The need to acquire a new occupational skill is the next line of thought in our discussion on spare-time jobs. Acquiring a new skill means learning a trade different from what you normally do for a living.

Introduction

This may be prompted by the fact that the basic skill for which you are known and through which you derive your monthly income cannot, for some reason, be sold on a part-time basis. And yet, you are equally hit by the prevailing economic depression. This article addresses how to survive during a poor economy.

And whereas you can afford some leisure hours a day to do something extra. Another reason which may warrant your learning a skill is the obvious fact that you have not hitherto possessed any particular skill.

So, anyone belonging to any of these two classes of people is advised to think of learning a trade which could be practised as a part-time job.

New Occupational Skills

Some skills are particularly for women; some are mainly for men, while many others can be learnt by both men and women. One of the skills best suited to the female sex is catering.

This is concerned with the provision of food, snacks and beverages as well as other related services to guests. A woman, irrespective of whatever skill she might have, can still learn this trade.

This may enable her to establish a small cafe or snack bar where people can sit and drink. If this appears too involving and therefore impracticable on a part-time basis, the’ caterer’ may engage in contracting.

Focus 1

This means entering into agreements with hotels and guest houses for the supply of cakes, doughnuts and sandwiches.

It may be viable to specialise and concentrate only on the preparation of birthday and marriage cakes to meet the local demand.

Another skill that can be learnt by women on a leisure-time basis is hair-dressing. The scale of operation and level of sophistication in our case need not be as high as in respect to those who engage in this business on a full-time basis.

Focus 2

In other words, one does not need to be a professional. It may, for example, suffice to learn only the different aspects of hair-plaiting. This alone will certainly fetch reasonable returns with only two or three hours of practice per day.

There are various other skills women can acquire as supplements to what they already know how to do. Knitting is just one. Neither does this require a big capital outlay nor a large space to practice.

One can engage in knitting while listening to music or while taking part in a conversation with visitors. Proceeds from knitted socks, sweaters, food covers and tablecloths can form a considerable supplement to the family income.

The practice of agriculture is a skill which can be beneficial to both the menfolk and womenfolk alike.

Focus 3

Even though it would appear almost everyone knows something about agriculture, being a traditional occupation, one must learn the modern methods of its practice. This is necessary to achieve maximum returns could be achieved from minimum effort.

One needs to know the types of crops that are suitable for particular types of soil, the right times for sowing various crops, their planting distances, when and how to supply fertilisers, how to raise snails, keep poultry, a piggery, etc.

These skills can be acquired through the extension workers of the Ministry of Agriculture or relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Focus 4

It is necessary to emphasise that every rural dweller should be interested in growing their food, or part of it. This is because land, which may constitute a constraint in the urban environment, is never a constraint in the countryside.

Even the urbanite with a little determination will be able to grow their vegetables by utilising all available spaces around the home.

A lot can be realised from these efforts, not only in terms of cash returns but also in terms of what the family can take fresh from the garden.

Focus 5

Another skill which people may acquire to augment their basic skills is photography. Apart from professional photographers, interested people all over the world practise this skill as a hobby.

The important point to remember is that photography as a hobby can be further developed and turned into a money-yielding activity.

Focus 6

This does not detract from the enjoyment and satisfaction one normally derives from its practice as a hobby.

Yet another skill open to both males and females is writing. The art of writing may be learnt formally, presumably from a correspondence school, and it can be learnt informally through practice.

One must have a flair for writing with a good command of the language. Writing is one of those skills that can conveniently be practised on a part-time basis.

Do-it-Yourself

The idea of do-it-yourself is important in the struggle for economic survival; just as the country needs to be self-reliant to survive difficult periods, so also do individuals and families need to be. bBeself-reliant.

The implication of’ do-it-yourself’ is that one is able and willing to undertake several of the household duties which other people normally help to do and get paid for.

This requires acquiring some relevant skills. And this takes time. Nevertheless, the time taken to acquire the skills is usually more than compensated for in the long run.

Focus 1

The first example we wish to cite to illustrate what could satisfactorily be done on a do-it-yourself basis is laundry. Many a family do not realise how high the monthly expenses of keeping the family clothing could be.

By sacrificing part of the available leisure time, especially during weekends, the children’s clothes with those of other members of the household could properly be looked after.

Here, it may be appropriate to adopt the method of division of labour wherein the wife is responsible for supervising and getting the clothes washed, while the husband takes responsibility for getting them properly ironed.

Focus 2

A second illustration of what can be done to dispense with part of the services of other people is car servicing. Over the past three decades, the rate of car ownership in the country has risen tremendously.

This has been due to the oil boom and the consequent spates of wage increases, as we already said in chapter one.

The use of cars in this country is not just a function of necessity. To most Nigerians, the factor of status enhancement is predominant.

Now that a lot of people experience a decline in their income (in the sense of a declining value· of what income can purchase), getting cars properly maintained has become a problem.

Focus 3

One of the ways by which the overall cost of car maintenance could be reduced is by learning and understanding aspects of the maintenance by oneself. This is no difficult task if the will is there.

There are books in the market which explain the basic principles of car maintenance. One needs to change the engine oil and the oil filter, remove.

Of course, other elementary batteries, replacing fuses, etc., should be carried out on a do-it-yourself basis.

It should be noted that what has been said about car maintenance is also true of motorcycles. A majority of low-income earners depend on cycles to get to their workplaces.

Focus 4

But quite a large proportion of them know next to nothing about the working of the machines and how to get them maintained.

They will indirectly save a lot of money if they take time to learn the workings of their machines and then apply the knowledge to get the machines properly maintained.

Focus 5

In this respect, they will need the services of professional mechanics to undertake major repairs only.

Just as it is necessary to know how to maintain your vehicle, so it is with the maintenance of buildings. This is especially relevant if you are an owner-occupier.

Aspects of building maintenance like replacing broken windowpanes, mending the cracked floor or painting the walls are all cost-consuming.

It is possible to reduce the costs to a minimum by learning to do some of these things yourself.

Tips for the Unemployed

Our discussions thus far have been directed at those people who are gainfully employed but who are still living from hand to mouth as a result of an ailing economy.

It is, however, unrealistic to assume that all active people are fully employed in a situation of economic crisis. For economic crisis itself is antecedent to unemployment, as we pointed out in chapter one.

So, in a difficult period, there are people who are fully employed but cannot possibly stretch their income to cover their basic needs.

Focus 1

Likewise, there are categories of people who are underemployed and whose conditions are therefore more precarious. And there are yet other categories that are downright unemployed and whose positions are therefore the most insecure.

The rate of unemployment in Nigeria has reached such a level that polytechnic and university graduates have become victims. In this type of situation, what should be a person’s attitude? What should a person do in concrete terms? These questions will be discussed in the following few lines.

One, the principle that a person should not fall into gloom and despair if faced with a difficult economic situation, is still relevant in this case.

Focus 2

Even though the times may be hard and the situation dreary, a little bit of courage with thoughtfulness is likely to save a hopeless situation.

Let us illustrate the point we are trying to make with this story, as carried in one of the national dailies, sometimes in Nigerian newspapers. One of them read Economics, one Geography and the other Business Administration.

They were friends. However, none of them could secure employment anywhere in the country after completing their National Service.

Focus 3

They remained unemployed for several months and were becoming frustrated. But then, they had to sit down to get the situation assessed most objectively.

They later concluded that there were a lot of things around them that they could embark upon on their own. At last, they were able to set up a modest business in solid waste collection in Lagos.

They initially owned an old pick-up van, which they used to collect household refuse once a week at a certain cost per month per household. The business soon grew to a stage where they had to buy additional new vehicles, and they also employed many more people.

And so, they became not only fully and lucratively employed, but they also became employers of labour.

Conclusion

This true story aptly illustrates what ought to be the mental orientation of the unemployed, especially during an economic recession.

They should endeavour to face the gloom as realistically and courageously as possible. In essence, the determination to survive, as we have tried to emphasise throughout the pages of this booklet, should always be the guiding principle. Read more related posts on our affiliate page of the site.