In 2022, during my trip to Zambia, my second home, I had a deep conversation with some of my management colleagues. They were frustrated:
“Boss, it’s difficult to get technical people who are efficient and who truly understand the vision of the company.”
I asked them a simple question: “Are you facing the same challenge in sales?” They said NO.
That answer struck me. Why? Because in our sales department we had ZERO degreed people yet they were bringing in huge results. Meanwhile, the technical side was packed with graduates and diploma holders, but the results were not impressive.
Right there, I told my colleagues: “Go and find Grade 12 kids who couldn’t afford to go to university. Find those who qualified but dropped out because of fees or family issues. Bring them here.”
They listened. We hired a few young people some came in jeans, nervous, never having worked in a formal environment. Some asked for as little as K1500 as salary. We surprised them and gave them three times what they asked for.
Three years later, those same kids are now some of our best technical staff. They learned fast, worked harder than anyone else, and embraced our vision with hunger.
This journey made me reflect deeply while writing my upcoming book, Miseducated Africa.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that more education = more skill. But the truth is: many brilliant Africans never make it to university. Not because they aren’t smart, but because of circumstances.
-
Some dropped out after Grade 12 because no one could pay their fees.
-
Some young girls were derailed by early pregnancies.
-
Others had to hustle just to feed their families.
Do these realities make them less capable than those of us who were privileged enough to sit in a lecture hall? Absolutely not. In fact, many of them have proven to be more resilient, more innovative, and more committed.
I often say:
“Your speed is determined by the number of dogs chasing you.”
A young person from a poor background, with real responsibilities, often runs faster not because they want to, but because they have to. Hunger, bills, siblings’ school fees, a sick parent these are the dogs chasing them. And that pressure pushes them to deliver beyond expectations.
Meanwhile, someone from a privileged background might have the degree, but without those “dogs,” the urgency and hunger are missing.
It’s time we rethink recruitment. Let’s not dismiss talent because it doesn’t come wrapped in a degree. Let’s give the “Miseducated” of Africa, the ones who were left out of the system, a chance to prove themselves.
When we do, we will not only build stronger businesses but also unlock the hidden potential of Africa’s greatest resource: its people.
Degrees are good but they are not the only measure of intelligence or capability. Hunger, resilience, and vision alignment often outwork certificates.
Africa’s future will not be built by paper alone. It will be built by hungry hearts, smart minds, and resilient spirits.
By The Chartered Vendor
#MiseducatedAfrica #BuildingTimelessBusiness #AfricanTalent #Entrepreneurship #SalesLikeAVendor #OpportunityForAl
