A Nigerian man has gone viral after posting a video of himself angrily tearing up his university degree certificate, NYSC discharge certificate, and WAEC result. In the clip, he sits in a black tank top, looking visibly frustrated as he holds up the documents one by one and rips them apart. He makes it clear he regrets going to university, saying it did not help him despite graduating with a second-class upper degree in Psychology.
Tearing the certificates one by one, he said, “I want to become an illiterate,” suggesting that since his certificates had not helped him achieve the success he expected, he would rather tear them and be known as an illiterate.
The video, shared widely on X, captures a raw moment of disappointment that many young Nigerians can relate to. After years of study, national service, and the usual paper chase, he feels the certificates have brought him little practical value in the job market. His actions and words have sparked a flood of reactions online. Some people express sympathy, pointing to the tough economic reality and limited opportunities facing graduates. Others respond with dark humour, joking about their own degrees or noting that some of the papers he tore looked like photocopies. A few simply watch in disbelief at the dramatic display of frustration.
It taps into a broader conversation about the gap between education and employment in Nigeria, where many young people finish school only to struggle with underemployment or unemployment. Whether the man’s decision to destroy the documents was purely emotional or a calculated statement, the video has struck a nerve. It leaves viewers with a simple
uncomfortable question: what is the real worth of those hard-earned certificates if they do not translate into a better life?
Tearing the certificates one by one, he said, “I want to become an illiterate,” suggesting that since his certificates had not helped him achieve the success he expected, he would rather tear them and be known as an illiterate.
The video, shared widely on X, captures a raw moment of disappointment that many young Nigerians can relate to. After years of study, national service, and the usual paper chase, he feels the certificates have brought him little practical value in the job market. His actions and words have sparked a flood of reactions online. Some people express sympathy, pointing to the tough economic reality and limited opportunities facing graduates. Others respond with dark humour, joking about their own degrees or noting that some of the papers he tore looked like photocopies. A few simply watch in disbelief at the dramatic display of frustration.
It taps into a broader conversation about the gap between education and employment in Nigeria, where many young people finish school only to struggle with underemployment or unemployment. Whether the man’s decision to destroy the documents was purely emotional or a calculated statement, the video has struck a nerve. It leaves viewers with a simple
uncomfortable question: what is the real worth of those hard-earned certificates if they do not translate into a better life?
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