Is Education Still the Key to Success in Nigeria?

This question “Is education still the key to success in Nigeria?” is sure to get people talking, and even arguing, as there’s no one answer. But is there a simpler one? And most importantly, does it solve the problem?

What is Education?

 Education is the attainment of knowledge, skills, and ideas mainly in a closed space, and through the guidance of a teacher. 

Education is believed to be the foundation of success as one needs to be educated to succeed in life, right?

But in Nigeria where various challenges are infecting the educational sector like:

• Lack of proper funding from the government,
• Scarcity of qualified teachers and lecturers,
• Policy inconsistencies and lack of program implementation for University lecturers,
• Incessant strikes,
• Inadequate training programs for teachers and lecturers, etc,

It’s no surprise if some citizens find it hard to believe that an educated Nigerian is a successful Nigerian. This is a result of the corruption in the educational system, which has led to the current high rate of unemployment in the country.

So is Education now a Scam?

According to an article published on The Nation Newspaper’s website, some Nigerians replied: 

“Education has brought a lot of intellectual development into society. Our leaders made it look like a scam. No plan for the young ones; no adequate data to know our exact population and how to plan. And the ultimate aim of every graduate is to get employed after being educated.
“It becomes a scam when a graduate begins to learn tailoring after spending years in the university or when a graduate opens a barber’s shop,” – Fajuyigbe Gideon

However, not all graduates view the act of learning skills (whether online skills or physical handwork) as a bad thing:

“We always think school gives you a job in a company. Those who established companies started from scratch. Innovation rules the world. The jobs are few, many are qualified for them, so few get them. We all think the government will provide jobs for us all. No, they can’t! Even China has more entrepreneurs than those in offices.” – Bamibogba, Accountant and Fashion designer.

Also, you should know

 And with the ongoing strike in the country, we also agree digital skill is important for Nigerian student. Here’s why.

Interestingly, even with the challenges, there are some Nigerians still yearning for education:

“I am not educated and it has affected me in a lot of areas of my life. My business is doing well but I know if I were educated, it will bloom more because I will add it to the knowledge I learned in school.

“All my children learned one skill or the other before going to higher institutions. I did it so that they could be self-employed and not live on salary for the rest of their lives. Education is not equivalent to wealth but they will be able to speak without others waving them aside in the future,” – Madam Bimpe Oyebade

“I do not honour my educated friends’ invitation to events because I do not want to be an outsider.  Although I am doing better than some of them, their education makes them stand out. I wish I had the opportunity to go to school but I have vowed to make sure my children go to school. Education is not a scam, ”- A middle-aged Butcher

What Education is:

• The foundation of success,
• Helps you gain personal control of your life,
• Enables you to take rational and wise decisions in life,
• Gives you the confidence to interact with people from all walks of life,
• Grants you an advantage in searching for jobs,
• Draws respect and trust from people around you,
• Opens your eyes to endless possibilities and innovations,
• Sharpens your financial intelligence, etc.

Conclusion

To you, dear youth, who thinks that one does not need the education to become successful. And when challenged, you reply with: Look at Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Dangote…

Know that each person’s path is different. Also, you should look at Doctor Ben Carson, Jeff Bezos (second richest man in the world, 2021), and Elon Musk (richest man in the world, 2021), these are educated individuals who became successful in their fields.

So you shouldn’t be deceived. Go to school and do your best. Also, keep your eyes open for skills you can take up. Your education does not stop you from learning new things, especially in this digital age. So don’t miss out on either opportunity. Be open to growth by having a growth mindset.

 Is education still the key to success in Nigeria? 

Yes, education is still a key to success. But no, it’s not the only key to success in Nigeria, and the world at large.

Did you find this article helpful? Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section. Good luck.