Learn a Skill Before Graduation, Iteshi Advises Nigerian Students

Chinwendu Lillian Iteshi has advised Nigerian youths, particularly students in Ebonyi State, to acquire practical skills alongside their education to prepare for life after graduation.

Speaking to Next Africa Daily during a physical interview in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Saturday, October 17, 2026, Iteshi said students should not depend entirely on their parents or sponsors for financial support.

She explained that circumstances could change, noting that parents and sponsors who could afford to support students today might not always have the same financial capacity in the future.

Iteshi encouraged students to use their time in school to acquire skills that could help them become financially independent rather than wait until graduation before preparing for the challenges ahead.

She also noted that parents were getting older and that their ability to work and provide financial support could reduce over time.

According to her, life after graduation and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) comes with responsibilities that students need to prepare for while they are still in school.

She stressed that both education and practical skills were important, adding that opportunities could come through academic qualifications or skills acquired along the way.

Iteshi urged Nigerian students to take their future seriously by developing themselves before graduation, as they could not always predict where their opportunities would come from.