In Nigeria today, unemployment is increasing, and everyone is looking for one job or the other to engage in. statistics have revealed that the unemployment rate in Nigeria has risen to a whopping 33.3 percent. This is very alarming, and it has an extensive effect on the economy of Nigeria.
There is a shortage of white-collar jobs, and everyone is turning to their skills. Even those with small-scale businesses are surviving using the hand-to-mouth formula.
The increase in the unemployment rate has made many people keep their certificates and turn to acquire skills as a source of livelihood. When you have the right skills people need, you will never lack food. This is very true because you will always be needed by people who want you to help solve their problems.
However, some skills don’t pay much, while others are money banks. It might be difficult for you to identify the very lucrative skills since we have a lot of them. You don’t have to worry.
Handwork is simply any physical work done by hand that can be sold for money. You’ll probably see quite a few people doing it on the streets or in markets in your city. In Nigeria, many people make more money from handwork than from salaried jobs. The reason why is that there is no formal record of their earnings, so they don’t get credit for what they do.
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Craftsmen and craftswomen are sought after by many people in Nigeria for many reasons depending on their area of expertise. Their services are often expensive, but the quality of their work is usually worth it. Some of them even make a living from their craft.
Handwork is indeed a great source of income for anyone who has a passion for it, but learning the trade can be a bit problematic. The best handwork is one that requires dexterity, patience, and skill. These characteristics aren’t easily acquired by everyone and so, the training period can sometimes take forever.
The intent of most young Nigerians is to earn a fortune of money in a short time. But, it is not as straightforward as it may sound. There are many challenges that you will confront to attain monetary liberty. Chances are, the first job you will get is not what you want to do with the rest of your life.
That’s why it’s important to explore your options while you’re still in school or even before that. In this article, we will look at some jobs that you can take up in Nigeria. They are fun and interesting, but don’t just take our word for it! Go out there and try them yourself!
It’s no secret that the Nigerian art market is growing. And several talented artists and craftsmen are making a name for themselves in the country. Whether you’re looking for traditional art or innovative design, there are many skilled artisans and menial workers who will help you reach your goals. Here are 10 of the best artisans and menial skills in Nigeria.
1. Fashion Designing (Tailoring)
Sometimes, many people have doubts about taking tailoring up as a skill. Many will say there are many tailors, but the truth is that no matter the number of tailors we have, they are never more than the number of clients.
You will never run out of clients if you know how to sew very well and have your unique selling point. The best clients are the ones you get from referrals and word of mouth. Clients will always come for you when you do your best to deliver quality jobs.
Fashion is a major part of Nigerian culture. Several talented fashion designers and tailors can help you find the perfect outfit for any occasion. You can also find great clothes and accessories online, so it’s easy to shop for clothes that will fit your unique personality.
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In addition, many Nigerians prefer to buy their clothes in-store rather than online. This means that you’ll be able to find top-quality fashion in Nigeria without having to search around.
As a tailor, you need an average of 6 months to 1 year to be very good at sewing and making creative designs. Once you finish learning, you can start making money by sewing for family members, church members, and friends.
These are the best people to start with because they will always correct you if you make a mistake. Going forward, you can send proposals to boarding schools, secondary schools, etc., to sew their school uniforms.
You can also open a fashion house to sew different clothes for different outings and purposes. Tailoring and fashion design are skills that require creativity and upgrades all the time. Ensure to be up to date with the latest fashion style. Attend fashion programs and take notes of the latest trends in dresses.
Whether dealing with male or female clothing, tailoring will fetch you millions if you do the right thing and in a grand style.
2. Barbering
This is another of the top 10 best-paying handworks in Nigeria. Barbers are everywhere, and it is one of the human necessities. If you are in a good location, you can make an average of 5 to 10k as a barber. This converts to a monthly earning of 150k to 300k if you work all day.
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You can learn barbering from a professional barbing shop, and in three months of dedicated learning, you are good to go. Open your barbering salon and give the best haircut to ensure that clients come back all the time. Depending on your location and nature of services, you can charge between ₦300 to ₦10,000 for a haircut.
3. Hairdressing
Just like barbing, females want to look good all the time. Though people do not know it, the beauty industry is one of the most booming sectors. Ladies spend a lot of money looking good, and you should tap into this sector if you are looking to make a huge amount of money from your skill.
Hairdressing is an important skill in Nigeria. Not only do stylists need to provide a high-quality service, but they also need to handle the various hair types and textures. In addition, many women in Nigerian society wear their hair up in a bun or up in a coil.
You should enroll in a beauty school for training to start this business. It can take you between 6 to 10 months to be a professional hairdresser. You need to be familiar with many hairstyles to attract different clients. You should also learn to make wigs. This will be an added advantage for your business since many ladies are switching to wigs.
4. Makeup and Cosmetics
Makeup and cosmetics are essential parts of any woman’s wardrobe. They add a touch of glamour to any outfit and help you look your best. In addition, they can be used as an advertising tool to reach a large audience.
Make-up is an art and business that can be learned by anyone who wants to make money. It is also not limited to just the female gender; male make-up artists are all over social media, especially on YouTube. The most interesting thing about make-up, however, is that it does not require any specific educational background, only persistence, and passion for what you do
Makeup is another booming area of the beauty industry. A lot of ladies spend so much money on makeup and cosmetics. This can be the perfect area for you to cash out.
Who knew how much people would spend on their looks for parties and events?A makeup session is charged between ₦10,000 to ₦30,000, depending on the type of makeup. Professional makeup artists charge up to ₦15,000 to ₦100,000 for bridal makeup jobs etc. if you are an effect makeup artist, then it’s time to make a lot of money from Nollywood producers.
You can learn makeup from a good beauty school or salon. It will take about 3 to 6 months to be good at it, and you can start making money by monetizing your skill.
5. Photography
Photographers are artists in their own right. They record occasions for future benefits. To deliver quality images, photographers need good professional equipment, ingenuity, and expertise.
Photography is another amazing handwork that can fetch you a lot of money. It might be difficult to believe, but the truth is that photographers are making a lot of money. Depending on the type of photography you are into, you can make any amount ranging from ₦5,000 to ₦20,000 per shoot.
Photography is a skill that you can use to make money: photo editing, web designing, graphic design, and more. With the power of the internet and technology, there are plenty of opportunities for you to make money from your creative skills.
Wedding and event photographers also make huge money from shooting weddings and events. Photographers can charge between 200k to 500k on average to shoot a complete wedding (pictures and videos). You can learn photography with professional hands, and within three months, you are good at it.
6. Carpentry (Furniture Making)
Many people see carpentry as one of the most menial jobs and do not want to be involved in this business, but if you look at it carefully, carpenters are making a huge amount of money from the woods.
Carpenters involved in furniture making have gained basic knowledge in furniture designing, which makes them develop amazing designs for sitting room and parlor furniture.
This furniture is sold for nothing less than ₦300,000, and as much as ₦5 million depending on the type and quality of the product. Carpenters who are into roof development are also making a lot of money from making roofing designs that are state of the art.
Roof making it one of the highest-paying jobs for carpenters.
Carpentry is one of the many skills that people in Nigeria often don’t see. But it’s a skill that is often unspoken. Carpentry is the art of building things with wooden sticks and nails.
In Nigeria, carpentry is often used to build homes, fences, and other objects. It’s an important skill because it allows people to build things quickly and efficiently.
You can start this business by going for a 1-year apprenticeship with an experienced and professional carpenter. After the apprenticeship, you should gain enough experience to start your own. You can start by making simple home furniture designs for sale.
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7. Plumbing
With an increase in the number of boreholes and water cistern toilets, plumbers are making a whole lot of money from their profession. Plumbers install, repair, and fix piping connections and plumbing works in homes. Plumbers charge according to the nature of their work, and they can charge as high as ₦200,000 per job depending on if it is a repair job or an installation job.
You can learn plumbing from a recognized technical school or professional for one year and start practicing it yourself.
8. Mason
Masons are professional artisans that build houses. They are involved in physical labor, and they have the technical expertise of building houses through the accumulation of experiences gathered over time. They are found in sites as artisans and are sometimes the foreman at a building site.
This skill is very lucrative if you have the physical energy to engage in it. If you are one of those persons filled with energy and strength, then you should consider joining the mason job. A mason makes an average of ₦4,000 to ₦6,000 daily. This amount to ₦120,000 to ₦180,000 in 30 days. This skill requires training of up to 1 year to practice the masonry job.
There are many different types of floor tiles, both hard and soft, which can be created to match your specific needs.
This is another profession that is making millions for people involved in it. The tiling of houses has become predominant, and almost everyone wants to live in a house with a tiled floor.
Modern houses have different tiling styles, and they require experts to do the tiling. Experienced tilers take advantage of this opportunity to make a lot of money. They charge per square foot, and it could be a really big amount of money when accumulated over the area of space they are tiling.
10. Catering and Baking
Baking has to do with preparing food using an oven and dry heat. Many people who are into baking nowadays are making so much money from supplying baked products at events.
As events unfold, there is a raising need for cakes, pastries, and snacks. You can start baking small chops and other pastries before making cakes for events and home use.
Baking is a common skill in Nigeria. Many talented bakers can create delicious and nutritious meals for your family. From bread to pastries, cake to pies, there’s a baking recipe for everyone.
You can learn baking within six months and will be able to make cakes that taste very nice. Incorporate creativity into your baked product and see how many people will want to have a taste of your product.
You can package your pastries and supply them to supermarkets, and you can open a shop dedicated to pastries, cakes, and small chops. You can also have an academy where you teach others how to bake.
Listed above is a few of the very lucrative handwork and menial skill you can make a lot of money from in Nigeria. Some of these menial skills are despised by people, but looking critically, If you input creative ideas and improvements to present your skill, they can be a gold mine where you make millions from.
If you are interested in any of them, you should take your time to learn them and be extremely good at them, and then you monetize your skill and make money out of them.
Benefits Of Having A HandWork In Nigeria
Having a handwork or skill in Nigeria offers several benefits. It provides an opportunity for self-employment and income generation, reducing dependence on traditional job opportunities. A handwork can be a supplementary source of income, making individuals financially more resilient.
Many skilled individuals start their own businesses, contributing to the growth of the informal sector and job creation. As more people acquire skills, it helps alleviate the problem of unemployment in the country. Skilled individuals can set their working hours and terms, giving them a level of independence. Pursuing a skill or craft can be personally fulfilling and offer a sense of achievement.
Nigeria’s skilled artisans and craftsmen have export potential, contributing to the country’s foreign exchange earnings. The skills sector contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and economic growth of the nation. It can be a means of poverty reduction by providing employment and livelihood opportunities, especially in rural areas. Many traditional skills and crafts are passed down through generations, preserving the nation’s cultural heritage.
Skilled individuals can provide essential services in their communities, such as tailoring, carpentry, plumbing, and more. Skilled individuals are often better equipped to weather economic downturns or job market fluctuations. In Nigeria, where unemployment remains a significant challenge, having a handwork or skill can open doors to various opportunities and contribute to personal, community, and national development.
Hi there, I'm Heaven. I'm an entrepreneur, blogger, and digital marketing enthusiast. When I'm not watching anime or learning something new from TikTok, I post and vlog about my incredible life experiences as a digital entrepreneur.
