Veteran Nollywood actor James Ikechukwu Esomugha, popularly known as Jim Iyke, has reignited the long-running debate over the value of formal education after saying he believes there is some truth in the popular phrase, “school na scam.”

Speaking during an interview, the actor argued that academic education, although important, is not the only path to success. According to him, practical knowledge, personal experiences and lessons learned outside the classroom have played a greater role in shaping his career and achievements.

Jim Iyke disclosed that he once met one of his former lecturers and reflected on how blindly applying everything he had been taught in school would not have produced the success he enjoys today.

He said: “There is some truth to ‘school na scam.’ I am doing better than all my lecturers. If I had taken everything he taught me verbatim and applied it in my pursuit, I wouldn’t have been successful.”

The actor explained that much of what has guided him in life came from conversations with parents, mentors and experienced businesspeople, who helped him develop critical life skills that are rarely taught in lecture halls.

He further pointed to some of the world’s richest individuals, arguing that extraordinary wealth is not always linked to academic qualifications.

“Some of the wealthiest men in the world did not get it from the classroom. How many of them have PhDs?” he queried.

Jim Iyke, who has built a successful career in acting, business and entertainment over the years, clarified that he is not dismissing the importance of education. Instead, he believes success often comes from combining classroom knowledge with practical experience, critical thinking and the ability to adapt to real-life situations.

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang