I sell fish because I’m jobless – Graduate

After writing tens of job applications and sitting for a number of aptitude tests, Aliyu was unlucky to secure a job either with the state  or federal government or private establishments. Undeterred, Aliyu said he would continue to apply until he finally gets a job. “Sometimes, I take a day or two off to sit […]

After writing tens of job applications and sitting for a number of aptitude tests, Aliyu was unlucky to secure a job either with the state  or federal government or private establishments. Undeterred, Aliyu said he would continue to apply until he finally gets a job.

“Sometimes, I take a day or two off to sit for aptitude test, but it seems I am always chasing shadows; it seems no job would come my way. I have written a lot of applications and tests. I just can’t remember the exact number. I think the best option for me is to start somewhere,” he said.

Barely a year after venturing into the fish-roasting business, Suraj easily learned the art despite the fact that his calling was not catering. Although his area of study would, in a way, help him to understand the psychology of his customers and boost his market frontiers, his culinary skills, however, suffice.

According to him, most of his university classmates have now secured jobs in different places. He said he is still hopeful that one day, a job would come his way. He said the reason he is not married is because the business only fetches him what he alone can eat or buy clothes with. Aliyu said since he graduated from the Department of Political Science at the Bayero University, Kano in 2002, he’d engaged in different businesses in order to make ends meet. He revealed that he once opened a modest provision store but the business crumbled midway. Aliyu told Weekly Trust that after the business failed, he struggled to source for money to start the fish-roasting business and tentatively named the place ‘Fish Bone’.

He said when he started the business, most people looked down upon it, saying it was demeaning of a university graduate to roast fish by the roadside. “But I explained to them that there is nothing bad about a university graduate selling fish, but it is bad for a graduate to beg or become a criminal. I think I should thank God for giving me the little money to start the business,” he said.

Fish-roasting parks in Kano metropolis are still few, so Aliyu took the opportunity to explore the hidden fortunes behind the business. “I think the fact is that the higher the patronage, the higher the profit. The business is only lucrative because there are a few fish joints in the state. As such, you will have many customers coming to buy the fish,” he said, while serving this reporter fish, chips and sauce.

Although Aliyu has a female assistant who only helps to fry the Irish potatoes with which he serves the fish, he said he never minds frying the potatoes, grinding the tomatoes and pepper or preparing the sauce himself. “I don’t mind preparing the sauce or frying the potatoes by myself because it is my business,” he said.

He said the situation in the country warranted him to venture into the business. “You see, jobs in this country are hard to find, although some privileged ones already have their jobs waiting for them before they finish their study,” he said.

Aliyu, who is popularly known as Surajo, said that a few days after he started the business, his place began to gain prominence. “As I started the business, people started to throng it from different areas to buy my fish. My customers include regular ones, people passing by and my friends,” he said.

The Political Science graduate said his classmates who have jobs are his best customers. “My friends, most of who are now employed, are my loyal customers as they come from very far places to buy fish from me,” he stated.

Aliyu said he earns between N15,000 and N20,000 monthly. He said he would continue to be in the business until he finds something better to do. “If I get something better, I will leave the business, though I will not completely allow the venture to die,” he revealed.

He implored other graduates to do whatever kind of job or business that is legitimate in order to at least survive. “The issue here is how legitimate a business is and not how dignifying it appears. Although I can’t say I am very much comfortable with my status as I still need something better to come my way so that I can start a befitting life as an educated person,” he said.

While calling on other graduates who find it demeaning to engage in unusual jobs, he said that staying unemployed would neither guarantee a person a job nor make him/her rich. “If you remain without a job, would you be richer when you finally get the job? Or will remaining idle guarantee a person a job?” he asked rhetorically.