Veteran Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has explained why practical skills played a bigger role in his career than academic certificates. Speaking in a recent interview with media personality Joey Akan, the actor shared his views on education, success and the value of learning outside the classroom — FirstNigerian.com reports.
The actor said there is “some truth” to the popular phrase “school na scam.” However, he explained that his comments were based on his personal experience rather than a rejection of education.
His remarks have added to ongoing conversations in Nigeria about practical skills, entrepreneurship and whether academic qualifications alone are enough to achieve success.
Jim Iyke Says Practical Skills Helped Shape His Career
According to Jim Iyke, many of the lessons that influenced his career came from family members, traders and mentors instead of lecture halls.
The actor recalled meeting one of his former lecturers on a flight years after graduating. He said both of them understood that his career had taken a different path from what classroom teaching alone could have provided.
“If I had taken everything he taught me verbatim and applied it in my pursuit, I wouldn’t have been successful,” Iyke said.
Instead, he credited advice from experienced people around him for helping him make important decisions. He said they encouraged him to develop practical thinking, understand business realities and know when to adapt to different situations.
Actor Points To Experience Beyond The Classroom
Jim Iyke also argued that formal education is not the only route to financial success. He noted that some of the world’s wealthiest people built successful careers without advanced academic qualifications.
To support his point, he said he currently employs someone with a PhD, adding that educational attainment does not always determine professional or financial outcomes.
“We can argue all we want, but school is partly a scam,” he said.
Although the actor questioned whether classroom learning alone guarantees success, he repeatedly referred to his personal experiences and the value he places on practical knowledge, mentorship and survival skills.
