Jay-Jay And His NECO Result

Comfort Obi

Let me admit that I missed the story when it was first published. But it was its follow-up published by the Complete Sports of Thursday, August 12, that drew my attention to it. Entitled Okocha Defends NECO Result!, it was promoted on the cover. And in case anybody was in doubt of which Okocha the story was referring to, it accompanied the promo with the photograph of former Nigerian international, and former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha.
I am an unadulterated admirer of Jay-Jay Okocha. He is incredibly gifted. A master of his game, he was beautiful to watch. His movements with the ball never ceased to amaze me. He was a delight on the field of play. In retirement, I have remained his admirer. I may not be comfortable with his bushy uncombed hair, which I find untidy. But if he finds it hip, and his beautiful wife is not complaining, then it is okay. Except that being a role model to thousands of youths and kids (you should see the kids in my house moping at him excitedly, and proclaiming: I want to be like Jay-Jay), he may have to watch his appearance.
All in all, however, Okocha is a great Nigerian. So, what is this alleged scandal about him and the National Examinations Council (NECO) result? Okocha, naturally, is interested in the administration of Football in Nigeria. Being a board member of the Nigeria Football Association is a big deal for him. And why not? Having played international football, having helped to put his country on the world map of football, having captained his country’s football team successfully, there seems to be no better place to aspire to than the NFF board. He is eminently qualified. But he forgot two things: Being a board member of the NFF spells money. It is almost as lucrative as politics. So, it has become dirty too.
I don’t know what qualifies one to be a member of the NFF. Somebody like Okocha doesn't need any other qualification other than the experiences he accumulated playing in Nigeria, and aboard. But apparently, in vying for a spot on the Board of the NFF, everybody was asked for his/her educational qualifications.
In Nigeria, most of the time, experience seems not to matter. Nigerians are fond of paper qualifications and titles. Which explains why all that has been bastardised. A stark illiterate, who either through legal or illegal means acquires money, is given an honorary doctorate degree by a Nigerian university, quickly prefixes his/her name with Dr. and/or Professor. I have a call card here which one man gave to me at the airport. It boasts of four prefixes to his name... Hon, Chief, Dr. Professor (name withheld by me). When recognised Nigerian cash-strapped universities don’t give them, they arrange with some fake ones which claim to have affiliates abroad. They receive such honorary degrees in hotels or church premises. Then, they start answering doctor. This also explains why degrees are worth nothing now. Those who cannot read to graduate, buy it from some dubious university lecturers and workers. Some others go to the notorious Oluwole market in Lagos to have theirs forged. Quite a number of those who truly went to the university cannot defend their degrees because they didn’t read for them. They paid some lecturers to mark them up!
Okocha did none of those. He presented what he had, or what he thought he had – a NECO certificate. But football administration in Nigeria has become a fertile ground to get rich quick. So, it has become dirty as I have earlier pointed out. And has also become a do-or-die affair. Some people looked at Okocha’s NECO certificate and smelt a whiff of scandal. How and where did this guy get this, they asked. “Jay-Jay has presented a fake NECO result,” they chorused. Okocha who has been talkative lately – he has severally accused Football administrators of corruption – rose in defence of his certificate. He was not shy. At 37, he says he has just started school. He explained that having conquered the football world, his next target is the academic world. Interpretation: NECO is just a stepping stone. This should be applauded. He riled at those who accused him of faking the result. His words: “Why are people raising eye-brow about my result. I sat for NECO last year because I want to forge ahead in my academic pursuit .... or is there anything wrong in one wanting to improve himself (sic) academically… Those who think that I have submitted a result that is not original can verify at NECO office. In fact, that is what should have been done instead of raising eye-brow.” Good explanation.
Except that Okocha still needs to clarify issues by answering some questions. For example: Okocha said he took the NECO examinations in 2009. Where was his centre? Where did he register? I mean, where did he sit for the exams? Who registered him? Who did he take the exams with? Who sat by, and with him? He must know one person with whom he took the exams. Did he disguise himself to take it? What was the reaction of his “exam-mates” when they saw him? Was there an uproar, I mean excitement? Were they star-struck? Who were his invigilators? And please, can any of them step forward to vouch for Okocha, to confirm that yes, he sat for the examination; I saw him in the exam hall, and was his invigilator? Can any of those who took it with him confirm? Soft-sell magazines have been lazy. How come none of them found out that Okocha took NECO exams in 2009!
But Okocha has thrown a challenge to those who are raising eyebrow. Go to NECO office and confirm my certificate, he says. I agree. But it is not that simple. In Nigeria, that is not a problem. The certificate would, of course, bear his name, even have his photograph embossed. But that proves nothing. I am not saying that the certificate is fake, or genuine. But given Okocha’s role model status, it is important to confirm. If he really sat down and wrote the exams himself, that should be celebrated. It would inspire so many people to go back to school. If it is fake, my God, Okocha should be prosecuted. And that also would teach the youths a lesson. No more, no less.