Who keeps data of the number of jobs that should be created to take care
of the many graduates that are roaming the streets? Some guys are going
for “yahoo”, some ladies settle for “runs”. Sigh!
A first class Nigerian graduate has taken to Twitter to openly beg
people to help her get a job, in a rare move that underscores the dire
unemployment situation in the country.
The lady, Odufuwa Sola has remained jobless since she graduated in 2015. But why?
Electronics from Ajayi Crowther University,” she tweeted on Tuesday from
her handle @MzKansola. “Kindly help me retweet. I need a Job.”
Ms. Sola did not just make a First Class but was the best graduating student in the university for that year with a 4.83 G.P.A. She had the honour of delivering a valedictory speech in the school.
22yrs old Ms. Sola’s appeal for help has been retweeted more than 3,000 times by other Twitter users.
But that is just the best she has gotten for now as nobody has asked her to come over for a job interview.
According to Premium Times, Ms. Sola, who said she was amazed at the
rate people retweeted her post, revealed that she was inspired to resort
to Twitter for help having seen other people with similar situation get
help through the social media.
It’s common in Nigeria to see First Class graduates offered instant
employment by the university in which they studied or the state they
come from.
Ms. Sola said she has applied for employment at the Ajayi Crowther
University, but that she was yet to get a reply from the school.
She has also submitted applications to several companies and organisations within the country.
“Most jobs I apply for are graduate trainee slots that are
science-related,” Ms. Sola said, adding that she was not feeling sad at
all that she has not been able to get a job.
“I know the situation of the country, though I didn’t expect it to take so long,” she said. “But I trust God.”
Also, she does not regret studying physics. She said she would do it
again and again if she were to start her university education all over.
“Physics is fun,” she said.
Ms. Sola’s dream is to work someday as a renewable energy analyst, she told Premium Times.
Meanwhile, she has started learning tailoring at Ijebu-ode, Ogun State,
where she resides, while waiting and hoping to be called up for a job
interview soon.
“My family has been supportive, everyone around me is just wishing me
the best and praying I get a job soon,” said Ms. Shola who lost her dad
in 2015, few months to her graduation ceremony.
“My appeal to Nigerians is to help me get a job of my dream and passion.
I know it’s not easy out there, but with the help of God, I know
something good will happen soonest. Nigerians are good people, it’s just
the situation we find ourselves in as a country,” she said.
When Premium Times contacted the spokesperson of the Ajayi Crowther
University, Alvan Ewuzie, he said that giving first class graduates
instant employment in the university depended on the availability of
space in the department where the student graduated from.
Mr. Ewuzie said he was aware that the vice chancellor of the university
had offered employment recently to two first class graduates of the
school.
The Head of Physics with Electronics department of the school,
Christopher Olowokere, told this newspaper that he was aware of Ms.
Sola’s situation.
“The vice chancellor is interested in hiring first class materials, but for now there is no opening in the school.
“She needs to be patient. She could find a secondary school where she could teach for now,” Mr. Olowokere said.
Nigeria’s unemployment rate has been on a steady increase in the past
few years. It rose to 14.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016,
according to a recent data released by the National Bureau of
Statistics, NBS.
