jisabi
New member
Posts: 11
|
 |
« on: April 25, 2010, 11:09:27 PM » |
|
Hello all,
Well I can see many posts here can get contentious, but I was hoping to get some insight into the American University of Nigeria. I have been offered a position and I am seriously considering taking it up. I have experience living in Central and East Africa, with only a short visit to W. Africa and never to Nigeria. I understand some of the problems currently in country, but the university is in Yola, Adamawa state, and appears to be much more like the Africa I am familiar with, rather than a Lagos or Abuja. I have a wife and two kids. I wanted to get any insight into AUN, Yola, Adamawa State, etc... in terms of living and working there. Thank you in advance for any help.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
mingus
|
|
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2010, 08:39:06 AM » |
|
Someone has offered to shoot me in the head, and I am seriously considering it. Any comments?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
jisabi
New member
Posts: 11
|
|
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2010, 11:07:07 AM » |
|
Thank you mingus, as a senior member I am sure you have been most helpful and have provided similar sagacious advice. It would be a tragedy to lose you and every life is precious, so don't pull the trigger...you have so much to offer.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
crocdoc
New member
Posts: 8
|
|
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2010, 04:05:44 PM » |
|
I have had students from Nigeria and now I understand why scam e-mail originates primarily from Nigeria.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
slac_barbarian
|
|
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2010, 12:18:42 AM » |
|
According to the CIA Wordlfactbook, 70 percent of the population in Nigeria lives in poverty. GDP per person is 2,400 dollars a year (177th in he world). Corruption is rampant. Why on earth would you want to work there, especially with children?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
totoro
|
|
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2010, 12:41:16 AM » |
|
Wow, it's amazing how negative all these comments are. I visited the university's website and was quite impressed with the profiles of some faculty members. From perusing Google Earth, Yola looks a lot like a smaller Abuja actually.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
slac_barbarian
|
|
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2010, 01:19:23 AM » |
|
Wow, it's amazing how negative all these comments are. I visited the university's website and was quite impressed with the profiles of some faculty members. From perusing Google Earth, Yola looks a lot like a smaller Abuja actually.
70 percent of the population in Nigeria lives in poverty. Sorry, but here is no dressing this up. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
totoro
|
|
« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2010, 01:22:24 AM » |
|
So? As long as there is a good school for the OP's children to attend I think it could be a useful educational experience for them. According to Wikipedia: "Yola is also home to the American style private university called American University of Nigeria (AUN). Numerous schools both primary and secondary, some highly acclaimed such as ABTI Academy, Ahmadu Ribadu College and Concordia College (which was nominated as the best post primary school of the year 2007 by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)) are based in the Yola-Jimeta Metropolis." 70 percent of the population in Nigeria lives in poverty. Sorry, but here is no dressing this up.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: May 02, 2010, 01:24:22 AM by totoro »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
slac_barbarian
|
|
« Reply #8 on: May 02, 2010, 01:27:38 AM » |
|
Wikipedia is not a good source. Do you work for this university's PR office or what?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
totoro
|
|
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2010, 01:49:03 AM » |
|
No, I am an Australian academic. The comments here seem racist to me. Wikipedia is not a good source. Do you work for this university's PR office or what?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
slac_barbarian
|
|
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2010, 01:54:50 AM » |
|
No, I am an Australian academic. The comments here seem racist to me. Wikipedia is not a good source. Do you work for this university's PR office or what?
Please explain. If you want to live on an island of prosperity in a sea of poverty, please go right ahead. I think working at such a place would only reinforces imperialist attitudes. |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: May 02, 2010, 01:58:19 AM by slac_barbarian »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
jisabi
New member
Posts: 11
|
|
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2010, 12:11:03 PM » |
|
Well I know that some of these posts can bring out some extreme views and strong opinions, and I appreciate that and I thank you all for sharing. That being said some of the issues brought up do not seem to me to be the deterrents that the authors intend them to be. The figure 70% of the population lives in poverty actually motivates me as the possibility of living and working to improve this situation could have an impact on some lives. My work outside of teaching is with agriculture and related research, something that may be applied in the surrounding area to help alleviate some of the stresses endured by those who live there. I would be living off campus, not in a compound, so I don't believe I would be separated on an island of prosperity. I have worked with Nigerian and other W. African students as a graduate RA and TA, and find the comments concerning why scams come from Nigeria, likely the result of a few bad experiences as mine were quite productive and enjoyable. I know this is a chance, and there exists many unknowns, but I am leaning towards accepting the position and taking a risk. Perhaps this may start to make some difference. Thank you all.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
der_gadfly
SSOB-hatin', snarklet-writin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 1,844
oy vey
|
|
« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2010, 03:43:17 PM » |
|
Wikipedia is not generally a good source of empirically-based, internationally-recognized, double-blind, peer-reviewed information: agreed. What is DOES do well is point you to its sources (when made available). Nigeria has @70% of its national population living on less that 2USD a day. Street crime is rampant, police corruption is institutionalized, and there is a serious kleptocracy in place. Need something done? need to slip someone cash under the table. Need some deliveries? assume 10-20% will fall off the truck before it arrives. These are simple facts that can be verified from more than one source. The figure 70% of the population lives in poverty actually motivates me as the possibility of living and working to improve this situation could have an impact on some lives. Working in the American U of Nigeria will NOT help matters as you think because you will only see the best (and wealthiest) of the students. My work outside of teaching is with agriculture and related research, something that may be applied in the surrounding area to help alleviate some of the stresses endured by those who live there. see my notes above regarding corruption ...but I am leaning towards accepting the position and taking a risk. Perhaps this may start to make some difference. Thank you all.
Caveat Emptor and good luck |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
(and I bow before der_gadfly) Don't forget, that cat hair can come in handy as a good luck charm! |
|
|
|
obprof
|
|
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2010, 03:49:43 PM » |
|
What kinds of resources do you need in order to do your work? Will those be made available to you?
Will you have extra travel funds available to attend your regular conferences?
It sounds like a potentially life-enriching experience. From conversations with some of my colleagues, though, it helps if you can go in with open eyes. Would you consider taking a leave of absence from your current position, rather than quitting outright to take this on?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
jisabi
New member
Posts: 11
|
|
« Reply #14 on: May 04, 2010, 02:55:43 PM » |
|
Thank you all again,
Well my current institution has agreed to give me a year leave of absence in order to pursue this. I think I will fly over to check out the scene on the ground before signing. We'll see. Thanks again
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
