Certificate, “Sabificate” and Mounting Bills: Polemics -By Angel Egharevba Osaretin

In Nigeria today, many young people enter the university believing that a certificate is a golden ticket to a better life. Parents tighten their belts, sell valuables and sometimes borrow money just to see their children through school. Trying their best as much as possible to meet up with university inquires such as school fees, faculty dues , screening file and other necessities. After years of burning the midnight oil, struggling with difficult and easy assignments, cost of living catching up with early morning class and sleepless night reading for exam . Graduate expect to reap the fruits of their labour. Sadly with the current economy, view for the story does not end that way.

The word “sabificate” has become a popular phrase among Nigerian graduates who feel that their certificates have failed to put food on the table. They move from one job interview to another, only to be told that experience is needed. As the saying goes, “na who wear shoe know where e dey pain am .” The struggle is real, especially at a time when bills are piling up faster than ants gathering around sugar.

Some people argue that certificates have become mere paper qualifications, useful only for decorating sitting-room walls. Others insist that education remains the key and that throwing away certificates because of present difficulties is like throwing away the baby with the bathwater. After all, knowledge can never be taken away from a person.
The truth is that the problem goes beyond certificates. The labour market is crowded, opportunities are limited, and many graduates are left to hustle from hand to mouth. In such circumstances, it is not surprising that debates over certificates, “sabificates” and mounting bills continue to generate heat.

At the heart of this debate is education itself. Education is more than the certificate handed to a graduate on convocation day. It is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and critical thinking abilities that prepare individuals for life and work. Teachers, lecturers, professors, and other education professionals invest years in shaping students, believing that education remains one of the most reliable pathways to personal and national development. Yet, as tuition fees continue to rise and many graduates struggle to secure meaningful employment, questions are increasingly being asked about whether the certificate still holds the value it once did.

At the end of the day, education should not only produce certificate holders but problem solvers and job creators. Otherwise, many graduates will continue to ask whether all their years in school were worth the candle. As Nigerians would say, “person no fit chop certificate.” A qualification is important, but it becomes truly valuable when it can help put bread on the table and improve lives. Looking at the situation critically, it is unfair to dismiss certificates as worthless. The real issue is that the number of graduates being produced every year is not matching the opportunities available in the labour market. Education remains valuable, but it should be backed by practical skills and an environment where graduates can thrive.

Personally Despite the frustrations that have given rise to the word “sabificate,” I believe a certificate is still worth having. It may not guarantee instant employment or financial success, but it remains a symbol of knowledge, perseverance and personal growth, just as the Delta state university Motto depicts “KNOWLEDGE , CHARACTER,AND SERVICE. The challenges facing graduates today are more a reflection of economic realities than the value of education itself. a certificate may not solve every problem, it still opens doors and provides opportunities that many people without formal education may never have.