THE NIGERIAN TITLE

Most Nigerians, regardless of tribe, religion or ethnicity are immune to the "Title syndrome." These titles ranges from traditional titles to academic titles such as Doctosr, Professors etc, to religious titles such as Hajiya, Alhaji, JP (Jerusalem Pilgrimage), Sir and Lady. In shut, an average successful man in Nigeria is expected to have a Title either as a prefix or suffix. The crave has gotten so bad to the extent that most people, especially the rich ones, pay handsomely to any University willing to confer an honorary PhD to them, just so they can add the title Dr. to their names. Some others also pay to be conferred with a chieftaincy title. Some people even make money from these title holders, especially the traditional title holders, as they greet them with encomiums when they see them, just to get 'tips'. These 'tip collectors' defend their "tip giver's" title in his presence or absence just to keep the tips flowing.



After all the struggle(hustling), for a person from a poor family to make it large, or continue in the footsteps of your rich parents to keep the family name and pedigree going, little wonder why most rich parents stipulate a particular field such as engineering, law, medicine for their little children who are clueless at that stage of life; to ensure that the conventional mister or miss at least must come before the name.

In a Kingless society you will find many Prince and Princess both rich and poor all in the struggle to make the name spicy and give a defined look to that person through the title, the trending title presently is the “DAME” which is an effeminate title that is basically traditional but originated from a Latin- French region don’t search far because that is our first lady’s title which is of a truth befitting.

A Nigerian title is necessary for these reasons:

* Imagine that after all your years of studying, achieving academic excellence in various courses and attaining educational knowledge to its peak, which obviously is a doctoral degree, or being called to bar and ending up as a lawyer and by God’s grace a SAN or a judge, or as a doctor or any other prestigious profession; and you are called upon to the high table at an event or an occasion without a title added before or after your name, it would certainly reduce your dignity to a regular event attendee, it will show those clapping for you as you take your seat that you have not gone far in life and it is probably through the mercy of God that you were invited; because in this present time, for you to be invited to some events you have to be a title holder. A singular title to your name brings an immeasurable amount of honour to you and your name, Nigerians present would understand that you have had fruitful years and your intelligence rate is off the meters. Remember that the longer your title sounds the better for you as a business man.



*As a true son of the soil, after the hustle in the city, you benevolently construct a borehole for free water supply in your community to better the life of the under-privileged village inhabitants, and to show that you have the progress of your community at heart. It is paramount that the King and his cabinet members tender a request of bestowing upon you a title of either a red cap chief, a shugaban, or an Olori to appreciate your sense of concern in developing your village in your own way. The villagers will as well tender their respect to you by paving a clear way for your triumphant entry into all the nooks and crannies of the village, while you are taking that walk ensure to visit your borehole plant, converse with those you see there and promise to build more boreholes and erect more developmental structures within the year; as this will help the more to bring extra titles to you.



*Even a man who has spent most of his life driving a danfo bus or a taxi, who knows the name and road of every street deserves a title such as Baba O, Baba Agba or Baba Ijesha. These names will represent him appropriately in the bus stop and entice travellers to board his vehicle. If after driving for so many years and he gets to the age of retirement, he may even be conferred as the NURTW chairman to regulate road affairs in a particular district and to carry out activities like introduction of new agberos and drivers to the family, registration of new vehicles to the union’s register, conduct meetings for proper behaviour of drivers to agberos and vice versa.



* Alhaji and Hajiya are among the highest and most respected title in the northern Islamic environment. Although religious titles are automatic and not conferred, the money used by the Alhaji or Hajiya to travel to the holy land; Mecca, to and fro including the general expense requires a title; the money spent can amount to the six months salary of an office worker. Note that if any family member, friend, neighbour, or relation of yours is called an Alhaji, Alhaja or Hajiya without a proper visit to Mecca to step foot on the holy land, forget it!! That title is invalid. A visit to Mecca (as a muslim) or Jerusalem(as a Christian) authenticates you as a title holder religiously.`



The Nigerian titles are not to be joked with, as it is seen as a high rate of success.



Until next time, I remain, Alhaji Chief Dr Engr Revd Desmond Mary Uke Amama JP the alawaidiarabadi 1 of Kalabari, dum dum nyom nyom of efik, Onwa 3 of Enugu-Abakaliki, Atah 1 of Kogi and the Omo Aye 2 of Osun Osogbo.

Thank you.