The Learner

On rewriting my novel, A Weird Hope By Muhsin Ibrahim I published my novel, A Weird Hope , in 2012. I don't have a copy of the book today. However, as I worked on publishing a second edition very soon, I asked a friend who still keeps a copy to send me its imprints. I found avoidable errors in the "Acknowledgment". What about other parts of the book? It's pretty embarrassing. Beyond that, I felt happy. I was glad because my writing skills are evidently better today. That enabled me to see those blunders. That led me to upgrade the language of the forthcoming edition. I also insisted on getting a competent editor, not just one that would do it for me free or quickly. Hey, you may still see errors. I'm human - and a Learner. I shall talk more about the book once it's released. For now, I advise fellow budding writers to never stop practising. Writing is a passion. Nevertheless, they should take their time getting their manuscripts published. I know the e

Too many people desperately seek cheap popularity on social media (SM). They include socialites, self-identified religious scholars and ordinary people. The first category, such as Murja Ibrahim, doesn't surprise me. Their followers astonish me. But the second and third categories astound me. The "religious scholars" mindlessly chase fame (and fortune) on SM today. It's common to see a benighted person countering an established scholar over what he barely understands. I came across one a while ago trying to debunk a theological discourse using baseless claims. He struggled to recite the Qur'an before him. The third category hides behind "catching cruise", whatever that means. Someone shared that viral tweet by parody accounts of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg yesterday. People called his attention to the fact that they were parody accounts. He admitted knowing that but added that he was only "catching cruise". What is that, for God's sa

  By Muhsin Ibrahim My wife and I got an appointment to meet some real estate agents to show us a new apartment we applied to rent. I wanted to practice the little German I could speak to impress them, but it didn’t work. Sensing my disappointment, one of them, apparently well-educated , told me I was lucky I understood a little German. In contrast, he couldn’t speak any Nigerian – referring to a non-existent language he called “Nigerian”. I appreciated him, but I also reminded him that there was no such a language. I have had similar encounters in India as I wrote here . Due to Africa’s colonial past and ‘peripheral’ status on the world stage, we effectively learn about other , more prominent countries than their people know about us. For instance, most Africans learn about the European country that colonised their own country. As Nigerians, we learn about Great Britain and the English language and literature at schools. English is our official language! We also know much about t

By Muhsin Ibrahim Following the publication of Skills Rather Than Just Degrees by Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), a debate raged on obtaining a degree certificate or acquiring skills in northern Nigerian cyberspace. To my knowledge, Prof. Abdelghaffar Amoka Abdelmalik of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, offered the best response that put the final nail in the coffin of the debate. For the past few days, we have been busy (again) arguing whether or not English proficiency can be a measure of one's intelligence. But, unfortunately, these controversies in sections of northern Nigerian cyberspace aren't only unneeded but also detrimental to the region. A few other concerned friends and I have said enough about the two topics. However, some things are worth repeating. Here are two points. First, school is not a scam. Even Islam, the religion most of us practice, is totally pro-education. So, obtain that degree certificate and learn that skill. The two aren't mutually exclusiv

By Muhsin Ibrahim Due to some reasons, I have not yet finished reading Hadiza Bala Usman's Stepping on Toes : My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority . However, as I read through, it felt like I wrote parts of the book. While she acknowledges that she is human and bound to err, the internal reforms she brought to the Nigeria n Port s Authority (NPA) are outstanding. What I love the most is how she paid attention to things we in Nigeria consider minor, such as the working condition of electric appliances, toilets, the ambience of the workplace, punctuality, etc. I will mention just three case scenarios. First, she learned that "the air-conditioning system was faulty, and [they] suggested installing a standing split unit in my office, but I refused" (p. 37). She insisted that the whole system has to work, kicking against "the mentality of insulating chief executives from the general situation in a working environment [in Nigeria]. (ibid.)" Excellent! Second,

By Muhsin Ibrahim Part One It was 2005 when I applied for admission into Bayero University, Kano (BUK).  In Nigeria, getting admission without knowing someone at the university is pretty hard . My late father was working there as an accountant, but remembering how my immediate older brother couldn’t secure admission a year before despite our father’s efforts, I did not bother to ask for his help. Our eldest brother (Yaya Babba), now late, was nonetheless a student. Knowing he was not an ‘ordinary’ student due to his age, I approached him for assistance. I was lucky Yaya Babba knew Malam Jamilu Ahmad Salim. I cannot say what his position at the University was then, but he could help, Yaya Babba assured me. My only fear was my SSCE result, which was neither WAEC nor NECO, the two conventional entry exams. I had NABTEB and was applying to the Faculty of Education. But on the other hand, my UTME/JAMB result was excellent. Yaya Babba met Malam Jamilu during a Hajj pilgrimage the pre