A Nigerian graduate has sparked widespread debate on social media after setting his university degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate ablaze in a moment of frustration with the country’s job market and his personal struggles.
In a video that quickly went viral, the young man, whose identity remains unknown, recounted his educational journey. He shared that he spent seven years at the university, only to graduate with a second-class lower degree, having earned a 3.4 GPA. This score was just shy of the 3.5 GPA required for a second-class upper classification. The graduate expressed deep disappointment, feeling perpetually unlucky for narrowly missing a higher grade, which he had long hoped would open doors to better opportunities.
Although he had once aspired to pursue a career in music, the lack of success in that field led him to seek employment in the corporate world. However, his hopes were dashed during a recent job interview, where he was offered a salary of ₦95,000. The graduate lamented that ₦60,000 of that amount would go towards transportation costs, leaving him with little to cover his other expenses. This experience marked the breaking point for him.
In a fit of despair and anger, he chose to burn his academic and NYSC certificates as a symbolic act of protest. “No regret because why me with 3.4 GPA and 2.5 GPA graduates gather dey second class? I’m always depressed anytime I remember how unlucky I was graduating with 3.4 GPA; so let it go to hell. This country would turn you to a mad person,” he said in the video, expressing his frustration with the systemic challenges facing Nigerian graduates.
The video has since gone viral, attracting mixed reactions from Nigerians online. Many have expressed sympathy for the graduate, empathizing with his struggles in the face of an underwhelming job market and economic hardship. Others, however, have cautioned against such extreme measures, urging young people to find more constructive ways to address their frustrations rather than resorting to despair.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Nigerian graduates, with many struggling to secure employment that offers both financial stability and opportunities for career growth. It also highlights the deep dissatisfaction and disillusionment among the youth, who are often left feeling trapped in a system that seems to offer few prospects.
