The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Nigeria recently opened up job applications with an age limit that has sparked widespread concern: only applicants aged 27 and below are eligible. For many young Nigerians, this means that pursuing an education could actually stand in the way of their eligibility for a stable, sought-after job in one of the country’s major government agencies. If you’re nearing the end of university and inching close to this age limit, the message is clear: your degree might come at the cost of opportunities in the job market. In short, if you’re 23 or older and still in school, you might want to start rethinking whether continuing your education will really pay off.

The average Nigerian student might enter the university around the age of 17 or 18, assuming they had no interruptions in their education. But the reality for many is that challenges—like gaps in academic calendars, delayed admissions, strikes, and financial constraints—can mean years of delay. This makes it hard for students to complete their degrees before hitting 27. And now, with FIRS setting such a strict age limit, it’s a brutal wake-up call: even with a completed university education, you could still find yourself ineligible for key opportunities because of age.

Consider the implications: to remain competitive in a landscape where a 27-year cutoff is standard, young Nigerians would need to prioritize work experience over academic qualifications. For those who began university at 18 and go through four to five years of study, they could already be 23 or 24 by graduation—leaving them with just a few years to secure such opportunities before they age out of eligibility.

While there’s no doubt that age limits for government jobs aim to keep the workforce youthful and adaptable, it raises a serious question: what value does the system place on education if the structure itself makes it nearly impossible to benefit from it? If we’re telling young Nigerians to skip higher education to stand a chance at a good job, what message does that send about the country’s priorities?

The reality is that anyone currently 23 or older may need to accept that a traditional university route could end up limiting their chances, especially in public sector jobs like those at FIRS. The takeaway for younger Nigerians is harsh but real: if you aspire to these types of government jobs, higher education might be a luxury you can’t afford in terms of time.

Perhaps it’s time for FIRS and similar institutions to reconsider age restrictions that indirectly discourage further education. If the goal is to build a competent workforce, the focus should be on skills and merit, not just age. The irony is that in the rush to keep the workforce young, the system might actually be discouraging the very educational pursuits that foster innovation, critical thinking, and expertise.

As it stands, young Nigerians are left with a tough choice: prioritize work experience and forgo a degree, or pursue higher education and risk missing out on opportunities. It’s a decision that no young person should have to make, but until policy changes, it’s the reality we’re dealing with.

I recently argued that many caretakers looking after the properties of those living abroad are the true owners or beneficiaries of these properties.

Usually, an African will erect a beautiful house back home while living abroad and then another person called a caretaker will be employed to live in the house, enjoy the house and watch over the house every day.

The legal/actual owner visits once a year for about 2-3 weeks to enjoy the property. The caretaker enjoys it every day.

Interestingly, the caretakers enjoy the property right from completion, when everything is fresh and beautiful. The legal owner may finally return home 10 or 15 years later, if lucky, to enjoy the remnant of the property; when style, taste, and beauty have all diminished.

Why? Because we are told this is what we ought to do. Build back home when you are never there, spend your money on things far away from you, for others to enjoy.

Even if I was not a minimalist, I couldn’t also see any good reason why a person with a family size of 3 or 4, wife and a child or two children, would build a 9-bedroom house in Africa; leaving about 6 rooms empty all the time to be occupied probably by the ghosts of their ancestors. Obviously a wastage in having a 9-bedroom family house, that the rooms are never used by the family, and the cost of maintenance is always a financial drain or another waste of resources.

You wouldn’t go and buy 10 doughnuts in the morning and just eat 3 and throw away the 7, simply because you can afford them. So why do the same with buildings?

I know someone who is building a 12-bedroom house in his village as his personal residence and this has taken 9 years so far, he is still on it. In the meantime, he is renting a small room in the US and he says he will one day leave to go back home to live in his mansion. He may die in US. Currently the design of this mansion is even outdated, and he has at least 5 years more to complete based on the pace.
In 2018, a certain young man, 43 years, died in the USA from a heart attack while asleep. It was 3 days after his death that he was found. He too was living in a small room, working 16 hours a day for 6 days and putting all his monies into building a 9-bedroom house back home on a piece of land he bought. When he died, his family/wife sold the house. It was too big for them to even maintain if it was completed. This was not also completed.

A lot of Africans abroad indeed build houses back home to create a certain impression of themselves or just to show off, and while doing so, they forget to live in the moment thinking they will one day, when on pension or old, go and enjoy these houses.
Who is an old man or woman going to impress? At 65 and over, you will be frail, battling to live each day and no one will care. How many people really live to enjoy anything beyond the pension age? At age 65 or 70. What would you be doing with a 12-bedroom residential house? In fact, how are you going to climb the stairs at that age?

When white people get old, they sell their huge houses to downsize, but we seem to want to live like rats when young and energetic, and then live like kings and queens when we are about to die.
While we must plan for the future, we must do so prudently and with the wisdom that today is all we really have, the future is a probability. Don’t grossly neglect your now because of a probability; tomorrow.
Invest in your future but do so while living a meaningful and balanced life today.

Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has recently made a plea to the Zambian people for a second chance in the 2026 elections, claiming that he is now wiser and ready to rectify the mistakes of the past. However, Zambians and Africans should critically evaluate his past tenure before considering his bid for re-election. The failures and controversies that marked Lungu’s presidency should serve as a cautionary tale against granting him another term in office.

Edgar Lungu’s presidency, from 2015 to 2021, was marred by numerous issues, chief among them being rampant corruption. Under his administration, allegations of mismanagement of public funds and resources were rampant. Reports of corruption involving government officials and the mishandling of national resources were frequent, undermining public trust in the government. The infamous “Fire Truck Scandal,” where the government purchased 42 fire trucks at an exorbitant price, is just one example of the questionable financial decisions made during his tenure. These incidents of corruption eroded public confidence and diverted much-needed resources away from essential services and development projects.

Lungu’s tenure was also characterized by the rise of “caderism,” where political cadres or supporters engaged in violence and intimidation against opposition parties and citizens. This culture of violence and intimidation stifled democratic processes and created an atmosphere of fear and instability. The politicization of the police force and other state institutions further exacerbated the situation, leading to a compromised rule of law and justice system. Such actions not only undermined democracy but also hindered Zambia’s progress and development.

During Lungu’s presidency, Zambia’s economy faced significant challenges. Despite being one of Africa’s most promising economies, Zambia experienced high levels of debt, inflation, and unemployment under Lungu’s watch. The national debt ballooned to unsustainable levels, leading to economic instability and hardship for ordinary Zambians. The failure to effectively manage the economy and implement necessary reforms contributed to a decline in living standards and increased poverty.

In contrast, the current President, Hakainde Hichilema, has shown a commitment to addressing the issues that plagued Lungu’s administration. Since taking office in 2021, Hichilema has focused on economic reform, anti-corruption measures, and improving governance. His administration has made strides in restoring the rule of law, promoting transparency, and reviving the economy. Under Hichilema’s leadership, Zambia has seen renewed hope for economic recovery and development.

The plea from former President Edgar Lungu for a second chance in 2026 should be met with critical scrutiny by Zambians and Africans at large. His previous tenure was marked by corruption, mismanagement, and political violence, which significantly hindered Zambia’s progress. Supporting President Hakainde Hichilema, who is actively working to rectify these issues and lead Zambia towards a brighter future, is the more prudent choice. Zambians should look forward, not backward, and continue to support leaders who prioritize transparency, accountability, and development.