I debated the relevance of education in Africa.

So I will weigh my thoughts on a pendulum. If the pendulum swings to yes, I wonder why we have educated Africans who make little or no effort to enhance the social and economic well-being of the continent. I wonder why people with academic zeal are not supported or encouraged to be their best selves. I also wonder when top political leadership in Africa will be a reflection of the educated class.

Unfortunately, this continent with abundant human and material resources, arable land, and sunshine offers very little in terms of economic, infrastructural, social, and human development. Currently, African countries rank among the world’s most impoverished, with high infant mortality rates, high unemployment and inflation, civil unrest, and more. While Africa is endowed with resources, her leaders can’t manage them effectively. Graduates leave school with high hopes, having struggled through economic hardships. Then comes the governments with no clear plans to integrate these graduates into the workforce. So, is education relevant for the African youth?

When the desirable is absent, the available becomes desirable. Most of Africa’s graduates seek immediate jobs. Few want to start businesses or ventures. Even these may be limited by factors like lack of start-up capital. In search of jobs, graduates forget why they attended school in the first place. Can you imagine a Law or Finance graduate teaching Government or Mathematics in classrooms? As unemployment persists, graduates resort to many vices to make ends meet—crime rates like internet scams, kidnapping, robbery, drug dealing, and more are high, driven by unemployment. When I mention political leadership, I mean to highlight that while economic and social leadership are in the hands of the educated, political leadership is often held by the less educated. It is from these leaders that decisions affecting the welfare of the state originate. A blind man can’t lead a blind man.

Sometimes I think education isn’t doing much for the African youth. To improve the situation, we need to start with our political leadership. Every leader who refuses to prioritize education should not be allowed to lead.