By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Across the United Kingdom, skilled trades such as carpentry, plumbing, barbering and hair styling are not only respected but also highly lucrative. These professions remain essential to daily life and are consistently in high demand. Yet, despite the obvious economic value of these trades globally, a lingering bias persists in some communities, where artisans are unfairly demeaned or subjected to emotional ridicule—often due to limited exposure to how modern economies actually work.
This stigma was evident recently in online discussions where a Nigerian graduate with a Master’s degree, living in Europe, came under heavy attack for working as a plumber. Critics described his work as “menial,” insisting he ought to pursue a white-collar role instead. Even more troubling was the derogatory comment directed at 90-year-old political figure Otunba Bushira Alebiosu, who was dismissed as “just a carpenter.”
Such remarks overlook the very foundation of progress: skilled labour. Otunba Alebiosu’s story—from carpenter to councillor, to lawmaker, and today a respected political leader—embodies the kind of upward mobility vocational skills can enable. In a forward-thinking society, leaders with such stories are celebrated. They are invited to vocational training programmes, where young people are encouraged to combine academic qualifications with practical, income-generating skills.
The need for hands-on skills is not theoretical; it is global. Before relocating to the United Kingdom, I made efforts to learn barbering at Bravo Salon in Lagos. My wife—who holds a Master’s degree and professional certifications—also began learning hair styling from a private tutor. Though we could not complete the training due to the pressures of relocation, the experience reinforced a simple truth: vocational skills remain valuable no matter one’s academic background.
It is time to change the narrative. Instead of discouraging skilled work, society must actively promote it. With rising youth unemployment and limited white-collar opportunities, vocational training offers a clear, sustainable pathway to economic empowerment.
“Sharing is caring,” and among the most valuable things we can share is information. Encouraging more people to acquire high-demand skills will reduce dependence on government employment, expand economic opportunities, and help individuals carve out dignified, profitable careers—at home and abroad.