Today I was fascinated by a simple technology that fetches a lot of money to some not so lazy youths.
It's a machine used to blow fire that is used to burn the hairs off animal heads and legs that are prepared and consumed as a delicacy in restaurants and homes. This delicacy is known as "Isewu" in Nigerian restaurants.
The simple machine is made from a motorcycle wheel which, when rolled, blows air into a pipe that, in turn, blows the fire that burns the animals' heads.
Only three people are required to operate the venture; one rolls out the wheels, the other turns the burning heads in the fire until they're done and yet another cleans up the charcoal off the burnt heads.
Although "Isewu" is a Yoruba word, everybody in Nigeria knows what it is. It's a pepper soup made out of goat or sheep heads and legs.
What fascinated me was the amount of money the youths make per day from this seemingly simple work. They charge between ₦200.00 and ₦300.00 per goat or sheep head and much more for cow head.
Having done their bit, they refer you to another person who washes and cut up the head, using axe and knife. He charges between ₦50.00 and ₦80.00 per goat or sheep head.
They tell me that on a good day, they treat up to 100 heads. Now, if you multiply - let's take the minimum amount they charge - ₦200.00 by 100, it'll give you ₦20,000.00 per day. And if you multiply ₦20,000.00 by 30 days, that'll be a cool ₦600,000.00 per month! Between the three of them, each will be making, at least, ₦200,000.00 per month.
And the last guy who washes and cuts up the end products, like I said, charges a minimum of ₦50.00 per head. Multiply that by 100, it'll amount to ₦5,000.00 per day and times 30 will make up to ₦150,000.00 per month!
Even in the civil service, only senior civil servants earn that kind of money per month!
These youths are certainly not lazy, and he who isn't lazy will surely eat food - good food, come to that...