’t think that is ideal in any way.
In any case, I like how the piece was surprising without being cynical.
This is so so good! It seems like something that can pass as a dissertation in school😄
I particularly liked how you spoke at length about the data collection hiccups. Out of curiosity how long and how much effort did this take? And did AI make it any easier😅?
Thank you! Maybe I should apply to a school for it 😄 Took about two months but around a month of that was physically chasing someone for some gazettes I couldn’t find anywhere. AI definitely helped a lot. I was able to deploy an agent to crawl back catalogues of Nigerian newspapers to find awards. The thing is so so messy. No clear records anywhere. I guess that’s the story of the honours system itself.
What a fantastic use of AI and agency. Thanks so much for putting this together. It's exactly the kind of sleuthing and analysis I would have love to have done myself.
I've often thought that our awards system can be a great tool to promote innovation and enterprise and was delighted when Ezra and shola of paystack, received their awards. Flying doctor, Dr ola brown also got one at the same ceremony I believe.
I did always however suspect that the awards were really a back slapping tool for already connected politicos to reward each other. Your analysis has proven as much.
I don't know that the outcome here isn't what the people that run the program intend to achieve. I just wonder how the whole process can be fully revamped so it actually becomes a tool to promote progress beyond banal public service recognition.
Excellent work, Feyi. I love these national culture analyses more than any other category of your writing (although I like history too). These serve to hold a mirror to Nigerian psyche and may be even more likely to influence senior or middle level government technocrats to behave better and make better decisions. kudos
This piece reminds me of Wole Soyinka’s book “Tales from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth”.
The ideological variance between both pieces remain constant, the only difference is that one is a book (flowery) and the other thorough research (steeped in science). To say the least there though, now there is science behind the postulations.
Much grateful for this read, and more grease to your elbow!
Great work here. I like how you essentially exposed that our honours system lacks a distinct and clear methodology. I may be reading too much into it but that can hardly make a source for inspiration if we’re not clear why people receive them. One conclusion I drew from your detailed research is that government officials are more likely to get these honours than anyone else. I don’t think that is ideal in any way.
In any case, I like how the piece was surprising without being cynical.
I agree on all point! I think it just shows how much the ‘methodology’ relies on who is in power rather than being carefully thought out.
This is so so good! It seems like something that can pass as a dissertation in school😄
I particularly liked how you spoke at length about the data collection hiccups. Out of curiosity how long and how much effort did this take? And did AI make it any easier😅?
Thank you! Maybe I should apply to a school for it 😄 Took about two months but around a month of that was physically chasing someone for some gazettes I couldn’t find anywhere. AI definitely helped a lot. I was able to deploy an agent to crawl back catalogues of Nigerian newspapers to find awards. The thing is so so messy. No clear records anywhere. I guess that’s the story of the honours system itself.
Haha, one month of chasing is still good in my opinion, given how they operate lol. Well done!
What a fantastic use of AI and agency. Thanks so much for putting this together. It's exactly the kind of sleuthing and analysis I would have love to have done myself.
I've often thought that our awards system can be a great tool to promote innovation and enterprise and was delighted when Ezra and shola of paystack, received their awards. Flying doctor, Dr ola brown also got one at the same ceremony I believe.
I did always however suspect that the awards were really a back slapping tool for already connected politicos to reward each other. Your analysis has proven as much.
I don't know that the outcome here isn't what the people that run the program intend to achieve. I just wonder how the whole process can be fully revamped so it actually becomes a tool to promote progress beyond banal public service recognition.
I've said elsewhere that instead of complaining about doctors leaving, Nigeria could simply hand MONs to every retiring doctor.
Just little thing to show we appreciate their sacrifice.
Hierarchy is taken very seriously in public service, so I'm not surprised that it continues in death :)
Excellent work, Feyi. I love these national culture analyses more than any other category of your writing (although I like history too). These serve to hold a mirror to Nigerian psyche and may be even more likely to influence senior or middle level government technocrats to behave better and make better decisions. kudos
Ebony @Feyi, well done sir.
Just passing through to say, I am waiting on your analysis of Dangote Refinery IPO. 😁
Should be ready by Monday hopefully. Being a detractor is not easy :)
Yes sir. Expecting.
You are doing the Lord's work, Feyi. Thank you for your service 😃
Well... The Minister of Education recently introduced a National Laurette for scientific achievements.
But this is Nigeria, it might just end up being a way for Vice Chancellors to reward themselves and their cronies.
This piece reminds me of Wole Soyinka’s book “Tales from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth”.
The ideological variance between both pieces remain constant, the only difference is that one is a book (flowery) and the other thorough research (steeped in science). To say the least there though, now there is science behind the postulations.
Much grateful for this read, and more grease to your elbow!
It's good to have some analysis to back the general disregard for actual achievement in the national honor system.
To be fair, getting a high political rank is technically an achievement.
It is. But is it a contribution?
Excellent question, and no, it is not.