The vicious circle

 Chinedu graduated top of his class.

First-class in Electrical Engineering. NYSC in Abuja. He thought his life was finally about to start. Until he started applying for jobs. 50 applications. No response. Then he saw an opening at a major oil company. He was qualified. He applied. He didn’t even get shortlisted. But his classmate—who partied through school—got the job. His uncle is a senator. Frustrated, Chinedu started tutoring kids. ₦5k per student. One day, on his way home, a classmate zoomed past in a Benz. “Bro, this crypto thing changed my life,” the guy said. “No one cares about degree again. School na scam.” That was the first time Chinedu heard it. But it wasn’t just Chinedu. It was Halima—the pharmacy graduate selling perfumes. It was Emeka—the Mass Comm grad driving Bolt. It was Aisha—the best in her department, now ghostwriting for influencers. It spread like wildfire. A generation of Nigerians watched their degrees collect dust, while politicians’ children schooled abroad, came home, and got top jobs—no interview. That’s when “school na scam” stopped being a joke. It became a coping mechanism. But here’s the truth: School isn’t the scam. A system that crushes talent and rewards connections is. Education is still the key—but Nigeria lost the lock. So when they scream “school na scam,” don’t argue. Listen. Because behind every “school na scam” is a broken dream—and a country that didn’t keep its promises.

- Alex Onyia