Education
Common errors in English Language you and your teacher don’t notice
The major effect of this mother tongue interference in the use of English that is tagged Nigerianism, in this context,is that it makes us Nigerians deviate from the Standard British English and makes most our sentences ungrammatical or even meaningless.
One of the aspects of Nigerianism in the use of English is REDUNDANCY.Redundancy is an unnecessary repetition in sentence constructions.
Some examples are:
Reverse back instead of reverse
Rise up for prayer instead of Rise for prayer
Raise up your hand instead of Raise your hand
Voice out instead of voice
The examples are obvious as the redundant words can be easily identified even by students in the secondary school level.
However,there are some other ones that are used for interactions and we do not often accept them as cases of redundancy.
I have heard QUACK DOCTOR even in Nigerian movies.
A quack is someone who pretends to be a doctor.The word “doctor” is redundant as quack can only be used to imply a fake doctor.
The expressions MEDICAL DOCTOR &MEDICAL CHECK-UP are both cases of redundancy as the word medical is redundant in the two phrases.
Check-up is a general medical examination that a doctor or a dentist gives someone to make sure the person is healthy.
Another aspect of redundancy is GET UP.People tend to say,
I got up very late from the bed.
Get up means to get out of the bed after sleeping.It is obvious that saying,
I got up at 7am,refers to the bed.
It is just like telling someone this,
You frowned your face yesterday.
We all know that only the face can be frowned in the body.
Say,
You frowned yesterday.
What about this?
I waved my hand to the soldiers.
Wave means to raise one’s arm and move one’s hand from side to side in order to make someone notice one.
The appropriate expression should be:
I waved to the soldiers
Other aspects of redundancy will be revisited in the subsequent editions.
Another interesting aspect of Nigerianism occurs in meaning.There are lots of deviations from the original meanings of some words due to our usages in Nigeria.
We shall examine the following words:
Gist
Go slow
Buckle up
Catwalk
Gist is often used as a verb in expressions like
We gisted yesterday
We are gisting
We want to gist
Let’s gist
The four examples are grammatically incorrect.There are no expressions as GISTED, GISTING&TO GIST.
The word GIST only exists,for now,as a NOUN.
Gist,usually written as THE GIST,is the main idea and meaning of what someone has said or written.
You can say,
“Don’t worry about the details as long as you get the gist of it.
Also,you can say,
The gist of his argument is trustworthiness.
Another that has been given another meaning is GO -SLOW.
Go-slow is used today in relation to traffic.
Go-slow,however,is a protest against an employer in which the workers work as slowly as possible.
This means that go-slow occurs when there is a slowdown.It has nothing to do with TRAFFIC.
Traffic jam or hold up is the appropriate word.
Buckle up is often used to tell someone to be more serious.
A student can be told
You have to buckle up so as to do well in your examination.
Buckle up means to fasten your seat belt in a car,aircraft etc.
To tell someone to work harder,use the expression
Buckle down or Buck up
Catwalk is another word that is affected by Nigerianism.
You must have heard these:
Stop catwalking
She catwalked throughout yesterday.
The two sentences are incorrect.Do you know that catwalk is not a style of walk?
Catwalk is a long raised structure that MODELS walk along in a fashion show.
You can say,
The models walk majestically on the catwalk.
Apart from the words that have been given another meaning,do you know also that there are some expressions that are used today but do not exist in the Standard British English?
The following expressions are examples
Complimentary card
Sufferness
Quit notice
Deep freezer
Iced block
There is no such name as complimentary card. The appropriate word is BUSINESS CARD.
Sufferness is also common.Although it is peculiar to the low level users of the language.The appropriate word is SUFFERING.
Quit notice, if interpreted on the surface,implies quit the notice.
The appropriate word to use notice to quit.
Say,
The landlord issued a notice to quit the house.
Don’t say,
Deep freezer.
This name does not exist in English.The appropriate word is DEEP FREEZE/FREEZER.
The next expression is known nationwide.You might have seen this:
ICED BLOCK SOLD HERE.
Hmmmmmm.When we say “iced water”,it means that the water is iced.
For iced block,the block is never iced.
The appropriate expression is,
BLOCK OF ICE
you are respected when you speak and write well.Develop your use of English as it adds values to your various professions.
Moshood Abimbola Alabi
Stylisticians English Language School
14,Iwaya Road,Yaba,Lagos.
Tel:08033336265,08085044111
Education
From Rejection to Record-Breaker: LASU’s Best Graduating Student Thought She Had Failed in Life
From Rejection to Record-Breaker: LASU’s Best Graduating Student Thought She Had Failed in Life
In an inspiring twist of fate, Miss Isioma Nwosu, who once believed she had failed in life after missing out on her dream course, emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student of Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2023/2024 academic session with an astounding CGPA of 4.93.
Nwosu, a graduate of Biochemistry, captivated the audience with her moving valedictory speech at LASU’s 28th Convocation Ceremony, held at the university’s main campus in Ojo.
“I thought I had failed in life,” she confessed, recounting the heartbreak of not gaining admission to study Medicine and Surgery—her lifelong ambition.
After finishing secondary school as her set’s valedictorian in 2019, Nwosu faced a major blow: she scored just two points below the cut-off mark to study Medicine at the University of Ibadan. The setback forced her to retake UTME, a decision she said left her humiliated and defeated.
“A valedictorian writing UTME again? It was a bitter pill to swallow,” she recalled.
When she eventually reapplied to study Medicine and Surgery—this time at LASU—fate again dealt her a curveball. She was offered Biochemistry, a course she admitted she had “never heard of” until that moment.
“My heart broke a second time. I couldn’t embrace the course at first,” she said.
But through perseverance, and the encouragement of her lecturers and friends, Isioma not only embraced Biochemistry—she excelled beyond all expectations, finishing top of a graduating class of 11,917 students.
“Dreams Can Be Delayed, Not Denied”
In a stirring message to fellow graduates and aspiring students, Nwosu urged young people not to abandon their dreams in the face of rejection or redirection.
“Never be afraid of having big dreams. Your dreams are the seeds of greatness. You are resilient, capable, and prepared for the future,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of surrounding oneself with “friends of value, vision, and ambition.”
VC Urges Graduates to Shape Their Legacy
In her address, LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, praised the class of 2023/2024, reminding them that they hold the pen to write the next chapter of their lives.
“You’ve demonstrated excellence in both character and learning. Now use that knowledge to drive meaningful change,” she charged.
The university awarded diplomas, degrees, and certificates across various disciplines, celebrating not just academic success but stories of resilience and transformation—none more powerful than that of Isioma Nwosu, who turned disappointment into distinction.
Meet Eniola Olushola, the newest MSc sociologist from the University of Oye Ekiti
~By Oluwaseun Fabiyi
Eniola Olushola’s career journey demonstrates the impact of ongoing education and deliberate self-improvement in meeting the constantly changing requirements of the modern industry
Eniola has consistently proven his ability to deliver innovative solutions and drive impactful change through a unique blend of humanitarian expertise and executive leadership training
Eniola Olushola began his academic pursuits with a bachelor’s degree from a prestigious university in Nigeria and later earned a master’s degree in sociology from the Federal University of Oye, Ekiti, driven by a growing interest in sustainability and environmental stewardship
The accomplishment bolstered his expertise in addressing multifaceted humanitarian and environmental issues within industrial settings, firmly establishing him as a leading authority in his field of expertise
Eniola Olushola has demonstrated a consistent commitment to self-advancement, recognizing the essential function of leadership in navigating the complexities of today’s fast-paced business landscape and humanitarian issues, and has acquired the necessary expertise to effectively cater to the changing needs in Nigeria and Africa
Additionally, his outstanding leadership is unmatched and his contribution to society is significantly substantial to be overlooked
Eniola Olushola has emerged as a leader with a deep understanding of African resourcefulness needs and the ability to drive innovation, foster growth, and lead with purpose through his transformative experiences in a highly competitive global environment
Eniola Olushola’s relentless pursuit of education demonstrates his dedication to amplifying his positive influence on our society. Through ongoing upskilling, he has empowered himself to address evolving business needs with ease
His acumen in top-tier programs reflects his commitment to balancing academic rigor with practical leadership
Eniola Olushola has achieved something remarkable at the academy and really deserves big congratulations.
Oluwaseun Fabiyi a seasoned journalist writes from Lagos.
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