‘I was a butcher before I entered university’

What is your name and when did you graduate from the university?My name is Irabo Aikhomu and I read Mass Communication at the Benue State University. I left university in 2008 and returned back 2011 for my masters’ degree which I completed in June 2013. From 2008 to the time that you went back for […]

What is your name and when did you graduate from the university?
My name is Irabo Aikhomu and I read Mass Communication at the Benue State University. I left university in 2008 and returned back 2011 for my masters’ degree which I completed in June 2013.
From 2008 to the time that you went back for a master degree, did you work?
I didn’t work; I was teaching on contract and after that when I went back to school I had to resign and that marked the end of it.
You were teaching at what level?
At a primary school; Treasure House Montessori to be precise
You read Mass Communication and you have not started work in a media house?
I have tried severally but the job situation in the country is really terrible but I believe I will get there.
Where and where have you applied for jobs?
I have applied to Cool FM recently, DAAR Communications and today I applied at a media outfit for the post of media executive. I have been applying to both media and non media organisations.  
Have you applied to any government media organisation?
I did a test at NTA in 2011/2012 where we went through a series of aptitude tests and interviews but at the end of the day, we didn’t hear anything and that was how it went.
With your qualification, did you receive any confirmation from them on why you were not selected?
No, I did not receive any confirmation from them but I was told that recruitment has been done as at September 2012 that NTA had finalised their recruitment process.
Why do you think qualified candidates do not get jobs?
It is really an alarming situation. It is believed in the country today that what we do is not recruitment but selection.   
There are lots of job recruitment agencies, have you used any of them?
Yes, I monitor a lot of them on a daily basis. Job agencies like Philip Consulting, the Optimum Careers and even newspapers.  
Have you paid any recruitment agency by way of registration?
I have not paid any but I have registered in so many of them. They have my details and they reach me via mails and text messages stating that once I am qualified for any position, they will contact me.
How does it feel being without job for long?
It is very terrible; we went to school because we knew the value of education and we expected to reap the benefit of education. Now it is so disheartening that our certificate is not yielding the desired result. This is discouraging thousands of Nigerians out there because you go to school, finish your first degree, your second degree and yet you are still looking for a job not that you are not employable. The situation is becoming  alarming. It is a very terrible experience.
You have BSc and an MSc but have you tried any skills, handicrafts or trade?
Yes, I had a skill before I entered the university and even when I entered the university to the time I went for my masters. I was a butcher before I entered the university; an excellent butcher at that and by God’s grace I am still proud of that career till now. After my university, I had to go back to the abattoir before going for my youth service and before my masters, it came up again.
Recently, I have been trying to lay my hands on business but the situation is really terrible I must confess. The more you try, the more you are financially handicapped. The more you try to get this money the more people see you as someone trying to hide under the guise of there are no jobs and pick on them. I hate to be idle and till now I still hate what I am doing; being an idle person.   
How do you sustain yourself?
Sustaining myself in this Abuja has never been easy. It is pathetic. It is something that if I want to share with you, I may burst into tears because eating is a problem, paying accommodation is a problem and even water from vendors is a problem. You need to go out to look for jobs and going out involves money. It has never been easy.
Youths have been accused of lack of plans and preparedness; what kind of business can you do if someone if willing to invest in you?
I can operate a cyber café, I can do laundry. I have been looking for funds to see if I can set up a laundry business.
You have a plan already?
Yes, I have a business plan to set up a dry cleaning business or a cyber café but I will go with the dry cleaning service because in Mararaba where I stay, the people are always busy and so they patronise drycleaners a lot. The electricity situation there is also not very healthy and makes people patronise dry cleaning services a lot. If I get a sponsor now, I will go into business and even employ people.
That will cost like how much?
The laundry business will cost around N450, 000 which includes renting a shop in Mararaba at N60, 000 or N70, 000, washing machine at N60, 000 to N80, 000 and getting a generator and hangers and other things we will need.
A lot of Nigerians are willing to invest in young people with ideas but trust has always been an issue; what is your call to such people?
 Trust has always been an issue in Nigeria based on so many things. People no longer trust each other but the fact is that we still have genuine Nigerians who stand by their core values in society. My core values are integrity and honesty and I fight to see that I defend these two values. Anybody investing in any Nigerian should have it at mind that they are trying to help somebody.
So, are you assuring people that might invest in you return in investment?
A lot of profits is my guarantee because by God’s grace I am not a lazy person. I am a very hardworking person .