Fashion design and related beauty trades have been the exclusive preserve of young people who ordinarily and for reasons beyond their control take to such trades.
Some, however, engage in fashion design and beauty business because they cannot pursue their education to the tertiary level.
They, therefore, take to the trades as an alternative and ready means of livelihood.
These Nigerians realise that government can no longer provide enough jobs even for graduates and other school leavers.
As a result, they imbibe the culture of dignity of labour and self-employment.
In fact, this culture is gradually becoming the norm and is catching up fast with youths.
And in Delta, the state government has been exploring avenues for gainful employment of its young people.
Youth Development Commissioner Omatsola Williams told newsmen.
It was recalled that government was determined to ensure that its youths were engaged in useful trades and vocations.
This, she said, was in a bid to address the problem of mass unemployment.
She said that exposing youths to the skills acquisition programme of the government had taken her Directorate to various institutions of higher learning.
The aim was to sensitise undergraduates to the need to become self-employed after graduation, the commissioner said.
She said that apart from being self-employed, these graduates would become employers of labour, with each employing between five and 10 workers.
Narrating her experience, a fashion designer in Asaba, Mrs. Rita Nwokolo, said that it was her mother who taught her how to sew.
‘’It was when I was in the secondary school that I learnt how to sew from my mum during holidays. I did not go into tailoring just because it was a last resort.
‘’Today I sew better than my mum and at the same time, I am a graduate of Sociology from the Delta State University, Abraka,’’ Nwokolo told newsmen.
Nwokolo explained that she established the business with little savings she made during her one-year national youth service.
‘’This business you are seeing today was established through the savings I made during my NYSC period.
‘’I have five girls working for me, while the other three are on apprenticeship,’’ she said.
Nwokolo said that at the end of each month after all her expenses and payment of salaries, she could boast of something good that could conveniently take care of her needs.
The sociology graduate has no immediate plans to look for a paid job either in the public or private sector as she prefers to be self-employed and manage her business.
Another graduate, Mr. Phillip Okwudili, who is into fashion design in Asaba, said that he found himself more fulfilled in the profession.
Okwudili said that he was already into the business before he completed his first degree programme at the Delta State University, Abraka.
His interest in fashion began during his several visits to his uncle, who was a fashion designer in Benin in the early 90s.
‘’I became interested in making ladies’ suits and it was through this business I sponsored myself in the university,’’ he said.
He explained that the cost of making female suits was between N2,500 and N3,000, and that many highly placed ladies in Asaba made their suits in his shop.
Mrs. Oluremi Mohammed, a beautician in Asaba, who graduated in Computer Science, said she had always had a flair for beauty.
‘’There is a revolution in the hairdressing profession. People now come up with different ideas in taking the profession to greater heights.
‘’We are not restricted to hairdressing alone, we take care of our clients’ faces and nails, among others.
‘’The profession is no longer for school dropouts or the less privileged. After I graduated from the university, a job was not forthcoming, so I had to fall back on what I learnt some years back,’’ she said.
For Mohammed, the business is quite lucrative and it has taken young persons off the streets.
Mohammed, who has six workers, generates between N250,000 and N300,000 monthly during peak periods.
According to her, the business enjoys a boom during the dry season and low patronage during the rainy season.
‘’I can no longer work in the public sector because this business pays me more than a Grade Level 15 public servant,’’ she said.
Mr. Jerry Onyenna, also a beautician in Asaba and an undergraduate of Akwa Ibom
State University, said that he took to the trade after his secondary education though he had a stint in the entertainment industry.
Onyenna had always wanted to be independent and it took the advice of his eldest sister to settle for the beauty line of business where there are few men.
‘’After my degree programme, I intend to continue with the profession,’’ he said.
For another graduate, Mrs. Eucharia Onyeagba, who is a hairdresser in Asaba and a graduate of Marketing from Federal Polytechnic, Bida, the profession is just a calling.
‘’Right from when I was a child, my passion was to be a hairdresser,’’ Onyeagba said.
According to her, ‘’hairdressing is part of me and that is why I can give the best to my customers; my salon is for both medium and high-class ladies in Asaba.
‘’Because of our good services, we have a high level of patronage. For normal fixing of weave-on, we charge between N500 and N800, depending on the style.
‘’I have eight girls working for me; out of the eight, four are workers and I pay them monthly and the other four are on apprenticeship,’’ she said.
In spite of the incursion of graduates into the fashion and beauty trade, non-graduates in the trade do not feel threatened.
Ms Linda Okolie, a non-graduate hairdresser in Asaba, said that having more degree holders was good for the trade.
Okolie said: ‘‘it goes to show that Nigerians are embracing the culture of self-employment.
‘’Before now, being a hairdresser was for those who were not fortunate to go to school, but with what we are seeing today, our profession is now being recognised by high class people.’’
Mr. Nurudeen Ajibola, also a non-graduate tailor in Asaba, advised undergraduates not to rely on their certificates alone, but should learn any form of trade of their choice.
He said that the skill gained could be handy in the future.
Apart from promoting the culture of self-employment and dignity of labour, the incursion of graduates into fashion and beauty has greatly changed the perception of the trade.
Observers note that fashion homes run by these graduates are better equipped and offer improved services.
This development, they say, is in line with what obtains in developed countries where graduates are involved in all kinds of trades, irrespective of their educational qualifications
The trend, definitely, will ease the pressure on the labour market.
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