Veteran Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has set social media buzzing after boldly declaring that there is “some truth” to the popular phrase “school na scam,” insisting that success is not determined by university degrees alone.
The actor made the controversial remarks during a recent interview with media personality Joey Akan, where he spoke candidly about his journey to success and why he believes real-life experience often outweighs classroom knowledge.
According to Jim Iyke, although education is important, it is not the ultimate formula for financial success. He argued that many people who excel in life do so because of practical wisdom, resilience and the ability to adapt to changing realities—not necessarily because of what they learned in school.
Drawing from his personal experience, the movie star said he is now more successful than all the lecturers who taught him in university. He recalled meeting one of his former lecturers, who has since passed away, during a flight and said the encounter made it obvious who had achieved greater financial success.
“There is some truth to ‘school na scam’. I am doing better than all my lecturers. I once met one of my lecturers, who is now late, on a plane and we both knew who was doing better. If I had taken everything he taught me verbatim and applied it in my pursuit, I wouldn’t have been successful.”
Jim Iyke explained that the lessons that shaped his life came from outside the classroom. He credited traders, older relatives and mentors—many of whom had little formal education—for teaching him how to survive, make difficult decisions and navigate the realities of business and life.
“I will tell you what worked. It is what the uncles, the traders who barely went to school, told me. They told me go left at all time and never right. The father who told me to forget theories and know when to be ruthless, conform or stand my grounds and what books to read.”
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The actor also challenged the belief that higher academic qualifications automatically translate into wealth. According to him, some of the richest people in the world did not earn advanced university degrees, adding that he currently employs people with PhDs.
“Some of the wealthiest men in the world did not get it from classroom. How many of them have PhD? I have a PhD holder who works for me. We can argue all we want but school is partly scam.”
His comments have since sparked heated debate online. While many social media users agreed that success is driven more by skills, determination, networking and opportunity than certificates, others argued that education should not be dismissed because it remains a foundation for personal development, innovation and professional growth.
The interview has reignited the long-standing “school na scam” conversation in Nigeria, with supporters and critics offering different perspectives on the role of education in achieving success in today’s economy.
