I am more knowledgeable than most graduates — MC Oluomo

I am more knowledgeable than most graduates — MC Oluomo

National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has said that although he did not receive formal education, the knowledge and life experience he has acquired over the years have given him greater understanding than many university graduates.

MC Oluomo made the remarks on Sunday during the 50th birthday celebration of Islamic singer Hafsat Adegoke and the unveiling of her new album in Alausa, Lagos. The event attracted several prominent guests, including Fuji music star Saheed Osupa, politicians, transport union members and other dignitaries.

Reflecting on his humble beginnings, the transport union leader narrated how he started working as a bus conductor as a teenager, saying the experience taught him discipline, responsibility and financial independence at an early age.

According to him, he began earning money at the age of 13, worked daily as a conductor and was able to support his mother financially while still enjoying simple pleasures such as going to the cinema with friends.

MC Oluomo said his emergence as President of the NURTW was not accidental but the result of years of dedication, commitment and learning every aspect of the transport business from the grassroots.

“I’ve been spending money since I was 13 years old. I worked as a conductor from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. I would go to Danjuma Cinema to watch Indian movies with my own money, and I still took money home for my mother to buy food.

“I didn’t enter the NURTW as a bastard. I learnt the work, mastered it and got to where I am today. I didn’t go to school, but the knowledge and understanding I have in my head are greater than those held by people with degrees,” he said.

The NURTW president stressed that while he missed out on formal education, he never underestimated its importance. Instead, he said his personal experience motivated him to ensure that his children received quality education and opportunities that were unavailable to him during his childhood.

According to MC Oluomo, his investment in education has paid off, as his children have built successful professional careers abroad.

“I always tell people that if I am uneducated, glory be to God. Today, my children are a doctor, a lawyer and an engineer, and they are in America. May God not allow our children to die young,” he said.

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Speaking further, MC Oluomo reminisced about his long-standing relationship with Fuji musician Saheed Osupa, revealing that they had known each other since childhood.

He recalled visiting the home of Osupa’s late mother while growing up and said the Fuji singer was familiar with the difficult circumstances that shaped his early life before he became one of Nigeria’s most influential transport union leaders.

The union leader also used the occasion to speak about family values and parental responsibility, criticising fathers who neglect the welfare of their wives and children.

According to him, many Nigerian women have become the primary providers for their families because some husbands have failed to meet their responsibilities.

He described fathers who abandon their children as failing in one of their most important responsibilities, urging men to prioritise the welfare, education and future of their families.

MC Oluomo also criticised men who, according to him, devote more attention and resources to children outside their marriages while neglecting their immediate families. He warned that such actions often have long-term consequences for both parents and children.

His remarks have since generated widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians expressing differing opinions on the relationship between formal education, practical knowledge and life experience. While some argued that experience can be as valuable as academic qualifications in leadership and entrepreneurship, others maintained that formal education and practical skills complement each other and should not be viewed as competing paths to success.

The comments have also reignited broader conversations about the role of education, vocational skills and experience in personal development and leadership in Nigeria.

I am more knowledgeable than most graduates — MC Oluomo