Your Philosophical Essay
The capstone project for Introduction to Nigerian Philosophy: Thinkers, Schools and Ideas from Nigeria — a free Civic & Life Skills course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.
- Free
- 6 steps
- Pass mark 65%
- Graded within minutes
- Beginner-friendly
The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.
What you will submit
One document of 1,200 to 1,600 words (Google Doc, PDF or Word, shared with view access) containing all six parts, clearly headed.
What to do, step by step
- Part 1 — The question: state one clear philosophical question about Nigerian life in a single sentence (for example: does a person's destiny excuse their choices; is corruption a failure of character or of structure; can a community own a person's achievement; should Nigeria's federal arrangement be justified by history or by consent). Then say in 100 to 150 words why it is a philosophical question and not merely a factual or political one.
- Part 2 — Your position: state the position you will defend in one or two sentences, plainly enough that a reader could disagree with it.
- Part 3 — The argument (500-700 words): argue for your position in numbered steps, each step following from the one before. Define any term you rely on. Where you use an idea from a Nigerian philosopher or school, name the thinker and the idea accurately and say how you are using it. At least two named Nigerian philosophers or schools must appear and be used, not merely mentioned.
- Part 4 — The strongest objection (250-400 words): state the best argument against your position, in its strongest form and in the words its holder would accept. Then answer it, or concede the part of it you cannot answer.
- Part 5 — What would change your mind (100-150 words): name the evidence, argument or case that would make you abandon or revise your position. An essay that cannot answer this has not made a claim.
- Part 6 — Sources: list what you read, including at least two works by Nigerian or African philosophers, with author and title. Quote accurately or do not quote.
Files to work with
Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 6 KBHow it is graded
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| The question is genuinely philosophical, clearly stated and about Nigerian life | 15% |
| The position is clear, contestable and consistently held | 15% |
| The argument proceeds in steps, with terms defined and no leaps | 25% |
| At least two Nigerian philosophers or schools are used accurately and substantively | 20% |
| The strongest objection is stated fairly and genuinely engaged | 15% |
| The essay says honestly what would change its mind, and cites its sources | 10% |
You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.
Before you submit: make your link public
If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to finish Introduction to Nigerian Philosophy: Thinkers, Schools and Ideas from Nigeria before submitting the project?
Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Introduction to Nigerian Philosophy: Thinkers, Schools and Ideas from Nigeria is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.
How is the project graded?
An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.
Can I resubmit if I fail?
Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.
What do I actually submit?
A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.
Is the certificate real?
Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.
More Civic & Life Skills projects
- Community Voter Registration Field Report
PVC & Voter Registration Class
- Map one recurring problem and choose one intervention
Systems Thinking for Nigerian Life and Business
- Your numbers file — a real situation, worked all the way through
Practical Mathematics for Nigerian Life and Business
- Build a costed study-abroad case file for one real programme
Study Abroad from Nigeria
Ready to earn this certificate?
Introduction to Nigerian Philosophy: Thinkers, Schools and Ideas from Nigeria is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.
Start learning free