Ph.D. (In View): The Road to Recognition Without Achievement

Somewhere in this jungle of academic aspirations, we have turned “in view” into a permanent residence. You cannot just be “Mr. Okoro.” God forbid! You must be “Dr. Okoro (in view).” Even if the view is still in the far horizon, like the Mambilla Plateau seen from Wukari.

The road to the doctorate, which should be a lonely and rigorous journey of research and reflection, has turned into an expressway of certificates-for-sale. Somewhere in the crevices of our educational system, PhDs are being issued faster than sachet water. For the right price, you can get your “Doctorate in Leadership and Transformational Strategic Governance” from a mushroom university that doesn’t even have a functioning website.

“Congratulations to His Excellency, Dr. Chief Hon. (Ambassador Extraordinary) Senator Engineer Pastor Prince Alhaji Barrister (Ph.D., DBA, JP, OON) on your well-deserved appointment.” At this point, even angels in heaven are confused.

There’s a peculiar sickness that has gripped our dear Nigeria, one that doesn’t cause fever or headache but swells the ego faster than garri in hot water.

My brother and friend a full professors. (not in view), Chris Kwaja recently wrote in his Reflections—"Nigeria and the obsession with titles. What title is the Ph.D. in view?”

It was one of those posts that stab the conscience but tickle the ribs at the same time.

When I saw it, I called him—Chris, my brother in view—and we had an extensive conversation on how we got here.

We both laughed, sighed, and asked the same question: Who should we blame? The Mallam in view or the system that is viewing him?

Let’s not pretend—we are a title-loving people.

From “Honorable” to “Engineer,” “Chief,” “Alhaji,” “Evangelist,” and now, “Ph.D. (in view).”

Somewhere in this jungle of academic aspirations, we have turned “in view” into a permanent residence. In Nigeria, once you start your Ph.D., even if you haven’t finished your proposal, you have earned the social right to update your WhatsApp bio to “Dr. (in view).”

And woe betide you if you forget to add it in your next conference attendance tag; how else will people respect you? You cannot just be “Mr. Okoro.” God forbid! You must be “Dr. Okoro (in view).” Even if the view is still in the far horizon, like the Mambilla Plateau seen from Wukari.

Once upon a time, we went to school to learn. To read, to think, to expand our minds, to pursue knowledge for its own sake. Now, education is a fashion show. The Ph.D. gown has become an agbada for intellectual owambe.

Back in the day, we used to say, “He is a scholar.” Now, we say, “He has a Ph.D.” The difference? The scholar reads, the Ph.D. poses.

The road to the doctorate, which should be a lonely and rigorous journey of research and reflection, has become an expressway of certificates for sale. Somewhere in the crevices of our educational system, PhDs are being awarded at a rate faster than sachet water.

For the right price, you can get your “Doctorate in Leadership and Transformational Strategic Governance” from a mushroom university that doesn’t even have a functioning website.

It used to be cars, then houses, then foreign trips. Now it’s a Ph.D. And like all Nigerian status symbols, it’s not the substance that matters; it’s the show.

At weddings, people now introduce themselves like this:

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, permit me to recognize the presence of Dr. (in view) Mrs. Amina Bala Mohammed, who is currently rounding off her thesis on ‘The Impact of Instagram on Marital Fidelity in Gombe Metropolis.’”

We clap. We nod. We smile. We have normalized mediocrity dressed in regalia.

Meanwhile, some of the most intellectually stimulating people in the room may not even have a Master’s degree. But they don’t count because in our society, knowledge without a title is like soup without salt.

Let’s be honest, the problem didn’t start with the Ph.D. hunters. The system created them. Our institutions have replaced scholarship with certification. We worship paper, not ideas. We have built an economy of degrees instead of an ecology of learning.

We judge competence by the length of titles on letterheads. You can’t be appointed a consultant unless you have a Ph.D. Even if your field experience could fill ten libraries. We are quick to say, “We need qualified people,” when what we really mean is “We need titled people.”

It’s the same disease that makes a Nigerian pastor add “Dr.” before his name because his congregation will give more respect and more offerings if he is a doctor. It’s why political appointees get honorary doctorates the moment they assume office. And it’s why you’ll see billboards reading:

“Congratulations to His Excellency, Dr. Chief Hon. (Ambassador Extraordinary) Senator Engineer Pastor Prince Alhaji Barrister (Ph.D., DBA, JP, OON) on your well-deserved appointment.”

At this point, even angels in heaven are confused.

A friend once said the only thing longer than a Nigerian Ph.D. journey is the Lagos traffic. Both are full of bumps, frustration, and constant viewing without arriving. But unlike traffic, most people never get to the destination.

We all know someone who started a Ph.D. in 2010 and is still “in view.” If you ask, they’ll tell you, “I’m finalizing my chapter four.” Chapter four has now become the Bermuda Triangle of Nigerian academia—many enter, few return.

And those who finish sometimes emerge with these so shallow they couldn’t fill a teacup. Yet, we celebrate them with convocation ceremonies, hire them to teach others, and call them “Dr.” without blinking. The system claps, the Mallam bows, and mediocrity gets a standing ovation.

Somewhere between our obsession with titles and our neglect of substance, we lost the essence of scholarship. A real scholar is a servant of knowledge. He doubts, questions, argues, and refines ideas. But today, our so-called academics spend more time forming WhatsApp groups for the “PhD in View Scholars Association” than reading or researching.

The university, which should be a temple of ideas, has become a marketplace of CV-padding. Supervisors are overworked, underpaid, and sometimes underqualified. Universities are underfunded, libraries are understocked, and plagiarism is underpunished.

In this chaos, the “in-view” culture thrives.

So, back to my conversation with Chris. Who do we blame—the Mallam in view or the system that is viewing him?

The truth is, both are guilty.

We have created an ecosystem where you can’t be heard unless you prefix your name with “Dr.” So everyone rushes to get one, legit or otherwise. The irony? The more “Doctors” we produce, the sicker our intellectual health becomes.

“Wanting recognition without achieving the target,” I told Chris, “the Ph.D. is on the road.”

We laughed—but it was a bitter laughter. Because truly, that’s where many are: on the road, seeking applause for a race they haven’t finished.

In a saner clime, the title “Doctor” carries weight. It means years of disciplined inquiry, contribution to knowledge, and mastery of a field. You are a global citizen! In Nigeria, it often means you survived university bureaucracy, paid your dues (literally), and printed a thesis few will ever read.

Our Ph. D.s are on the road because we have turned learning into logistics. We move from one seminar to another, taking selfies with PowerPoint slides, quoting Paulo Freire without understanding him, and uploading certificates online as if they were badges of sainthood.

What we need is a cultural reset, a return to scholarship for its own sake. We must make it cool again to read, to think, and to question. To pursue the doctorate of thought, not just the doctorate of title.

Supervisors must demand rigour, universities must reward originality, and the government must fund research as a national priority, not a luxury. Above all, society must learn to respect knowledge—whether it comes with a title or not.

Until then, “Ph.D. (in view)” will remain our new national joke—an endless highway of ego, where everyone is viewing and no one is arriving.

So, to “Mallam in view,” I say:

May your view one day become clear.

May your thesis find coherence.

May your supervisors reply to your emails.

And may your defense be less terrifying than our economy.

But until then, my people, let us remember:

A true scholar does not need to shout “Dr.” before wisdom speaks.

"Ph.D. (In View): The Road to Recognition Without Achievement." The article critiques the culture of valuing the title over substance and original contribution to knowledge, highlighting systemic issues in universities and societal attitudes toward academic credentials. The author uses this to call for a cultural reset that respects genuine intellectual achievement rather than just the appearance of it.

The Prince of Wales School Celebrates 100 Years of Excellence

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The Prince of Wales School in Freetown, Sierra Leone, was inaugurated by the then Prince of Wales on April 6, 1925. This prestigious institution was the first government secondary school in Freetown and the first in Sierra Leone to emphasize the teaching of Science and Mathematics. It attracted students not only from Sierra Leone but also from other West African countries.

The Prince of Wales School's bold attempt to feature a Live Lion in its Centenary Thanksgiving Anniversary has been denied by the Sierra Leone Police citing public safety.

Theme: ‘The King of Academic Jungle’

Drawing inspiration from the school motto ‘Forward’ and the Lion Crest, the Class of 2003 formally approached the Sierra Leone Police with an extreme proposal to import a Cape Lion (Panthera Leo Melanochaita) from the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Their vision was to have the lion, accompanied by four professional lion tamers, participate in the parade from Kissy Road to Kingtom on April 6th, which marks the 100th anniversary.

The Sierra Leone Police weren’t ready for the jungle to move into the Streets of Freetown. In a letter dated 29th March, the Inspector General’s Office denied the request, citing public safety.

Rival schools and critics soon begin trolling 'The Move' with memes on social media.

P.O.W Lion don loose oh, unu keych am ooh😃😃😃

Regardless!

The jubilee celebration reminds us of the enduring bonds forged over 100 years of academic excellence.

“Series of Events ”

— Source

“Princewaleans and partners visiting the historic Bunce Island Slave Castle.”

— 8 April, 2025

“The Prince of Wales School Freetown, CENTENARY THANKSGIVING SERVICE 2025.”

— 6 April, 2025

Thanksgiving Service

Time: April 6, 2025, 1:00 PM Freetown Time Zone | 09:00 AM USA /Eastern (New York) /Maryland | 2:00 PM United Kingdom /BST (London)

Please click 'Join Thanksgiving Service’

Meeting ID: 897 7262 9180 | Passcode: 536992

The Prince of Wales Thanksgiving on Sunday, April 6, 2025. A cross-section of Prince Waleans at home and abroad

“Prince of Wales Muslim Service.”

— Source: Mosque

Princewalean Wives | Friends unique support

Thanksgiving Prep

FORWARD to POW

BuBu na de Dinner & Dance

Congratulations on the humorous perspective !

Congratulations on the humorous perspective of people 🤣

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POW Centenary Transition Walk

Model Junction to Prince of Wales, Kingtom. Re-enactment of the school move from Model School — FORWARD to POW!

Dinner & Dance — Celebrate 100 Years of Prince of Wales School

The Princewalean: 100 Years of Excellence

The official launch will be on 1 April 2025 on Amazon! A collection of essays and articles, primarily composed of reminiscences and mostly authored by alumni, celebrates the achievements of principals, teachers, and distinguished graduates in various disciplines and sports. These writings also highlight the school's contribution to the development of Sierra Leone and West Africa.

Tap HERE to Get Your Copy on Amazon.

School Athletics: Handing prizes to donors and athletes

Theo Edwards for YAME Digital

This page will be continuously updated—please refresh later for more information.

We in Sierra Leone Have Become Completely 'Tonto,' Transitioning Into a Far More Dangerous Realm of Drug Trafficking

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“The U.S. State Department has classified Sierra Leone as a drug transshipment country. According to reports from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Sierra Leone is used as a key transit hub for international drug trafficking, particularly for cocaine moved from South America and Asia to Europe, and to a lesser extent, the United States. The country faces significant challenges with drug trafficking and money laundering, compounded by pervasive corruption and weak law enforcement, making it a critical node in global drug transit routes.”

— Source

Sierra Leone's enduring struggles are rooted in a long and troubled history that stretches back centuries. From the oppressive grip of colonialism to the challenges of post-independence, leaders have continuously twisted the truth to advance their agendas. This betrayal has not only persisted but has become entrenched within the very institutions of the country. Each institution—political, judicial, or administrative—harbors its own set of moles that undermine the system.

2025 World Happiness Report Sierra Leone is 146 in 147 countries - see page 21 (we managed to best Afghanistan). How SAD!! https://t.co/1IgzpsDhly

No surprises. Politicians don't have solutions to the problems, and they don't want to admit what they and everyone else knows.

— Yame.space (@SpaceYame) March 21, 2025

These agents of deceit ensure that the truth is buried beneath layers of bureaucratic confusion, feeding the public a steady diet of misinformation.

We have gone totally ‘Tonto.’

Often referred to as the ‘Athens of Africa,’ Sierra Leone is a land rich in potential, boasting 44 minerals containing rare earth elements, arable land, fertile soil, predictable weather, and a rich cultural heritage. However, behind this impressive façade, the country's elites have inflicted significant damage on both the nation and its economy. As a result, we have completely lost our way.

Beautiful beyond description
But......alas racked with extreme poverty hunger pain heartache drug abuse corruption water shortages no electricity
#Salone pic.twitter.com/e02GwoQT2B

— NyamakoroSilla (@toubuya) April 8, 2025

Sixty-four years after our country's independence from the British on April 27, 1961, our country still struggles to find a path toward prosperity. While other African nations have made significant progress despite facing similar historical circumstances, we now find ourselves in an even more precarious situation.

Graduating instead to a much more dangerous territory of international drug trafficking.

‘The entanglement of political figures, security forces, and administrative officials with narcotics traffickers has not only facilitated the cartel’s operations but has also eroded public trust in democratic governance and jeopardized both national and international security.’

“We have completely gone ‘Tonto.’”

— Theo Edwards

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“SIERRA LEONE: COCAINE CARTELS AND THE RISE OF STATE CAPTURE”

— Source

Sierra Leone has come under renewed scrutiny as a key transit hub for international drug trafficking. A damning report by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs underscores the extent of the crisis, stating that "drug trafficking and money laundering remain prevalent, with the country being used as a transshipment point from South America and Asia to Europe, and, to a lesser extent, the United States." The report further highlights that corruption is a “pervasive problem in Sierra Leone that compromises citizen access to basic public services and institutions such as health, education, and the police. The criminal justice system is inefficient and backlogged.” ( Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs: Sierra Leone Summary - United States Department of State)

Escalating role in global drug trade

Sierra Leone has become a critical hub in international cocaine trafficking, with increasing seizures and arrests linked to the country. The World Drug Report 2023 identified eight African nations as emerging markets for the cocaine trade between 2019 and 2022. Among them, Sierra Leone stands out, with record drug seizures in 2021. —page160: WDR23_B3_CH8.pdf.

The country’s role in the global narcotics trade became even more evident when Belgian authorities traced the second-largest shipment of cocaine entering their ports to Sierra Leone, seizing six tons of the illicit substance in 2024. (Big Drop In Drug Seizures At Belgium Mega Port As Latam Busts Soar - Barron's)

Cocaine seizures

The increasing use of West African maritime routes by traffickers is exemplified by a significant drug interception in November 2022. The French Navy, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, intercepted a Brazilian tugboat 400 miles off the coast of Sierra Leone. The vessel, under surveillance since its departure from Brazil, was carrying over 4.6 tons of cocaine worth approximately €150 million (US$157.8 million). If distributed in the UK, authorities estimate the drugs could have generated more than £300 million (US$366.4 million) in criminal profits. (French Navy Seizes 4.6 Tons of Cocaine from Brazilian Tugboat | OCCRP)

(The French Navy)

Sierra Leone's link to the global cocaine trade has been further reinforced by multiple arrests involving traffickers with ties to the country

On January 9, 2025, Joy Gulmatico, a 29-year-old Filipina, was apprehended at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport attempting to smuggle 4.57 kg of cocaine worth PHP 24.2 million ($416,240). She had travelled from Sierra Leone via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Filipina traveler caught with P24-M cocaine at NAIA | Philippine News Agency)

On 17 January 2025, in Mumbai, India, authorities arrested Thoma Mendy, a 40-year-old Senegalese national, for smuggling 2.6 kg of cocaine valued at ₹26.62 crore ($3 million). Mendy admitted he had received the drugs at a hotel in Sierra Leone before embarking on his journey. (Mumbai: DRI Arrests 40-Year-Old Senegal National For Smuggling Cocaine Worth ₹26.62 Crore At CSMIA; Reveals Syndicate Ties)

On 8 February 2025, the authorities in Liberia seized a “shipment of 234 kg of cocaine at Bo Waterside, a key border crossing with Sierra Leone.” (Liberia’s Growing Drug Crisis: Weak Justice System Turning Nation into Traffickers’ Haven - FrontPageAfrica)

In May 2022, a major cocaine seizure occurred in Burkina Faso, where 115 kg of the drug was discovered in a vehicle that had originated in Sierra Leone before crossing through Guinea and Mali en route to Ghana. (See page 14: TOCTA_Sahel_drugs.pdf)

High-profile UK smuggling operation

One of the most striking cases implicating Sierra Leone in global drug trafficking occurred in June 2022. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) intercepted a Merseyside-based organized crime syndicate attempting to smuggle 1.3 tonnes of cocaine into the UK. The drugs, concealed within a shipment of garri flour from Freetown, had an estimated street value of £140 million. The operation, codenamed "Lemonlike," identified Darren Schofield, also known as "Thor," as the ringleader. Six members of the gang were sentenced to a combined 75 years in prison in December 2024. ( Drugs boss set up front company for Amazon and Argos goods to smuggle cocaine worth £140m - National Crime Agency) (Thor' and his gang smuggled £140m of cocaine into the UK from Sierra Leone - Liverpool Echo)

Diplomatic controversy

On or about January 17, 2025, no fewer than seven suitcases filled with cocaine were discovered in a Sierra Leone embassy vehicle in Guinea, raising diplomatic and legal questions about official complicity in drug smuggling operations. (Sierra Leone: Suitcases of suspected cocaine found in embassy vehicle - BBC News) | (YAME Digital)

State capture

The Africa Confidential Special Report, titled "President Bio Keeps Cocaine Lord in the Family," Sierra-Leone-Cocaine-Lord-Special-Report-1.pdf provides compelling evidence of state capture in Sierra Leone by narcotics traffickers. The report details how Jos Leijdekkers (also known as Chubby Jos, Mocro Mafia Boss, Bellos Jos, and Omar Sheriff), a convicted Dutch cocaine kingpin, has infiltrated the highest levels of Sierra Leone's political and security structures. (Mafia boss 'Chubby Jos' tracked down after pics gave away location but shock twist means cops can't touch him…for now | The US Sun) He has effectively infiltrated and commandeered state institutions to serve the interests of his criminal enterprise. (YAME Digital)

In 2008, Sierra Leone’s state apparatus cooperated to ensure that those who flew a plane-load of cocaine into the country were apprehended and handed over to the United States. However, this remains the only instance where cocaine traffickers have been arrested with the collaboration of the Sierra Leonean government. Since then, the landscape has drastically changed, with mounting evidence that state institutions are now complicit in the drug trade rather than combating it.

Various investigative reports have exposed the cartel's deep political ties in Sierra Leone. Notably, Africa Confidential reveals that Leijdekkers, also known as Omar Sheriff, has a personal connection to the presidency, as he is romantically involved with Agnes Bio, the daughter of President Julius Maada Bio. Agnes Bio holds a diplomatic position at Sierra Leone’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, a role that grants her diplomatic immunity. This raises concerns that the cartel may be using diplomatic privileges to facilitate its operations under official cover.

Reports from Africa Confidential and other international sources indicate that Leijdekkers and his cartel have infiltrated Sierra Leone’s security forces, securing logistical support and protection for their smuggling operations.

This suggests a deliberate subversion of security institutions, prioritizing the interests of the cartel over national security.

The issuance of official documents to cartel members is another strong indicator of state capture. Both past and present Chief Immigration Officers have been implicated in providing passports to cartel operatives, enabling their unrestricted international movement. This abuse of authority demonstrates the cartel’s ability to manipulate immigration systems for illicit purposes.

Evidence has emerged that the Queen Elizabeth II Quay, also known as Deep Water Quay, has been used as a hub for massive cocaine shipments to Europe. Despite multiple cocaine seizures abroad linked to shipments from Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Police have taken no action, further signaling state complicity.

Despite overwhelming evidence of state institutions being exploited by the cartel, there have been no prosecutions. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which is empowered to initiate legal proceedings, has remained silent and inactive, suggesting either intimidation or collusion. The ACC’s failure to act reinforces the perception of a compromised justice system.

Money laundering and rapid asset accumulation by government officials have reached alarming levels. High-ranking officials, including the Chief Immigration Officer, have reportedly acquired multiple properties in the United States and elsewhere in quick succession. This sudden wealth accumulation abroad strongly indicates money laundering and illicit financial flows, further entrenching the cartel’s economic influence.

Conclusion

These indicators paint a clear picture of a criminal organization that has effectively captured state mechanisms, bending them to its will and undermining the rule of law. The entanglement of political figures, security forces, and administrative officials with narcotics traffickers has not only facilitated the cartel’s operations but has also eroded public trust in democratic governance and jeopardized both national and international security. Addressing this crisis requires urgent, coordinated action at both domestic and global levels to dismantle the cartel’s grip on state institutions and restore institutional integrity, justice, and accountability.

Abdoul Mahdieu Savage | Contact: Renewal News Network Limited | Send Email

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KARACHI: March 23, 2025: Pakistani authorities have intercepted an attempt to smuggle 5.6 million Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets, valued at Rs2.8 billion (US$10 million), disguised as a towel export to Sierra Leone.

The case follows a similar seizure last month, where 21.8 million Tramadol tablets and 7,000 capsules worth Rs10 billion were confiscated.

“Nations Committed to Security Stand Against Drug Trafficking!”

— Watch the Video

They go to great lengths to smuggle the drugs, only to be outsmarted by customs agents. Anyone considering the risks of drug dealing across borders should learn from this.

Visa Restriction Policy on Undermining the Democratic Process in Sierra Leone

Statement by Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken

August 31, 2023

The United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Sierra Leone and around the world.  Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for undermining the democratic process in the June 2023 Sierra Leone election.

The visa restriction policy announced today will apply to specific individuals and is not directed at the Sierra Leonean people.  

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98.1 Radio Democracy Journalist Musa Kamara Receives Threat Over Interview With US Ambassador

“I have been dramatic in the last 24 hours since that my interview with the outgoing US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Reimer.”

— 98.1 Radio Democracy Journalist Musa Kamara

US Government Rejects Election Outcome in Sierra Leone as Mayor Aki Sawyerr Discloses Rigged Results

The US government published this statement: “The United States continues to be concerned about irregularities in the election results announced by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL). Independent parallel vote tabulations and analyses by accredited national and international observation missions raise questions about the integrity of the official results.