Job Opportunities

Your Excellency Sir,  

We, the Niger State First Class Graduates (NSFCG), extend our warm regards and seek your invaluable support for employment opportunities and scholarships to further our education. This appeal is made with great respect and the utmost desire to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Niger State under your leadership.

It is with great pride and inspiration that I assume the role of the pioneer chairman of NSFCG, especially during a time when you have ascended to the esteemed position as one of the youngest governors in Nigeria. This convergence is both emotional and motivational, serving as a beacon of hope for young intellectuals of Niger State like us, who aspire to follow in your footsteps with the necessary guidance, mentorship, and empowerment from our esteemed leaders. Congratulations on your well-deserved election and inauguration as the Executive Governor of Niger State. We extend our best wishes and prayers for your success in the formidable tasks of leadership and governance guided by divine wisdom. 

The NSFCG comprises First Class Graduates who hail from various universities and are proud indigenes of Niger State. Our membership spans nearly all of the 25 Local Government Areas, united by a common goal – to fulfil the high expectations society places on those who achieve the pinnacle of academic excellence through hard work, exemplary character, sacrifice, determination, and brilliance. As role models, we understand the responsibility that accompanies our achievements, and we aspire to make positive contributions to our society, guided by the values we hold dear. 

We express our concern that the absence of support for some of us, despite our exceptional merits and academic achievements, may inadvertently diminish the inspiration, value, and faith in education, determination, and hard work that our society needs. It is our belief that individuals like us should not be left without the necessary support but rather should be empowered to serve as beacons of excellence, motivating others to follow in our footsteps. 

Recognizing the need to address this disparity and utilize our potential for the betterment of Niger State, the NSFCG has taken the initiative to raise awareness about our current predicament. We are keenly aware of the profound impact we could make in contributing to the growth and development of our state, inspiring the public to remain steadfast in their pursuit of education, lofty aspirations, and unwavering determination. 

In this context, we note the remarkable strides made by other states, such as Kano under the leadership of Former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who championed human capital development through substantial investments in foreign scholarships for first-class graduates, alongside Governor Nasir Elrufa’i of Kaduna State who witnessed infrastructural advancements through championing Urban Renewal policy and Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF) for most brilliant and outstanding graduates in the state. Permit me, Your Excellency Sir, to say that it is this visionary approach that distinguishes leaders and leaves an indelible mark on society. 

We also commend the Talba Program, an initiative that provided gainful employment for numerous unemployed youths in Niger State, leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment and transformation for beneficiaries and their families alike. 

Your Excellency Sir, as esteemed leaders with a genuine passion for the betterment of our state, we appeal for the following: 

1. Consideration for employment opportunities within the Niger State Government for the approximately 90+ first-class graduates hailing from almost all of the 25 LGAs who are currently unemployed. Our collective skill set can contribute to filling existing job vacancies and enhancing the effectiveness of newly established ministries. 

2. Financial support or scholarships to facilitate our further education within Nigeria or abroad, thereby enabling us to acquire knowledge and expertise that can be channelled back to benefit our state. 

3. Mentorship and guidance from accomplished professionals, enabling us to evolve into exemplary citizens of whom Niger State can be justifiably proud. We aspire to possess the high level of skills and competency necessary to add significant value to our state and extend our positive impact beyond its borders. 

Your Excellency Sir, we hold steadfast belief in your dedication to uplift the youth, enhance human and infrastructural development, and curtail the challenges of crime and insecurity. By considering our appeal, you will not only empower a group of exceptional individuals but also sow the seeds for a more prosperous and vibrant future for Niger State and its citizens. 

With profound respect and anticipation, we remain committed to working diligently for the betterment of our beloved state.

Yours sincerely, 

Mukhtar Nasir, CPM        

Chairman, Niger State First-Class Graduates (NSFCG). He can be reached via nigerstatefcg@gmail.com.

By Salihi Adamu Takai 

Creativity pays with much income, so don’t be misled as you’re acquiring knowledge in any field of study, whether scientific or artistic. Refrain from relying on the Government to enumerate your study; the onus is on you to use your knowledge to help your humble self and the Government.

Be curious about Creativity, and don’t think that you will have a certificate in some field of study so that Government will give you what you may rely on to quench your hunger. As you study at the University, college or secondary school, think of your future and learn to get money from the little you grasp in your study.

People should have learned that already as they started feeling discouraged by Government policy; success in life is attached to curiosity, innovation, creativity and courage. If people had been curious about innovation, they would have become creative and courageous about their interests.

Let’s look at the sources of development of the developed countries, such as China, America, England and others. We will say that they all developed because of curiosity in innovation. In China, we can see an infant exhibiting a sense of invention, producing phones and what have you; he doesn’t rely on the Government to give him jobs; the Government receives from his creativity.

In Nigeria, conversely, even a professor still relies on Government to boost his salary. That is a typical example of backwardness in Africa. Our Government also doesn’t encourage the youths to be curious about Creativity only bars them with a lack of encouragement. 

Therefore, as the youth who starts thinking of this idea, I engage myself in creativity. I did, and I got the value of it; I became curious about it; and will keep evolving curious about it forever. I exhibited my input on Earth, and it was accepted. Alhamdulillah!

Salihi Adamu Takai wrote from Kano via salihiadamu5555@gmail.com.

By Mujahid Ibrahim

As I sat in the conference hall at the Kano Social Influencer’s Summit (KANSIS) of 2021 and 2022, organised by the Centre of Information Technology and Development (CITAD), I couldn’t help but wonder about the immense power of social media. The conference brought together a diverse group of social media influencers, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts who shared their experiences and perspectives on how social media can be leveraged to drive social and economic growth.

However, amidst all the exciting stories and success tales shared at the conference, one thing was clear: the effects of mismanaging social media can be disastrous. From cyberbullying to misinformation and hate speech, social media has the potential to be a double-edged sword. While it can be used to amplify positive messages and drive change, it can also be a breeding ground for negative and destructive forces.

One instance of the adverse effects of social media mismanagement is the infamous #EndSARS protest in Nigeria, which was initially launched on social media platforms. The protest started as a peaceful campaign to end police brutality but eventually turned violent due to the spread of fake news and misinformation on social media. The consequences were dire, with many lives lost and properties destroyed.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Social media platforms provide endless opportunities for individuals and businesses to connect, engage, and grow their brands. From advertising to influencer marketing, social media has become indispensable for businesses looking to reach new audiences and drive revenue.

Numerous success stories exist of individuals and businesses leveraging social media to achieve their goals. For instance, the fashion brand Fashion Nova has grown from a small online store to a multi-million-dollar brand by utilising social media platforms to drive brand awareness and engagement. Similarly, entrepreneurs like Jeffree Star and Kylie Jenner have built successful cosmetic brands by leveraging their massive social media followings.

Other examples of social media success stories include:

Salt Bae: The Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe went viral on social media after a video of him sprinkling salt on a steak went viral. Since then, he has built a global empire of restaurants and has over 20 million followers on Instagram.

Wendy’s, the fast-food chain, has become famous on social media for its witty and engaging responses to customers. Wendy’s Twitter account has amassed over 3 million followers and has been hailed as a masterclass in social media marketing.

Glossier, the skincare and beauty brand, has built a cult following on Instagram, with over 2 million followers. Glossier has used social media to build a strong community of loyal customers who engage with the brand and share their experiences online.

GoPro, the action camera company, has used social media to create a platform for user-generated content. By encouraging users to share their GoPro footage on social media, the company has created a vast library of high-quality content that promotes the brand and inspires others to purchase their products.

Old Spice, the men’s grooming brand, revitalised its image through viral videos that parodied traditional male grooming advertisements. The videos were hugely popular on social media and helped to reposition the brand as edgy and irreverent.

These success stories, however, demonstrate the power of social media in building brand awareness, engaging customers, and driving revenue. By leveraging the unique features of each social media platform, businesses can create targeted and effective marketing campaigns that resonate with their target audience. Social media also provides opportunities for individuals to build personal brands, connect with like-minded people, and share their passions with the world.

To sum it up, social media has the potential to be a powerful force for good or bad, depending on how it’s managed. By understanding the power of social media and leveraging its unique features, individuals and businesses can drive social and economic growth. However, it’s important to use social media responsibly and to be mindful of the potential adverse effects of mismanaging it.

As social media continues to evolve and shape our world, we must use it to build a better, more connected, and more inclusive society. So, whether you’re an entrepreneur, an influencer, or just a casual user, remember to use social media to spread positive messages, connect with others, and make a meaningful impact.

Mujahid Ibrahim, Program Officer, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), can be contacted via littlemujahid4@gmail.com.

By: Muhammad Danjuma Abubakar

On the weekend, while scrolling through my phone casually, I clicked on the Google App to open the search box. I stared for a while as I had no question in mind. Although, it is advised that one should have a specific question in mind before attempting to consult the internet; to enable the user to save precious time and better organisation the resources therefrom.

As I was thinking about which question was most relevant to the search, I suddenly typed ‘best paying jobs that can earn me millions’ as my query in the search box. This took a better part of my time for hours as I kept searching through Google – the most admired search engine today, to find out the ‘best jobs’ that could earn a person millions, whether in naira or whatever currency.

The outcomes from the search engine result pages (SERP) could not cease to amaze me.  The more results I got, the greater my curiosity for further searches as I kept re-phrasing the queries.

While on this, I also remembered that our society today is such that it overrates affluence and attaches respect to any ‘rich wheat’ regardless of whether one can genuinely justify the means to its acquisition.

Because of these, most young Nigerians wish, in a resolute manner, to find a professional career in jobs that could offer them huge pay to enable them to build a big house and get a car or cars of choice, among other acquisitions in the shortest time possible. These are society’s key indicators for measuring success in life or otherwise.

Emphatically, it is because of the perceived belief that studying certain courses in the university could translate more in good paying jobs that some parents impress it upon their children to forfeit one university admission for another or go to a greater length such as using monies to get the desired choice of course(s) of study for their children.

In one of my recent articles titled ‘Our Schools, the rots and dangerous implications’, I discussed some of these unfortunate realities and how best to tackle them. That aside.

As I realised further the fact that our youths today do not choose a career or job that aligns with their interests but those ones that pay more, I took my research more seriously as I began to write down the results from my search queries. And at the end, I got massive results from my google searches.

Good-paying jobs could fetch you millions are many. Yet, I was shocked to see that most jobs I had expected to find, considering the perceived potential of the courses leading to those jobs, did not make a list, and those least expected were on the list. How ironic!

Some list of the careers/jobs I expected to find are: Politics, Aeronautical engineering, Pilot, Photography, Data visualisation, Water resources engineering, web development and Planning Officer. Others are shipping and logistics, music, and filmmaking, among others. I did not find any of these.

For clarity, my expectations were well placed. Because for example, politics is one of the most desirous ambitions, particularly in Nigeria, where even a ward councillor easily amasses wealth within his shortest period in office. Most Nigerians, especially those who wish to feel they belong, desire to win an elective office.

 Another notable example is photography. It is estimated that over 20,000 events take place in Lagos State every day, according to the vanguard newspapers report.

Photography has become a speciality that has stood the taste of all times and has proven to be a money-spinning venture. If you must know, politicians of class, businessmen, top government functionaries and blue-chip organisations now have trained photographers in addition to their spokespersons and media teams. This is why even some universities, particularly overseas, now run degree and even higher degree programs in modern Photography. 

Similarly, the job of being an aeronautical engineer or pilot could also be very rewarding. According to statistics from Statista, the number of current active commercial aircraft is more than 25,000 globally, with Africa accounting for 888 of this number, with an annual growth rate of no less than 3.8%.

But, the only very financially fulfilling jobs, according to Google, despite repeated searches, were a Sales manager, Chief executive officer, Financial manager, Software developer, Lawyer, Investment Banker, Negotiations expert, Neurosurgeon, Psychiatrist, Human Resources Manager, Risks Analysts among others.

The best cure for ignorance is a constant search for knowledge. So, I took my research further this time by picking each of these jobs one at a time to ask google again ‘why they were the best-paying job. I wondered, this time, why I kept receiving tips on ‘how to be successful and earn better pay’ instead. 

Put differently. My search results indicated that there are key conditions for you to excel and eventually earn more in these jobs earlier regarded as the ‘most financially’ rewarding. Google listed the conditions to include; passion, staying evergreen through the search for new ideas, and competence, among others.

At this point, it is reasonable to believe that any legitimate job and vocation is a best-paying job and could make you a millionaire when you imbibe certain principles.

Therefore, instead of seeking the best-paying jobs, the youths must rather seek a job that aligns with their purpose and personality in life, seek to become like a ‘bunch of keys’ with broad ideas and creativity in their chosen career and seek to work to learn more, not to earn more; because it is said that, when you work more than you earn; you will later earn more than you work.

Muhammad Danjuma Abubakar lives in Minna, Niger State. He can be contacted via muhammadcares4u@gmail.com.

By Abba Abdulwahab Danmaraya

Congratulations to all my colleagues and friends who have recently finished their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. I wish you success in your career, and may Allah bless the certificates you have acquired. Your number is too enormous for me to follow each of you and extend my wish but when you come across this piece, bear in mind that it’s for you.

As you achieve another record/milestone in your life journey, I want to advise you to embrace skills and apprenticeship and engage in any small business that comes your way. When you do that faithfully with God’s blessings, the big and lucrative ones you so desire may come to you.

You don’t need to be told about the hardship people experience in Nigeria. The saturated labour market and the job racketeering that’s going on in the country are under the watch of those who can make things right, but since it favours most of them and their loved ones, they allow it to continue the bad way.

You shouldn’t be carried away by the mentality of some graduates and refuse to work hard. Instead, get as much connection as possible, learn new things and improve the quality of your thought by thinking outside the box.

Today life has proven to us it is not only about how hard you work but also how brilliant you think/work. The certificates you possess don’t matter in getting you a job in most places in Nigeria if you have connections but also you can also be welcome to so many places if you can offer many things, create and work smarter.

Even on this social media, when used correctly and with caution, you will meet with many things, people, and items that will help shape and mould you to be a better version of yourselves. With your smartphones, you will learn a lot, and you can also generate more money and maximise your income when you manage your time and thought.

Abba Abdulwahab Danmaraya wrote via saniabdulwahabdanmaraya@gmail.com.