How My Teachers Derailed My Dream of Becoming a Lawyer

Tunde Onakoya revealed that his childhood dream of becoming a lawyer was derailed when secondary school teachers pressured him into studying Science by labeling the Arts as suitable only for “less intelligent” students.

Nigerian chess champion and Guinness World Record holder Tunde Onakoya has opened up about how his childhood ambition of becoming a lawyer was discouraged by his secondary school teachers.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Thursday, Onakoya said his teachers promoted the belief that only the “brightest” students should pursue Science, while the Arts were reserved for students considered “less intelligent.” According to him, this biased mindset shaped his academic choices long before he understood their consequences.

Onakoya revealed that he had always been passionate about debating, fascinated by language, and deeply drawn to the idea of becoming a lawyer. However, despite his clear interest and talent, he was denied the opportunity to follow the Arts track because teachers insisted he belonged in the Science class.

“One of my biggest regrets is allowing my secondary school teachers to convince us that the Art class was for dullards while the smartest students belonged in Science,” he wrote. “I was great at debates, loved words, and truly wanted to become a lawyer, but they wouldn’t let me.”

He added that the decision was imposed on him at an age when he lacked the maturity to challenge it, noting that many Nigerian students have had their futures reshaped in similar ways.