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Is Harvard Discriminating Against Africans?

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By Eric Elezuo

One of America’s revered and highbrow institutions of higher learning, Harvard Business School, has always been known for its high standard, discipline, competence, and above all fairness. As a result, scholars and would-be scholars, have found in it a haven, capable of meeting all their academic needs and more.

The oldest institution of higher education in the United States of America, and established in 1636, September 8, to be precise, Harvard has lived up to its billing, producing high flying entrepreneurs, industrialists, inventors, great thinkers, political leaders among a great deal of other achievers. Harvard’s academic programmes have cut across board, accommodating all and sundry without discrimination, or that was the case before the presently ravaging Coronavirus pandemic set in.

From the look of things, it appears that the much celebrated and cherished fairness associated with the great institution is gradually fading as its stand on Africans desiring to procure post COVID-19 online studies has become suspicious, and putting to question its years of championing academic excellence globally.

The institution has made a turnaround to charge African students a whopping sum of $999, for online courses which are hitherto free of charge.

Yes, the entrepreneurship course takes an interdisciplinary approach to building scalable businesses to suit Africa, as it is noted to have complex and unique business opportunities. However, the stand to charge close to a thousand dollars for a programme that use to be absolutely free is beyond comprehension. And the fact that it targets only Africans gives it no other name than discriminatory.

It is on record that diverse organisations, including institutions, are doing as much as possible to see how individuals can be reintegrated into the society and the economy, by waving certain services and reducing cost. In the same vein, Harvard’s course will lose next to nothing if it remains as free as it has always been.

Without mincing words, this is a period where palliatives have become the order of day, especially to the continent of Africa, whose countries have been touted as third world or either developing or undeveloped. It is therefore, a crime against humanity if the recovering Africans should be singled out and charged about a thousand dollars for something that was absolutely free initially.

The management of Harvard must understand that this is a season of palliatives, and rescind its decision to levy such huge amount on hapless African scholars.

Scheduled to kick off on August 17, 2020, Harvard Business School professors have concluded plans to launch a new online course to teach entrepreneurs how to build scalable businesses designed to solve core problems in Africa.

They informed that unlike other business courses, the aforementioned is programmed to focus on identifying points of opportunity for smart entrepreneurial efforts through live online lectures, peer-to-peer learning, and real-life lessons incorporated into participants’ own business plan.

The six weeks course, which will be anchored by Harvard Business School Professors, Tarun Khanna, Caroline Elkins and Karim Lakhani, will teach participants how Africa-specific trends impact the opportunities and challenges in undertaking entrepreneurship ventures on the continent.

It will further examine the nuances that render Africa unique in today’s emerging market landscape, and the similarities that can be drawn from the world’s other fast-moving emerging economies, using  a series of time-tested lecture content and active reading assignments.

Each week participants engage with course content and readings, and the week ends with a live webinar section that includes HBS faculty and leaders from the African business community. In addition, each participant has the option to participate in the course’s week-by-week business plan development process. Business plan development will culminate with such participants having an opportunity to submit a business plan.

A verified certificate from HarvardX, Harvard University’s online learning platform will be awarded successful participants.

The lofty ideas associated with the course are no different from the known standard of the great institution, but charging Africans a whopping amount of $1000 at a time they should be giving palliatives, speaks of high level discrimination, and necessitates the question, is Harvard discriminating against Africans?

Harvard’s intentions at discrimination becomes more suspicious when it is considered that it was President Derek Bok of Harvard, who in 1970 searched for, and found a great African historian, Professor Kenneth Dike, and brought him to Harvard to teach African history.

But 50 years after, the same Harvard University is unable to find an African to teach an online course on entrepreneurship in Africa. But Harvard, in the middle of an anti-racist campaign, assembles one white American and two Indian Americans to teach this course on Africa. How ridiculous! As brilliant as the professors are, it is highly unlikely that they possess much knowledge and experience to better a native African. Even the great management consultants, Mckinseys, found Africans to advise Africans on how to scale businesses in Africa.

Harvard has been in the habit of using so called Africa experts who know little on Africa to teach young Africans. This is wrong!

For Harvard to launch a course on entrepreneurship that was hitherto free, and try selling it to young Africans for 999 dollars at this time, does not reflect the values expected of them. Harvard must understand that if 999 dollars mean nothing to an American, it means a lot to a young African seeking to stay safe and socially distance in the midst of a collapsing economy.

TIME IS NOW FOR HARVARD TO REVERSE THE POLICY, AND RETURN AFRICANS TO FREE MODE FOR THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE BEST TIME FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DISCRIMINATORY FEE.

References:

https://www.edx.org/course/africalive-entrepreneurship-in-emerging-economies

https://m.guardian.ng/apo-press-releases/new-online-course-from-harvard-teaches-africans-how-to-build-scalable-businesses-to-solve-african-problems/

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KFC Reacts As FAAN Shuts Down Its Operations in Lagos Airport

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The Management of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has reacted to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)’s move to shut down its branch at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, for violating laws protecting the rights of people with special needs.

The action was confirmed through a statement released on Thursday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah.

The official statement, titled ‘FAAN shuts down KFC outlet at MMIA,’ highlighted that the closure was in response to the outlet’s breach of the Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, specifically referencing Part C, Section 55 of the General Provisions on Discrimination.

Responding to the development, KFC posted on its official X account that it opposes bias and discrimination, stressing that the incident did not reflect its standards.

The organisation disclosed that it had embarked on efforts to address the situation and urgently implemented sensitivity training for all its employees.

The statement read, “KFC is unwavering in our stance against bias or discrimination in any form, with inclusivity and respect as non-negotiable pillars of our values.

“However, this recent incident has underscored the pressing need for immediate action. We have embarked on efforts to address the situation and extend apologies and deeply regret the frustration and distress experienced by our guest.

“In response, we are urgently implementing sensitivity training for all our employees. This incident is not reflective of our standards, and we will act swiftly to rectify it.

“We are actively exploring solutions to equip our team members and establishments better to ensure that every guest feels genuinely welcomed and that we deliver empathetic customer service that proactively addresses the diverse needs of each guest.”

KFC had during the week, denied Adebola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, access to their facility at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport  because of his disability.

Daniel had recounted his experience at the KFC outlet of the airport in a series of tweets posted on Wednesday via his X handle, @DebolaDaniel.

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Ezekiel Bolarinwa Ajayi: Mentor, Philanthropist Revels at 80

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By Eric Elezuo

The ancient town of Ile-Ife was agog weekend, when Professor Ezekiel Bolarinwa Oladele Ajayi, a renowned educationist, accomplished mentor and elder brother of veteran journalist, Dele Momodu, pulled all the stops to mark a resounding entry into the octogenarian club, celebrating his 80th birthday with fanfare, pomp and class.

The event, which attracted family members, colleagues in the academic world, friends and well wishers, was another testament in the expression of influence, clout and connection.

Held at the Rock Rehoboth Cathedral in the centre of Ile-Ife, the event brought out the best in the Stanford trained PHD holder, as beamed with contagious smiles, absorbing accolades from a crowd of well wishers and dignitaries, most of whom traveled half  way across the world to felicitate with the newest octogenarian.

A lavished reception followed after heartfelt prayers were said for the celebrant flanked by his wife of many years, children and grandchildren. The reception witnessed guests savoring the best of continental and local delicacies as well as dancing happily to the old school tunes.

The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the gigantic cake by the birthday boy around whom were dotting family members.

As guests expressed their profound, hearty and sincere congratulations towards the octogenarian, whose event changed the landscape of Ife, many recalled how they have come a long way from their very humble beginning in Gbongan Olufi.

Fondly called Ladele, Prof Ajayi was born on March 23, 1944 in Gbongan, Osun State, where he had his earliest beginnings.

He statted his education at the Saint Paul’s School Gbongan, before moving on to Saint Judes School, Ebute Metta, and later to Saint Stephens School, Ile-Ife, where he completed his primary education.

After his elementary education, he was admitted into the Government College lbadan, where he was described as having  ‘passed out in exceedingly bright colours’. As many that knows him has confirmed that Prof Ajayi was a walking encyclopedia, and vibrated with intelligence while at school.

It was not therefore, surprising that he later proceeded to the United States of America, after his secondary education, where he attended various prestigious Universities including Stanford University. It is worthy of note that all his appearances for university education were on different scholarships. It was also at Stanford that he bagged his PhD honours.

On the completion of his PhD programme in Stanford, Prof Ajayi was recruited by the University of Ife, as it was then known, before its transmutation to Obafemi Awolowo University, where he later became a Professor of Physics, a position he jealousy guarded until retirement from active classroom duties.

According to a very close family member and confidant, Bola Adeyemo, who spoke glowingly about their fond relationship, Prof Ajayi “also became active in things of God. Like a proverbial gold fish, he has been recognized as a Pastor. Ladele played a mentoring role in the final years of school for my twin daughters who both graduated from the medicine program in the same University.

“The mutual fondness between Ladele and I remains very much intact. Ladele and l share common ancestry. His father who was the Otun Olufi of Gɓongan was a much older cousin to my mother and was fondly referred to as baba mi ile ASORO. They both had the same tribal marks. Ladele can be classified as belonging to the royal class as his father was the OTUN OLUFI while his mother was the daughter of the ÒOSA, first class chief in Gbongan.”

A life of Prof Ajayi without a mention of prolific publisher of the Ovation brands,  Chief Momodu, remains incomplete. It is worthy of note that apart from both sharing the same mum as siblings, the Prof was instrumental in shaping and mentally mentoring Momodu on the path of education. His 80th birthday was a reminder of how it used to be in times past as it marks a form of reunion for the Ajayi extended household.

Among those who attended were his daughter, Kemi Ajayi-Ingram, who flew in all the way from the United States of America, with her entire family; his niece, Yejide Ajayi among a host of others.

We wish the ebullient octogenarian a splendid birthday, and many ore years of splendid celebrations.

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Easter, Ramadan: Adeleke Releases March Salaries, Pension, Palliatives, Approves Promotion for Personnel

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the release of salaries, pensions and palliatives for the month of March for all public servants in the state, as well as approved the promotion of service personnel due for promotion from 2023.

Adeleke’s show of love for the entire workforce, is in spite of the fact that the State allocation from the Federation account is yet to be released, according to a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.

The Head of Service, Mr Samuel Ayanleye Aina confirmed the approval of the March salaries, pension and palliatives, noting that the fast tracked approval covered all categories of state and local government employees including tertiary institutions in the State.

“I can confirm that Mr Governor has approved the March salaries, pension and palliative wage awards, including the usual payment of the outstanding half salary for retirees under the contributory pension scheme yet to obtain their bonds. Mr Governor requested for the file and granted immediate approval.

“Any moment from now, alerts will be landing in our peoples’ accounts. This is a preemptive step on the part of Mr Governor to meet the needs of our people”, the Head of Service explained.

Governor Adeleke who has been hosting inter faith leaders at the Government House said he approved the early payment to ease the burden of the workers ahead of the Easter period.

“As I wish muslim and christian faithfuls blessed fasting season, the early payment is a gesture of support for workers whose welfare remains the number one priority of our administration”, the Governor noted.

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