When Will Our Leaders See? Education Is Nigeria’s Key Beyond Certificates

“Who will tell our leaders that companies and businesses hire people who can get the job done, not just those who can recite theories?

Who will explain that individuals and parents invest hard-earned money into education to produce confident, skilled graduates who can say, ‘I know what I studied, and I can apply it’?

Because right now I can’t understand why a certificate is no longer a golden ticket to practical, valuable knowledge.

Someone needs to tell our leaders: ‘Our educational system needs a complete overhaul, from 1980 to 2024, or 2022.’

The demands of the modern workforce are intense and growing crazier every day. What would it cost us to create a system that actually teaches what the world of work needs?

When I was in school studying Accounting, I thought I’d learn essential concepts like loans, mortgages, savings, investments, stocks, and business analysis — small but critical terminologies that shape our daily lives. But in my four years, none of these were covered.

I always wondered what happens in banks, how finances are managed, only to discover my degree’s curriculum didn’t include it.

Discovered only YouTube, social media mentors, and personal coaches — are the only resources that have the knowledge, not school.

I’ve switched to a design career that I love, and I’m fine with that. But deep down, I know I might have stay in the Accounting field if I’d learned those little terminologies and how they work.

But still, I’ve found another ineteresting path — Design, and is okay.

But we can do better.

What if we had a school system that prepares students for real workplace challenges? Imagine if I could spend the first two years of university gaining general industry knowledge, then choose a sector to specialize in and use the next two years mastering practical skills for that field.

With this I believe graduates would leave with something tangible to offer — skills to build solutions or start businesses.

What if student projects and research were mandatory, designed to meet real-world standards, presented as a professional organization would expect? Graduates would already understand how their industries operate before even stepping into a job.

I don’t think any country should be proud of producing millions of graduates each year with only theoretical knowledge, leaving 75% of them confused about what to do next — where to look, where to work, who can help them, or whether they should learn a trade — all because they’re unemployable.

Here in Nigeria, I see and hear this every day, and it breaks my heart to see more graduates that dont know where they belong.

We could have a system that delivers 75% employable, confident individuals ready to work or build their own businesses, equipped with experience gained from school that has prepared them well to start as a junior staff.

I saw a podcast interview with a teenager from the USA who explained how his secondary school emphasized practical research and projects. It worked like wildfire — those kids are out there now, creating solutions.

Teaching the right things — practical skills, research, projects, and personal discovery — is key to life.

We could do the same in Africa, especially Nigeria.

If our leaders could see our pain, recognize the potential in us, and build an education system that produces employable individuals other countries would want to hire, partner with, or do business with, we’d thrive.

Instead, of seeing us as hopeless or dreamless individuals, when really, we’re just helpless without the right tools and opportunities — which all boil down to education.

Right education for urban dwellers, right education for rural communities — we can make everyone great and let the lazy figure out where they fit.

I keep wondering when our leaders will prioritize our education system over trivial issues like banning bleaching creams, discussing gender who is boy or girl.

Want to know if we have the right education in this country? Ask your neighbour or friends what they can do with their National identity card (NIN), and see if there is anything else is needed for aside SIM card registration, and bank registration.

I sometimes wonder if is NIN store any information aside my transactions and account balance, who knows - maybe my school track records, health records, employment track records are included somewhere!

Above all, education is key, we deserve right to good education of our country, good education for work, good education for health care, good education to law, etc — because good education, and the right knowlegde is key to life!

A weak currency doesn’t suit a nation, and neither does a weak education structure. We can do so much better if we’re given the right education.”

This is a future we could have now, instead of waiting for future!!