Why a degree is not the only key to success (and what really builds wealth)

Over 60% of today’s billionaires never finished university.

Yet many Nigerians still hear the same old line:
“Without a degree, you’re finished.”

That line has quietly killed more dreams than poverty. It has made brilliant minds doubt themselves, pause their ideas, and shrink their potential just because they didn’t have a certificate.

But here’s the truth: a degree is great, but it’s not destiny.

When I read Femi Otedola’s story, something inside me paused.

He dropped out of school. His mum cried, understandably. But his dad smiled and said something that shook me:
“Olorun l’omo ise asela.”
Meaning, only God knows which work truly brings wealth.

That single sentence shaped Otedola’s life. It became his permission slip to pursue destiny without apology.

Years later, Otedola said, “A degree is not a criterion for success before God.”

And honestly, he’s right.

Because God gives assignments, not syllabuses.

Some He sends to classrooms.
Some to studios.
Some to farms.
Some to code.
Some to craft.

Purpose, backed by results, is the real certificate.

The value of school and what comes after

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to downgrade education. Far from it.

Formal education opens doors but only self-education keeps those doors open.

The classroom ends, but growth doesn’t.

If you stop learning after your graduation, you’ve already started declining. Because in this world, what you know today can become outdated by tomorrow morning.

So, keep learning. Keep asking questions. Keep building.

A young man in the UK once wrote to me. He said he felt “finished” because he didn’t finish school.

Today, that same young man is winning awards at work.

Another lady wrote in tears, regretting that she dropped out of uni. Today, she’s a Senior Product Manager leading a global team, and her product just won an international award.

If you can, go to school. But if you missed school, don’t write yourself off.

Because your destiny didn’t drop out.

Look at the patterns around you

Razaq Okoya – stopped after primary school, built Eleganza.
Innocent Chukwuma – from spare parts apprentice to Innoson Motors.
Vincent Obianodo – from vulcanizer to Young Shall Grow Motors.
Folorunsho Alakija – no university, now an oil billionaire.
Mohammed Indimi – from hides trader to oil tycoon.

These are not fairy tales. They are Nigerians who refused to let a classroom define their capacity.

The real gap between the rich and the poor isn’t education, it’s habits.

The rich learn daily. The poor stop learning once school ends.
The rich take action. The poor keep waiting for permission.
The rich build systems. The poor chase survival.

Even abroad, the story remains the same

Rockefeller started work at 16.
Henry Ford built his first car at 33.
Soichiro Honda was an apprentice at 15.
Ray Kroc bought McDonald’s at 52.
Bill Gates dropped out and built Microsoft.

None of them waited for “perfect timing.” They started with what they had, then educated themselves into mastery.

That’s the secre, they never stopped learning.

They realised talent is never enough.
They turned ordinary gifts into rare skills.
They noticed problems others ignored.
They stayed consistent when nobody clapped.
They turned sweat into systems, and systems into success.

That’s what I call the real MBA, Massive Belief in Action.

How you can start building your own success story

Let’s break it down practically.

1. Decide who you want to become.
Success is not random. Clarity is your compass. If you don’t define yourself, life will define you for you.

2. Learn something daily that brings you closer to that version of yourself.
You don’t need to break the bank, platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or YouTube have free courses that can change your mindset and your bank account.

3. Solve a small problem in a better way.
That’s how businesses are born, from noticing what people complain about and fixing it better, faster, cheaper.

4. Use tech to reach beyond borders.
The internet is the new classroom and marketplace combined. Your customers can live in Lagos, London, or Los Angeles, if you show up online.

5. Build a simple structure before you scale.
Even small hustles need order. Have a plan, track your income, and separate business from personal money.

6. Reinvest profits and stay humble.
The goal isn’t to show off, it’s to grow up. Let your money work before you make noise.

That’s how ordinary Nigerians quietly become global stories.

What God really rewards

“Do you see a man diligent in his work? He will stand before kings.” (Proverbs 22:29)

Notice, it didn’t say “a man with degrees.” It said diligent.

Excellence always finds its way to the top.
Even God rewards consistency over certificates.

So, if you didn’t finish school, your story isn’t over, it’s just under construction.

And if you did finish, remember: your certificate is only your entry ticket. The real work starts when you keep learning, doing, and growing.

Because in the end, the future doesn’t belong to the most educated. It belongs to the most consistent.

So, keep learning. Keep building. Keep believing.

And remember, we don’t grow by learning alone.
We grow by doing.

Grab the gist?