Opinion
Facts of Life: You Are Not Educated until You can Create Ideas
By Henry Ukazu
Hearty Greetings my dear friends!
Communicating and relating with you on a regular basis gives me not only joy and satisfaction but also fulfillment. As one of my positive mentors, Chief Dele Momodu, will say, ‘in order to remain relevant on social media, you must continually endeavor to feed your followers with information and updates to keep them engaged, otherwise they might lose interest in your work’. It is on this note, I try to update my tribe every week on resourceful topics that will not only inspire them, but also assist them in attaining success. This is my own little way of giving back to the society. By so doing, I’m educating progressive minds with resourceful information that has empowered me.
Today, we shall be discussing education and how it can serve as a pathway to success. We shall also be looking at various ways education can serve as a pathway to success and other component parts. Not only that, we will be discussing the contemporary and smart ways of educating oneself as opposed to the traditional style of education.
I was inspired to write about education being a pathway to success after listening to two terms former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi’s speech at an event which was organised by the Christian Covenant Centre under the auspices of Platform. Honestly, it is always good to listen to intelligent people when they speak or write because one has a great opportunity to learn from their secret of success.
Please permit me to share a word or two about the background of Mr. Peter Obi.
Mr. Obi is a trained and experienced Economist, Administrator and Politician. He sees himself priviledged to have attended some of the best schools in the world such as Harvard Business School, Boston, USA; London School of Economics UK; Columbia Business School, New York and Lagos Business School in Nigeria. Mr. Obi is also the Vice Presidential Candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2019 Nigerian presidential election; He was a Governor of Anambra State, one of the most resourceful and viable states in Nigeria.
In his speech, Mr. Peter Obi mentioned education as one of the most resourceful and viable tools to stimulate the economy. That speech really resonated in me, and I thought it nice to write about education but on a different note.
The focus of this article is how resourceful minds can tap into the indirect form of education to achieve their dreams. In this twenty-first century, you cannot underestimate the power and role of education for an emerging economy, and countries that have truly distinguished themselves in the comity of Nations. Education plays a great role in shaping the life of a progressive mind. This is because all civilized countries know that the only way to stamp their feet in the global world is by planning for tomorrow, and how does one plan for tomorrow? You plan for tomorrow by investing for the future through education. Investment in education is synonymous to your future. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. In civilized climes, they have taken education to the next level by investing in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). They didn’t stop at that; they try to empower their citizens through Research and Development to solve some of the challenges facing them.
I strongly believe that one of the greatest investment you can have in life is education. Education secures the future because it’s a form of security. Even the book of life states in Proverbs 4:13 “Your education is your life, guard it very well” and Hosea 4:6 “My people perish for lack of knowledge”.
That being said, we shall be looking at the component and the relative part of education as a way of leveraging oneself. There’s nothing good in life that comes easy. Every good product or success comes with a price tag. The same theory goes for education. The price of education is very expensive. I remember when I was seeking admission into one of Nigerian state universities to study Law. I met one of the admission officers who promised to assist me secure admission. I was excited about this opportunity until he told me the amount I have to pay as a kickback. The price sounded outrageous to me. When I asked him why I have to pay such amount of money as a kickback, he said: “young man if you think education is expensive, try ignorance”. That statement has always remained in my heart till date. I definitely agreed with him because if you compare and contrast the value of education and the price of ignorance, you will realize that education will definitely pay in the long run. Moral: If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.
What do we therefore mean by traditional form and style of education? It simply involves attending classes and preparing for exams. However, it should be noted that education is not only limited to getting degrees and certificates. Education also entails thinking out of the box, reading books outside your discipline, researching, learning from resourceful minds and developing oneself.
During one of my classes as graduate student studying Taxation at the New York Law School, a particular professor had told the students; ‘it is good to get good grades like As; but networking and developing oneself and following your passion are some of the things that will give you the desired opportunity you want in addition to defining you. What I literally got from that advice is, yes, it’s good to get good grades, but there’s more to success than getting the grades. He ended the class by telling us ‘you’ll understand what I’m saying when you graduate and start exploring job opportunities’.
No doubt, education is good, and the advantages numerous. A very big advantage of education is that it is the greatest leveler known to mankind just like money. Let me explain a bit. You can study in the same classroom with the son or daughter of any great man or woman and can even fall in love with the said being, especially when you know or understand the love language of the person in addition to being compatible to the being. This opportunity can even lead to marriage if properly nurtured. What I’m trying to say is that the son of certified pauper can be a man of means tomorrow if properly nurtured. Let me share a practical experience with you, I was privileged to attend one of the most expensive private universities in Nigeria, and I had the opportunity of meeting the children of top government officials, politicians, businessmen, ambassadors, and technocrats. Ordinarily, I felt a little bit uneasy relating with them because of the class status, but it didn’t take me long to adjust to the system when I saw the value I was bringing to the table and knowing full well we are the same. The secret to this feat was because of the exposure I got from education. Furthermore, I have been privileged to meet high profile people in the world in the USA because of the value I bring to the table, but more especially, because I have been properly educated to speak and communicate in the language they understand.
Be informed however, that education does not guarantee success; stories abound of so many great people who have been able to succeed in life without getting the traditional style of education. For example, the wealthiest Black woman in the world, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija; Henry Ford, Shawn Corey Carter popularly know as Jay -Z, Richard Branson and many more are accomplished individuals who believed in themselves, explored their talents and worked hard to develop themselves by learning from their failures.
Again, education creates opportunities. According to Steve Jobs, innovation distinguishes a leader from a follower. When you create a product that solves a problem, there’s a high tendency you will find people who will need your products. According to Albert Einstein, “try not to be a man of success, try to be a man of value. A good education makes you to think out of the box. It makes you creative. It broadens your mind in addition to exposing you to resourceful information. A good education is like traveling because it gets you exposed to world affairs. It’s quite unfortunate that sometimes we complain of not having time, money, or opportunities. We forget that time is like money. Whenever you say you don’t have money, it invariably means you don’t have time to read and research. It’s important to note that ideas are what creates money. Education will not literally give you money, it will open doors of opportunity for you to explore. For example, instead of waiting to get funds for a formal education, how about visiting websites, researching for online and offline companies that offer free courses and equip yourself with knowledge. Moral: Never allow an opportunity to meet you unprepared.
You might have the best of education, but you might not be as successful as someone who has empowered his/her mind. Having faith and belief in oneself is very critical to success.
According to Muhammed Ali “The man who has no imagination has no wings”. This is the reason some entrepreneurs who never had the opportunity of going to a school were able to succeed more than those who attended universities.
According to Robert Collier “Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself”. One story of interest that comes to mind is that of John Sculley, the former CEO of Pepsi who left Pepsi to join Steve jobs in his company. Steve Jobs told John Sculley “Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life? Or do you want to come with me and change the world?” The rest they say is history. The interesting part of this analysis is that Steve Jobs trusted his innate ability to achieve success and the knowledge he had can’t be acquired within the four walls of a classroom. It was this same innate ability that made the bank to give him and Bill Gate two million dollars when they presented their ideas to them. The question now is did they go to school to acquire this knowledge? The answer is no. They developed their minds, believed in themselves and above all, educated themselves by learning from their failures.
Finally, a major form of indirect knowledge and education in our contemporary society is social media. Testimonies abound of people who have gained a lot by mere listening to a podcast, videos, and reading online messages on Twitters, Facebooks, LinkedIn, Instagram and relevant articles from resourceful minds. Education has truly gone global. Social media has made the world much closer and easier to learn. What literally took Mr. A five to ten years to acquire in the classroom can simply be gotten via researching and listening to people with authoritative form of knowledge who have expertise in the subject matter in question. But it’s quite unfortunate a lot of people spend valuable time and resources listening and watching online information that won’t add value to their lives
In conclusion, I’m not insinuating that formal education is not important, please it is very important. If you have the opportunity to get one, please do, because that alone is education itself. However, as mentioned earlier, it is not the yardstick for success.
Have a great weekend!
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He can be reached via henrous@gmail.com
By Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
“Global legacy is engineered from the inside out: a deliberate process of aligning your native capabilities with the world’s unmet challenges, executed through systems of deliberate iteration, and refined by treating every setback as data to calibrate your contribution to a greater whole” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
In an era defined by hyper-connectivity and rapid change, the potential for an individual to create a global impact has never been greater. Yet, the path from obscurity to meaningful influence is rarely a straight line. It is a deliberate journey of self-discovery, strategic positioning, and relentless execution.
The critical first step on this path is not building a website or networking with influencers. It is turning the lens inward. To change the world, you must first master the most complex system you will ever manage: yourself.
This guide provides a professional framework for conducting a rigorous self-audit—a strategic review of your assets, positioning, and systems—to build a foundation for authentic and scalable global impact.
Introduction: Why Self-Audit?
A self-audit is a structured, honest assessment of your current state. For professionals and aspiring change-makers, it serves as a strategic baseline. It moves you from vague ambition (“I want to make a difference”) to targeted strategy (“Here is the specific problem I am equipped to solve, for this specific audience, using these specific skills”).
Without this audit, efforts are scattered, messaging is unclear, and burnout is inevitable. With it, you gain clarity, focus, and a powerful roadmap for growth.
The Pillars of the Global Impact Self-Audit
Conduct your audit by evaluating these four core pillars. Approach each with radical honesty, documenting your findings.
Pillar 1: Core Competencies & Value Inventory
What tangible and intangible assets do you possess? This is an inventory of your raw materials.
· Technical Skills (The “What”): List your hard skills. Coding, data analysis, writing, public speaking, financial modeling, surgical precision, graphic design. Be specific. Rate your proficiency (Novice, Competent, Proficient, Expert).
· Human Skills (The “How”): These are your superpowers in a globalized world. How do you operate?
o Communication: Can you explain complex ideas simply? Across cultures?
o Empathy: Can you understand and feel the needs of others?
o Leadership: Do you inspire, manage, or coordinate effectively?
o Adaptability: How do you handle ambiguity and change?
· Knowledge Capital: What unique information or perspectives do you hold? This could be deep expertise in a niche industry, unconventional life experiences, or a novel synthesis of existing ideas.
· Passion & Curiosity: What problems ignite your energy? What questions keep you up at night? Impact without passion is unsustainable.
Audit Question: If you had to teach a master-class on one thing, what would it be?
Pillar 2: Market & Impact Alignment
Your skills only matter if they meet a world in need. This pillar connects your internal inventory to external realities.
· Problem Identification: What global or local problems are you uniquely agitated by? Is it educational inequality, plastic pollution, financial illiteracy, or access to healthcare? Define the problem with precision.
· Target Audience: Who are you serving? “Everyone” is not an audience. Be specific: “Young women in Southeast Asia seeking STEM education,” or “Small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa needing climate-resilient techniques.”
· Competitive Landscape: Who else is solving this problem? Analyze their solutions. Don’t see them merely as competitors; see them as validation that the problem exists. What can you offer that is different, better, or more targeted? This is your unique value proposition (UVP).
· Cultural Context: For global impact, cultural intelligence is non-negotiable. Do you understand the cultural nuances, communicatio3n styles, and unspoken rules of the audience you wish to serve?
Audit Question: What is the one problem you are uniquely positioned to solve, for whom, and why is your approach needed now?
Pillar 3: Systems & Infrastructure Audit
Ideas are ephemeral; impact requires execution. This audit assesses your operational capacity.
· Personal Productivity: How do you manage your time, energy, and focus? Are your systems robust or do you rely on willpower? Do you have deep work blocks or are you constantly distracted?
· Learning Engine: The world changes fast. What is your system for continuous learning? This includes reading, taking courses, attending conferences, and seeking mentors.
· Network & Relationships: Map your network. Who are your mentors, peers, and mentees? Is your network diverse, spanning industries, cultures, and ideologies? Strong networks amplify impact.
· Digital Presence: Your digital footprint is your global storefront. Does your LinkedIn profile accurately reflect your aspirations? Does your portfolio showcase your best work? Is your communication professional and consistent across platforms?
Audit Question: If you were hired to be the CEO of “You, Inc.”, what is the first operational system you would overhaul to improve output?
Pillar 4: Mindset & Metacognition
This is the foundational pillar. Your mindset dictates how you interpret challenges and opportunities.
· Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: Do you believe your abilities are static (fixed) or can be developed (growth)? A growth mindset is essential for the inevitable setbacks on the path to impact.
· Resilience & Grit: How do you handle failure? Do you see it as a verdict or as data?
· Bias Awareness: What are your unconscious biases? How might they blind you to better solutions or more inclusive approaches? Global impact requires humility and self-awareness.
· Vision & Purpose: Can you articulate your “why” in a single, compelling sentence? This is your North Star, guiding every decision.
Audit Question: What is the one story you tell yourself that holds you back from a greater impact? How can you reframe it?
From Audit to Action: Building Your Impact Roadmap
An audit is useless without action. Synthesize your findings into a strategic plan.
1. Synthesize: Look for patterns across the four pillars. Where does your passion (Pillar 1) intersect with a pressing world problem (Pillar 2)? What skills do you need to build (Pillar 1) and what systems must you create (Pillar 3) to bridge the gap?
2. Prioritize: You cannot do everything at once. Based on your audit, identify:
· One skill to develop or enhance.
· One system to implement (e.g., a new time-blocking method).
· One small project to test your hypothesis and deliver value to a tiny segment of your target audience.
3. Execute & Iterate: Launch your micro-project. Gather feedback. Measure results. Learn. This agile approach prevents paralysis and provides real-world data to refine your strategy. Re-audit yourself quarterly.
Conclusion: The Journey is the Impact
The goal of this self-audit is not to arrive at a final destination called “Global Impact.” The process of continuous self-assessment, learning, and adaptation is itself the work of creating impact.
By knowing yourself with clarity, aligning your unique value with the world’s deep needs, and building systems for execution, you transform from a passive participant in the global economy to an active architect of a better future. Start your audit today. The world is waiting for the value that only you can provide.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for professional and personal development purposes. The framework provided is a guideline and should be adapted to individual circumstances and goals.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a Recipient of the Nigerian Role Models Award (2024), and a Distinguished Ambassador For World Peace (AMBP-UN).
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
To succeed in life endeavours, everyone needs clear cut opportunities to utilize. But opportunities don’t come easy, and most times, one needs to go all out to create them. When opportunity comes, the big question one needs to ask himself is, is this for me? I say this because sometimes when opportunity comes, and the recipient is not equipped to handle it, it has the capacity to cause more harm than good.
In other situations, when one gets an opportunity, he can decide to take it up head-on and challenge himself towards positive delivery just as some schools of thought opine that when an assignment, job or opportunity, beyond one’s grasp, is given, it’s advisable to take it, learn through it and deliver exponentially. While all these have been proved, it is important for one to have a discerning spirit so as to understand when to take up an opportunity, and when to let it slide.
Personally speaking, I remember during my formative years in the USA, when I was privileged to be the Public Relations Officer for the Nigerian Lawyers Association, I wasn’t mentally, academically and socially ready to take on the tasks that come with the office. In all sincerity and humility, I took a risk to try my luck and as fate would have it, nobody applied for the position, I was literally elected unopposed.
When it was time to do the job, I had a hard time. My writing was indeed horrible. I literally learned on the job. In retrospect, if I am asked if I will do the same thing again, I will probably say yes simply because it afforded me the opportunity to network locally and internationally. Most of the resourceful people I know today were facilitated by the position. The position also enabled me to fail, and learn fast because I know that if I fail, the shame will first rub off on me.
Why am I saying this? The opportunity I got serving the Nigerian Lawyers Association didn’t come to me, I had to create it by taking a risk. Be advised, I was literally new in the USA, and yet to acclimatize with their writing style and professional lifestyle. Assuming I had to wait for a perfect time to take the opportunity, most of the opportunities I have today may not have been feasible. So, the opportunity cost for me was the associated mistakes I made due to my limited writing and human relationship skills.
Why is this explanation relevant to this article? As human beings, we all seek for opportunities to showcase what we have. Sometimes, when we have these opportunities and utilize them, we don’t get to shine, get recognized or even rewarded handsomely. There might be several reasons this may happen. It may be a case of not being prepared or the right season for one to be appreciated is not yet due.
I say this because we all have our time to shine. Your time and my time may not be the same. It’s imperative for one to understand there’s a season for everything on earth. In politics, sometimes certain candidates win an election due to the pulse of the nation or global practices. Every artist, athlete, pastor, politician, wealthy man, boss or employee has their time to shine. When one’s time and season comes, it can’t be stopped because the universe will conspire with humanity to bring it to existence.
The truth is, there is a time and season for everything. A time to be born and time to die. There is a dry season and a rainy season. There’s Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring season. There’s also a time to sow and time to harvest. All these seasons have what they are known for, and so it is difficult to manifest positively and successfully if your time has not come, unless by divine intervention. When you do what you are supposed to do in your season, you will be recognized and celebrated.
As an employee, your time and season for recognition and promotion is coming; as a student your time for celebration is coming, as a believer, your time for blessing is coming; as an entrepreneur, your time for business expansion is coming; as a broke person, your time for financial wealth is coming; as an athlete, your time for celebration is coming. The list is endless. So, pending when your time comes, continue to work on yourself by doing the needful.
It’s also instructive to note that if you manifest before your time, you will suffer failure, unfruitfulness and pain. This almost happened to me when I was the Public Relations Officer for the Nigerian Lawyers Association. To be honest, I screwed up sometimes, and had a hard time navigating my way. This is part of the price one pays for not being prepared for a job. My only saving grace was that I had superiors, who sometimes did the needful, and mentors who were like elders and fathers to me. These mentors encouraged me.
When faced with this scenario of undue manifestation, sit back and cooperate with your time and season. Just like you can’t rush destiny, you don’t have to rush your time. If you manifest at the right time, you will experience unprecedented blessings, divine location, open doors and breakthroughs. When your time and season come, you will be unstoppable. You cannot be extinguished, relegated or ignored. No power can cover or stop you. You will shine and blossom. Any power fighting against you will fail and be extinguished.
During your season everything will work for your good. Wherever you may be, favour will locate you, but if it is not your season, your sweat and labour won’t be noticed, remembered, recognized, honored and located. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-9 says there’s time for everything.
Question: Are you working according to your time? Are you working in your season? To know if you are working in your season, check if you are getting favours and recognition. If the answer is no, be mindful of your time so you don’t waste time and opportunities.
In conclusion, just like the time clock ticks, everybody’s time and season is different. So, while applying patience and perseverance in your pursuit of happiness, also ask the Lord to locate and bless the works of your hands at the right time because as you rightly know, the Book of life says every Good thing comes from the Lord.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
