“Go And Hawk If You Cannot Find A Job!” — APC Campaign Aide’s Message To Graduates Triggers Fierce Backlash

By Passman Akpos

A public debate has erupted following a message attributed to Ossai Ovie Success, a media aide to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council’s New Media Committee for the 2027 election, in which he urged Nigerian graduates to abandon pride and embrace legitimate jobs, including street hawking, gateman work, and commercial tricycle or taxi driving.

In his message, Success argued that graduates should not allow their academic qualifications to prevent them from earning a living, particularly in a country where unemployment and economic hardship continue to affect millions of Nigerians.

He maintained that there was no shame in taking up jobs that society often looks down upon, insisting that temporary employment could become a stepping stone to greater opportunities.

“There is no shame in hawking on the road. There is no shame in doing gateman work. There is no shame in doing any legitimate job that people look down on,” he said.

According to him, many successful people endured ridicule and worked in occupations that others considered beneath them before achieving financial stability.

He urged graduates to stop waiting for government employment, miracle jobs, or financial assistance and instead seek legitimate means of survival.

“Your certificate should not become your curse. That BSc, that HND, that Masters should not tie you down while hunger is killing you,” he stated.

Success further argued that graduates should focus on the opportunities that could emerge from humble beginnings rather than the immediate financial rewards of their jobs.

He suggested that street hawking could teach business skills, while working as a gateman could expose someone to valuable connections that might eventually transform their lives.

Describing such jobs as temporary stepping stones, he encouraged Nigerians facing economic difficulties to remain determined and continue working towards a better future.

He concluded his message with an expression of faith, saying he believed that God would not disappoint those who continued to work hard, even when other people lost confidence in them.

Public Reactions: “Make Graduate Dey Hawk For Road?”

However, the message has sparked sharp reactions, with critics questioning whether encouraging graduates to accept menial jobs adequately addresses the country’s unemployment crisis.

Some respondents supported the argument that no legitimate occupation should be considered beneath a university graduate, while others maintained that the message appeared to shift attention away from the responsibility of governments to create jobs and provide an environment where citizens can earn decent incomes.

One critic reacted sarcastically, writing: “Make graduate dey hawk for road??? He go happen to your children inshallah.”

Another commenter questioned Success’s political loyalty, declaring: “To see APC supporter wey get sense na by connection.”

A different respondent also questioned the relevance of his political affiliation to the advice, writing: “If nor be Delta state government, u supposed dey sell pure water for traffic.”

Another reaction read: “Others smoke Igbo, e reach your turn u go drink am.”

One commenter also referenced allegations previously made by another individual against Success, stating: “Now I believe all what DEACON FAMOUS said about you…..”

The comments illustrate the deep divisions surrounding the message, with some Nigerians interpreting it as practical advice on self-reliance and others viewing it as an insensitive response to widespread economic hardship.

The comments are individual reactions and do not, by themselves, establish the broader public’s position on the issue.

The Bigger Question: Is Graduate Unemployment A Matter Of Pride Or Government Failure?

Beyond the personal attacks and political exchanges, the controversy raises a fundamental question about the relationship between personal responsibility and government accountability.

Should graduates accept any available legitimate job while waiting for better opportunities, or should the government be held more accountable for an economy in which people can spend years acquiring qualifications without securing employment that reflects their education?

Nigeria’s graduate unemployment debate is particularly sensitive because many young people and their families make significant financial sacrifices to obtain university and postgraduate qualifications, often with the expectation that education will improve their economic prospects.

For many graduates, taking up street trading, commercial transport work, security jobs, or other informal employment is already a reality rather than a matter of choice.

Supporters of Success’s position may argue that earning an honest living is preferable to remaining unemployed while waiting for a preferred job.

Critics, however, may counter that accepting the dignity of legitimate work does not eliminate the need to question poor employment opportunities, inadequate wages, rising living costs, and the availability of jobs for qualified citizens.

The two positions are not necessarily mutually exclusive. A graduate can take up available work to survive while still demanding policies that expand employment opportunities and improve living standards.

Political Dimension Raises Further Questions

The debate has also attracted political attention because of Success’s public roles.

He serves as Senior Special Assistant on Media to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and is identified as a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s New Media Committee for the 2027 election.

His positions place his comments within a broader political discussion about the government’s response to unemployment, poverty, and the economic pressures facing Nigerian households.

Critics may reasonably ask what governments at the federal and state levels are doing to expand decent employment opportunities, improve vocational training, support small businesses, and create conditions in which young people can build sustainable livelihoods.

At the same time, his official positions do not, on their own, establish that his advice was intended to defend any government or dismiss its responsibilities.

The central issue remains whether personal determination and government responsibility can work together to address the challenges facing unemployed graduates.

Tarakirivoice’s Take

There is dignity in every honest job. No graduate should be mocked for hawking goods, driving a tricycle, working as a security guard, or taking up any other lawful occupation to feed themselves and their families.

Hunger does not wait for a government appointment letter, and a university certificate should not prevent anyone from pursuing an honest means of survival.

However, encouraging graduates to embrace available work should not become an excuse to ignore the structural problems that leave qualified young Nigerians struggling to find decent employment.

A graduate who hawks to survive deserves respect, not ridicule. But a country that continually leaves its graduates struggling also deserves serious questions about its employment policies and economic priorities.

The question is not whether graduates should work. It is whether Nigerians can build a society where hard work, education, and legitimate enterprise offer a realistic path to a decent standard of living.

What do you think? Is Ossai Ovie Success right that graduates should stop being ashamed of jobs such as hawking, gateman work, and Keke driving, or should government officials focus more on creating decent jobs for unemployed graduates?