Where it all begins [Featured Artiste: Gold Help Owen]


First off, I want to thank every single person that has commented or is following this blog.  I truly appreciate it!

Now, let’s get to it, shall we?! (*moon-walks, does a little hyper dance and cracks knuckles before finally sitting down calmly*)



I could not really think of what to call this blog post because although I knew what I wanted to talk about, I did not know how to approach the topic.  So, please bear with me if I seem a little scatter-brained today. So, one thing I have observed with regards to education in Nigeria and particularly, primary school education is that it is probably the MOST important part of the educational journey of a person.  I know you might think it is college that can be the deal-breaker, but primary school is it (in my own opinion sha), because it is the foundation on which everything else is built.  And when it is not solid, it shows in everything that individual does.  Okay, enough of abstract terms. Let me illustrate.


Now, you need to be honest here (no pretending). How many times have you met fellow Nigerians like yourself whose spoken or oral English sounds okay, but when it is time to actually write down sentences, kata-kata go burst?! Seriously, how many times have you received an e-mail or similar correspondence from a friend or colleague and the person could barely spell his or her name correctly, talk less of completing a sentence properly? I don’t know whether it is just me (because I am particularly pre-disposed to notice grammatical errors sharp-sharp), but when I see such things, I have to restrain myself from going in to edit the entire e-mail! Examples of things that get on my nerves (in this respect) include:

  • Starting sentences with small letters. For example:

tunde is a boy

versus

Tunde is a boy.

  • Improper (or non-existent) punctuation. For example:

i want to meet you under the mango tree. near the woman selling ube, can you be there by 7pm, i am the one, chuks.

(I won’t even bother putting up the correct version of this one, just because I don’t want to meet Chuks under the mango tree at 7pm! Why? Because “Bridezilla” is showing at that time! J) Okay, I know I am exaggerating here, but you get the picture.

  • Capitalization (by force or by fire). For example:

BABY, ITS NOT TOO LATE. WE CAN STILL WORK IT OUT.  I STILL LOVE YOU. IT IS ME, CHUKS…AGAIN!

[By now, you can tell that Chuks is getting pretty desperate since I stood him up under the mango tree… (evil grin)]


God knows that I have received some of those yeye Facebook messages from so-called admirers, and I just never get past the first few lines which read something like this:

relentless i do like u and u are an angels from above heavens must be mising a stars. I want 2 know u beter, can we be friends pls text call me at this no. 08035551234 or i can like 2 chat u up on de yahoo my email is [emphasis mine] I-no-sabi-english@yahoo.com. god bles u [Dude does not even have the decency to write “GOD” with a capital “G!” (*skin crawling and clutches chest while yelling "Why me, oh Lord?!"*)

Before you condemn me and ask me where I met such razz people, please don’t come and form like say you never receive dis kain message before for Facebook! Ogini? Na by force?! LOL! Seriously though, when I get such messages, apart from being irritated at getting unsolicited messages, it just “breaks” my heart that an average Nigerian would write so poorly.  And of course, I am not saying that my own grammar is perfect or that I get it right all the time (I am a heavy “F7” user), but there is a standard and most of these people, have fallen short of it.  And yet, the same people can sing, fake any type of accent you want to hear (and sound “tush” if they so desire).   

The point is that (from my own observation), those who attend better quality primary schools (which unfortunately, tend to be the private (and more than likely, more expensive) schools) tend to have better grammar skills than those who attend public schools. I am placing emphasis on primary schools, because what I have noticed is that after primary school, whatever grammar skills a person acquired in primary school tend to remain that way for good, i.e. everything else that person learns in secondary school and university BUILDS on that foundation.  So, even if a person attends a secondary school that is not so great (same with university), that grammatical foundation has been laid and does not get tampered with. 

So what do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Let me hear your thoughts!

And now, for some music…

Featured Artiste: Gold Help Owen

Honestly, I do not know how some of our artistes decide on their “stage names.” “Gold Help Owen” (at first, I thought it was “GOD HELP” but no, it is “GOLD HELP”) is one artiste whose “behind-the-name” story I would certainly love to hear.

Gold Help Owen
Image Credit: ReverbNation
Jokes apart, his song “Little things” captures the idea of primary school and grammatical errors that I discussed above (in a good way). How? Well, my personal observations are highlighted above, and I notice these things because [in Gold Help Owen's words....*Goodness! What a mouthful!*] “The little things matter to me, that is the difference between you and me…..”

As usual, here is a little info on him (via ReverbNation, of course):

Artiste’s Stage Name:  Gold Help Owen

Real Name: I have no idea (if you do, please feel free to share it with me!)

Current Location:  Jos, Plateau State

Featured song:  Little things


And the song, Little Things (enjoy):



I really like the message (and lyrics) of this song. It seems to work quite well with the [for lack of a better word] "interesting" instrumentation.  Can you hear the flute (was that a flute or something else?) in the background? Nice blend, right? It kept me expecting more and it was not over-done. I could not find a music video for the song, but I will be sure to put it up here when (or "if") I see it.

Thanks for reading (and listening).

*Image Source


Hi! PS. I've changed my blog url! I decided to keep the blog on Blogger after all. Check out the link: http://museorigins.blogspot.com. Sorry for the inconvenience X_x

Adiya
Muse Origins (formerly The Corner Shop)

PPS More updates pweese :D

Those days, government schools were actually the best. But if you've got kids now just put them in a private school oh. Foundation surely matters, but i think a good secondary school can redeem you a bit (by the time your friends laugh at you you'll shape up lol)

thecornershopng

I love how you made me laugh while making a very valid point.
I find myself feeling sorry for people with grammar issues because for the most part, they didn't have control over their early education. Most of the time, they don't even know they are the being made fun of.What's options are open to them? 

Thanks for stopping by my blog

Gbemi

I know I sound old....and I am......but the standard of Education has really fallen *double sigh*
Unfortunately, people now write English as if they're texting or using Twitter.....Not a good look.As for schools, I believe secondary school has a greater impact on the individual.In my opinion, at primary school age, what is really important is the home/environment the child is growing in.At age 5-10, all a child needs is to know how to make friends + how to appreciate an inquisitive mind + how to read voraciously.

Naijamum in London.

Renny:

Yay! Glad to see you here again and glad you got to laugh! You know, I am beginning to think we are truly related (*the investigation begins....dramatic music playing*).  Seriously though, just like you I often have to wonder if people won't start scrutinizing my own work too, for perfection, but hey...I can live with that!

Yes, secondary school is also very important and you're right about not realizing the impact of primary school.  My primary school (which I have not seen for years) might very well be in the same state as yours...No thanks to our poor maintenance culture.

LOL @ blaming it on the government.

And you're right o..."GOLD" might kuku be a spelling error....Sheesh! I didnt think of that!

Relentless! Great post, it made me LOL literally! I think we must be related somehow because seriously one thing I cannot stand is spelling/grammatical errors! (I must be careful what I say before people start scrutinising my writing though!)

 For me, secondary school had the biggest impact on me education-wise but then again I was probably too young in primary school to realise the impact it was having. It's a shame most of the best schools in Nigeria today are private; I went back to my primary school (Federal, used to be one of the best) recently and I could've wept at the state of it! I will join the bandwagon and blame the government! :)

Lastly, I think the musician should change his name to 'God help Owen' because that's what I keep reading it as! (you never know it could be a spelling error that was only noticed a little too late! :D)

LDP:

LOL! Glad you got a laugh out of it (and thanks for the compliments too!)

I pity your students...I mean, the ones who make the mistake of writing that jagbajantis for you to mark, since na "O" for "Odo" dem go get.

Can you imagine? So they send you too those Facebook messages (*smh*). I guess no one is safe from them then! LOL! I am surprised o...From what you said though, it seems like they send these messages based on the profile picture (which makes it even worse). Maybe I should replace mine with a question mark! I want to see how they will "toast" a question mark! LOL!

As for the song, that's okay. Hopefully, you'll get a chance to listen to it later.

Thanks for stopping by!

I am still wondering who is the funniest between you, Sis Yemmie and Original Mgbeke. lol. You guys always crack me up. Yes o... I've received text messages and emails like and felt like I should punch the person. Sincerely, if any of my students write like that for me ehn, I won't be lenient in my marking at all.. FAIL straight! lol

I do get msgs frm those broses whenever I change my facebook profile to my fiance's. And I wonder, didn't they read the info that says I'm of the male specie? lol

PS: cldnt listen to the song as I'm in the office...

- LDP

Titi's Passion:

Laughter doeth good like medicine, so it's always good to laugh :-)

Thanks for stopping by, too!

@ilola:
Yes, in the early stages of secondary school, it can still be corrected, but I think it takes a bit more work as you progress sha.

Thanks for visiting!

Lohi:

I am glad you liked the song (It helps me switch to "reflective" mode sometimes)

Thanks for stopping by! Stop by often :-)

LOL, hilarious post, very well said its truly all about the foundation. Thanks for stopping by my blog:)

Lol, I think it can still be corrected a little bit in the early stages of secondary school. You have a great poiny

haha i liked this! I song is cool too! thanks for coming by my spot! 

LohiO

Hi! PS. I've changed my blog url! I decided to keep the blog on Blogger after all. Check out the link: http://museorigins.blogspot.com. Sorry for the inconvenience X_x

Adiya
Muse Origins (formerly The Corner Shop)

PPS More updates pweese :D

totally agree on the observations made so there will be no punctuation here to make my point. but i draw the line at wrong tenses and spelling mistakes sha

Adura Ojo (Naijalines)

Adura Ojo:

LOL @ your comment.  I had to wonder if you did not deliberately write in lowercase letters seeing that I mentioned it in my post (wide grin and mischevious twinkle)....LOL! Thanks for stopping by!

Adiya:

Thanks for reminding me to update! I finally did (Yay!) And thanks for letting me know about the new address.  I will visit ASAP!

P.S. I am glad you decided to stay with blogger after all.

Adiya:

Yes o, you're very right.  "Those days"....I am not too sure of "nowadays" though.  It seems that most folks are bent on sending their kids to private schools, and that says something about the standard of education at the government schools. I also wonder about affordability....

LOL @ "shaping up" after friends laugh at you....It's true sha, but some people are more inclined to shape up than others, so I don't think it works for everyone.  Thanks for stopping by!

Gbemi:

I am glad you got to laugh and got the message at the same time! Like you, I also feel sorry for those who have issues with grammar because like you rightly pointed out, it really was not in their power to decide on the quality on their education.  As far as the options open to them, I think (for those who are interested), they can get private help (as per private lessons) ... Apart from that, ah....I don't know o! Thanks for stopping by!

Naijamum in London:

LOL @ sounding old...That's okay.  Your comments are welcome regardless (thanks for sharing, by the way).

It's amazing that when I was in school, we used to say the same thing, i.e. the standard has fallen, and now years later, it is still true (unfortunately).

So secondary school has a greater impact? That's an interesting perspective especially since, like you said, kids of primary school age have other things they need to focus on.  But the thing is that if a child does not get the right quality of education at the primary school level, the same factors that led to that, are still likely to lead to the same poor quality of education at the secondary school level.  From what you said though, if a child has an inquisitive mind and learns to read passionately at an early age, that can also be carried onto secondary school years (and later).... Quite interesting.

ROFLMAO...I LOVE YOU ALREADY. Can you tell from capitalization that it is serious love? lol. On a serious note, I agree with you to some level, A foundation is formed in the early years. However, if a conscious effort is made, I am sure it can get better.

I thought aboutyour agbalumo comment on Ogecha's post and I am lol again. Excuse me!

Awwww! It feels good to be loved *does a quick happy dance and spins around*

#NowDizzy ....

You know I didn't think that serious love was behind the capitalization. You've helped me see this in a new light ... LOL! From the other comments and yours, I guess I have to reluctantly see reason and agree that it can change IF a serious effort is made.  It makes a lot of sense when you think of it that way.

LOL at the agbalumo comment.  Abi o! Or have you seen it in all your years of grocery shopping in this country? I think not! Just hairy fruits like Kiwis and the like *shivers*

Thanks by the way for correcting me on Ogecha's secondary school ... See me making assumptions *smh* 

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