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Reality TV star and entertainer Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has advised students in Cross River State to learn vocational skills if they do not intend to pursue formal education.
Phyna gave the advice in Calabar during the One Million March, which was organised by Prince Jay, in support of Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu. The One Million March in Calabar
Addressing students at the event, Phyna encouraged young people to take skills acquisition seriously, stressing that those who choose not to further their education should ensure they learn a trade or practical skill.
“If you don’t want to go to school, make sure you learn handwork,” she told the students.
Her comment comes as conversations around youth unemployment and the need for alternative pathways to economic independence continue in Nigeria.
The reality TV star, who won the seventh season of Big Brother Naija, has previously spoken about her own experience with financial hardship and learning different skills while growing up.
In a 2023 interview, Phyna said she had worked from a young age and learned several trades, including hairdressing and baking, after her parents considered further education difficult to afford. She has also said that those experiences shaped her approach to work and self-reliance.
Phyna’s message also reflects a growing emphasis on vocational training and skills acquisition in Cross River State. In January, the state said it was developing empowerment programmes expected to reach 20,000 young people across areas including skills acquisition, small-scale businesses, agriculture, sports, education and the creative industry.
