A Nigerian man has destroyed his certificates. A video shared on 10 October shows him tearing them up. He graduated with a second-class upper degree in Psychology. He also destroyed his NYSC certificate and his WAEC result. His message was blunt. “I don’t want to be a graduate again. It didn’t favour me.”
This is not the first time. In 2021, a Lagos graduate tore his certificates in a public protest. In 2019, another did the same in Abuja. Each incident goes viral. Each sparks a brief debate. The pattern reflects a deeper problem. Nigeria produces hundreds of thousands of graduates yearly. The formal sector cannot absorb them. Many take jobs below their qualifications. Others join the japa wave. The certificate was once a passport. It is now a reminder of unfulfilled promise.
The man spoke as he destroyed the documents. “I regret going to university. It didn’t help me,” he said. He held the papers up. He ripped them apart. The video spread quickly. His academic record was strong. A second-class upper in Psychology is a respectable result. It qualifies him for postgraduate study. It qualifies him for many entry-level roles. It did not get him a job.
Reactions were mixed. Many viewers shared similar stories. Some described years of job hunting. Others described low-paying work that does not match their degrees. One commenter said he had applied for over 200 roles without success. Another said she now sells food to survive. The shared testimonies turned a single act into a collective complaint.
Not everyone was sympathetic. Some questioned whether the certificates were originals. They noted that tearing photocopies proves nothing. Others said destroying documents solves nothing. They said the graduate should retrain, relocate or start a business. The scepticism is familiar. Nigerians often blame individuals for systemic failure.
The context matters. Unemployment among young Nigerians is high. Underemployment is higher. Inflation has eroded wages. Food, transport and rent consume most incomes. A graduate earning the minimum wage cannot afford independence. That reality drives the frustration. The certificate is not just paper. It represents years of effort and family sacrifice. Tearing it is an act of despair. It is also a message.
Winners: Bloggers, who gain engagement. Commentators, who gain a debate. No one else. Losers: The graduate, who lost his documents. His family, whose investment is destroyed. Millions of unemployed graduates, who see their own pain reflected. The education system, which fails to prepare students for the market. The economy, which cannot employ its own talent. Psychology graduates, who face a saturated and underfunded sector.
Bottom Line: A man tore his certificates. He had a second-class upper. He had NYSC. He had WAEC. He did not have a job. His frustration is personal. The problem is national. Until Nigeria creates jobs, more certificates will burn. More graduates will leave. The country cannot afford either.