The Nigerian unemployment, underemployment, poverty and cost of living statistics are not encouraging, I get it! Please oblige me for not citing those concerning figures here. To be honest though, the agelessly overrated ilu oyinbos have unemployment, underemployment, homelessness and poverty stats of their own; although they are smart in moderating the contents they allow to define their national reputations. Nigeria and Africa are not alone.

For many decades and centuries, the white collar employment was the popular pattern. Finish school and get a job, 8am - 4pm Monday to Friday. The cycle never stops. Thankfully, basic and tertiary education became popular and perhaps Nigeria had more tertiary education graduates in 2021 than over the 1970s. Where the Nigerian unemployment issue may be quite concerning though is that many are not paying keen enough attention to population dynamics and the implications on white collar jobs.

Until early last year, postmen in our area rode bikes - both in the snow, rain and sunshine. God bless them. Then the government did well to get them post vans. Now imagine if there are many among them who don’t know how to drive? The office and computer savvy ones among them would be redeployed while the others may be phased out. Thanks to COVID-19, millions of people are not working from home. I never knew that nurses would too, until some colleagues secured such jobs. Computer skills are no luxuries. Likewise, some skill sets will make you relevant to your organisation and your dream jobs any day, anytime. Evolve!

Diversification is the tool that some others use to their benefits. Lawyers working as bankers are perhaps the height of it. The post COVID-19 pandemic 21st century is a different world. Growth mindset, networking and revelation will unleash the stars in many professionals.

My tailor in Ife read geology in the University. He must have paid attention to his father’s tailoring job while he was growing up. I know few more university graduates who are soaring in fabric/textiles and fashion design industry today. The same unfortunate unemployment situation that has incapacitated many graduates was what spurred some graduates to dig deep into themselves and unearth the possibilities that has turned them to employers of labours. The same ASUU strike few years ago that left folks playing around was what some friends used to learn vocations that they now practice. What do you see? Problems or opportunities?

Employability is another angle that we usually don’t pay attention to or don’t like to be faced with. We are endowed by the Creator but in differing measures and gifts. There are graduates who will not do so well in the jobs they are dreaming and praying for. Not because we dare to see them as dullards, but because they don’t know what goes on in those dream jobs or overestimate what they are capable of. Of course, with consistent tailored self-development efforts, we all can be limitless in whatever we lay our hands on, especially with God’s help.

Many years ago, I and a beloved egbon who at that time worked as an engineer at Chevron were pondering on opening a business outlet to serve the teaching hospital and the university staff with something very basic. I still consider that idea more beneficial on every front than my then FG job. My humble background meant that no noble business can be considered dirty by me, but I was surprised at the spontaneity with which a charming and rich prince bought into the supposedly demeaning idea. But he continued to emphasise that service to Ife people was worth it, and then the quarry of opportunities and prospects of the idea. What a few unemployed folks laughed off? There are always opportunities around you.

Selah!

© SELAH SERIES 2022