Education is considered by many Nigerians to be the gateway to success and the passport to a better life. Debunking this myth that one cannot be successful without a formal education are these successful Nigerians who have been able to survive life’s challenges and cross the hurdle of a formal education to become who they are today. Take a look at some of Nigeria’s mist successful individuals who didn’t have formal education or complete schooling experiences.

1) Cosmos-Maduka: If you are a lover of cars then you are certain to have heard of the name Cosmos Maduka. He is the founder of Coscharis Group, which is the sole distributor of BMW vehicles in West Africa. He dropped out of elementary school and became an apprentice at a tender age of seven. Today he sits atop one of the biggest conglomerates that Nigeria can boast of.

2) Vincent Obianodo:
The name Vincent Obianodo might not sound familiar but you can’t help but to have heard of his transportation company “The Young Shall Grow Motors.” He is also the owner of Rockview hotels and his transport company is supposedly the largest in Nigeria. This astute businessman had humble beginnings and not much education but today, he is one of Nigeria’s most successful businessmen.

3) Folorunsho Alakija:
Folorunsho Alakija Ranked not only as Nigeria’s richest woman, according to Forbes ratings, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija is Africa’s richest woman. The wealthy billionaire who as at 2012 is estimated to be worth $2.5 billion revealed recently that she never attended a university. She made this revelation at the United Nations International Youth Day held at the University of Lagos.

4) Razaq Akanni Okoya:
A Nigerian billionaire industrialist, he is the founder of Eleganza Group which has a marketing span across West Africa. The lack of a proper education was not a barrier to Razaq Okoya in his quest for success. He had his only formal education at Ansar-un-deen primary School, Oke popo, Lagos.

5) Michael Collins Ajere (Don Jazzy):
Prolific music producer and C.E.O of Mavin Records, Michael Collins better known as Don Jazzy is one of Nigeria’s successful Nigerians that didn’t need education to attain greatness. He was ranked the second most bankable artiste in Africa by Channel O and Forbes Africa, interesting to note is that he dropped out of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma in his first year.

6) Mercy Johnson
Mercy Johnson, is a Nigerian actress who made her acting debut in the movie, “The Maid” in which she played the role of a possessed house help. Her performance in the movie shot her into the limelight and has acted in other major movies ever since. Mercy reveals she got into the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) because she failed her Jamb exam. Johnson has appeared in over 60 movies.
Looking at this, u find out that education is not a barrier for u not 2 get rich. Some of us says dat we were sent 2 school 2 be success in life. Apart from some educated politicians how many educated men/women do u know that are wealthy today? So let's not be foolish by believing dat its only thru education dat one can make it in life and let us not be waiting 4 government for jobs/opportunities because they only knows about themselves and how 2 win or embezzle money. I knw hw old I was wen I started hearing dat Children/youths are d leaders of tomorrow but til now, d people dat I know then as senators, governors, presidents etc. are stil on seat and are stil fighting 4 one position and d other, so wht about d youths, they are 4goten.
So its better 2 start now working on ur dreams than spending d rest of ur life working 4 somebody who have already built his/her dreams. STILL ON D MATTER, Be a business owner. Inbox me 2 identify ur dreams and achieve ur goals.

great piece. but does not mean we all have to drop out of school. Dangote has University degrees

people should stop discouraging people from going to school, cos it's not only when u finish university or college that u have gone to school. when you learn methods and ways of applying things u are schooling. Education is an unending process, Mercy Johnson aspired to go to school if not she wouldn't have written jamb, let's just say her period of waiting made her discover her talent same with others, most of this successful people u recount wil tell u bout the destination very few give u an insight to the journey and process, some were divinely favoured others worked extremely hard, some got their dreams and felt there was no need to continue in the university, but all of them were schooled whether home schooled, self tutored, mentored, they were all schooled. All of the people I know that don't school end up worthless...it all depends on the type of schooling, education is vital. you don't have to get a degree to show you are educated cos u may even have read more books in life than those who went to a constructed school. It all depends on how you improve yourself as an individual, Alakija was fortunate to own a well block, if I were given a well block today would I manage it to bring me so much profit as it has brought Alakija...Individual Improvement is a continuous process and it is unending

Don't let other people choose your careers. Don't get locked in other people's prisons they've set up just for you. Personal freedom starts from the inside but ultimately turns you into a giant, freeing you from the chains the little people spent years tying around you.Some people work for others and become highly successful some work for themselves and still become very unsuccessful, we could also list a whole names of people who became successful working for others. it all depends on You. Not everyone is destined to be on their own, some are made to help build, Jesus was an entrepreneur and had others who helped build. Live and let live, this idea of Entrepreneurship is over emphasised yet there are no jobs, if we had do many people successful in Entrepreneurship, there wouldn't be joblessness cos entrepreneurs would be begging individuals to come build their dreams, anoda person dream can be ur dream too u know

bookason100:
great piece. but does not mean we all have to drop out of school. Dangote has University degrees

When do u think dat he got d certificate? Is it nt in dis old age?