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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
Students of Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, have been urged to look beyond the popular “school is a scam” narrative and embrace tertiary education as a vital tool for intellectual growth, character formation and national development.
The charge was given on Thursday by the matriculation lecturer at the University’s 11th Matriculation Ceremony, Professor Roseangela Ifeyinwa Nwuba, during the admission of 400 fresh students for the 2025/2026 academic session at the institution’s Convocation Hall.
Delivering a lecture titled “Beyond ‘School Is a Scam’: The True Value of Tertiary Education,” Professor Nwuba, a Professor of Cellular and Molecular Parasitology in the Department of Biological Sciences, challenged what she described as a disturbing trend among young Nigerians who dismiss formal education as irrelevant or fraudulent.
She observed that the phrase “school is a scam” has gained popularity in motor parks, on social media platforms and even within university spaces, often reinforced by stories of individuals who attained wealth or fame without completing higher education. While acknowledging the genuine frustrations behind such sentiments, including unemployment, inequality and economic hardship, she cautioned against reducing complex societal problems to catchy slogans.
“Slogans are poor substitutes for truth,” she said, urging students to interrogate such claims critically, just as they would any scientific assertion. According to her, education goes beyond the mere acquisition of information and involves structured learning, intellectual discipline and the development of sound judgment.
Drawing analogies from her field of parasitology, Professor Nwuba likened the university experience to biological differentiation. She explained that just as cells require structure, regulation and time to develop into functional units, the human mind needs mentorship, evaluation and progressive challenges to achieve its full potential.
“Education is not a scam; it is differentiation,” she stressed, noting that lectures, assignments and examinations help build what she described as “intellectual immunity” against shallow reasoning and poor decision-making.
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She also warned against the attraction of shortcuts, comparing them to parasitic systems that extract value without contributing and ultimately weaken their host. According to her, sustainable societies are built by educated citizens who can think critically, innovate responsibly and act ethically.
“Universities produce thinkers, not shortcuts; builders, not opportunists,” she said.
Professor Nwuba further highlighted the unique philosophy of Augustine University, which integrates faith, reason and service. Quoting Saint Augustine, she reminded the students that education is meant to ignite the mind rather than merely fill it with facts. She encouraged them to see their years in the university as a formative period that would prepare them for real-life challenges, rather than something to be dismissed by popular rhetoric.
Earlier in the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Professor Anthony A. Akinwale, OP, in his opening address titled “Keep Your Focus,” announced that 400 students were being matriculated, describing the number as a record and a sign of the institution’s steady growth.
He congratulated the new students and their parents, while commending those who excelled academically and morally and were placed on the Vice-Chancellor’s and Dean’s Lists. He also reminded the students of the University’s motto, pro scientia et moribus for knowledge and good character emphasising that education without ethics is incomplete.
“The purpose of education, rightly conceived, is to cultivate the intellect, form character and sharpen the technical skills needed to improve personal and societal life,” Rev. Fr. Akinwale said. He identified critical thinking as central to the University’s mission, noting that the ability to think well is essential to acting well.
The Vice-Chancellor urged the students to remain focused on their academic and career goals and to see themselves as part of the solution to Nigeria’s challenges. He warned against distractions, stressing that discipline and strict adherence to the University’s academic calendar are crucial to maintaining academic integrity and achieving authentic development.
