The japa trend is still ongoing in Nigeria even though many countries, particularly the United Kingdom, have introduced policies to tighten their borders and reduce immigration. Yet, many Nigerians are not discouraged from finding greener pastures elsewhere as the country is going through its worst economic problems in history.
That said, travelling to another country is not the problem. The problem is settling down and working to pay the bills. Abroad is not for the fainthearted. This is why it is important to acquire some skills to stand a chance at a better quality of life in your host country.
There are several valuable skills that one can learn. They are not necessarily elite skills that take years to learn. Instead, some of them are regular skills that many take for granted in Nigeria.
Therefore, this article presents seven skills to learn before you japa.
Driving
Driving is a valuable skill abroad, especially in the UK, United States and Canada. Many immigrants have survived with just this skill. If you have a driving licence, you should consider starting an Uber driving business or simply driving a taxi.
According to Talent, an average taxi driver’s salary in the United Kingdom is £32,500 per year. The average salary for a taxi driver is $20.75 per hour in Canada, while the average salary for a taxi driver is $23.14 per hour in the United States. Besides, driving need not be your only hustle. If you can find a day job and then, drive at night, you stand a chance of making enough money to comfortably pay your bills.
Hairstyling
Hairstyling is one of the most lucrative skills abroad. It can also be done as a side hustle if you have a main hustle. To braid one’s hair in the USA can cost as much as N348,000 when converted to Naira. In Canada, braiding costs as much as N77,500 on average. Also, hair extensions are expensive, which means you can sell and make hair.
You may be wondering how you will start because opening a salon is expensive abroad. It is quite simple. Start from home and have people meet you or you can do home service. Thankfully, the internet and social media have made advertising your services a lot cheaper and easier.
Barbing
This is a great skill to have, especially as a man. Your demographic includes everyone – men, women and children. So, there is a ton of money to be made from this valuable skill. You can make as much as $28 to $30 and even more on just one cut. Now, imagine how much you can make in more than one cut. Also, this is a business you can do from home. Training for this skill does not take time. Six months to one year is enough time to learn the skill and prepare yourself for life abroad.
Make-up and gele tying
It may surprise you to know that owambe also exists abroad. As long as there are Nigerians, there will always be something to gather friends to celebrate. You already know that Nigerians love to turn up, looking their best. They are ready to pay to achieve their desired look. This is where you come in. You can charge a premium amount as long as you are great at what you do. You do not even need a make-up studio for this if you cannot afford it. Also, training takes between six months to one year. It is also recommended to follow professional make-up artists on their social media platforms to stay up to date about the latest styles and routines.
Fashion Designing
Talking about owambe, do you know that Nigerians have gained an international reputation for their fashion sense? No, it has nothing to do with big brands like Dolce Cabana, Versace and the rest. It has to do with their Ankara and lace, which can be designed into the best traditional outfit every fashion-forward person will love. In other words, Nigerians love fashion, particularly traditional fashions for outings. You can make a lot of money by just knowing how to design and sow Nigerian and other African wear.
However, you need to take a little more time to master this skill. It can take up to two years to master the skill perfectly. But do not rush yourself because there is a lot of market in this area. Men, women and children can patronise your services once they know you are great at what you do.
Plumbing
If you are good with tools, then consider learning plumbing as a skill. It may be seen as a dirty skill, but be assured that it will pay your bills very well abroad. Many old and new buildings need constant plumbing work. For new houses, you can be contracted to install all necessary plumbing needs. In addition, old houses need plumbing issues to be fixed. It can take from three months to one year to learn this skill. The best part is that there is no shortage of work for this particular skill.
Jewellery and bead making
Women, men and even children wear jewellery all the time. So, you have a huge demography if you choose this skill. You can make a lot of money putting your custom designs up on Etsy and Pinterest or having your own Instagram page, a landing page or a website. In addition, this skill will fetch you a lot of money wherever you are around the world. It is also an easy skill to learn in a short time of three months.
Conclusion
There are other lucrative skills you can learn before you japa, such as furniture making, cobbler and leather work. These skills may not be your regular 9-5 jobs which will make you wear a suit and sit in an air-conditioned office. But they do pay the bills. You can make more money doing these than the 9-5 jobs.
So, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Just keep your head down, work hard and you will enjoy life abroad.
