Forget Certificates, Focus on Performance: Kenyan Impersonator Case Sparks Nigerian Debate

A viral story from Kenya about a young man who successfully practiced law without a license serves as a striking example of prioritizing practical delivery over paper qualifications. The man, who was inspired to enter the legal profession by observing court proceedings, managed to defend 26 clients and win their cases before his deception was uncovered by the government.

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This real life story literally shreds our worship of paper qualifications over practical delivery of outcomes.

Despite being prosecuted for impersonation and false representation, the story suggests he even managed to win his case against the government. This real-life drama underscores a recurring debate in Nigeria, particularly surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's educational qualifications. Critics have questioned his primary, secondary, and even undergraduate records, with some demanding proof of his origins.

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Those currently reopening the Tinubu certificate epic are simply lazy or jobless. Why can’t they find issues from Tinubu’s stewardship as president to wrestle him on?

However, the article argues against this focus on certificates. It points out that Tinubu has served as a senator, a two-term governor of Lagos State, and is nearing the end of his first term as president, demonstrating significant experience and competence in public office. The author contends that questioning his qualifications based solely on missing certificates, especially after years of successful public service, is either lazy or a distraction from evaluating his actual performance as president.

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A man who has occupied this litany of public offices cannot be said to be unqualified simply because he cannot show his school certificates in public.