In politics in Nigeria, to become the president of the nation, a candidate does not primarily need to go to the university. The minimum and major certificate required is the School Certificate, which is basically either a WAEC or NECO certificate or its equivalent.
As funny as this sounds, this has raised a lot of concerns over the necessity of education in Nigeria, since university certificates are not required to rule Nigeria. It has also exposed a part of the reasons why schooling and getting a certificate are becoming just a thing to "belong," with no beneficial target attached to them. So, in politics, one just needs to have political skills, and the person is good to go. The certificate is not necessary. At least, that's how it's done in Nigeria, because I doubt it's done like that in other developed countries.
This is also how it's applied to survival generally in Nigeria today. A certificate is not a guarantee for survival, but skills can bail a man out anywhere and anytime.
As it stands in Nigeria right now, while being educated and having a certificate to show for it at the end is good because it can make a person broader in their thinking, a person with a particular skill will easily survive the harsh realities of life before the person with a certificate will see a road to pass. I've understood this, my parents have understood this as well, and we've enforced the idea that the younger ones should acquire one or two skills even while they are in school.
I've been done with school for a while now, but what is feeding me today is not my certificate but a skill I learned and established myself in. I'm not saying being educated or having a certificate is bad, no. It has helped me a lot too, but what is currently sustaining me in my daily life is my skill.
But the boss of them all is CONNECTION. In my part of the world, being highly connected can beat down the importance of skills and certification. Mehn, a person who is highly connected can live well and even do better than people with certificates and skills. Lol.
Thanks for reading.
Photo: Chatgpt
