Handwork vs Tertiary Education

H

andwork and Business: The Hidden Gold Nigerians Overlook

In Nigeria today, many young people believe success only comes through formal education. Parents push their children to attend university, hoping they’ll become “big people” working in offices. But the truth on the ground is different. Every year, thousands of graduates finish school, yet most end up at home — unemployed, frustrated, and broke.

I see this every day as a mechanic. I repair cars, fix engines, and make more money than most bankers. Some of them earn ₦70,000 to ₦100,000 a month, while I can make that amount in one week. My workshop is always busy because cars never stop breaking down. That’s the power of handwork and business — they keep paying, rain or shine.

The Disadvantages of Many Nigerian Graduates

1. Unemployment:
   The number of graduates keeps increasing, but job opportunities are getting fewer. Many roam the streets with certificates that can’t feed them.

1. Lack of Practical Skills:
   Nigerian schools mostly teach theory. You can meet a graduate of mechanical engineering who can’t even service a motorcycle. Meanwhile, a roadside mechanic or a small business owner can rebuild their future with confidence.

1. Dependency Mentality:
   Most graduates depend on being employed by someone else. They wait for job openings and interviews. But people with handwork or those into buying and selling create their own opportunities.

1. Low Pay:
   Even when some finally get jobs, their salary is too small. After paying rent, transport, and feeding, nothing is left to save or invest. Meanwhile, a trader or artisan controls their income and can earn daily.

1. Wasted Years:
   Four to six years go by in school, only for many to later start learning a trade or start small businesses. That’s wasted time and energy that could have been used to master a skill or grow a business early.

Why Handwork and Business Are Better

Handwork and business give freedom. A skilled welder, tailor, carpenter, mechanic, or trader can work anywhere — Lagos, Enugu, or even abroad. You don’t need to wait for a boss or a company. Your skill or your business becomes your certificate.

While some graduates are still printing CVs, a painter or shop owner is opening their second branch. While a degree holder is calculating transport fare to the office, a plumber or trader is calculating profit from five new clients. Handwork and business pay daily, not monthly.

Education is good, but without a useful skill or business idea, it often leads to disappointment in today’s Nigeria. Handwork and buying and selling give practical results and independence. You can start small, grow your business, train others, and become your own boss.

In the end, the only good reason to go to school in Nigeria is to study relevant courses — like Medicine, Law, or Engineering — where the knowledge truly changes lives. But for most people, learning a handwork or business is the real path to success.

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