Don't travel.

With 1 million naira, you're better off in Nigeria.

If you're desperate about traveling, you could save more and then try your luck.

Okay. I see lots of japa posts all over the Nigerian internet space.

Now, I'm wondering...

If you had the ability to earn whatever you wish, how much will you be earning here in Nigeria, that the thoughts of permanently relocating abroad becomes unlucrative?

No one digital skills is the best.

You need to look for a digital skills that looks like hard work to others but seems like play to you.

How would you know this? There is no way to know until you have dabbled a little bit into what is available all over the internet.

Don't go into whatever seems hot or what people say pays the most money.

Beginner's frustration and lack of interest will keep you at mediocre level for a long time.

Choose what you love. Don't let society choose for you.

Here is me wishing you patience and perseverance. You'll need loads of it if you will actually learn any skill at all.

SMH.

This is nothing new.

You want to be super careful how you tread from now onwards.

You are facing one of two popular problems in the corporate world.

For one, it could be a trap to kick you out of the firm.

In management, it is possible to promote people outside their level of competence just so you can show them the door.

The strategy is: "so everyone knows you're very good technically but a shabby people manager. Then boom you see yourself leading a large team, being accountable for not only your job but for millions of other people..."

By your next appraisal, you could get below average performance and be asked to leave.

For a second, the manager who promoted you could be a skilled people manipulator.

it's possible the manager who is rooting for you can't find a way to sack your superiors who he sees as just filling space.

So he craftily took you up so the underperformers you have been reporting to will get angry and drop their resignation letters.

It's all a management ploy. It may not be related to how well you've performed.

Being good on the job is one thing. Leading a big team is a whole different thing.

Whatever you do, tread carefully....

You don't need to pay anybody to learn anything.

There's a sense in which the aphorism, "those who can't do, teach!"

The entire library of Alexandria is on the internet. For free.

And here you are asking what you need to pay.

So you have a laptop, what next?

What to spend on? Stable electricity or a co-working space (there are many in major Nigerian cities). Internet plan. Courses (Coursera, Udemy, Edx, Skillshare, etc.).

What will see you through? Deliberate Practice. Grit. Patience.

What you can get for free? Loads of documentation on Google.

There is no "How to" for learning programming. But the best guide is for you to start with the foundations.

Think in the long term. One, two or three years is super short. Think 5, 7 or 10 years.

It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Parenting is hard.

Don't blame the kids. Don't blame the government.

Let's blame ourselves. We know the enemy and it is you and me.

Let's blame ourselves because we have created a warped Nigerian society.

When I was much younger and pass by adults without greeting, they'd call me back and give me admonitory knocks on my forehead.

Most of these adults are people I didn't know. But they helped make me a better adult, a responsible citizen.

These days no one wants to take responsibility for anything. We prefer to blame every other person but ourselves.

But this won't help. Stop chasing money crazily if you're a parent.

Take time to do proper parenting. Teach your kids good morals and contentment.

Don't let the internet train them for you. The future is bleak if we don't start thinking how to save our young ones...

Congratulations, GideonG.

Your journey reminds me of what Peter Norvig writes about in this timeless programming article.

Just to add, you have achieved a rare feat in today's Nigeria. Congrats again.

Going over some of the comments on this thread, I keep shaking my head in dismay.

Everyone seems to be in a hurry to get loads of cash so they can show off.

No one wants to take the time to learn anything well anymore.

That's why we have artisans who do shoddy jobs. Graduates who can't think. Youths who kill others for quick money.

And pretend programmers who do nothing but copy and paste code.

When you put in the years to learn a skill well, it shows. Time exposes incompetence.

Agentsalt:
Generator mechanic. He said he will teach me for free.
Barbing. He said 25k
Fridge repairs. 30k plus form 3k
Rewinding of coil and repair of fans. 25k also.
Please I need your help in picking the lucrative one for future purpose.

I'm happy you want to learn a skill. Especially when millions of today's youths in Nigeria are eager to get rich quick without sweating.

You're one different person. So here is my advice...

(Assumption: you love each skill path enough that you can commit to learn it without getting beginner's frustration)

Go for Fridge repairs (or HVAC). The learning curve is steep, but if you take the years to learn it, you are set for life.

I won't go into all the details. But fridge repairs is a skill with high barrier of entry.

Not many people can do what you will be able to do after years of training and practice in the field.

Also, it's a highly scalable skill. You can become a captain of industry if you apply yourself to master this skill. All the best!

Ignyte:


Nice. I like that you used Undraw illustrations.

But check the grids for your posts. The headlines are literally starting on the edge.

Give am a little more space.

Okay thanks.

pattyclaire:
Hello nairalanders. i studied adult education in uni though i applied for business admin but i wasn't given. the former was a course I really didn't like never heard of it until then. had no choice than to accept the admission cos i really don't want to spend additional year at home. to cut the long story short I graduated last year with 2:2, currently waiting on nysc reg.

but now i want to start all over again with another degree into management courses, i know i do and Will do better here, will have better opportunities with jobs. I've been trying applying for scholarships abroad from different schools and hoping i get one soon before I'm done with my Nysc. please I need a strict advice on this issue.

Your profile looks uncompetitive. Degree: Adult education. Class of Degree: 2.2.

Most schools with good reputation abroad won't offer you admission with such profile.

What I advice?

Use your NYSC to develop yourself. Read lots of management books and understand how every business function works.

Then look for any Nigerian school and apply for an MBA. You don't need a post graduate diploma to do that. Nor do you need to have studied business administration at undergrad.

Running abroad now won't help you much. Build skills in a career path you want first. Then go forth and shine.

Wish you loads of luck.

Bought and started working on an online course but can’t bring yourself to finish?

Dread Monday mornings because you always have tasks from the previous week that you couldnt find a way to see through?

Started an online business, but after a few months, you seem to not find time to promote your business?

If you have faced any of the above, then you’re probably more like me, wondering why you can’t get anything done.

Think you’re lazy?

No freaking way!

Banish such thought. You’re not lazy. Or indisciplined.

You’re DISTRACTED.

Don’t believe me? Read on to see that distraction is why you can’t get anything done.

Lessons From My Father
After the Biafran War in 1970, my father jumped into a lorry, popularly called 911, and moved from his small village to Aba.

His own father, my grandfather, had pushed my father away from the village to go serve as an apprentice since my dad had no head for books...

The man whom my dad was to serve made panties for babies. At scale.

So, my dad had to learn how to operate the Singer sewing machine and other electric machines.

He learnt this very quickly and kept on helping his oga’s business thrive.

During his stay there, he noticed something interesting.

All the apprentice there could read, write and speak English. My dad could do none.

So, while those who were literate engaged in so many leisure activities – listening to the radio, reading newspapers, writing letters, etc.

He made pants.

Day and night he worked.

A few years later, he will transform his little “making pants” shop into Gabtex Manufacturing Co, employing hundreds and turning over multi millions in naira.

Looking back, many of the literate guys ended up working for him or being the talkers at meetings, with no financial security.

He was different. He got stuff done. On time. And profitably.

When I started teaching him how to read and write at 45, he looked at me hard and said:

The white man’s education distracts people. I now know why I succeeded. Because I had nothing else to do, I focused on making pants the way I learnt it. And even better.

Am I dissing class room education?

No way.

Education is the engine of civilization. But there’s a downside.

We now have billions of people who see endless education as the path to success.

Jumping from one interesting opportunity or venture to another.

The problem we face today is not a lack of opportunity. Opportunities are everywhere.

The problem we face today is an abundance of distractions!

Original Post: Why You Can't Get Anything Done?

Instead of wasting time on industrial engineering.

Why not go for electrical and electronics engineering?

The demand for automation experts in manufacturing industries within and outside Nigeria has skyrocketed.

While you can switch to automation after industrial engineering. An electrical and electronics degree gives you a solid foundation to branch out into any engineering subfield.

Mechanical is pretty limited. Don't go that route. Unless you're CALLED!

You have just asked a generic question.

To get help, you need to be specific about your situation.

- Did you make a distinction in your diploma?
- How many distinction grades do you have in your WAEC result?

.If you're not solid in the above, I'd advise you to work towards getting into a university to get a degree.

Once you have a degree, there are more scholarships at the postgraduate level.

The competition for foreign scholarships at undergraduate level is fierce. Your currrent situation makes you highly unsuitable.

Give it time and go get a degree first.

..

Your request for help looks too generic.

Be specific about what you want.

Let me help you...

Do you want help with setting up an educational blog (blog design, hosting, SEO strategy) ?

▪︎ Someone handles the blog design and hosting for you, while you focus on cranking out content?

Do you need a mentor as you start your journey on education blogging mastery?

▪︎ Someone hand holds you via courses, books, or one-on-one tutorials m as you design, host and launch your blog to the world?

Make what you want clear. You might get help!

This is sad. Like soul-crushing sad.

I did Biochemistry in my first degree. So I can relate.

Looking for a job, looking for a way to feed is depressing. You begin to doubt your judgement. You feel God has failed you. If not, why did he let you remain broke and jobless?

Calm down, bro. You're smart. You deserve better, and better you'll get.

Don't sell yourself short. #200 - 300 daily is insulting.

But I get your frustration. Just relax and take some bold steps...

▪︎ Get out of Ondo and move to Lagos or Ogun (other states in Nigeria are dead or dying)
▪︎ Apply to jobs around the area where you land in Lagos or Ogun (consider teaching, you're smart!)
▪︎ Settle for teaching jobs that pay from 45 - 100k
▪︎ Gain experience, improve your diction, get a post graduate diploma in education. Then apply to schools that pay from 100 - 150k
▪︎ Add some private home lessons to it
▪︎ Save money and live a less stressful life

If by any chance, you don't like teaching.

Just get to Ogun and start applying to factory jobs. No matter how menial.

You'll be fine. Be brave. You shouldn't end what you didn't start.

Live!

Same story all over the internet.

You have talent. You have passion. You need a way to make money from what you love.

It's hard. Like Olumo rock hard. Especially in Nigeria.

The smart way to get by is to find a way to keep alive.

I see you studied management and accounting. Why not consider looking for a book keeping role?

Or stock keeping? Or anything basic in finance?

If you're serious about writing, you can always work at it every evening after work. And throughout the weekend.

When you've built up a following and have clients, you can then dump the job for your passion.

Don't fool yourself. Making it big in writing or PR is a tall order when you are a no name!

Do what is practical. Forget your imaginary writing skills.

Hunger will flog you. Frustration will bury you.

Find something to keep alive first. Cheers.

Surviving in Nigeria is hard.

But it's certainly not impossible.

Complain less. Embrace practical wisdom today and help yourself.

The people we rely on are the ones who disappoint us the most. Learn to depend on your own arms!

https://www.vincentchukwu.com/blog-posts/13-traits-of-people-that-will-make-it-in-life/

Once you have a job that pays a stable salary, what comes to mind?

If you're like me, you start planning how you will save, invest and earn more.

Let's talk about the savings part.

How do you meet your savings goal?

A) Monthly contribution with colleagues from the office (if someone resigns or gets sacked then absconds, the outcome is always depressing. You could lose money)
B) Open an account you don't touch in any big bank because you won't have an ATM for it (you'll still touch it last last.)

Charlie Munger says, "show me the incentive and I'll show you the outcome."

Using Piggyvest has given me a perfect incentive to save

PS: I don't like to lose money...

https://www.vincentchukwu.com/blog-posts/achieving-financial-goals-using-piggyvest/

Funkybabee:
Link to get the book for free

Here is the link to the post.

https://www.vincentchukwu.com/blog-posts/books-every-fresh-nigerian-graduate-must-read/

You can find the download links there.

Happy reading!

Graduating is easy.

Getting mobilized for NYSC is easy.

The real headache in Nigeria is getting started on a career path.

The school is scam crowd will tell you there are no jobs.

If you're smart, but can't find a job you could soon start shouting school is scam.

In the age of the internet it's easier to build a career than ever before. What you only need is information and guidance.

For me, books helped me take the right steps. And when you look at the pics attached you will see the 5 books that changed my life.

It helped me go from an anxious fresh graduate to a mid-level career person excited about the future.

SOURCE: 5 Books Every Fresh Nigerian Graduate Must Read [Plus Free Download Links]