Unemployment in Nigeria-the Hope for Hapless People

       It is not even strange in our country to hear someone lamenting the malady of walking on the street, looking for job—unemployment pang. The issue of unemployment in Nigeria is very disastrous in the heart. Though it is generally believed that studying professional or competitive course in the university or any tertiary institution go a long way in making one settle down after the hurdles in the course of training in school. But the question is, is it true that the course that one studied in the university suffices having job (good or not) after years in school? Will it be the destiny that always drives one out of the labor market? The answer is kept in the mind of you and me.

      Nigeria and the people in it were so proud at the dawn of first republic towards the tail of 1990s to be the giant of Africa. Practically the sky is the limit as opportunities clinched round the feet of undergraduate students, waiting for them to graduate and welcome them to new fresh phase of life as different industries compete on the number of graduate they were to employ—to increase the level of their output as company spreads its wings every single second. Since it is even believed that wealth is in circular form—if the people are employed and paid well, the less the dependant and the higher the consumption of goods and services, hence the standard of living thrives every single minute. These and many more veiled the eyes of many Nigerians to have direct contact to the rays of poverty that may befall them.

      However, the sky changed her garment in early 2000 to date which resulted in what everyone knows as unemployment. The dire of unemployment and its effect is spreading like the wild fire. It has resulted into different kind of wreckages that always drive the ship of the nation backward every day. Some jobless graduates have been exposed to find their means in the criminal activities and discourage many to acquire education. Statistically, the number of school leavers has reduced drastically due to one reason or the other. If one ask someone who is not educated, the answer is always the same as ‘what is the essence of you spending years in the university and still depend on us after the graduation?’ untutored is right if we are to be sincere with his view. But should we quit school just to have means?

      The answer to the issue of unemployment is very simple—entrepreneurship and education is only rejoinder. If all secondary school graduates can engage in any vocational training, it would have been better. Training while expecting the admission is one of the best steps to be independent after leaving the higher institution, if opportune to learn certain things like how to make hair cut, practical electrical electronics, brick laying, fashion designing, carpentry etc. these are really good for males while females can endeavor to find themselves in the realm of hair dressing, fashion designing, bead making et cetera. The chance to learn vocational work may be limited for female, better still; there are opportunities for them to make their lives through the profession because females are more than males.

     Learning vocational work can trigger one’s mind to choose career course while processing admission. It is even preferable if one studies a course related to what one has learned before—this will be a good help, it is just like studying the theoretical aspect of the practical work learned before. While reading is flowing in the university, you make money as you render services to the people and excel in academic performance because there is background knowledge, people like this always top in any aptitude test in any scholarship on ground—double rewards! But those that cannot study their vocational work in the university are always better among others that know nothing. Primarily, you learn how to render services to the people, but you are now living with people on campus too! There is no elaborate advertisement to be an entrepreneur in hair dressing and hair cut. One thing to do is to inform people on your profession and set the goal, schedule the time of service and academic to avoid losing one side, there must be a balance between the two.  

      Besides, the other opportunity that opens to the one who has no special training in vocational work is setting goals on how to utilize the little cash being given while in the university. The formula is very simple. Establishing a small scale business that will attract huge profit is a better option, so the profit is used to buy necessary materials needed for the course while social life is at the top light-step. This formula makes one to be independent while on campus which will make people at home and abroad to respect you. Thus after life on campus assistance from every corner will peep into the business—business stir up again and you become an entrepreneur.

       However, one of the major causes of unemployment in Nigeria is people’s eagerness to secure a white collar job. Everyone wants to leave home at first cock crow and burn the candle while coming at night. But all cannot be satisfied with this idea, because if all wishes were horses beggars would ride.  The probability of one to be rich in entrepreneurship is higher than prison oneself in suits. The instance of those that have made it through business is not far fetch. Practically, the life of Dangote, the man popularly referred to as richest man in Nigeria—he is an entrepreneur, never nurse any passion for white collar job but he is one of the top richest people in the world. What do you want to be?   

      Unemployment plagues the life of many in the state but active measures have not been put in place to curb this mishap that has affected the economy of the country in one way or the other. It is not imperative to secure a white collar job but it is necessary if one chooses to be an entrepreneur. That is to be creative enough and set goals on how to earn legitimately. To be independent is a cut above other things.