A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alwan Hassan, has dismissed arguments that higher academic qualifications translate to superior leadership competence, asserting that the educational credentials of key opposition figures have failed to deliver better governance or political judgment for Nigeria.
​Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Hassan argued that leadership performance and practical judgment, rather than formal degrees should be the primary benchmarks for assessing political leaders.
​Hassan challenged the premise that high-level academic achievements correlate directly with governance success, pointing specifically to prominent opposition leaders across major political parties.
Hassan questioned the tangible national impact of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s doctorate, asking, “Tell me what Jonathan’s PhD has done to Nigeria.”
He also questioned the impact of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate’s degree, stating, “Tell me how Obi’s degree (BSc) has helped improve his communication skills.”
He insisted that academic exposure had not assisted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in navigating political timing or knowing “when to concede for the best person of the time.”
​According to Hassan, the opposition’s focus on academic credentials stems from an inability to offer substantive policy critiques against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
​Addressing the persistent debate surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s educational background and credentials from Chicago State University (CSU), Hassan maintained that the allegations lack factual backing:
​”There is nowhere that Chicago State University says the certificate President Tinubu submitted to INEC is forged. What the Constitution says is a school certificate or its equivalent and an equivalent of a school certificate is the ability to read and write.”
​Hassan concluded by urging Nigerians to evaluate public officials based on measurable track records, policy execution, and constitutional compliance rather than academic titles, reiterating that formal education alone does not guarantee effective public administration.
