Nollywood star Jim Iyke has set social media buzzing after sharing a bold opinion about success and education. The actor recalled meeting one of his former university lecturers on a flight. According to him, the encounter showed how life can turn out differently after school. His story has also revived the popular Nigerian saying, “school na scam.”
Jim Iyke said he was seated in the business class cabin while his former professor flew in economy. He explained that the lecturer had to look forward to greet him, while he only looked back. The actor used the moment to argue that classroom education does not always lead to financial success. He added that practical experience and street knowledge helped him more than many lessons he learned in school.
There’s some truth to ‘school na scam’. How many teachers are doing well? I met my professor recently and we both knew who was doing better, he said.
The actor also praised successful traders and business-minded people who never earned advanced degrees. According to him, they taught him valuable lessons about making money and building wealth. He argued that many of the world’s richest people succeeded without PhDs.
His comments have divided opinions online. While some Nigerians agreed that a university degree does not guarantee riches, others insisted education should not be judged only by financial success. Many also pointed out that lecturers and professors often choose careers driven by knowledge, research, and teaching instead of wealth.
Interestingly, Jim Iyke is not against education. The Nollywood actor holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Even so, his latest remarks have sparked fresh conversations across Facebook, Instagram, and X. Some people believe his experience reflects today’s reality. Others argue that success means different things to different people.
Jim Iyke’s comments have once again put the age-old “school na scam” debate back in the spotlight.
