Looking at all the accolades that the governor of Ogun State Prince Dapo Abiodun showered on the winner of BBN Laycon, many Nigerians began to reflect on where our priorities lies in the country.
Laycon was a student of University Of Lagos (UNILAG) who graduated from the department of Philosophy.
BBnaija was a 3months contest or event that house some youths in a way many have criticize as being immoral and insensitive to the present cultural and moral need of our society. In the end, a winner is to emerge and goes home with tens of millions of naira in which Laycon of Ogun State was fortunate to be.
DAILY GIST had reported how BBNaija star, Laycon emerges as the winner of the show and went home with prizes including a cheque of N30million, two-bedroom apartment, trip to Dubai, SUV from innoson motors, one year supply of Pepsi, branded chiller, brand new Oppo 3 phone, one year supply of Indomie noodles and VIP tickets to watch the Champions League final.
Consequently, Ogun State governor announced a cash reward of 5 million naira and a three bedroom bungalow to Laycon as a form of appreciation for a job well done in just three months with an award of youth ambassador. Hearing this, many Nigerians reflected on what had been the gains of best graduating students from the state owned institutions since the government came to power. The highest reward to them so far had been automatic job offers and cash reward not even up to a million.
For proper understanding of what it takes to achieve the prestigious and envious status of best graduating student in a higher institution, such a student most times jettison any form of social lifestyle, deprive him/herself the right to sound sleep to the extend that we have had cases of many brilliant and exceptional students having mental illness.
These students hardly have time for themselves depriving themselves of fun and pleasure just to achieve the gold. If you interview many of them, they don’t enjoy any pleasure of being a student except from home to classroom and from classroom to library and then back home. Many of them don’t have time for themselves as their rooms are always littered with books.
This is what they went through for a period of 4, 5 or 6 years depending on their courses of study in which many of them hardly go home for holidays as they see that as opportunity for further research.
What society are we consciously or unconsciously building regarding our priorities? A governor who cannot honour a best graduating student who went through hell to reach that height with a million, a house and an ambassadorial award is now giving a sum of 5 million naira plus a house and a youth ambassador award to someone who enjoyed himself for 3months.
Despite the millions that have been given to Laycon, it won’t be out of place if the governor only gave him a handshake as a form of encouragement in view of the present economic realities. No one is saying he shouldn’t be celebrated and appreciated but government have to get their priorities straight and right as a model that will encourage young citizens into channeling their energy right.
