A Rag day as it is called in our tertiary institutions is a day during the students' week celebration when students dress in rags (tattered clothes) with wild paintings and makeover and go begging for arms in the society. Some derive fun in doing it, while others are driven by the little money it generates.
I even participated in my school days, but sometimes I these questions bothers me :- Does this practice befits a student or portray the core values of their training? What value does it add to them?
The training in tertiary institutions is meant to produce solution providers and innovative thinkers that will move the society forward in the part of development. This is contrary to the practice of begging for arms. Why not the students earn money through rendering valuable services using the acquired knowledge, than resulting to begging with tattered clothes.
Our society has had enough beggars, who flood the city daily. It is even true that some who can be engaged in useful ventures pretend to be handicapped just to gain sympathy and receive arms. What a deception! Some states have tried to stop Street begging, by transferring some back to their state of origin. Why then should our noble students join this bandwagon of street beggars. This is like adding to the problem at hand.
It is worthy of note that this practice has exposed some to road accident, rape, ritual killers and other abuse. What do they get in return, few naira notes squized into their begging can. In fact, it does not worth the risk.
This practice does not encourage self independence. Our country has not been able to depend on herself but import almost everything even toothpick. What a pity! This is the same spirit of begging. Our students should be trained on how to be self reliance. The school authority should design better programs in place of rag day. Let us work together as we journey towards national development and real independence.
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