THE PYRATES CONFRATERNITY SLAMS THE FG OVER THE SORRY STATE OF TERTIARY EDUCATION

The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) in Nigeria has condemned the poor state of education in the country's tertiary institutions, particularly public universities.

The group called it scandalous that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would have to go on strike to keep the public university system from collapsing.

NAS Capoon Abiola Owoaje, speaking at the unveiling of the Confraternity's 70th anniversary logo/theme, recalled that many of the body's members who had excelled in their chosen careers and made the country proud both at home and abroad had received their university education in Nigeria.

"However, we are saddened by the sorry state of education in our tertiary institutions, particularly in Nigerian universities," he said.

He bemoaned the fact that successive Nigerian governments had treated education with the same levity.

"This unfortunate state of affairs jeopardizes an entire generation of young people's future."

"This unfortunate state of affairs jeopardizes an entire generation of young people's future."

It defies belief that a government can be so unconcerned about the fate of the continent's most populous largely young demographic," he added.

"As we get closer to the 2023 elections, the confraternity will also continue to push for a just society where no one is a victim of color, gender, or creed," Abiola added.

We will stand with Nigerians in demanding free, fair, and credible elections in 2023," he said.

The NAS Capoon recalled that seven passionate young and patriotic Nigerian undergraduates, namely Wole Soyinka, Ralph Opara, Nathaniel Oyelola, Pius Oleghe, Olumuyiwa Awe, Ikpehare Aig Imoukhuede, and Slyvanus Egbuche, took a giant revolutionary leap towards greatness and etched their names in the sands of time by standing up to obnoxious conventions to form the Pyrates Confraternity.

When the Pyrates Confraternity was founded in 1952, its fundamental ethos was not just fighting for the oppressed, speaking for the deprived, and resolving myriad injustices in the pursuit of a just and egalitarian society.

"Undoubtedly, it was a trailblazing initiative by these seven undergraduates that restored dignity, confidence, and an enduring sense of worth and justice to a large segment of Nigeria's population during those heady days of colonial subjugation," Abiola said.