Hundreds of Nigerian graduates have reportedly resorted to smearing charcoal on their faces during NYSC biometric capture, prompting widespread criticism from social media users.
General Oluchi, posting on her official X account on Monday, described the practice as “shocking” and a sign of a lack of critical thinking among graduates.
“I even saw a video of a supposed graduate crushing charcoal and applying it to her face without a second thought,” she wrote.
She added that the graduate could have paused to question why the camera wasn’t working instead of blindly following the action.
Credit: Legit news
General Oluchi argued that such a “backward and lazy mindset” is harmful and reflects the inadequacies of Nigeria’s educational system.
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“University education should not only prepare you for a career but also teach independent thinking, effective communication, critical reasoning, and how to apply knowledge to real-world situations,” she stated.
She further warned that the lack of critical thinking among graduates has broader political implications.
“From a political angle, there is no way Nigeria can produce effective leaders who lack critical thinking skills. You can already see the outcome in today’s governance,” she wrote.
Social media users echoed the criticism, describing the incident as symptomatic of systemic failure in both education and government processes.
KOLOMONEY commented, “Ah, my sister, this thing tire me honestly. Imagine graduates, people wey don pass through university using charcoal on their faces just because dem wan do biometrics. Nobody even pause small to ask, ‘why camera no dey work?’ Na so everybody just follow follow.”
Ijeoma Ekenechukwu (PhD) added, “If they don’t do it, they will be excluded. Nigeria is worrisome for normal people!”
OutLaw also mocked the situation, asking, “Is it a pinhole camera that they are using?”
Observers argue that the event exposes a deeper failure in Nigerian governance and societal mindset, highlighting the urgent need for reforms in education and public administration.
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