A professor of plant resources in the Biology Department of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (UMYU), Katsina, Nasir Hassan-Wagini, has advised graduates and youths to key into small businesses rather than wait endlessly for white-collar jobs.

Prof. Hassan-Wagini, who is known to produce and sell vegetables at a weekly market in Batsari, Katsina State, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

The professor said he was born by a farmer, grew up as a farmer, and started produce business early in life, but his story became popular after he was promoted to the rank of professor.

“My call to the NCE, Diploma and degree graduates is that they should feel free to start small businesses in their communities instead of staying idle,” Prof. Hassan-Wagini said.

“I’m a professor of plant resources at UMYU, I want youths and students to look at me, know my rank and position, and I still engage in small business of this nature. That may clear their minds because they feel shame and too big to go into such type of small businesses.

“What matters is what you are contributing to the society. So, stop staying at home doing nothing when you did not get a job, start with small businesses like this one,” he said.

He urged youths to stop looking for jobs where there is none, but instead get into farming and other small businesses to become self-reliant.

“Self-reliance is key to successful life. Try to merge your education with vocational skills for your own good,” he said.

One of Prof. Hassan-Wagini’s neighbours in the market, Malam Uzairu, said they enjoy the professor’s company in the market. He described the professor as trustworthy, humble and kind in his interaction with people.

“We respect him and he respects us. In fact, he is a nice person who knows how to relate with all categories of people,” Uzairu said.