No work; reasons why it is synonymous with Nigerian graduates

Not long was I out of a long discussion which I will term one of the best arguments I have done in a while was I inspired to write about the rate of unemployment which has turned to be the excuses of most Nigerian graduates.  My friends weren’t surprised how I stood firm that the graduates are to be blamed mostly; because they think it was my behavior (being a choleric can do a lot of arguments) of course they were wrong.  It wasn’t my temperament; it was a burden I had always wanted to lift off!

Writing this doesn’t make me ignorant of the poor education system and poor employment structures (if any) created by the government due to corruption that seems will take ages to be clipped out. But it makes me think more about what the graduates our so-called higher institutions produce yearly or bi-annually can actually do for my beloved country other grumbling how they have become job seekers for years.

Ask a street nuisances and he will shout immediately, “work no dey ooh!”, turn to an apprentice and you will get the same response in a better way “no work ooh!”.  Look up to a graduate (with even better results) and you will hear him/her say the exact word spoken by someone who has never gone to school but in a more sophisticated way, “been searching thoroughly yet no work”. Due to this painful truth, I decided to discuss on some of the reasons why “no work” has become a cliché in our country.

Dreamless.

Though generally we agree that our educational system was design to serve, to become good employees, good managers and never an entrepreneur, most graduates still don’t mind being servants as long as their bills are paid. Of course we should keep the cultures of our society living by becoming doctors, lawyers, et cetera but check this out, if you had the dream to become the best doctor, the be the first discovery in Nigeria or to be the best of what you are doing now or studied in school, you will have your hand occupied than following in the chorus “no work”.

Dependent.

A great American President who recognized the importance of being independence said, “Ask not what your country will do for you but ask what you can do for your country”. What have you made up your mind to do for your country? If you have an answer to this question, believe me, you wouldn’t have time to look for job.

Ignorant

A wise man revealed, “If you think knowledge is expensive, try ignorance”.  The book of Hosea said it all, “my people perish because of lack of knowledge”. What has ignorance cost you? Most Nigerian graduates are really ignorant of how great they are or what great accomplishment they can do. In everyman lies a powerful self and the earlier we are aware of that personality and start developing them, the earlier we start focusing our mind to creating jobs than endlessly looking for one.

Fear

Do you know what will make a man who is able and if trained, capable to create millions of job to end up as the best manager of the year? Do you know what will make a graduates to live the opportunity of becoming the richest student while on campus? Fear! It has killed many jobs and talents than it has saved. Until most Nigerian students start taking calculated risks and not thinking about secured jobs with insurance, the rate of ‘no jobs’ carriers will drastically reduce.

Lazy

Amidst “no jobs”, Nigerian students (not even graduates) including school drop-outs and those who had no opportunity of going to school are very busy creating jobs. Look around, search around, ask around and you will see an opportunity that can pay your bills than sitting around waiting for government which isn’t at their maximum effectiveness to create a job for you.

There are a lot of reasons why we are so dependent on being employed than to be creative, to be innovative and to be original. “No work” has really become a general word in Nigeria and has to some extent lost its meaning. But we can change the course of our destiny. We can change the direction of our life. Will you end up as “no work” or “no time for all this work”? Then become you (a creator)!

I respect, love and believe in you! Keep SHIINE’img’…Nigeria will be blessed at the brightness of your dawn!!!