THE ACADEMIC EMANCIPATION OF A PEOPLE THROUGH POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION: A STUDY OF ASIKA'S PIMPLES ON WRINKLES

Abstract

This study examines the academic emancipation of a people through polytechnic education, using Asika's Pimples on Wrinkles as a case study. The research explores how education, particularly polytechnic education, serves as a tool for intellectual liberation, skill acquisition, economic empowerment, and social transformation. The study is anchored on the premise that education is a fundamental instrument for national development and individual advancement. Through a critical textual analysis of the novel, the study investigates the author's portrayal of the challenges confronting educational development, including poverty, inadequate educational facilities, societal prejudice against technical education, and limited access to quality learning opportunities. The findings reveal that polytechnic education plays a significant role in empowering individuals with practical and entrepreneurial skills necessary for self-reliance and sustainable development. The study further shows that Asika presents education as a means of overcoming ignorance, unemployment, and social inequality, thereby fostering personal growth and community development. The novel highlights the transformative power of education in shaping responsible citizens and promoting socio-economic progress. It also underscores the need for greater societal recognition of technical and vocational education as an essential pathway to national advancement. The study concludes that academic emancipation can be effectively achieved through the promotion of polytechnic education, which equips learners with relevant competencies for the modern economy. It recommends increased government investment in polytechnic institutions, curriculum enhancement, improved infrastructure, and public enlightenment campaigns to improve the perception and effectiveness of polytechnic education. The study contributes to the existing literature on education and development by demonstrating the relevance of literary works in addressing contemporary educational challenges and advocating academic liberation through practical education.