Every new school term in Nigeria begins with a familiar ritual. Parents and guardians brace themselves for tuition, uniforms, and textbooks, while social media timelines overflow with prayers for strength to meet the bills. The collective sigh captures the reality: education has become one of the most stressful financial undertakings in Nigerian households. At the centre of this struggle lies an enduring question, does the cost of schooling correlate with the ability of a child to succeed academically and, more importantly, to navigate life with competence and resilience?