This piece is not aimed at discrediting any of these stars, neither is
it aimed at encouraging people not to acquire university education.
These
stars haven't acquired university degrees or their equivalent. Some
were at the university but had to drop out due to reasons best known to
them.
But their inability to successfully acquire a degree in any
discipline hasn't prevented them from climbing to the top of their
chosen careers.
Most of them speak fluent English, even more than
some of their colleagues that are graduates, not to talk of those that
are half baked graduates that can't express themselves in simple but
correct English.
With the way some of these stars carry themselves
and also comport themselves, you wouldn't know that they are not yet
graduates without being told.
It's necessary to point out that
the value of higher education cannot be over emphasised. Education is a
desideratum and these stars are aware of it too.
Interestingly, even
though they have made it without possessing higher degrees, they still
appreciate the value of education and still have the desire to go back
to school some day.
Talents may not be enough; so it's still good to
pursue higher education while maximising one's talent. For the fact that
it worked out for them even without acquiring university degrees or its
equivalent, doesn't mean it may work out for others. So higher
education is still a desideratum.
With the high rate of unemployment in the country, talent becomes a tool for self empowerment for some people after graduation.
Here are top entertainers that have been able to make it even without university degrees or its equivalent.
1 GENEVIEVE NNAJI
She
is a super star, classy, hot and beautiful. No doubt, she's vividly
intelligent too and has a very good command of the English language. But
Ms Nnaji hasn't been able to acquire a Tertiary education, even several
years after saying that she would go back to school. Although it is not
late yet.
Below is an excerpt from her interview years ago where she spoke about her educational background:
Let’s have your bio-data. People don't seem to know much about you?
"I’m
from Aboh-Mbaise in Imo State. I went to Kemistar Nursery and Primary
School, Surulere; Methodist Girls High School, followed by one in Ikeja.
I kept on moving. But ended up at Girls Secondary School, Akwakuma in
Owerri, Imo State.
Why have you not furthered your education?
Life
is not the same for everybody. Some people are so lucky, they come out
of secondary school and they go straight to university because they have
the back-up of people and it’s so easy. It looks simple…mine was
different. But I’m determined. Definitely, I’m gonna go back to school. I
wanted to make money, I love my money, I cherish my own money. So, I
will go back when I’ve made enough. But even while I’m there, I won’t
stop working.
2 MERCY JOHNSON
She's the hottest and most
sought after actress at the moment in Nollywood. She is intelligent,
speaks fluently and delivers her roles flawlessly. But Mercy dropped out
from the university to concentrate on her chosen career. She however
expressed her desire to go back to school soon.
Excerpt from her interview:
Growing Up & education tell me about your childhood. What was growing up like?
I
was a tomboy. I am the fourth child from a family of seven children.
The first four are girls and the last three are boys so I actually moved
a lot with my brothers, climbing trees and stuff like that. We didn’t
get everything we wanted but we got everything we needed. I’m from a
very humble background, a Christian family. My Dad is an ex-military
officer and we basically grew up in a Military environment. I attended
Navy Primary and Secondary Schools until I went to the Lagos State
University before I deferred.
What were you studying at the University and why did you choose to defer your studies?
I
was studying English and I deferred at the time I was moving to my 200
Level. I was sort of very busy with my career, acting here and there,
making money and it got into my head. But I’d love to go back to school.
To Lagos State University?
No. I’d love to take up some acting lessons or study a course in Acting since that is what I’m into.
Your
profile on Wikipedia says you got into acting because you failed your
University Entrance Examinations. Also, there were some reports about
you leaving school because you weren’t so good with your academics. Are
these reports true?
I banged my JAMB, yeah that is true. I had to
write JAMB twice. But it is not true that I wasn’t good with my
academics. I didn’t have issues with passing my exams at school.
3 VAN VICKER
Van
is a top actor in both Nollywood and Ghollywood. He is a respected
actor who speaks fluently. But Van said one of his greatest regrets was
his inability to acquire a university degree.
Hear him:
So what were your ambitions while growing up?
"I
always wanted to be a doctor but never had a chance to, because I never
went to university after my secondary education, which is one thing I
regret. Right now, I am taking some marketing courses at the university.
4 RAMSEY NUOAH
He's
a super star actor with class and speaks the English language
flawlessly. But Ramsey is not a university graduate and he recently
confirmed that in an interview.
5 DBANJ
The Koko master is one
of the leading musicians in Africa. He is on top of his career,
clinching awards from left, right and centre.
D’banj stopped school at his 300 level. He was studying Mechanical Engineering at that time.
6 WIZKID
A
few years ago when rave of the moment, Wizkid dropped out of Lead City
University in his second year, not a few thought he made the wrong
decision.
Although he chose to follow the music path,the artiste,
whose real name is Ayo Balogun, does not underestimate the importance of
education.
‘’I don’t regret stopping school for a bit because it
did give me all the time to push and work on my music. I’m definitely
going back to school. Education is very necessary and I hold it in high
esteem.’’
7 TIMAYA
He is making waves in the Nigerian music industry.
He chose music over his university education.
Hear him:
"...my
parents never wanted me to sing. They wanted me to goto school. My mum
wanted me to be a banker. I tried but book no gree enter myhead. It
wasn't my fault and no be by force, because all I wanted to do was music
then. Because I love and have passion for music and being in music is
no joke."
8 2BABA
He is a super star singer. He had indicated his desire to go back to the university to study law.
SUI: You once told me that you would
like to go back to school to study
law, do you still have plans to do
that?
Tuface: Yes, I want to do that. I can’t say when
exactly, maybe in the next two or three years?
But I’m definitely going to do that."
9 ODUNLADE ADEKOLA
He
appears to be the hottest Yoruba actor. The Yoruba movie actor,
Odunlade Adekola, who has difficulty in relating well in English
language aside Yoruba is now a 100 level Part-Time undergraduate of the
University of Lagos, UNILAG studying Business Administration. Odunlade,
an Abeokuta-based actor always interpret his scripts very well,to the
delight and enjoyment of movie buffs. He has proven his mettle in the
industry, as a damn good actor, and this has earned him several awards
and endorsement from a number of multinational companies.
He's a
brand ambassador for telecommunication giant, Glo and also to Ekiti
State, while his face also has graced many advert billboards in Ogun
State on Taxation by the State Government.
All things being equal, In another four years from now, Odunlade Adekola will be a University graduate.
10 DAVIDO
He
is one of the wave making musicians in the country and in Africa. He
said he's not a graduate yet, that he still has one more year to
graduate.
Music sensation and BET awards winner, Davido (David
Adedeji Adeleke), had cleared the air on the rumour that he was one of
the new graduates from Babcock University, stressing that he only
attended the ceremony to celebrate with a friend.The artiste was forced
to make the clarification following accusation that he graduated without
writing any examination in the school.
