I have an MSc in International Relations from a UK university. I am 29. I work as a customer care representative in Lagos earning ₦120,000. My degree hangs in my parents' sitting room like a trophy of disappointment. They are proud. I am broke. The degree gave me knowledge, yes. But zero network, zero practical skills, and zero advantage in the Nigerian job market. Employers want experience, not thesis titles. I could have used that ₦4 million to start a business, learn a tech skill, or buy land. Are we overeducating ourselves into unemployment? Is the foreign master's degree just a status symbol for parents to brag about? When did education become a consumption good instead of an investment?
