Education is seen as one of the most crucial experiences a child can have, especially in the majority of Nigerian homes. But for the musicians on today’s list, they were unable to finish their university studies and were forced to drop out for a variety of reasons.
Here are some Nigerian musicians who left college and their motivations, from attempting to concentrate on their music to lacking the funds to do so.
Don Jazzy
Don Jazzy attended Federal Government College, Lagos and then proceeded to study Business Management at the Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma in Edo state where he dropped out in his first year. After his father graduated with BA Hons in Film and Television Production in 2018, Don Jazzy saw it as a challenge to himself saying maybe he would go back to university. He said after his father’s graduation:
Everybody plsss help me congratulate my super dad as he just got his BA Hons Film and Television production. I am soooo proud of you dad. 4 years of learning at this age is not beans. But you did it and did it well. You have set an example for me to follow. I might just go back to Uni too.
2Baba
The legendary 2Baba is another musician who actually dropped out of college to concentrate on a career in music. Rather than enrolling elsewhere, 2Baba chose to complete his initial National Diploma course in Business Administration and Management at the Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu (IMT). After being robbed, 2Baba chose to drop out of school and concentrate on music instead of juggling his studies and music. Regarding the choice, 2Baba stated in an interview:
I got robbed sometime in school. All my audio cassettes that I recorded they took them. I was sad for like a year plus. I dropped out and I am like look I am not continuing this thing I am going to follow music. I actually confessed to my parents. I told them the truth that I am not going back to school. I am going to Lagos, Festac town.
Crayon
The Ijo (Laba Laba) singer really left school in the midst of a test in order to focus solely on his musical endeavors. But just because he left school doesn’t imply he doesn’t value education. In a conversation regarding his choice to drop out of school, Crayon stated:
For me, I knew I was going somewhere. By then, I had already met Don Jazzy and Baby Fresh and I’m sitting around these two great people, and they would want to work with me. I had a conviction from day one. When I walked out of the exam hall, it was scary. People looked at me like, “Who is this guy? Why would you walk out of the exam hall after you waited for hours? It’s crazy”. But I knew that it will be something great. I’m just really happy about where I’m at right now and we’ll keep going up from here. I’m definitely going back to school to study Music Business though, school is really important.
Olamide
Olamide enrolled at the Tai Solarin University of Education, but his parents were unable to pay the tuition, forcing him to leave. Olamide discussed it in an interview and said:
I came from a poor background. I had to drop out of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, when it was getting difficult for my parents to pay my school fees. However with doggedness, perseverance and hard work I was able to find myself where I am today.
Omah Lay
Singer Stanley Omah Didia, often known as Omah Lay, is another who quit school to concentrate on a career in music. Omah Lay really attended school for only approximately six months before quitting. Omah Lay discussed the choice in an interview with DW The 77 Percent and said:
Somehow, I just loved music production so much that I could let go of school for it. I felt like maybe sometime I would come back to school, but when I got really deep into music production, I couldn’t go back to school; I didn’t even have the time.