Education remains the most important tool for behavioural reform and economic emancipation. It is not only a leveler in the society, it is the only legacy any parent or country can bequeath their children and citizens. The importance of education can never be overstretched. It covers everything. In fact, it is everything. Both the rich and the poor pursue knowledge. The world would have been nothing without knowledge. Human beings would have been nothing without education.

Unfortunately, education is being bastardised in many African countries particular in Nigeria where I have a direct experience. It is important to state that going to school is not limited to securing jobs (either white, grey, green or blue collar) after graduation. It is unforgivable to reduce years of rigorous educational development to securing job somewhere.

Of a truth, the type of society we are have made us to believe that automatic employment from government or private sector should follow graduation. This is a half-truth. In short, it is a quarter truth today. This was marketable when there was a dire need of white-collar staff at the early years of independence and when the population of graduates was growing at arithmetic progression. In today’s world, it is a complete waste of academic years to limit graduation from universities and other tertiary institutions to securing paid jobs.

The mentality of running after good grades in school for the purpose of securing jobs after graduation is unfortunate. Pursuing knowledge is the ultimate. With a good knowledge of your field of study and a layman knowledge of fields outside your field of study, the sky will be the beginning of one’s greatness. With these, one will create, innovate and solve societal problems through one’s space of influence. In return, one will smile to the bank.

The first and major thing education should do in a person is behavioural reform. Everyone should be able to see and say that one is educated through one’s behaviour. One’s actions, decisions making process and choices should reflect behavioural reform.

Secondly, as an educated fellow, securing a government or private job is a plus. If this does not come or has not come, it does not mean that your education is a waste. Rather, look deep into your wealth of knowledge and figure out what you can do. Humanity needs your ingenuity. Skills and skill acquisition are and have always been key. Any skill or trade one has, your education should boost your chance of success in it

The Federal High Court in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has sentenced 14 internet fraudsters to jail, having pleaded guilty to various charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

The head, media and publicity of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, made this known on Tuesday in a statement, naming the convicts as Victor Chikeluba Ogadibo, Unwana Aniefiok Edem, Michael Omos, Emediong Iwoenang, Christian Alvan Okechukwu, and Anozie Chinonso Franklin.

The others are; Clinton Njoku Onyekachi, Princewill Chisom Egerue, Akpodiete Moses, Innocent Samuel Japhet, Ugwuegbu Fredrick Ikenna, Ndulaka Felix Chukwuebuka, Opara Ozioma Daniel, and Ogbuechi Anderson Ifeanyi

“One of the separate count charges reads: ‘That you Clinton Njoku Onyekachi (A.K.A Casey Nelson Cooper) on or about the 8th day of August 2020 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently impersonated Casey Nelson Cooper (An American soldier) on social media (Instagram) and defrauded Veronica (An Indonesian) in the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2000) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) & (b) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (b) (iv) of the same Act.”

The judge, Justice Simeon Amobeda, while delivering judgment, convicted and sentenced the defendants as follows; Unwana, Fredrick, and Franklin were sentenced to six months imprisonment, each with an option of fine of N500,000; while Clinton, Anderson, Victor, Felix, and Opara bagged six months imprisonment each with an option of fine of N200,000.

The court further ordered that Clinton, Victor and Anderson restitute the sum of $2,000 and $3,000 and $200 respectively to their victims through the prosecution, while Princewill and Moses were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment each with an option of fine of N700,000.

The judge also ordered that while Christian, Michael and Innocent were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment each with an option of fine of N1 million, Emediong bagged three months imprisonment with an option of fine of N100,000.

The court also ordered that, the convicts are to forfeit instruments used to commit the crime which include their phones, HP laptops, one HP Probook and cars to the federal government.

The commission said, while Iwoenang, Okechukwu, Edem, and Innocent were arrested at their apartment located at 3 Ring Road, off Shelter Afrique, Uyo on September 9, 2020, others were nabbed during a three-hour raid on September 8, 2020, at Sight and Services within World Bank in Ugwuma town and Road Safety by Toronto Road, Owerri North, Imo Stat