Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has revealed that earning a university degree remains one of his personal ambitions, saying he hopes to return to school despite enjoying a successful football career.
The interview, originally conducted by Instablog and which resurfaced on Monday, featured the Galatasaray forward discussing education, personal growth and the need to prepare for life after retirement from football.
Reflecting on his journey, Osimhen said many of the most valuable lessons he has learned came from life experiences rather than the classroom, although he still considers formal education important.
“As an adult, not everything I learned in school. There are some kinds of life lessons you encounter through life’s journey,” he said.
The 2023 African Footballer of the Year explained that he intends to pursue a degree because he understands that a football career does not last forever.
“So for me, it will be an amazing thing to also try to get a degree, which I’m still considering because football is not something you will play for so long, probably 20 or 25 years, and then you’re done,” he said.
According to Osimhen, his desire to return to school is also driven by the need to inspire young people who may have abandoned their education because of financial difficulties or other obstacles.
He said he wants to prove that leaving school at an early stage does not mean giving up on education permanently.
“For me, it’s to set a standard, to set an example to the younger generation that even though you dropped out due to some kind of challenges, you can always go back to school because the school is always there,” he added.
His remarks have attracted positive reactions from many Nigerians, given his own inspiring journey from a modest background to becoming one of the world’s leading strikers.
Born in Edo State, Osimhen announced himself on the global stage by finishing as the highest goalscorer at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, helping Nigeria lift the trophy.
He went on to feature for VfL Wolfsburg in Germany before reviving his career with Belgian club Charleroi. A successful spell at French side Lille earned him a record transfer to Italian champions Napoli in 2020.
At Napoli, Osimhen won the Serie A Golden Boot and played a pivotal role in ending the club’s 33-year wait for a league title. He later moved to Turkish champions Galatasaray, where he has maintained his impressive goalscoring record.
The striker has consistently advocated education alongside football. In February 2026, the Super Eagles vice-captain advised players at Beyond Limits Football Academy in Ikenne, Ogun State, not to abandon their studies while chasing professional football careers.
During the visit, he donated ₦10 million to support the academy’s development and reminded the young players that while football talent can create opportunities, education remains essential for building a successful life after retirement from the game.
