Numbing Religion in Nigeria's Public Schools

(Temidayo Ahanmisi)--I used to worry constantly that Religion was destroying Nigerian schools.

I wondered how as a society we could promote Rationalism and scientific methods of inquiry when we teach children from the outset that a being called Satan could make them forget what they have read in an examination hall.

I actually heard a woman say this of her son who failed his common entrance exams.

I have a multi-religion background. I didn't want too much religion for my own kids.

Scratch that. I'd rather my kids jettison Religion in totality.

The problem however was that I saw religion being taught right from the schools. I don't know how IRK is presented these days, but the pentecostals are doing mayhem in their usual fashion in the christian realm. A lot of schools are introducing texts to children which makes CRK a more practical design.

It is no longer bland story telling. They now actively proselytize children and ask them to ''save souls for Christ''.

The irritations of the pentecostal pulpits from sunday services are creeping into schools.

The Nigerian Christian Mocks Their God

Ahanmisi

(Temidayo Ahanmisi)--Auntie the only problem wey we get for Nigeria be say, we are too bogus.

Na only for Nigeria person go build one small ‘’tachere’’ kiosk, e go call am group of stores. Short time hotel wey no reach 10 room sef, dem go say na group of hotels…

See, I go Ghana. Me and my friend go one shopping complex like dat. The person wey we go see say their vice president go come deliver lecture for one hall there very soon. I tell my friend say ‘’guy abeg make we cut out from here quick quick, before police and army go block everywhere. We get plenty things wey we want do that day.

Everybody jus’ dey laugh me for there. Dem say weda I think say dis na Naija?’’

My young friend Chima went to tell me that the VP came to the area while they were still there, delivered a one-hour lecture, and left. His motorcade was just 2 cars.

I told Chima that he had saved my life, but that he would never know just how.

About 3 months after that encounter with Chima, I had completely liquidated my supermarket business which wasn’t going anywhere and was costing me more money to run than I was making from it. I sold off the few assets left and never looked back. I got immense pleasure from pulling down the ‘’x x x x Plaza’’ signage in front of the building.

I have gone on to do other things since then to save myself in several other areas of my life. From relationships with people, to my marriage, my home, my other businesses.