Once upon a time, Nigerians were told “education is the key.” Today, that same education is unlocking absolutely nothing.

In a now‑viral moment that has left many shocked and others numb, over 20 Master’s degree holders—yes, people who spent over a decade in the formal education system—lined up to apply for a cameraman job advertised by TikTok influencer Peller, he made having a Master’s degree a requirement for the job. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

🧠 A Cameraman Job… for Master’s Degree Holders?

Welcome to Nigeria in 2025. Here, TikTok creators become overnight millionaires and degree holders are chasing them for employment.

Peller, who openly admits he never finished secondary school, threw open a ₦500,000‑per‑month cameraman role—but only Master’s degree holders need apply.

“Banks are paying ₦60k to MSc holders. I’m offering ₦500k, why not make it competitive?” — Peller, on TikTok

In just hours, 16 men and 4 women with Master’s degrees showed up—some wearing suits, others just desperate to be seen.

The same people society told to “go to school, get a good job.” Today they are begging an influencer with no formal education to hold a camera.

💣 The Death of Merit, Rise of Clout

This isn’t just about Peller. It’s about a nation‑wide collapse of meritocracy.

Nigeria now rewards virality, not value. Skill, not schooling. Clout, not competence.

Thousands of First‑Class graduates are jobless. PhD holders drive Uber in Abuja. Master’s degree holders fight over ₦50k teaching jobs.

Meanwhile, a TikTok star casually tells degree holders: “Show me your MSc to hold my camera.”

If this isn’t a national emergency, what is?

📉 School Na Scam?

A new Nigerian proverb is forming in real time:

If you no get connection or skill, your certificate fit no matter.

For millions of youths, it’s not despair—it’s reality.

You spend 6 years getting a BSc; add 2 more for a Master’s—yet still come out jobless. Meanwhile, someone with data, a ring light, and followers is hiring.

💔 Peller’s Audacity: A Mirror to Our Broken System

Peller didn’t just expose joblessness—he humiliated academia.

A man without WAEC is setting terms for people with double honors. Degrees are mocked; interviews administered like Google Search—but the real shame? It worked. They came. They begged. They agreed.

Because in Nigeria 2025, clout is king, and degrees are optional disappointment.

🧠 But Wait—There’s Worse: Youth Fraud in Secondary Schools

As if academic failure weren’t bad enough, Nigeria’s younger generation is increasingly turning to fraud—even at the secondary school level.

Just days ago, a Senior Secondary School (SS1) student—not yet 18 years old—allegedly bought a Mercedes‑Benz that broke the internet. The video showed him surrounded by cheering friends; his father even demanded he return the car.

This case isn’t isolated. There’s growing concern about fraud culture penetrating secondary schools, as teenagers seek fast money and flaunt luxury they can’t legitimately afford.

Many of these kids are introduced to online scams—“Yahoo boys,” sextortion, crypto scams—through peer networks and even cyber‑fraud academies known as “hustle kingdoms,” where minors as young as 13 learn swindling.

These stories reflect deep societal rot—education has failed, jobs are scarce, and criminal shortcuts seem easier than studying.

🧠 So, What Now?

This is not just a call‑out—it’s a warning.

If we continue like this:

• Even more graduates will flee the country (Japa).

• Education will be mocked, not admired.

• Skilled labor—not academic titles—will supply real value.

• Digital clout will officially become the new currency.

And worse: young kids in secondary school will view fraud as more viable than education.

🙏 The Hard Truth: Learn A Skill, Pray for Grace

Let’s be real: certificates don’t cook rice anymore.

The Peller debacle and the SS1 Benz story teach us one thing: Without skills, strategy, and moral grounding, your degree—or your name—might just be another fraud prop.

So to every Nigerian youth reading this:

• Yes, go to school. But also…

  • Learn photography

  • Learn video editing

  • Learn digital design

  • Learn coding

  • Learn sales

  • Learn something that can earn and sustain

Because when the country’s burning, your BSc won’t quench the fire. But real skills—and integrity—just might.

Stay informed. Stay skilled. Stay sane.

www.eyesoflagos.com