How was the last career counselling or career guidance session that held in. your school or organization? Did it go well? Or was it more of the same: distinguished speakers or professionals came to tell you about how to become a doctor, an engineer, a pharmacist, an accountant, a banker or business administrator etc. Or was there something much more exciting? Or, more sadly, no career counselling or guidance session held in your school at all?
There are two important reasons why we seek education: the first is for knowledge for our overall human growth and the second is to acquire a fulfilling career for ourselves.
Generally, with the first twelve years of education (both primary and secondary schools) we are able achieve the first objective while tertiary education (university, polytechnic, colleges of education etc.) helps to give us a career to pursue in life.
The search for a career is probably why over a million youth write JAMB, post-JAMB, PCE and other examinations; even when they know that just over one hundred thousand (one-tenth) of them will get admitted to the tertiary institutions.
Now brace yourself up for this! There are so many professions and careers out there that are not mentioned at career guidance sessions nor are they offered at our higher institutions. Yet, these professions form the base of growth in our economy. When they grow, there will be growth in the economy, when they are idle, then the society suffers.
Better still, these professions will not require you to write many examinations nor are they as expensive (in both time and money) as studying in tertiary institutions! Examples of such professions include fashion designing, furniture making, electrical and electronics repairing, graphics designing, auto-mechanics, auto-electricians, being a butcher, buying and selling etc.!
The first benefit of acquiring such skills is the blessing of Allaah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked "what type of earning is best?' He replied:
“A Man's work with his hand and every business transaction which is approved."(al-Bazzar)
Also he said
"Nobody has ever eaten a better meal than that which one has earned by working with one's own hands. The Prophet of Allaah, Dawud, used to eat from the earnings of his manual labour.” (Bukhari)
The second benefit is that acquiring skills or learning a trade is a much faster route towards becoming our own employer or boss rather than working for others. This benefit is important for us as Muslims because it will enable us devote more time to the worship of Allaah and make it easier for us to obey His laws. As an employer, you don’t have to worry about removing your hijab, cutting or shaving your beard etc. Nor would you ask your employees to do the same.
Another benefit is the ease with which these skills can be acquired. You can acquire the skills full-time (as you wait for your SSCE or JAMB admission) or you acquire it part-time in between you long holidays from higher institutions.
Are we suggesting that you should abandon studying in the higher institutions? Far from it! Rather, we say you should use your time well and study both. Then you have better choices to shape your future as well as worship your Creator. And Allaah knows best.