Today I want to talk about something fundamental to our growth as a nation—education and social justice. I’m not a contractor, I don’t run a church, and I’m certainly not a politician. But I am a citizen, and I owe this country. Nigeria gave me the opportunity to become who I am today. Additionally, I owe the body of Christ, as I grew up in a system that insisted on things being done rightly. I have always held onto the hope for a better, greater Nigeria. I know it’s possible, but the greatest challenge we face is ourselves.
Today, my grandson started school, and his parents shared a video in our family’s WhatsApp group. Watching him, I was filled with both pride and surprise. He’s in a public school in Europe, and his experience is quite different from what many Nigerian children face. He has his own locker, with his name stamped on it, and a personal bed for when he needs to rest. And the most surprising part? The education is completely free—from early years up to PhD level. This is in a country with a GDP roughly half of Nigeria’s, yet they manage to provide free quality education.
This brings me to a troubling comparison. I heard a story of someone who took their child to a denominational school in Europe. Upon presenting the baptismal certificate from Nigeria, the child was admitted into the missionary school without having to pay any fees. But here in Nigeria, even the schools that were built with tithes and offerings from church members are often too expensive for the same members to afford for their children. Where are we headed as a nation?
We need a complete change of mindset. We must put humanity and the welfare of people first, above money and material gain. I was recently staying in a place with two televisions in the room. They told me to eat, but I declined. How much can one eat, really? What are we struggling for—buying houses overseas, owning private jets—when the average Nigerian, the poor man on the street, or even the average church member, cannot live a dignified life? While we promise people heaven in the afterlife, which is real and I believe in it, we should also be focused on creating a little heaven here for people through education and social justice.
I run good schools, but I built them with my own money. It’s a business. However, government schools and church schools shouldn’t be run that way. They should be accessible to everyone, especially those who need them the most.
I remain your friend, Dr. Charles Apoki. God bless you.
