Why I’m Pursuing My First Degree Now
In 2016, I completed my secondary school education with a strong academic record: 3 A1s and 6 B3s, passing both my WAEC and JAMB exams with flying colors. But despite meeting all the criteria, I made a deliberate decision not to immediately pursue a university degree.
Since my SS1 days, I’ve had concerns about the Nigerian education system. I noticed the shift in the global job market towards skill-based roles, as opposed to traditional degree-based qualifications. I frequently questioned my teachers about the outdated curriculum and teaching methods that didn’t seem to prepare us for the future. Even though I was deeply passionate about learning, I realized that knowledge could be acquired outside the traditional classroom, and I embarked on a journey of self-directed education.
During these years, I watched people with PhDs, Masters, and BSc degrees leave secular jobs to pursue skill-based work. Coming from a family deeply involved in commercial agriculture, where we thrived without degrees, I realized that formal education wasn't the only path to success.
From 2016, I dove into self-learning, exploring online courses, YouTube videos, and every resource I could find on subjects like technology, blockchain, design, management, and emotional intelligence. I was building skills that interested me and didn’t require the four-year university journey—one often interrupted by strikes and other systemic issues. I even attended a vocational school from 2016-2019 to broaden my practical skills, but my thirst for education remained.
I began working in 2019 and was fortunate enough to find roles where my skills, not my degree, mattered most. Over the years, I progressed to managing companies like TecHub Spaces and am currently the Product Lead at Schoolinka My professional journey proved that knowledge and skills are truly what matter most.
January 2023, I received an offer from a College in Dublin, Ireland but made the tough decision to turn it down due to personal reasons.
Last year, I found Miva Open University, and for the first time, I felt this was the right fit. Miva offers the flexibility to work and study at my own pace, allowing me to continue my career while pursuing a degree in Computer Science—something I’ve always been passionate about.
I was matriculated last Saturday, and I’m now officially in my first year, second semester. I couldn’t be more excited to finally pursue this dream—on my own terms. My next steps? To graduate with a first-class degree, followed by an MBA in Business Management and a PhD in Finance.
I’ve always been hungry for knowledge, and this is just the beginning. 🎓
#LifelongLearning #HigherEducation #SelfGrowth #ComputerScience #MivaUniversity #FirstClassJourney
