“I am not ashamed that I work as a welder.”
For the past 18 years, Prof Kabir Abu Bilal, 50, has taught at the faculty of engineering at Nigeria’s prestigious Ahmadu Bello University.
But when he’s not lecturing, supervising students or editing his latest scholarly texts, he’s most likely in his welding workshop.
Welding is widely seen as a menial job by some, but the academic has shocked many – especially his colleagues – by opening up his own workshop.
“I am not ashamed that I work as a welder despite being a professor,” he tells the BBC. “I make more money from welding.”
Academics in Nigeria have long struggled on modest salaries, most earning between 350,000 naira ($390; £305) and 500,000 ($555; £435) a month.
Prof Abu Bilal hopes to inspire other people to take on jobs that help them become more self-sufficient and more open-minded about how to make a living.
