₦airaland Forum

Yes, a Nigerian graduate can choose to push wheelbarrows to earn a living if that is the most viable or available option at a given time. There is no shame in doing honest work to sustain oneself, regardless of one's educational background.


1. Economic Realities– In Nigeria, unemployment and underemployment are significant challenges, even for graduates. Many educated individuals take on menial jobs to survive while seeking better opportunities.

2. Temporary vs. Long-term– Pushing a wheelbarrow (e.g., in construction, market load-carrying, or waste disposal) can be a short-term survival strategy while upskilling or searching for a job aligned with one's degree.

3. Entrepreneurship– Some graduates turn wheelbarrow work into a small business (e.g., moving goods for pay) and later expand into logistics or transport services.


4. Dignity in Labor– All honest work is dignified. Society may stigmatize manual labor for graduates, but financial independence is more important than societal judgment.

5. Alternative Paths- If possible, combining such work with side hustles (e.g., freelancing, tutoring, or vocational skills) can lead to better opportunities.


While pushing a wheelbarrow is a legitimate way to earn money, it’s advisable for graduates to also explore opportunities that leverage their education, skills, and long-term career growth. The goal should be upward mobility, not just survival.

Sonnobax15:

No...

But the fact that hunger doesn't respect university degrees should be an enough reason for an entire community to empower a jobless graduate with a wheelbarrow

Jashub:
OP, you dey push wheel-barrow for a living ?

jmoore:
Stick to the topic and have a decent conversation for once.

Jashub:
Its still on the topic. So back to the question : you fit push wheel-barrow?

Ada Said something about wheel barrow pushing .
While making jest of it , I still pointed out something’s on my own . I know everyone won’t go and carry wheelbarrow but hey . Most graduates will rather wait for a white collar job than make do with any business that can at least give little K into their pocket..

I remembered when I graduated and applied for a job in an Estate firm , since I studied estate management and valuation , but I was told my salary would be 30k as at 2020..

While going back home that day ,I saw some persons carrying block and asked a man there ,he said they were paid according to how many blocks you carried , I said like price range ? He said 50 naira per block .
I met the engineer and pleaded he pays me 100 naira and he accepted .
I was doing 40-50 blocks per day , after 3 days I got tired and started fetching water instead , one full buter 1500 and I was doing about 6 buters a day .
In 10 days I made double the salary I was supposed to be paid ..

I got 60k and paid for a shop ,kept someone there and was paying 15k salary then and still went about my menial jobs businesses .
Started pos business and was able to pay salary and had 15/20k left every month back then ..

I was a graduate with a very good upper credit results ..

I kept on telling myself that the world is not being linient with people to have even a 50k a month job salary …

A lot didn’t know I did this ,I only told my best friend Princess Achiever Adanna and she was just saying God should make a way,while at it ,I kept showing up here too .

I did painting job as well and got paid .

The context here is not the wheelbarrow but making do with what we could lay our hands on at least to eat and not waiting for manner to fall from above .

I started off Everything Suzy Logistics by using trekking to do delivery and get paid before I bought a bike and gradually grew it ..

Even now ,if I see job wey go pay me 10k or 5k I go collect am sharp sharp

Use am arrange pot of soup

Even the man that just got married to me will tell me he will give me the money ,I should rest ,I’ll collect the money and still do the job …

In most posts , just pick some points and move on ..

No matter how you try to paint it or how you try to change the talk , truth is truth …

If you like ,go and carry wheelbarrow

If wheelbarrow no favour you ,e no mean say e no get who e no favor ..

Na for this Aba person use dirty work ,as in packing dirty from house to house build house wey over 30 tenants dey stay ..

There is dignity in labour !!!
While at it ,pray for a better Job …..

Dalohad:
A graduate is currently selling Okpa in Abuja and building his wealth with a target of 5 million naira in 6 months.

You are here thinking there is any job beneath you that can put food on your table.

I don't give beggars money. In fact I embarras the wel-dressed fine baras that are always missing their ways begging at bus stops.

If I lose my wallet, or lose money in transit, and have no other option, I enter a lab or hospital and donate blood for stipends that can take me home.

haggai247:
Most people don't know sa na dirty jobs money dey.