Ayomide Akintan’s Post

Is Education a Scam? In Nigeria, we often hear the phrase, "education is the key to success." Yet, our reality sometimes seems to challenge this ideal. The emergence of the newly elected NURTW leader—someone whose ascent isn't traditionally tied to formal education or professional qualifications—raises important questions about the value we place on education in relation to leadership and success in our society. The Nigerian political and leadership landscape often reinforces this paradox. Many of our leaders hold advanced degrees from prestigious institutions, yet the outcomes in governance and policy implementation frequently fail to reflect the quality of their educational credentials. Meanwhile, others, with little to no formal education, wield significant influence and power, often through sheer will, connections, and street-level mobilization. So, is education truly a scam? Or is it that the systems in place fail to reward merit and intellectual capacity? While education undoubtedly equips individuals with the tools for personal and professional growth, the Nigerian context reminds us that success often requires more than just classroom knowledge—it demands strategic positioning, resilience, and adaptability. What do you think? How can we bridge this gap between education and real-world success in Nigeria? Join the conversation! 👇

As I reflect on my journeys as a traveler, I am struck by the profound misconceptions that persist about Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world. With over 200 million people, Nigeria plays a vital role in shaping the socioeconomic and political destiny of not only the African continent but also the global community. Yet, the narratives that dominate the discourse about Nigeria are often skewed, perpetuated by those who know very little about the country or deliberately distort its story to serve their own scripted agendas. The true tragedy of Africa’s history lies in the erasure of our identity and education in exchange for miseducation from the “classrooms”. Yet, every “classroom” is supposed to be a temporary experience and a very important phase to a more usable and transferable reality. For decades however, we have remained in the classroom. No graduation. We have been confined to the “classroom,” absorbing knowledge that misrepresents our true selves, writing unprogressive exams for mastering Western culture, not development nor civilization. We must break free from these constraints and undertake big projects that unlock our true potential. It begins with investments of time, energy and resources to change the African narrative. One of such project is @perceptiontnn, led by @oluyinkadavids and his team. Their dedication to changing the Nigerian narrative is a testament to the power of commitment and the human spirit. By investing in this initiative, we can create a new reality that supports the attention and resources our collective individuality deserves. I endorse this work wholeheartedly and call on people of African descent and our lovers everywhere to join us in rallying around this effort. When Nigeria thrives, Africa rises, and the world benefits. To shatter stereotypes and misconceptions that have held us back for far too long is a sacred duty. Together, we can create a brighter future that celebrates our true identity and unlocks our full potential. Do share if you indeed believe this should spread👊🏾👊🏾🇳🇬🇳🇬 #PerceptionDoc #NigerianNarrative #NigerianIndependentDay #NigerianAmericanDay #Nigeria #WashingtonDC #NigerianCenter #iFocusPictures #DocumentaryPremiere #NigerianIndependence

🟢Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: A Beacon of Resilience and Leadership🟢 Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's journey from a small village in Nigeria to becoming the first African and first woman to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO) is a testament to the power of resilience, hard work, and vision. Her success is not a product of privilege, but of perseverance, having navigated challenges in male-dominated fields like finance and global governance. For students and alumni, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s life teaches us that education is a powerful tool, but it is determination, humility, and a commitment to excellence that truly shape our impact. Her unwavering dedication to public service, even when faced with opposition, is a reminder to rise above obstacles and pursue your dreams with conviction. Let her story inspire you to push boundaries, embrace challenges, and believe in your ability to change the world. As Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has shown, greatness is not reserved for a select few—it is earned by those willing to work for it. #FUOYE #StudentDevelopment #Excellence #SocialVices #IamFUOyé #MondayMotivation #TogetherWeAreFUOyé #FUOYETeamUnitedWeWin ______________________________ 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐲𝐞-𝐄𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐢 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒔!

It is such a great honor to open the British Council Going Global Africa 2024 event here in Abuja. I gave a powerful Opening Plenary Keynote presentation - waving authentic storytelling with Afrocentric content which explicitly describes the common struggles of the Nigerian educational system. As someone whose academic background hasn’t been hinged on As and Bs, this 6 mins intervention was so core to my heart. It shed light on shifting narratives and perspectives on how our tertiary institutions should evolve and adapt to the current climate. My speech touched on the following points: 1. how tertiary education could support young Africans in developing entrepreneurial skills and innovative thinking. 2. the current gaps or challenges in supporting young entrepreneurs and innovators in some tertiary education institutions. 3. initiatives that could be implemented by institutions and systems to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. You know you have done your job well, when Vice Chancellors come up to ask for insights on how this can be useful for their schools!

Africa's Massive Contradiction "We are rich in our experiences of diversity. We are rich in our experiences of the wildlife or the landscapes we have and our enormous space. In the end, you can’t eat that. You can’t dress with that. You can't send your children to school or universities because you live in a global world where you need money to do things like that. You need money to get educated, travel, build houses, etc. That's why you have this richness, which you can indulge in on one side, but on the other hand, you have these natural resources that are not turned into wealth for all on this continent. That is a massive contradiction." So Rich and Yet So Poor. How do Africans resolve this glaring paradox for Africa? Tune in, Sign Up on any podcast platform or YouTube, and Share. The world needs you to lead boldly, too. 🌎 Mr. Frik Landman is the 49th cofounder of more than 100 courageous cofounders in our Global Mandela Leadership Movement for Change. Our collective purpose is to transform the leadership crisis worldwide, remind our generation, and empower and inspire the next. Frik Landman is a well-seasoned businessman, consultant, and academic who turned his passion towards academia in 2005. He is the Director of Strategy and Governance for NetEd, Chairman of NetEd’s Da Vinci Institute, and a Director of NetEd’s Eduvos. It is one of South Africa’s largest independent and privately owned higher education institutions, with twelve campuses nationwide. He has bachelor’s degrees in Hebrew, Psychology, Philosophy, and Thea Master's in Theology and Ethics from the University of Stellenbosch. #leadingboldlyintothefuture #africa #africawealth #mandelamoments #nelsonmandela "Africa is Too Rich to Be Poor," with Leading Businessman and Academic Mr. Frik Landman in South Africa https://buff.ly/3yPPdTg

I fully agree with the points highlighting the challenges facing tertiary education in Africa, especially in Nigeria. We need synergy from all stakeholders in the education sector to revise and reform the archaic curricula and practices. This will help prepare students for today's and future challenges and drive sustainable innovation for the next generation. As you mentioned Co-creation HUB (CcHUB), the Higher Education Institution (HEI) arm of the organization is doing great work by bringing together students, researchers, and industry experts to champion innovation across African HEIs.

There has been an increasing discourse on Nigeria's social media about the significance of achieving good grades. Many users share stories of individuals with outstanding academic results who have not achieved conventional success. To some, these examples suggest a diminishing relevance of good grades in the larger picture, highlighting instead the growing importance of personal connections. In this article for our Scholars, Obed Soludo discusses this growing trend, and provides opinion on why academic excellence continues to be a necessity in today's world.

🇳🇬 Happy 64th Independence Day, Nigeria! 🎉 As we celebrate our nation’s journey of growth, resilience, and unity, we @carfelsolutions are reminded of the incredible potential within every Nigerian professional and business owner. Just as our country has overcome challenges to reach new heights, we believe that each of you has the power to break through barriers and achieve peak performance in your personal and professional lives. On this special day, we invite you to reflect: What’s your “independence declaration” for your career or business? Is it: 🍀 Breaking free from limiting beliefs? 🍀 Declaring independence from unproductive habits? 🍀 Liberating yourself from fear of failure? 🍀 Emancipating your true leadership potential? At Carfel Solution, we’re committed to helping you write your own success story, just as Nigeria continues to write its history of progress and achievement. This Independence Day, don’t just celebrate our nation’s freedom but also commit to personal and professional liberation. Together, we can unlock the extraordinary potential within you and contribute to Nigeria’s bright future. Share your “independence declaration” in the comments below! Let’s inspire each other to reach new heights of success. . . . . #NigeriaAt64 #IndependenceDay #PeakPerformance #CarfelSolutions #ProfessionalGrowth #personaleffectiveness

Our higher institutions should and only be a centre for scholarly pursuits of truth; anything less than this could be termed a displacement of goal. And this truth when mastered permeate all other institutions that makes up the society. But sadly, for our context, in Nigeria, such is not the case most of the time. Our institute of higher education are more into acquisitions of technical jargons and utilitarian skills than they are concerned with intentional pursuit of truth.

One of several essays that I have written about the holes in the intellectual study of the African continent. Here I argue for a more wholistic but realistic study of Africa that accounts for more than artificial lines on the ground. https://lnkd.in/eqeUic9