How are you faring in ‘Digitopia’?

By Dare Folarin

ONE major take-away from our interview with the HOD, Mass Communication Department of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Dr. Kola Adesina, on ‘Citizens Forum’ on Rockcity FMl, Abeokuta is the neologism ‘Digutopia’, a conflation of digital and utopia, propounded by the global scholar and proponent of a new education curriculum he dubbed MASHET, an acronym that represents M – Mathematics, A – Arts, S – Science, H- Humanities, E- Engineering and T – Technology. DIGITOPIA refers to the digital world occupied by digital natives who may be physically present with you in one location but several kilometers away with their friends abroad or in any part of the world. Kindly wait for more details from the forthcoming book being written by Dr. Adesina on MASHET. This is just a teaser

However, it is pretty obvious that we need to humanise STEM and STEAM, and MASHET seems to be the answer. The proposed curriculum puts humanity at the centre of everything. AI has even made this need more imperative because it has no emotions! Adesina said Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of projects are usually carried out before commencement and posits that Humanity Impact Assessments (HIA) of projects, courses and activities should be done before implementation.

At another level, the internet came with new possibilities but because the EIA of cyberspace was not done, humanity was not prepared for the challenges of fake news, cyber crimes and cyberbullying and other spin-offs from the technological breakthrough that has led to notions like the viral ‘Olodo Uprising’ mantra. This will be examined on the first Public Relations programme on Television, ‘Your Image,’ on OGTV, which I currently anchor.

‘Olodo Uprising’ should be a wake up call to society to re-consider the negative effect of the internet which, unfortunately, also seems to be rewarding and celebrating ignorance. “Olodo” is a Yoruba word for a dunce or dullard, and it seems those are the types of citizens trending and being celebrated as role models for our society now. It appears as though our society is now rewarding mediocrity and punishing excellence. In some parts, this has given rise to the the most audacious fallacy known as ‘School is Scam’, where young ones who are left on the margins of society without jobs and opportunities refer to education or the need to go to school as scam.

For instance, winners of reality shows that celebrate nudity, open sexual indulgences are rewarded with millions of naira while best graduating students get pittances or handshakes. Intellectual posts get single digit likes while inanities on tiktok, Instagram and its ilks get millions of likes and followership.

MASHET, according to Adesina, will correct some of these anomalies and lop-sidedness. Adesina said an ethical charter should be formulated to carry out the much-needed social re-engineering needed to re-orientate our society. He said MASHET will fill all the gaps just being discovered and define parameters like “who is a hero?” and deepen respect for the values of integrity, honesty and hard work. I really cannot wait to get my hands on the book! MASHET is the result of over 30 years of research conducted by Adesina, a veteran journalist who was the second black man to serve as News Editor for the legendary West Africa magazine.

Also from Ogun State, Adesina was head-hunted by the late eminent jurist and founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince Bola Ajibola, who brought him to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. He was the Media Officer for UNIDO when Professor Adebayo Williams handed him to Pa Ajibola, who had been on the look out for him.

Here is wishing our Dr. Kola Adesina Godspeed on the MASHET project!