The Poor Dad says, “Love of money is the root of evil” while for the Rich Dad,
“Lack of money is the root of evil”. The above, coined by Robert Kiyosaki, author
of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, has become a popular adage among students of some Nigerian
University, who claim the saying captures their life on campus. GERALD NWOKOCHA
(graduate of FUTO Federal University of Technology Owerri and NYSC Corps member
FUTO) examines what students do to survive. There is a saying that not all
fingers are equal. It is true that some people are born with a silver spoon while
others are not. From findings, students engage in many activities on campus to
survive. Some are sponsoring themselves; others depend wholly on their relations.
Most students who do business on campus have to sell below the prices obtained
outside as this is the only way they get other students to patronize them.
Chinyere Nnalue,a 500-Level Agricultural Extension student, sells female
underwear. She said she gets them at cheaper rates from Cotonou in Benin Republic
and then sells at a price lower than what is obtainable in Aba, Abia State and
other markets around.
Nnalue said: “Students are my immediate customers and they are good customers as
my wares do not stay long before they are finished. Part of the profit I make, I
plough back into the business while the rest I use to take care of myself on
campus.”
Another student, Chima Kingsley Mbonu, said he chose to reside in the hostel
because of the business he does. He sells shirts, trousers and footwears. He
carries the products from room to room. Other times, he takes them to offices for
staff members to buy. He said his entrepreneurial ability has made his lecturers
like him. He said he travels to Lagos from school almost on monthly basis to buy
the goods.
Charles Ekeocha,a 200-Level Industrial Chemistry student, is a part-time staff of
Mbaitoli Local Government Council, Imo State. He said he combines his work and
schooling. He is the eighth of nine children and has been responsible for his
training since secondary school.
Michael Okoro and Charles Opara are friends. They said they make money by selling
lecture notes they prepared for 100-Level students. “We also sell engineering
drawing materials and post-UTME past question papers to make money.” They said in
the just concluded post UTME of the school, they made huge amount of money from
past question papers and helping candidates apply for the exam.
Ben Okeke, a 400-Level student of Microbiology, makes money from his photography
business. His studio is called Beno Concept.
Chidiegwu Nmeri of Project Management Department, said he does menial jobs
wherever he can find one, especially during holidays.
He said: “While others rest or travel during the holidays, I use mine to do
tedious work. It is from the proceeds of this labour that I eat and train myself.
I have assisted builders; I do farm work for people like making ridges, weeding
and clearing farms with my friends.
“Initially, I used to pretend to my friends for fear they would laugh at me. But
that changed the day one of our lecturers told us a story in class about his own
student days. Since then, I stopped being shy. Most times, after the holidays, my
friends would complain that I looked dry and stressed out, but I know that it is
only for a while.”
Ifeanyi Nkwoala, a fresh graduate of Civil Engineering, said he lived the ‘big
boy’ life as an undergraduate not because his parents were rich but because he
was proactive.
“Many students were involved in selling clothes,” he said “so I had to go into
something else. With the little knowledge I had about printing, I went in and
ended up doing many printing jobs Things students do to make money in school
like magazines, stickers and postcards, posters, souvenirs, almanacs, diaries
etc.
I was well patronised by student politicians who I lobbied. With time, churches
and fellowships started coming to me too. I don’t own a printing press. I’d
collect jobs in bulk and give them to a printing press.”
Egobundu E.Said He makes money online from two different sources.Blogging and in
video tutorial compilations of some I.T programs such as webdesign, programming
with C++, Php, mySql, self guide Laptops + computer repairs kits, softwares and
Networking. He says they are still available for your use. order now. The
firesale offer is still on: Get everything with just five thousand five
hundred(#5,500) only.
Some other students said they make money by forming pressure groups. The groups
would pay courtesy calls on politicians, prominent personalities and
establishments and, in return, they would be given money.
One of such students said sometimes they visit three places a day and always go
back home smiling. “Politicians like awards, we learnt that quickly, and we use
that to get cash,” he added.
Some of these groups align themselves to particular politicians or aspirants.
They are mobilized and are well paid. The truth is that the parents of these
students may not really know what their children are doing on campus.
However, there are those students who engage in stealing, kidnapping and other
vices. It was reported last year of a student of Imo State University, Owerri,
who was arrested when he came to collect N5 million ransom for kidnapping a
traditional ruler.
Many go into students’ union politics because they believe they will get money
from it to train not only themselves but also their entire families. In FUTO, the
union is called “oil well” because students believe that there is much to gain.
They include the right to sell your own bed space as a union official. Every
union official is entitled to a room.
The hostel governors have a greater advantage because they have access to sale of
the rooms not allocated. The hostel governors also bring in more bed space to any
room that is not already choked up and they collect money from the students.
Sources say that the activities of most hall governors have placed some students
in a hard condition. They also make money from their annual hall week.
Some others make money by being fellowship presidents and pastors. Cynthia
Uchechi in 400-Level Public Health said some of her friends have made money by
being pastors. In FUTO, these pastors are given free accommodation, and sometimes
official cars depending on the fellowship.
So, the ball is in your court: Acquire a skill today and benefit from it.
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