Life After School…. is a BsgistNews Features series that highlights how Nigerian graduates live, work, travel, care for their families, and navigate everything in between after school. At BSN, we’re committed to documenting diverse life experiences and ensuring everyone is well-represented. For the month of May, this series will spotlight all-male stories, celebrating the unique journeys of Nigerian men post-graduation.
Our last conversation was with Olanrewaju Okanlawon. Did you miss it? You can catch up here.
In today’s Life After School feature, we spotlight Emmanuel Amayo, a master in graphics designing whose inspiring journey reflects a remarkable blend of creativity and brilliance. After graduation—what came next? Enjoy the conversation!
Hi Emmanuel, how are you feeling today?
I’m fine. Thank you
Glad to hear that, Can you introduce yourself and what you studied in school?
My name is Emmanuel Amayo, I Studied Graphic Design. I’m currently doing a Masters Degree program in Graphic Design
Wow, studying Graphics Design sounds creative; looking back, what expectations did you carry into life after school? Did things go as planned?
Well for me as an individual—I’ll tell you for a fact that my whole life have been revolve around the academic world. Since I was 18, I have been in the academic communities—from Polytechnics to the University for my undergraduate program and now I’m still in college of post graduate education.
I’ve never really had a life outside school. I couple my educational career with jobs and also with other personal life goals
Hmm. That’s intriguing… Describe your very first experience after graduation; NYSC, job hunt, or just figuring life out. What was that like?
After my OND from Auchi Poly, I moved to Lagos State for greener pastures—I got to there and realized that life after school is not a walk in the park. I started to hunt for jobs as a graphic designer—I was barely 20-years old.
A friend I met in Lagos (Ojo) helped me in securing a job with a printing and design company. It was my first job ever—it wasn’t bed of roses for me being a new person in Lagos and moving in there for the first time.
I had several challenges with my job and also with navigating through the city of Lagos. One year later, I gained admission into Yaba Tech for HND and another journey began.
I was traveling from Ajah to Yaba for classes all through my first 4 months of resuming HND—I couldn’t find anyone to stay with then but I didn’t give up.
I later moved back to Edo State and got admission into Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma for my Degree Program.
This time around, I started working as a freelance and an entrepreneur—I started my own printing business and had an office to my name.
Glad to see you in that track.. Did you ever feel lost or unsure of your next steps? How did you cope during that period?
At some point, I felt unsure of my next steps—most especially when I began my studies in the University. I kept asking myself a whole lot of questions. “What will happen after my Degree Pursuit?”
I told myself 1 thing; “As you get on track on this journey, clarity would come”
I began to use that as a source of motivation for myself
Hmm, that’s great…. In your opinion, what part of school prepared you best and which part failed you?
My Undergraduate program at Ambrose Alli University failed me. I was a front runner in my class and the best graphic design student (DE)—my grades were really good until it was my final year and school went on indefinite strike—we stayed home for 1 academic session without information of when the strike will be called off.
When the strike got called off eventually, we were completed to write our final exams without preparation. After graduation, we waited for another academic year before results were released. Now, this was where it got messy—other students results came out except mine. I was terrified—I asked what the problem was and I my exam officer told me that there was a course I didn’t register in 200L (My first year). I had to pay 2 academic fees to enable write this one course as it already became second extension—I paid the school fees and took the examination and passed it. Now, I started waiting for my result while others went for NYSC. It took another 8 months before my result were released.
Sad to say AAU came after you… but have you had to learn skills, take courses, or build something outside your degree to survive or grow?
Yes—all these years I’ve been studying, the skills I learn outside the four walls of the university are what sustains me and help me grow financially—and of course I need a lot of money to be able to afford education.
“Education is not a cheap commodity”
True; Education isn’t cheap. What’s one breakthrough moment you’ve had since leaving school (Degree); a win or a turning point?
My first breakthrough was when a Company in Kenya hired me for a project. I designed and printed T-shirts, Mugs and face towels for them
That’s inspiring; but If you could go back to school, what would you do differently; academically, socially, or personally?
I’m still in school like I said earlier—I’m currently doing my Masters Degree in Graphic Design and I am doing a lot of things differently
Yeah, that’s right. Lastly, what advice would you give to a final-year (Degree) student right now trying to figure out “what next”?
My advice to a final-year student is that;
Do not replace work with money—the filed works you need to do on your project, make sure to do them by yourself. Do not outsource it with money.
Respect your supervisor—don’t do anything that would make him/her regret supervising your project work. Proofread your research work throughly before going to your supervisor
We must say, your (Degree) post-school journey has been both compelling and truly worth sharing. Thank you for being a part of Life After School, Emmanuel.
Thank you, BsgistNews
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Many thanks to Emmanuel Amayo for having this conversation with us and answering all our questions – and swiftly too, we must add.
Do you love this content, have any feedback for us or want to be a BsgistNews Features contributor? We’d love to read from you. Shoot us an email: info@bsgistnews.com. Join us on Sunday for the next episode!
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