Why are Africans obsessed with masters degrees?

I hold two master’s degrees in Law from the UK. My second was funded by a £10,000 student loan—not because I couldn’t afford it (I paid for my first degree and master’s out of pocket), but because a friend convinced me to use debt strategically and invest my cash instead. That decision paid off.

I didn’t need those degrees to practice law; I pursued them purely out of intellectual curiosity and because I could afford to. What baffles me, however, is the growing trend among Africans, especially back home, to chase master’s degrees that are neither necessary nor affordable.

Almost weekly, I receive messages from Facebook “friends” and distant relatives in Africa asking me to fund their master’s degrees. On closer inspection, you’ll find that:

1. They haven’t worked a single day since earning their first degree.
2. They lack a clear career plan and seem to believe that a master’s will magically open doors.
3. They can’t afford the degree themselves yet expect others to foot the bill.
4. If you haven’t secured a job with your bachelor’s degree, what’s the point of adding extra letters to your name?

In the UK and US, people typically:

1. Work first, then pursue a master’s if it aligns with their career.
2. Pay for it themselves (or take on loans they intend to repay).
3. Choose degrees that genuinely increase earning potential (like MBAs or STEM fields).

In Africa, however, it’s become common to:

1. Stack degrees without any work experience.
2. Beg for funding instead of earning it.
3. Pursue random master’s programs with zero return on investment.

A master’s degree makes sense when you’ve worked, identified a skills gap, and are pursuing a specialized degree (for example, transitioning from Finance to an MBA). It doesn’t make sense if you’re unemployed, studying “International Relations” without any diplomatic ambitions, and expecting strangers to pay for your tuition.

Education is an investment, not a trophy. If you can’t monetize your first degree, adding another won’t fix that. Worse yet, if you’re begging for tuition, you’re not just unemployable—you’re financially illiterate.

To the “Master’s or nothing” crowd: Get a job first. Save money. Then upgrade—if it actually matters. Otherwise, you’re simply decorating your CV while your bank account remains empty.

A master’s degree won’t compensate for a lack of hustle, and no one owes you funding for your academic pursuits.

Is there something I am missing here?

The author is a Ghanaian human rights lawyer based in the UK.