1st June, 2016
The Association of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists has advised civil servants across the country to take to vocational work as an alternative source of income, rather than depend solely on monthly salaries.
Mrs Oludipo Adewusi, President of the Ondo chapter of the association, gave the advice during an interview in Akure on Wednesday.
This was on the sidelines of their annual exhibition.
Adewusi said civil servants could take on hairdressing or cosmetology as additional source of income, which might not be paid in time.
According to her, with steady decline in the economy, workers need to become more proactive and creative.
Adewusi added that vocational work was a good source of income that would not fail.
“The salary earners may not get their monthly pay regularly but with this job, money is expected everyday, once you know what you are doing.
“Even education without vocational skills is not complete, given the current situation in Nigeria.
“We need to be dynamic, so that family members will not suffer because, salaries are not paid as and when due,’’ she said.
The president noted that unlike in the past, where hairdressing was seen as skill for school drop-outs and miscreants, it was now regarded as a profession of pride.
“It is derogatory now to refer to the hairdressing profession as job for the riffraff,’’ Adewusi said, stressing that those interested in the profession should be creative and ready to learn.
Adewusi thanked the Ondo State Government for giving out loans to enhance the welfare of the association members.
“I thank the present governor, Olusegun Mimiko for extending the hands of love toward us and for his persistence in aiding us via loan disbursement.
“We have received loans at four different times. We are now pursuing the fifth disbursement; this has really helped our members a lot,’’ she noted.
Mrs Kikelomo Olatawura, the association’s treasurer, said vocational skills would enable women to support their spouses in meeting their family financial needs.
Olatawura urged the teeming unemployed youths to key into acquiring vocational skills rather than waste their time searching for unavailable white collar jobs.
“We have graduates with NCE in hairdressing profession now and more youths should engage in it.
“As you know, the idle hand they say, is the devil’s workshop. It is the kind of skill that one can do throughout one’s lifetime.
“We have a lot of male folks among our members. This tells you that people are coming out more to learn and showcase their talents,’’ the treasurer said.
She enjoined governments at all levels to emulate the Ondo State Government in encouraging and financing vocational skills acquisition as an alternative source of employment for the youths.