There are a lot of struggles that come with being a student at a federal university in Nigeria, one of which is the recurring ASUU strike. The current ASUU strike started in February of 2022 and as of now, it is indefinite. As a student who is being affected by this strike, it is essential to engage in valuable activities such as learning a new skill and taking online courses, among others. Here are some of the things you can do for self-development during this period.
1. Learn a digital skill
As long as you have a phone or a computer and a good internet connection, you can learn any digital skill that could land you a job. This digital skill could be copywriting, affiliate marketing, graphic design, product management, digital marketing, coding, and a lot more, depending on your interest. There are several sites you can learn digital skills from such as Coursera, Edx, Udemy, and Acadium. After learning, you can decide to work as a freelancer by signing up on Fiverr or Upwork. Or better still, update your CV and look for a job that aligns with your experience. Aside from making money from doing these, you would be well-equipped.
Additionally, some practical courses can be studied on these platforms as well to improve your qualifications. Although they can extend over a long period, it will be worth it if you complete the learning and earn a certificate in the comfort of your home.
2. Go for internships
If you plan to have a career related to your field of studies, then internships could be beneficial. You can be lucky to get paid, and if not, it’s a win-win as you would still garner practical work experiences that would be of great value to you during your job search after getting your degree.
You can also bag an internship opportunity with companies or schools abroad. All you have to do is do your research to know when such an opportunity opens. After seeing an opportunity you are eligible for, polish your CV, optimize your LinkedIn (if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, open one and update your experiences) to increase your candidacy in those companies or other institutions you are trying to apply to, and submit other requirements.
3. Learn handworks
If you have the opportunity to learn handworks such as tailoring, hair making, crocheting, hair barbing, phone repair, knitting, beading, makeup, painting, hairstyling, etc. then go for it. Handworks are quite lucrative, in fact, many big empires you see today started from scratch. There are thousands of YouTubers who also put people through different skills just by creating practical content.
A lot of proficient makeup artists have boasted of using YouTube to learn the skill, saving them money and time as they can easily access the videos at their leisure time. After getting a reliable source to learn your preferred handwork from, ensure that you practice to improve your skills. It takes from a few weeks to several months to learn, depending on the skill and how dedicated you are to learning it.
4. Become an online content creator
Content creation is a profitable niche and business you can engage in. As mentioned above, the YouTubers who create practical videos for teaching people handworks are good examples of online content creators. Others include videographers, writers, digital artists, illustrators, and many others. All you have to do is get an activity that interests you (cooking, playing dress-up, traveling, eating, etc.), create informative and entertaining content for it, and upload it on your social media platforms or website for people to see.
Although it may take some time to gather an audience that has interests in what you do, it is important to be consistent, focused, and always dish out the very best to your audience. With time, brands will start noticing how valuable your contents are and they’d reach out to you for promotions and collaborations.
All in all, there are many things you can engage in during this ASUU strike period, so don’t let this strike hinder you from achieving your goals.
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