A Nigerian university graduate has shocked viewers after filming himself tearing apart his academic certificates in a raw, emotionally charged video that has spread rapidly across social media.
In the selfie-style clip recorded indoors on October 10, the young man held up what appeared to be his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, showing a second class upper division result, alongside what he identified as his NYSC certificate, complete with his photograph. Moments later, he ripped the documents apart.
A Graduate at Breaking Point
Speaking directly to the camera in a distressed tone, the man made clear he felt abandoned. "You don't help me. You don't pay me. You don't pay for me," he said, his voice heavy with frustration as he gestured at the torn papers.
He indicated that he had no desire to pursue a career in line with his degree, expressing instead that he wanted to work as an English teacher, though he felt that ambition was also out of reach without support. The destruction of his certificates appeared to be a deliberate, symbolic act of protest rather than an impulsive moment.
The split-screen format of the video, showing his face alongside a close-up of the official documents before they were torn, gave viewers a stark look at both the credentials he had earned and the despair that led him to destroy them.
Unemployed Despite Qualifications
The graduate's outburst reflects a painful reality for many young Nigerians who complete university and national service only to find the job market unresponsive. Nigeria's unemployment and underemployment figures have remained a persistent concern, with millions of degree holders struggling to secure work that matches their qualifications.
Nothing in the video indicated that the man had any family or institutional backing in his search for work, and his words suggested he had reached a point where the certificates felt meaningless rather than valuable.