Like most countries across Africa, unemployment remains a big challenge in Nigeria. Faced with a rapidly growing population and declining resources, the country is struggling to find jobs for graduates. One young Nigerian has taken matters into her own hands -- quite literally. CGTN's Deji Badmus has her story.

It's not a familiar sight in this part of the world, at least not in northern Nigeria.

Lade Manuwa is a 2016 Petroleum Engineering graduate from one of Nigeria's universities.

After completing her one-year mandatory youth service and tired of waiting for a job to come her way, she enrolled as an apprentice at this small shoemaking shop to acquire the needed skills and set up her own shoemaking enterprise.

LADE MANUWA, APPRENTICE SHOEMAKER "I have gone for many job interviews. Like just this year alone, the money I have spent on transportation from one State to another for job interview, and then by the time you get there, you will see like a thousand people qualified for the same position like you are. So instead of putting yourself on the line where you will be humiliated several times, why not build up yourself to the point where you become a demand. People need you to do something. People need you to supply something."

It's actually that and her love for shoes that propelled her to take to shoemaking. But her decision was initially met with skepticism especially from close relatives.

LADE MANUWA, APPRENTICE SHOEMAKER "Everybody was looking at me getting a master's degree. Nobody wanted this getting extra skill or something. But truth is, when you are determined to do something, you just keep at it. And so I went against people's opinion. And currently, most people are really impressed with fact that I can make shoes. You know I know how to make some few things. So it's really a good one."

Under the tutelage and watchful eyes of Felix Yali, her boss, Lade is perfecting her skill in the art of shoemaking. By June this year, she would complete her apprenticeship.

"We met at Orientation camp. I trained her there for five days; she now picked interest in the work. So I was shocked, when after her primary assignment, she said she is not going home, she has to stay back in Kaduna to spend six months with me to perfect her skill."

LADE MANUWA, APPRENTICE SHOEMAKER "I feel good, like I don't only have my certificate, I also have a skill. It's amazing what skill can do. Your certificate has a limitation but your skills will take you places. I still have to go back to school but that doesn't mean I won't carry my business along. So after this training what I plan to do is to start up my own business, start making own slippers and shoes and sell to where the need be."

Her story is no doubt an inspiration for young unemployed graduates. And she has this advice for those who are still undecided.

LADE MANUWA, APPRENTICE SHOEMAKER "I advise every graduate out there, pick up one thing or the other. It might not be shoemaking. Just look around your environment. What is that thing that people need, people require more and then find a way to be a solution?"

DB, CGTN, K, N.