‘Unemployed graduates should never see crime as option’

What have you been doing since passing out?Well, I graduated 2005 but I passed out of NYSC January 2007. I used to reside in Jos. In Jos, I used two years to search for job, submitting applications to all the places possible but unfortunately none clicked. So, I  came to Abuja in 2009 February and […]

What have you been doing since passing out?
Well, I graduated 2005 but I passed out of NYSC January 2007. I used to reside in Jos. In Jos, I used two years to search for job, submitting applications to all the places possible but unfortunately none clicked. So, I  came to Abuja in 2009 February and since then, I have gone for several interviews; be the paramilitary, the ministries; even went for different aptitude tests but there is no result yet.
Have you looked at teaching especially with the proliferation of private schools in Abuja and its environs?
I have applied to schools too but the bottleneck is that they always insist it has to be bachelor of education. So, most of the standard schools, once they see BSc, they turn down your application without even looking at it. I picked up one offer at my area there but what they are giving is nothing to talk about. The irony is that the salary was not even forthcoming and after two years, I dropped it. I picked up home lesson; in the evening I go to students’ houses to teach them.
As a graduate of chemistry, why have you been unable to use your education to create wealth?
To start any successful business in my field is capital intensive. I can set up a soap industry as well as a plastic industry but it is capital intensive.
There are many government intervention agencies, have you approached any of them?
I actually planned to attend one but I discovered that after the training, you have to apply for the loan; they will subject you to scrutiny.
Which one of them did you apply for?
I have not applied for any because the experiences of those I know who applied were very discouraging. It was not a journey I was ready to embark upon.
What did they tell you happen?
They said after the training, you apply for the funds; you have to wait for the processing, along the line if you are lucky, something will come out, if you are not, nothing does.
Have you tried acquiring any skills since graduation?
I have not tried acquiring any skills because like I said earlier, I worked as a teacher for two years, but before I graduated from school I went into recharge card business and was doing it even before I went for my youth service. The greatest challenge was that it was very capital intensive. It requires huge capital for you to really make it. You have to deal with the agents which means there is a quantity that you must buy to be given a discount. The higher the quantity,  the higher the discount.  I actually started small and it was moving but along the line there was need for me to move to the next level which unfortunately did not happen due to lack of adequate finance and the competition was becoming stiffer and to survive means more capital so you can sell lower than the competition.
How do you sustain yourself without a job?  
Well, it has not really been easy. But I get assistance from friends and relations including the home lessons which really cannot sustain me. But basically, it is friends and relations.
How do you see the future?
I believe that one day the story will change; I know my ability, I am very confident of my abilities, so, what I need is to keep on moving, somehow, someday the story will change. That is my conviction.
What is your call for the government on the job situation in the country?
Government cannot employ all. My only call is for government to create other avenues and possibly encourage the private sector to absorb those graduates. Government alone cannot do that. And not only improving infrastructure, from the NYSC, a good amount of money should be given to those who are interested in doing business to start up something.
There are lots of graduates without jobs, with some taking up crime already. What is your call to them?  
 My advice for them is to have faith in themselves enough to know that nothing is constant. The fact that you are not employed today does not mean you will remain unemployed forever. They should not resort to crime or social vices because it won’t be the best option. What if you are caught, it will be a shame on you and your family.