A scholar, Dr. Nwuba, has challenged the growing narrative that “school is a scam,” describing it as an oversimplification of the complex realities surrounding education and national development.
She made the remarks while delivering the matriculation lecture at Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, for the 2025/2026 academic session.
Critiquing the ‘School Is a Scam’ Narrative
Nwuba acknowledged that the slogan reflects the frustrations of many Nigerians grappling with unemployment, inequality and economic hardship.
However, she warned that such narratives promote shortcuts to success and undermine the values of hard work, discipline, intellect and character formation.
“Slogans are poor substitutes for truth,” she said, urging students to subject the claim to the same critical scrutiny required in scientific inquiry.
Education Beyond Information
In her lecture titled “Beyond ‘School Is a Scam’: The True Value of Tertiary Education,” Nwuba faulted claims that formal education is irrelevant or fraudulent.
Drawing from her background in parasitology, she explained that education goes beyond access to information and instead provides structured understanding, intellectual discipline and ethical formation.
Using biological metaphors, she likened the university experience to cellular differentiation, noting that just as cells need structure, regulation and time to become functional, the human intellect requires mentorship, evaluation and progressive challenges to mature fully.
“Education is not a scam; it is differentiation,” she said.
According to her, lectures, assignments and assessments help build what she described as “intellectual immunity” against shallow thinking and poor judgment.
Warning Against Shortcuts
Nwuba further warned against shortcuts to success, comparing them to parasitic systems that extract value without contributing and eventually weaken their host.
She stressed that societies thrive when citizens are educated to think critically, innovate responsibly and act ethically.
“Universities produce thinkers, not shortcuts; builders, not opportunists,” she said.
She encouraged students to view their university years as a period of formation to be tested by real-life challenges, rather than dismissed by popular slogans.
Vice-Chancellor’s Charge to Students
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Akinwale, announced that 400 students were matriculated for the 2025/2026 academic session, describing the figure as a record for the institution and evidence of its steady growth.
He congratulated the students and their parents, while commending those who excelled academically and morally and were placed on the Vice-Chancellor’s and Dean’s Lists.
Akinwale reminded students of the university’s motto, pro scientia et moribus (for knowledge and good character), stressing 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,” he said.
He emphasised critical thinking as central to the university’s mission and urged students to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their academic goals as part of the solution to Nigeria’s challenges.
Well-Attended Ceremony
The matriculation ceremony was attended by members of the Governing Council and Senate, principal officers of the university, academic and non-academic staff, religious leaders, parents, guardians and friends of the institution.
