VIDEO: First-class graduate from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University hawks sachet water for survival, begs for job

Eric Patrick 

A Nigerian man identified as Sham'unu Ishaq who graduated with a first-class from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina State, has resorted to selling sachet water on the streets amid hardship.

A Facebook user known as Muhammad Auwal shared the video on his page on Thursday, with the caption, "The imbalance of life after graduation in Nigeria, most especially if someone is from a poor family."

In the video clip Ishaq noted that despite graduating with top honours on July 5, 2023, he has been unable to find employment, forcing him into the low-paying work of street hawking.

A notification of results posted by Ishaq in the video shows he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Education) Biology.

Ishaq said, “I graduated and had no job and I started hawking pure water sachets for survival,” Ishaq explained in a video clip, describing the challenging reality of life in Katsina.

“Here in Katsina, there is nowhere to even do something to improve my life.”

Ishaq disclosed how the daily income from selling sachet water barely covers his basic needs.

“The selling of the sachet water business is not even enough. Sometimes the only thing I do with the money is to eat from it; I can't save anything,” he said.

His appeal to Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda was straightforward.

“As he can see, I graduated from university with no job and poverty is even trying to kill me,” Ishaq said, noting the responsibilities he faces with no sustainable income.

With his small earnings, Ishaq stated that he struggles to meet his family’s needs and other obligations.

“This pure water hawking is the only business I relied on for survival for now,” he explained.

Ishaq also called on Nigerians from across the nation for assistance. “I need help, not necessarily from the state government alone but from all Nigerians, be it south, east, north or west, I just need help,” he said.

Emphasising his willingness to work, he added, “I can do any kind of job.”

He added, “I’m a first-class graduate from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina State.

“I graduated and had no job and I started hawking ‘pure water sachets’ for survival.

“The selling of sachet water is not even enough. Sometimes the only thing I do with the money is to eat from it, I can't save anything.

“My message to the Katsina state governor, Dikko Umar Radda is to help me."