For many young Nigerians trying to balance school with making money, the classroom can sometimes feel like it’s moving slower than real life.
That tension played out publicly this week after popular TikTok creator Habeeb Hamzat, better known as Peller, hinted that he may no longer return to school — just days after celebrating his admission to study law.
In a voice note shared on his channel on Tuesday, Peller said attending classes was affecting his ability to earn.
“Guys, I swear to God, I remember I said I am going to school… I am not going again. I am not going again,” he said.
He explained that spending hours in class without making money felt unacceptable to him.
“I just remember, I was inside class for four hours. I didn’t make any money. I will write, I will look, I will play, not making anything. God forbid. I am not doing that one again,” he added.
Peller also said he felt out of place among his classmates, describing himself as the youngest person in the class.
“When I enter the school, I notice that everyone is old, I am the only young blood there,” he said.
While stepping back for now, the content creator suggested he might return to education later in life.
“So I need to go old. Maybe when I clock like 30, 40 years, I will now go to school. Please cancel everything. I am tired,” he said.
The comments represent a sharp shift from his recent excitement over gaining admission to study law at a private university in Lagos State. In a video that went viral on Saturday, Peller announced the admission, though he did not disclose the name of the institution.
In that video, he appeared to respond to critics who had mocked his educational background.
“Everyone has been criticising me for not being educated, as if I’m the first person who didn’t attend university. Now, all of you should leave social media, because I’m in school,” he said.
“I’m now studying law. You can see it, right? You can’t mess with me anymore. I know the law,” he added.
According to PUNCH Online, Peller has faced sustained criticism online over his grammar and educational background, with some users describing him as “uneducated.” Earlier this month, he had said his decision to return to school was partly to improve his spoken English.
Peller has also remained in the public eye following a recent controversy surrounding the visit of American streamer IShowSpeed to Nigeria.
For students and young Nigerians, Peller’s quick change of heart highlights a familiar struggle — choosing between education and immediate income in a digital economy that rewards attention fast.
Whether he returns to school later or not, the conversation he has sparked reflects a wider youth reality where hustling and learning often compete for the same time and energy.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.