LIFE AFTER NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS (NYSC); STEPPING INTO REALITY
Talk by Kehinde Teniola – A development expert, An entrepreneur and A child of God
INTRODUCTION
I congratulate all corps members who have served their father land especially those who just passed out.
According to the general saying, Life is in stages; men are in sizes. Perhaps you are still serving, service year is a period to DISCOVER/REDISCOVER yourself, DEVELOP yourself, CONTRIBUTE to National development and CONNECT with people.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER NYSC
“If you are a graduate and you are still a burden, you only go to school; you are not educated.” Kehinde Teniola
My focus on what to expect will be divided into two. What most graduates desire (The Desirable) and what is obtainable in the market (The Obtainable).
THE DESIRABLE
Larger percentage of graduates plans and wishes to secure job after service. Regardless of the economic condition and the unemployment rate in the country, there are still jobs, even though it is few and only the violent take it by force through Human, Financial, Mental… connections.
Market Situation From Recruitment Result By Dangote Group Of Companies
Out of 13,000 applications received by Dangote group of companies for graduates executive truck drivers, there were 6 PhD holders, 704 Msc and over 8,460 BSc holders, even though the company only needed 100 drivers. These applications were mostly from graduates of reputable universities.
Mental Connection
You need to understand that the world is getting smaller and several machines now perform what man can do. In the same vein, organisations are also looking for versatile staff. So, far beyond core competence, versatility is now of a paramount importance in the labour market. Versatility is the ability to do different things, that is, ability to multitask and deliver.
Here are few examples of versatility;
A program officer who studied accounting with proficiency in ICT, plus professional certification in NIM and advanced diploma in marketing.
A secretary with good facilitation skills, M & E experience and good knowledge of statistical data.
An HR person with administrative experience, ND accounting, licensed driver, concept developer and graphic artist.
A Sunday school teacher, instrumentalist, interpreter, editorial member, and graphic artist.
THE OBTAINABLE
It is good to know that we are gradually moving from the era of job to service. So, it is now less of what you study, the school you attended, the grade you have… but more of what you can offer.
“If the ladder to the top is filled up, construct your own and invite people to come and climb.”
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” -Milton Berle
Discover, Develop And Demonstrate Your Occu-Passion
According to research, many great people succeed at what they love to do and not necessarily what they study in school.
What do you love to do, what is your passion (your passion is a solution to your frustration), what do you do effortlessly, what do people appreciate and celebrate you for, what is your hobby, what is your gift/talent…
Are you good in gossip and writing, then go into blogging. Do you like to talk and make people happy, then go into comedy. Are you a fashionista with passion to make people colourful, then go into makeup. Is talking your hobby with eagerness to impart knowledge, then go into teaching or consulting. Do you love music, be a musician. Is kitchen your favorite room with good taste of food, go and venture into food and catering service. Are you good in planning program with attention to details, then go into event planning. Do you have penchant for buying and selling with purpose to solve problem, then go into business. Do you have creative and innovative ability, then be an entrepreneur…
Acquire Skill And Do It Better
Most of the works outside now are skills-oriented and those skills are not practically available in our curriculum. Drop your graduate mentality and learn from the roadside man/woman. The fact that he can’t speak English does not make him/her less intelligent. English is just a language. Acquire the skill, repackage it, brand it and present it better.
Learn And Start A Trade
There are over 7 billion people on the earth and close to 200 million people in Nigeria. Money will easily flow from these people to you if only you have something in exchange for it or you can solve a problem for them. Money will always flow in the direction of value. There are some things people cannot do without – clothing, food, car wash, laundry… Start with what you have. Start anyhow but don’t end anyhow.
Conclusion
As your go in life, discover problems around you and act on the ideas that drop on your mind. There are many eyes that look but only few see. The difference between the rich and the poor is not in the volume of information they have but what they do with what they know. Think outside the box. Be the change you want to see. You will fail but remember that it is part of learning; nothing good works the first time.
God bless you.
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