Veteran Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has stirred fresh controversy after declaring that there is “some truth” in the popular saying, “school na scam,” arguing that classroom education alone does not guarantee success in life.
The outspoken actor made the remarks during a recent interview with media personality Joey Akan, where he shared his personal journey and insisted that practical life lessons have played a bigger role in his achievements than what he learnt in school.
Jim Iyke, known for speaking his mind, said he has gone on to become more financially successful than many of the lecturers who once taught him.
Recalling one memorable encounter, the actor said he met one of his late lecturers on a flight, and according to him, both of them knew 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,” he said.
Rather than depending entirely on classroom lessons, Jim Iyke said the advice that shaped his life came from people who had little or no formal education.
He revealed that traders, older family members and mentors taught him lessons that no textbook could offer.
“I will tell you what worked. It is what the uncles, the traders who barely went to school, told me. They told me to go left at all times and never right. The father who told me to forget theories and know when to be ruthless, conform or stand my ground, and what books to read,” he explained.
The actor also argued that many of the world’s richest people did not build their fortunes through academic qualifications alone.
According to him, having degrees, including a PhD, does not automatically translate into wealth or success.
“Some of the wealthiest men in the world did not get it from the classroom. How many of them have PhDs? I have a PhD holder who works for me. We can argue all we want, but school is partly a scam,” he added.
Jim Iyke’s comments have once again reignited the long-running debate over the value of formal education, with many insisting that while education remains important, success often depends on a combination of knowledge, skills, experience, resilience and the ability to seize opportunities.
