A 36-year-old welder, Mr Muhammad Sani, on Monday advised youths in the country to acquire vocational skills, to enable them be self-reliant.
Sani, a resident of Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
Sani said he started to learn the trade 15 years ago as a secondary school student and became a full-fledged welder at the completion of his National Diploma.
“I wanted a certificate in welding, so, I joined the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in 2013.
“I went for six months training, after which I was given an equipment loan to start my business.”
He explained that he used the equipment donated to him to start up his own business and later bought additional tools with his savings.
“Today, I make money on a daily basis.
“For now, I have nine apprentices, and I have so far graduated three persons, who are now experts in welding.
“We make gates, doors, windows, beds, wardrobes and others.
“I am my own boss now; sometimes I spend two months without visiting the shop because I have competent people working for me,” he said.
Sani described welding as lucrative, adding that it required patience, dedication, honesty, to succeed.
He noted that he had depended on the welding business for quite a while and had achieved a lot through it.
The welder said he would soon expand the business to other parts of the country. (NAN)
