Alvin Ilenre, a Nigerian graduate from Edo State, recently gained online attention for torching his university and other academic certificates. His action stemmed from a belief that these credentials held no value in Nigeria’s current job market.
In an interview, Ilenre expressed dismay over the number of politicians in power lacking academic records yet maneuvering into governance roles. He mentioned his fruitless job search since February 2022 despite studying History and International Studies at Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo State.
“I just hustle basically. Right now, I’m unemployed. That’s it for who I am for now,” he disclosed to PUNCH, highlighting his struggles in securing employment.
Clarifying his drastic decision to burn his certificates, Ilenre stated, “I burnt them because I needed closure. The certificates I burnt were my university, primary school leaving, and National Youth Service Corps certificates. I didn’t burn certificates from the ministry.”
Expressing frustration with a system that doesn’t value educational qualifications, Ilenre critiqued the decay in the country where jobs are attained through unethical means, and credible qualifications often hold no sway in securing employment.
He criticized a situation where politicians’ children study abroad, finish studies swiftly, secure high-ranking positions, while many local graduates struggle for years to secure lower-level positions. Ilenre highlighted the grim realities of Nigeria’s educational and employment systems, advocating for a reevaluation of the country’s approach to education and employment.
