“Forget Certificates, Build a Business” — Man Sparks Heated Debate Among Nigerian Youths 😳💼

A Nigerian businessman has stirred major conversation online after advising youths to shift focus away from formal education certificates and concentrate more on building businesses for survival in today’s economy.

Speaking during an online discussion, he said the reality of unemployment in Nigeria has made paper qualifications less reliable for securing jobs, especially for young graduates entering a competitive market with limited opportunities.

He compared the current situation to past economic struggles, including the 2016 recession and the COVID-19 period, when many Nigerians were forced to rethink their career paths due to job scarcity.

According to him, what now matters most is skill, creativity, and the ability to start something small and grow it into a sustainable source of income.

He argued that several successful entrepreneurs in Nigeria today did not depend solely on academic certificates but built wealth through trade, agriculture, and tech-based innovations.

His message encouraged young people to become more self-reliant rather than wait endlessly for white-collar jobs, which he described as increasingly limited.

The statement has since divided opinions online — while some users agree with his push for entrepreneurship, others insist that education still plays a crucial role and should not be dismissed.

You see that your university or polytechnic certificate is the reason you haven’t succeeded. Tear it up and go start a business,

___man advised Nigerians.🗣️ pic.twitter.com/xwudevuTYu

— Big Sman.🍥 (@MR__Sulaiman1) April 19, 2026