Veteran Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has weighed in on the long-running debate over the value of formal education, saying there is “some truth” to the controversial claim that Western education is a “scam”.
The actor made the remarks during a recent interview with media personality Joey Akan, where he reflected on his personal journey to success and questioned whether academic qualifications alone are enough to guarantee achievement in life.
According to Jim Iyke, practical life experiences, business instincts and lessons learned outside the classroom have contributed more to his success than the knowledge he acquired through formal education.
He argued that while education has its place, many people who excel financially and professionally often rely on skills that cannot be taught in traditional classrooms.
“There is some truth to ‘school na scam’,” he said.
Drawing from his own experience, the actor claimed that he has achieved greater success than many of the lecturers who once taught him.
“I am doing better than all my lecturers,” he stated.
Jim Iyke recalled meeting one of his former lecturers, who has since passed away, during a flight, describing the encounter as a moment that reinforced his belief that academic instruction alone does not determine success.
“I once met one of my lecturers, who is now late, on a plane and we both knew who was doing better,” he said.
He argued that had he followed every lesson he was taught in school without adapting to real-life situations, he might not have attained the level of success he enjoys today.
“If I had taken everything he taught me verbatim and applied it in my pursuit, I wouldn’t have been successful,” he added.
Instead, Jim Iyke credited much of his growth to practical advice received from traders, mentors and older individuals who had little or no formal education.
According to him, the wisdom passed down through life experiences proved more valuable than classroom theories.
“I will tell you what worked. It is what the uncles, the traders who barely went to school, told me,” he explained.
“They told me go left at all time and never right. The father who told me to forget theories and know when to be ruthless, conform or stand my grounds and what books to read.”
The actor also pointed to the success of many wealthy entrepreneurs who either did not complete higher education or achieved success outside conventional academic paths.
He argued that wealth creation often depends more on innovation, resilience and practical decision-making than academic credentials.
“Some of the wealthiest men in the world did not get it from classroom,” he said.
“How many of them have PhD?”
Jim Iyke further revealed that one of the people working for him holds a doctoral degree, suggesting that educational qualifications do not necessarily determine career hierarchy or financial success.
“I have a PhD holder who works for me,” he added.
“We can argue all we want but school is partly scam.”
His comments have generated mixed reactions on social media.
Some Nigerians agreed with the actor, arguing that while education provides knowledge, success ultimately depends on creativity, determination, networking and the ability to seize opportunities.
Others, however, disagreed with his assessment, insisting that formal education remains an important foundation for personal development and professional advancement.