University Don Counters “School Is a Scam” Narrative at Matriculation Ceremony

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03/02/26 • 51 Visualizzazioni • 0 Condividere • Pubblicato in Altro

A senior academic has challenged the growing perception among some Nigerian youths that formal education is “a scam,” saying such claims undermine the true value of structured learning and intellectua..

A senior academic has challenged the growing perception among some Nigerian youths that formal education is “a scam,” saying such claims undermine the true value of structured learning and intellectual development.

Professor Roseangela Nwuba, a cellular and molecular parasitology expert, delivered the lecture titled “Beyond ‘School Is a Scam’: The True Value of Tertiary Education” at the 11th matriculation ceremony of Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State. She described the notion that school is irrelevant or fraudulent as both “disturbing” and misleading.

According to Prof. Nwuba, the narrative — which has gained traction on social media and even within some campuses — often reflects broader frustrations tied to unemployment, inequality and economic hardship. However, she warned that reducing education to a scam promotes shortcuts and quick fixes at the expense of hard work, discipline, critical thinking and character formation.

“Slogans are poor substitutes for truth,” she told the new students, urging them to apply the same critical scrutiny to popular claims as they would in scientific inquiry.

Drawing on biological metaphors, Prof. Nwuba likened the university experience to the process of cellular differentiation. Just as cells require time, structure and regulation to mature into functional units, she noted, the human intellect needs mentorship, assessment and persistent challenge to develop fully. “Education is not a scam; it is differentiation,” she said, adding that academic work builds what she described as “intellectual immunity” against shallow thinking and poor judgment.

She also cautioned students against the allure of shortcuts, comparing them to parasitic systems that extract value without contributing and ultimately weaken their host — a sharp rebuke to the idea that success can be easily achieved without formal learning.

Prof. Nwuba argued that societies prosper when citizens are educated to think critically, innovate responsibly and act ethically, reinforcing the central role of higher education in national progress.

The matriculation ceremony also featured remarks from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anthony Akinwale, who said the institution had matriculated a record 400 students for the 2025/2026 academic session. He reminded students of the university’s motto — pro scientia et moribus (for knowledge and good character) — stressing that education without ethics is incomplete.

Prof. Akinwale urged the new entrants to maintain focus on their goals, embrace disciplined study and see themselves as part of the solution to Nigeria’s challenges. He also emphasised adherence to the academic calendar as essential to preserving academic integrity.

The event was attended by members of the university’s Governing Council and Senate, principal officers, academic and non-academic staff, religious leaders, parents and guardians.

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