I noticed pictures of some young men on social media who had completed their National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) recently. These young men were all smiling and excited, dreaming about a great future that comes with a good job and financial independence.
Completing the NYSC should be seen as a starting point to a long journey that requires tenacity and patience, especially in today’s economic situation in Nigeria where there are limited job opportunities. Many graduates have remained jobless because they solely depend on their bachelor’s degree without thinking of the need to acquire digital skills to bridge the gap.
In this era of globalization, an academic degree is not enough without practical skills. It is crucial for young graduates to acquire digital skills like web development, artificial intelligence, coding, software development, analytics, data science, digital marketing, and social media marketing, among others. These digital skills are in high demand globally, and doing any of these skills will put you in a better position to land a high paying job.
Acquire Digital Skills
Acquiring knowledge is not limited to classrooms anymore. Many professionals have gained promotion and even switched to new jobs as a result of certification acquired from Coursera, Simplilearn, Udemy, and other online educational platforms.
For instance, I acquired knowledge on the fundamentals of digital marketing through a free course on Simplilearn that also covered content marketing, social media marketing, and Google Analytics. The certification from Simplilearn has proved valuable, as I was able to secure an internship with a digital marketing agency in Germany for three months.
At the moment, I am currently doing a freelancing job with The European Correspondent, a media organisation based in Brussels, Belgium. Due to my passion for continuous learning and personal development, I also enrolled and completed a postgraduate program in Digital Marketing at Purdue University, U.S.A. This is an intensive seven-month program that I strongly believe has equipped me with the appropriate digital marketing skills to compete favourably in the present era.
It is not too late to go back to school and upgrade your skills to improve your earnings and have a better life. Life is not a bed of roses, and only with tenacity and diligence can one overcome challenges and achieve his or her goals.
As we are moving towards the New Year, I urge the youth to have a rethink and set an ambitious goal towards continuous learning and development, as it is the key to personal growth and success.
