From Classroom to Market: Professor Turned Veggie Vendor

Professor Nasir Hassan-Wagini of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, has become a living testament to the value of dignity in labour, as he juggles his academic role with selling vegetables at a local market. The professor of plant resources, who was recently promoted, advised Nigerian youths and students to stop waiting for elusive white-collar jobs and instead turn to small businesses and farming to build self-reliance.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday at the Batsari weekly market in Katsina, where he sells his produce, Professor Hassan-Wagini emphasized that having an academic degree should not dissuade anyone from engaging in honest trade.

“I was born into farming, raised as a farmer, and began trading in farm produce early in life,” he said. “Now, as a professor, I still actively sell vegetables. I want young people to see that and rethink the shame associated with small businesses.”. april bowlby nude octagonron

He encouraged graduates of all levels  NCE, diploma, and university to take bold steps toward entrepreneurship instead of idling at home in search of formal employment. “What truly matters is your contribution to society,” he added. “Start something small in your community. Don’t wait for the government or an office chair.”

Professor Hassan-Wagini, who specializes in plant resources, believes that blending formal education with practical vocational skills is the key to sustainable success. He urged youths to return to the soil, highlighting farming and small-scale ventures as viable paths to financial independence.

One of his fellow traders, Malam Uzairu, praised the professor’s humility and influence in the market. “We enjoy his company,” he said. “He’s not just a scholar he’s one of us. Humble, respectful, and kind. We admire him for that.”

In an age where credentials often dictate status, Professor Hassan-Wagini’s example is a clarion call: self-worth isn’t tied to a desk, but to meaningful, productive work no matter how modest it seems.