Self-Education, The Way Forward For Nigerian Youths

By Bolaji Badmus

"Many who are self-taught far excel than the doctors, masters, and bachelors of the most renowned universities" - Ludwig Von Mises

Looking at the situation of our dear country Nigeria presently, in relation to the little attention given to the education sector, it's hard to tell that the future of the average Nigerian youth is really bright.

Education over the years has been a very principal factor, essential to the growth and development of every nation. The importance of education can never be underestimated, because it not only has to do with acquiring basic knowledge but also has a lot to do with the younger generations, the youths, who are no doubt the future of any existing nation.

We obviously can see that the Nigerian government has focused more on other sectors of the country, leaving the education sector to lag behind, instead of it being at the forefront of priorities. Myriads of problems including poor funding for better educational infrastructures, inadequate teaching aids, crises between the Federal Government and the academic union resulting in constant strikes, and paucity of quality educators, to name a few, have become prevalent in the education sector, thereby affecting youths and making them hopeless and most times frustrated.

How then can we youths survive, if the education sector continues to fail us? This is where self-education and skill acquisition come in.

If you really want to live your life as you want and to the fullest or you really want to grow your career to a giant, you need to take your education into your own hands, that is, teaching yourself to learn a particular thing without having a master. I remember my Secondary school days when the head teacher will keep repeating to us at any slightest opportunity, that "our future is in our hands". It was funny to us then as we possibly can't have a whole destiny in an empty hand, but now it's very evident. As youths, the government and society owe to you no responsibility. Self-education is a sure and promising way and an alternative to the failing education sector and most youths in the country who understands their responsibility on them have gone through the path of self-learning and made it.

I am not saying that education in Nigeria has really failed or is no longer promising, but its unreliable nature has called for a very effective alternative, self-education.

So many people think they can't learn anything successfully and be good at it until they have a master or are camped in a place to learn them. But the truth is, you can learn anything you want to on your own, owing to the impact of digitalisation in the world now. The best investment that yields more profit is an investment in your education and personal growth. Successful people like Truman Capote, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Jobs, Nikola Tesla, Alexander Graham Bell, and most others never depended on masters, but went through the path of self-education and became successful. They've proved to us how possible it is to be successful with self-education. There, therefore, is no reason why we can't do the same.

Self-education is very important because it makes you think beyond limitations and accept responsibility for your life as thinking big is one of the spices of success. Self-education can make you 100% self-reliant and will teach you not to rely completely on your degrees while exploring other wonderful aspects of education. If an average Nigerian youth can commit to self-education, he will draw himself out of the risk of unemployment and even enhance personal growth and build esteem.

Self-education covers a wide range of any area you want to know about, that is, you can teach yourself to learn certain skills, no matter the area or field of knowledge.

It is no doubt that countless resources are at our disposal, and it only takes the responsible to turn his situation around with them. The precious time and energy youths spend on social media without results or in front of the TV watching reality shows - BBNaija - can be also diversified to effective self-education.

I strongly believe that if Nigerian youths can invest more in self-education, it really will prove as a way out of frustration or the trauma which comes out of poor access to quality education in Nigeria.