A group of students became delusional as they reviewed trending music artists and business men who they have accessed to be successful because of the intimidating structures they build and the flashy cars they drive, who had their breakthrough without so much academic prowess. To these students, ‘school is scam.’ Quotes like “who school epp?” “Going to school does not guarantee prosperity,” have become the mantra of such people.
This school of thought may have formed their opinion based on the prevailing high rate of unemployment in the country. People go to school, and even bag different degrees at different levels and stay a long time without securing their desired jobs. The truth is that knowledge is power and no matter what the trend is, getting education is very important to our overall development. If you still think that school is scam, then you have to snap out of it as we take a short journey and cast a glimpse into the lives of some selected world’s best.
Aliko Dangote, the great business mogul started his education in Sheikh Ali Kumasi Madrasa, he thereafter moved on to Capital High School, Kano. In 1978, he graduated from the Government College, Birnin Kudu. He received a bachelor’s degree in business studies and administration from Al-Azhar University, Cairo. Very few people will not want to be associated with Dangote’s success story as a business man.
It is also true that some of the world’s greatest inventors are people who did not attain the highest peak of education. However, they attained some levels of education that they could contain. We have one of the best ICT ‘gurus’. Mr. Bill Gates. Although, he is not a professor but he became a National Merit Scholar when he graduated from Lakeside School in 1973. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) and enrolled at Harvard College in the autumn of 1973. He chose a pre-law major but took mathematics and graduate level computer science course. Although he dropped out of the College, he already has an educational background. He is among the 5 richest people in the world.
Another man who is on the top of the chart of the world richest is Jeffery Preston Bezos. He is an American internet entrepreneur and industrialist. Bezos graduated from Princeton University in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science.
Away from inventors of all times, let us beam our light into the world of entertainment. Some youths are die-hard fans of some Nigerian music artistes. They seem to focus on the present glory of these stars and then they want to pursue fame without any educational foundation. If you are in this category, then let us talk about David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido. As you may know he is an American-born Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He attended British international Schools in Lagos and at age 16 he moved to Alabama, US, where he studied business administration at Oakwood University.
Davido was said to have bought musical equipment while at Oakwood and started making beats. He also worked with his cousins B-Red and Sina Rambo to form the music act KB International. Davido dropped out of Oakwood University to pursue music full-time and relocated to London, where he worked on his vocals. After returning to Nigeria in 2011, Davido paused his music career and agreed to honor his father by enrolling at Babcock University. In July 2015, he graduated from Babcock with a degree in music after his father reportedly paid the university to start a music department for an inaugural class of one student.
It is indeed a fact that many successful individuals may not have gone through the wall of any educational institution. One truth you should note is that all things being equal the uneducated celebrities and successful folks will want to have a solid background in education irrespective of the level.
Life may be tough and uncertain but we need all the knowledge cum wisdom to stand the test of time. One way of acquiring knowledge is through education. Therefore if you are given the opportunity to go to school, please grab it with your two hands. You never can tell when that supposed certificate which you consider to be useless will be your saving grace. If you are struggling financially and academically, do not give up. Be focused and seek for help because there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
