Handwork simply means work done manually or by hand, different from work done by machines or automatic processes.
This includes a wide range of activities from crafts, arts, needlework, woodworking, plumbing, welding, electrical wiring, or any type of labor involving the hands and skill.
It is often characterized by the individual craftsmanship and uniqueness of the completed work. Being knowledgeable in handwork and digital skills is becoming the most lucrative thing to do.
Currently, there is a great demand for individuals who are digitally skilled and outstanding in handwork amongst the fast developing countries like Canada, UK, and many others.
This piece of writing will expose us to the 20 best handwork and digital skills to learn before leaving Nigeria.
Table of Contents
- Handwork & Digital Skills Explained
- Best Handwork to Learn Before Leaving Nigeria
- Tailoring
- Plaiting & braiding and Weaving of hair
- Makeup Artistry
- Barbing
- Electrician
- Heavy Machine Operators
- Auto Mechanics
- Plumbing Service
- Furniture Making
- Carpentry
- Welding
- Digital Skills to Learn Before Leaving Nigeria
- Video Editing
- Â Pay-Per-Click Marketing (PPC)
- Strategy & Planning
- Mobile Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Â Data Analytics
- Conclusion on Handwork & Digital Skills
Handwork & Digital Skills Explained
Handwork are work done by the hands, as opposed to one by machines. Handwork are those work done manually or by hand, rather than by machines or automatic processes.
This includes a wide range of activities from crafts, arts, needlework, woodworking, plumbing, welding, or any type of labor involving the hands and skill.
It is characterized by the individual craftsmanship and uniqueness of the completed work. On the other hand, digital skills can be defined as the ability to discover, evaluate, use, share, and create content using digital devices, such as computers and smartphones, androids, and many more.
Currently, digital skills are in great demand in workplaces and in advanced countries. Again, companies want the vast majority of their employees to have them.
Technology is currently at the center of human lives, and as human dependence on the internet and digital communications grows, the workforce must keep up with the evolving skill demand.
Best Handwork to Learn Before Leaving Nigeria
Life currently is no longer becoming rosy like it used to be. Things are fast evolving and it is expected that any reasonable person keeps up with the evolvement both in handwork and in digital skills.
Fast-developing countries like UK, Canada, USA, and many others are in dire need of individuals skilled in handwork and digital skills as well.
It is important we keep it at the back of our mind that developed country places much importance on handwork and digital skills, unlike Nigeria that gives importance to certificates.
In developed countries, one’s employability depends on one’s level of expertise. As a Nigerian who intends to travel and work abroad, hand work will place you on a very good platform for a breakthrough.
There are some neglected handworks like plaiting and weaving of hair, catering, laundry, welding, plumbing and many are now in high demand in countries like Canada, UK, USA, and other countries of the world.
Nevertheless, twenty (20) best handwork and digital skills to learn before leaving Nigeria will be listed out, with brief explanations on each of them.
- Tailoring
- Plait Braid and Weave Hair
- Makeup Artistry
- Barbing
- Electrician
- Heavy Machine Operator
- Phone & Laptop Repair
- Auto Mechanic
- Plumbing
- Furniture Making
- Carpentry
- Welding
- Construction
- Cooking & Catering
- Interior Decoration
- Car Rewiring
- Mow Flowers
- Window Installation Service
- Auto Body Painting
- Laundry
Tailoring
Making dresses otherwise known as tailoring has grown to become top in the list of lucrative jobs abroad. This handwork is currently in high demand.
Learning to sew dresses can earn one plenty of money abroad. Some people are neglecting this art of sewing dresses, on the same vein, most individuals appreciate handmade dresses.
The cost of sewing dress is ten times more expensive than what is obtained in Nigeria. Nigerian tailors are in high demand overseas. There are only a few professional Nigerian tailors overseas.
Starting up a tailoring job abroad is not entirely easy, one will need the necessary certification before one can go into dress-making. It means you must know how to sew like a professional.
Unlike in Nigeria, anybody can wake up and open up a shop anywhere and begin dress making. Overseas white people love trying Nigeria-made dress. This of course opportunity to Nigerian tailors.
The standard period for tailoring apprenticeship in Nigeria is six (6) months upwards. However, everything depends on ones capacity to learn.
There are three (3) aspects of tailoring according to gender and age;
- Men Tailor
- Women Tailor
- Children Tailor
Plaiting & braiding and Weaving of hair
Learning how to braid hair is another amazing handwork that brings money. One who wants to travel overseas and have the skill of braiding, plaiting, and weaving of hair will never be broke.
Currently, it is in vogue that football players love wearing simple African braids to play football.
There are few certified hair braiders abroad. Nigerians and Africans abroad pay more just to get a simple African hairstyle. As a hairdresser, you can earn over $200/day by fixing braids.
Starting up a shop immediately might be capital intensive, but using your place of residence for a start is not bad for a start. However, as things gets better one can now take the step of opening a shop.
Makeup Artistry
Makeup is another beautiful work that is greatly lucrative. There is this great appreciation of beauty pageants, this aspect of beauty shows has made the makeup artistry a sought-after skill.
Makeup artists collect plenty of money from their clients to make them look beautiful for every occasion. Makeup and other cosmetic products are a ritual for ladies. Many women confess they spend a lot of money to wear good makeup.
Makeup will remain a lucrative job overseas given that ladies will always desire to look beautiful. A good way to learn makeup artist is an apprenticeship with a professional makeup business complex.
Barbing
Every man loves looking decent and cutting one’s hair and beard is among the ways of keeping oneself kempt.
Learning to cut hair for Nigerians who want to travel abroad will give them an edge to excel and make plenty of money. It is believed that a good haircut increases the attractiveness and confidence of a man.
Every man will always desire a decent haircut from a professional barber. The cost of the average haircut for men in the United States is about $28. It is easy to earn a living abroad working as a professional barber.
Apprenticeship in barbing can take at least six (6) months. However, one’s learning ability is of great relevance in the learning process.
Electrician
Electrical works and repairs are also among the best skills to learn in Nigeria before travelling abroad.
Households in developed nations always seek the service of electricians to keep their homes beautifully bright. As an electrician, one can specialize in house wiring, installing electrical equipment, electronics repair, and many more.
However, after studying Electrical Engineering, it is important one go on to perfect this career job with professional learning.
After learning electrical engineering it is important for one to register with the necessary regulatory bodies to practice as an electrician. For a professional electrical apprenticeship, will spend at least one (1) year.
Heavy Machine Operators
Given the construction works going overseas, there is this need for heavy-duty machine operators such as caterpillar, bulldozers, and many more.
Overseas production companies, shipment yards, companies, large industries, etc., use heavy machine vehicles. Heavy machines are used for carrying heavy objects.
Auto Mechanics
Learning auto mechanics is another work that can make a Nigerian greatly sought after overseas.
This job remains lucrative owing to the fact that most people think it to be a boring job.
Automobile mechanics repair faulty cars. In advanced countries almost everybody owns cars and this makes it so that there will always be a need for auto mechanics to fix the cars.
Some automobile companies like BMW, Peugeot, Mercedes Benz, and many more appreciate having experienced workers.
Apprenticeship for auto-mechanics could last for one year. However, everything depends on one’s learning speed.
Plumbing Service
This is another delicate area that has been lacking with manpower.
Recently the Canadian government made it open that they are willing to grant visa access to individuals with handwork experience, of course, plumbing was not excluded from the list.
This is a very good work to learn before traveling abroad. In the United Kingdom, plumbers get an average of £13.9 per hour.
There is always a need for plumbing installation in new houses. Also, the old house plumbers are responsible for periodic maintenance and repair of plumbing problems. The duration for learning to plumb in Nigeria is six (6) months upwards.
Furniture Making
Offices in developed countries give serious importance to good office furniture. For Nigerians planning to travel abroad, this is a very good handwork field to major in given the lucrative nature of the job.
Newly built homes also require good furniture to make the home very comfortable.
One with mastery in furniture making and design will certainly make plenty of money abroad. Furniture designers in the United Kingdom earn over £37,600 per year.
Carpentry
Carpenters are the ones who do the woodwork of roofing, cabinets, carpenters make wooden chairs and many others.
Given how imperative this work remains it is important that any Nigerian travelling abroad should learn this handwork so as to have something lucrative when he gets overseas.
In Canada, carpenters earn over $25.03. This is another recommended skill for individuals who want to travel overseas.
The job description of carpentry comprises of installation of walls and roofing systems, cutting and repairing wood materials, and many more.
The handwork has the certainty of enriching a Nigerian overseas. Carpentry abroad is totally different from what is done in Nigeria.
Only skilled professional carpenters get jobs abroad. One will need certification to become a carpenter overseas.
Welding
Welding is another lucrative job one can learn before going abroad. Welding is a constructive burning of metals together.
In developed countries where there is rapid construction with metal, a Nigerian with welding experience is bound to excel.
Digital Skills to Learn Before Leaving Nigeria
Video Editing
Video has grown from being just a form of entertainment to a major social media content driver.
YouTube is now a powerful and influential platform while other networks like TikTok, and Instagram have turned the video on its head to create wealthy influencers.
A Nigerian intending to travel abroad with good skills in editing and fine-tuning videos will certainly make wealth overseas.
Even from any part of the world, you can get a video editing job remotely and earn in foreign currency.
 Pay-Per-Click Marketing (PPC)
PPC is a popular way brands use to get traffic quickly. Companies with big budgets get their search result to appear on Google’s first page to pull massive traffic.
One popular PPC advertising model is Google’s AdWords program. It also serves as a great way to monitor spending just by using a tracker.
A Nigerian travelling overseas with knowledge of how to operate this will make good wealth abroad. Companies abroad pay much money for personnel who will manage this department for them.
Strategy & Planning
Businesses overseas use digital marketing campaign strategies to achieve long-term purposes. For example, setting up specific KPIs and identifying methods for measuring each indicator help marketers remain perfectly accountable.
It is also necessary data are analyzed to decide which metric is worth measuring.
Companies overseas cherish persons with digital skills in this aspect of business marketing campaigns. Nigerians traveling abroad with good digital experience in this field will make great wealth.
Mobile Marketing
There has been a great rise in mobile marketing than ever before. Currently, in advanced countries businesses are done online.
Mobile connectivity keeps growing, with a great number of the world’s population using mobile phones, and all active connections coming from smartphones.
A Nigerian with good knowledge of mobile marketing will thrive overseas.
Email Marketing
Email remains one of the oldest ways of direct marketing and still packs a punch in customer acquisition and retention.
From startups to multinational corporations, a great email marketing strategy helps build successful campaigns. Â Experienced digital marketers should know that each funnel stage must be carefully planned.
From the signing-up page— placement on a website—to the welcome email, every step requires optimization to attract users and build engagement.
A Nigerian planning to travel abroad should go learn this digital skill. Companies pay much to persons who can give good services in Email Marketing
Content Marketing
Content Marketing is a crucial driving force in brand awareness and can establish brands or influencers as leaders.
Employees need to understand the relevance of creating not just content, but content that is relevant to research and optimizing them in a good strategy.
With experience and knowledge in content marketing, Nigerians overseas will have valuable and employable skill that will set them up for a career in any industry.
 Data Analytics
This is a system of analyzing data. Data analytics allow employees to make educated and data-driven decisions to drive better business insights.
Companies don’t accept wasting valuable marketing dollars based on trends or mere instincts. It is all about maximizing campaign effectiveness and optimizing the return on investment.
Analytics go together with SEM making these skills work together to ensure a business understands what consumers want, and how to attract and as well sustain their attention.
Before travelling abroad as a Nigerian, it is important one learn this skills because companies overseas pay much to their employees in this aspect.
Conclusion on Handwork & Digital Skills
Travelling abroad is a very good adventure. However, it becomes an amazing one for persons with good digital skills and handwork. Nevertheless, this work is to encourage any Nigerian travelling abroad to learn good skills so that their journey overseas will fetch them plenty of money.