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6 Ph.D, 704 Masters Holders among Applicants for Drivers Job
The ugly unemployment statistics of Nigeria has been highlighted by the number of applications from higher degree and first degree holders who sought employment as drivers in Dangote group. The staggering figure stands at 13,000.
Of the 13,000 applications received by the Dangote Group for the Graduate Executive Truck Driver, there were six Ph.D, 704 Masters and over 8,460 Bachelor degree holders.
Speaking during the mentor-ship meeting of the World Bank Youth Forum, Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said that the company only needed 100 drivers, but received the overwhelming applications.
According to Dangote, most of the applicants were from reputable universities and had the needed quality.
He said: “All these things are verifiable, and they all graduated from reputable institutions which is satisfactory; and our plan is to eventually make them self dependent.
“Despite the fact that the drivers get trip allowances on each trip along with their salaries, the arrangement is that they will own the trucks at no interests or repayments after they must have reached 300,000 kilometres, which is about 140 trips from Lagos to Kano and a hard working driver can complete in two years, while lazy ones can take maximum of four years.”
Analysts believe that the three tiers of government have not done enough to create employment or create enabling environment for the organised private sector to employ more Nigerians.
In a growing economy, it is rather shocking that Ph.D and Masters degree holders are seeking placement as drivers.
Martin Onyilokwu of Media Development Initiative believes that the revelation is a wake up call for government to go beyond rhetoric and start the implementation of credible programmes to improve the living condition of Nigerians.
He said:“It is no longer enough to claim that the economy is growing by this or that per cent. The truth of the matter is that Nigeria is not witnessing appreciable development. We have a situation where the living standard of the people is at an all time low as exemplified by insecurity, poverty, unemployment, massive corruption, executive and legislative recklessness. There is a need for government to wake up to its responsibility.”
It would be recalled that in the course of last week, thousands of young graduates staged protests at the Ministry of Interior in Abuja when officials denied them access to submit application forms. The ministry has since claimed that no employment was on-going.
Wherever rumour of employment is circulated, thousands of duly qualified candidates turn up to participate.
Posted by Editor
on November 7, 2012. Filed under INTERNATIONAL NEWS.
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yarin
November 7, 2012 at 10:47 am
adding quality to the job
JUDGE CHIKOPA
November 7, 2012 at 10:52 am
HA HA HA HA TOO BAD SITUATION INDEED
Yanjani Zulu
November 7, 2012 at 11:29 am
In what fields are these degrees? Actuarial science, physics, brain surgery, cardiac surgery?
pompizo
November 7, 2012 at 11:54 am
Thats the best a man can do while waiting for a job. Get what you can and throuh that you meet opportunities to the job you want. Be the best driver you can and create rapport with people you meet along the way. Soon or later someone will realise that you deserve something better and take you in or recommend you to someone who can. Its no use boasting about the degree that wont put bread and butter on your table.
cycle mata
November 7, 2012 at 2:05 pm
uli mwaume iwe…good thinking…we are very few to reason like that nevertheless its the best reasoning ever.
Remember Goliath the cadre
November 7, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Reread the story.They get to own the truck.So even me with this simple degree I have which has never allowed me to own a truck apart from hand to mouth existence I can definitely apply.
stigma
November 7, 2012 at 11:57 pm
our friends in nigeria call hilux a truck!!! careful what you wish for.
Barotse diaspora
November 7, 2012 at 12:25 pm
I wonder if the same degrees, P hD’s and masters are valued and genuine. Too much gong’a education in nigeria
Abakonzi
November 7, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Yanja Zulu’s question is valid.These job applicants have PhD’s in what?Its not just a question of having a paper but also the relevance of that paper.For example an professional accountant with MA Finance is marketeable world over,an Economics or Law doctor is marketable.It depends on the relevance of your papers to the global business enviroment
Eye Blows
November 7, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Hard Times!!!!
mike
November 7, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Hard times indeed. guess we should strive to be employers than employees.
Mwila Nkompo
November 7, 2012 at 2:15 pm
THIS IS THE PROBLOBLEM OF STUDING SUBJECTS THAT ARE
USELESS.
WHERE WOULD ONE FIND A Ph d CIVIL ENGINEER IN
DESIGN LOOK FOR A DRIVER’S JOB. TAKE MINING/ OIL
FOR CHEMICAL ENGINEERS. GENERALLY PEOPLE WITH
THESE USELESS DEGREES WILL FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL
TO JUSTIFY THEIR STAY IN AN INSTITUTIONS THEY
CONTRIBUTE NOTHING. REASON: NOTHING ELSE FOR THEM.
IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN, CHECHK THE
DEGREES OFFERED AT UNZA.
ONE ZAMBIA
November 7, 2012 at 2:51 pm
THAT IS THE BADNESS OF PURSUING THE USELESS DEGREE AS HUMAN RESOURSE/ADMINISTRATION.
DEGREE IN SCIENCES,DR,ENGIN,AGR,CANNOT BE EMPLOYED AS A DRIVER
ONE ZAMBIA
November 7, 2012 at 2:56 pm
THOSE SO CALLED MONKS AT UNZA,DO YOU THINK THEY CANNOT BE THE DRIVERS.THEY ARE ALWAYS MAKING NOISES,DAMAGING M/VS.
MONKS SEE THEIR DEGREE COURSES,THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO BE DRIVER
debs
November 7, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Bring them to zambia,since you have invested in senior chief chiwalas kingdom,in ndola rural
Thoth the Atlantian
November 7, 2012 at 5:21 pm
@pompizo you speak wise, man..these days its hard to just get into the system but with your ways and mindset its possible to get any position you want.
juice manure
November 7, 2012 at 5:36 pm
UNZA Monks be forewarned! This is indeed a wake up call for you! Otherwise someone in future will employ you as ba malukulas!
TimZ
November 7, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Lets not be so negative about life. I agree with Pompizo as I see nothing wrong with one who has a degree waiting to be employed to work as a driver unlike u have a paper den continue being a dependant In da name dat I cant do dis coz am a degree holder jst waiting to eat breakfast, lunch & supper. I have seen a teacher who worked as daka boy as he was waiting to be employed. Never be 2 choose.
ganjaman
November 7, 2012 at 7:13 pm
One can do any job at anytime for as long as the job is not “dirty” and one is comfortable with it! If you read the story correctly, you are talking of owning a truck in two years! make your calculations correctly, a truck that transports cement, which dangote is doing, costs roughly US$100,00. Now if you break this into 24 parts, i.e 2 years, it gives you approximately ZMK21m, per month! Tell me who will pay you that much in Zambia as a fresh graduate? Open your eyes and be wise!! this man even says he will pay your salary and other allowances! That comes to more than ZMK30m!
Rude bwai be wise!!
Take herb and you will be wise!!
Sido
November 7, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Lets be careful when choosing our courses we may end having phd and becaming a watchman. Although a piece of bread is better than nothing not with a phd or masters in scienceç law .medicen and apply to became a driver. Like if it raising money 4 tution fees
Nevers Sata
November 8, 2012 at 7:22 am
Pompizo, I agree with you 100%, but remember dude, we are talking about Nigeria here. I hope those loads of papers are genuine ones.Nigeria is known world over for unfaithful acts and they are everywhere trying dupe un suspected customers.
On the other hand why would Nigeria have so many Universities knowing for sure that after completion of whateva one pursued, the only job they get is looking for employment?
Sad situation there any way.
eng
November 8, 2012 at 9:18 am
Bsc, Msc phd still looking for a job.cm to zed we assess you.if the papers are genuine i guess unza needs lecturers and grz can fund you.be careful almost everyone has an MBA nowdays.i do not think the truck will be a runner after 300 000 km given the bad state of the roads there.the trucks we hv rarely go beyond 100 000 km b 4 we scrap them off.by the way who is funding all these phds?
Ndemwanaabo Beetwa
November 9, 2012 at 7:23 pm
@Mwila Nkompo , Sibo. You sound abjectly negative about UNZA degrees. How long did you stay there? Am aware some people graduate after 1st semister. If you stayed longer enough, you could have learnt that degrees are not the end but means. When you score 5/5 in an M*** course, they do not say you are a mathematician. They say ‘pass’ MEANING you can be trained. Get free from your colonised minds.