Less than $1 for a degree: The unbelievable story of Nigerian Education

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As I reminisce about the Nigeria of yesterday, I’m reminded of a time when hope wasn’t just a slogan but a way of life. A time when dreams didn’t require foreign currency to be believed. Recently, I came across a passionate plea from a well-known Nigerian pastor, who lamented the growing narrative that teaches Nigerians to hate their own country. He drew comparisons between the cost of becoming a medical doctor in Nigeria and the United States, sparking a heated debate online.

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I understand where the pastor is coming from, as our generation – the one that schooled through the Nigeria of the 70s, 80s, and early 90s – experienced a version of this country that many young Nigerians today would find almost mythical. I recall my time at Great Ife, Obafemi Awolowo University, where I got my bachelor’s degree for less than a dollar. Tuition was N30, and accommodation was N90 for the entire year. It was a time when character and merit mattered more than background or socio-economic status.

However, the Nigeria of today is vastly different. A generation shaped by social media and struggling realities sees a country with broken systems, massive corruption, crumbling institutions, and unfulfilled promises. And they’re right too. But both generations – the grateful and the grieving – must understand that there’s a third prism: the tomorrow prism. We cannot keep staring into the rearview mirror of nostalgia or fixating on the cracks in today’s pavement. We must lift our eyes toward the horizon and ask, “What kind of Nigeria can we build together?”

I believe in the Nigeria of tomorrow, where old dreams are refurbished and new dreams are given room to grow. Where leaders inspire, and being Nigerian is a badge of honour. Where tuition might still be affordable or even free, but the opportunity is priceless. As I always say, “Nigeria is everyone’s job.” Nation-building is not for saints or superstars; it’s for all of us.

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I’m not in Nigeria today, but Nigeria refused to leave me. I’m confident that Nigeria’s greatness is not a question of if; it’s only a matter of when and whether we’ll be bold enough to believe again. As I conclude, I’m reminded that “it is well with Nigeria. The future of Nigeria is bright, and with faith and determination, we can build a better tomorrow.

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