Parents want to raise children who can manage both school and real-life situations with ease. While academic success is important, children also need practical skills that help them stay safe, become independent, and navigate daily life.
In Nigeria, where flooding, insecurity, and economic pressures are common, certain skills can make the transition to adulthood easier.
Below are seven key skills that every child should acquire before turning 18.
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1. Learn how to swim
Swimming is more than recreation. In a country with rivers, beaches, and frequent flooding during rainy seasons, it can be a life-saving skill.
Some schools offer swimming lessons, but for those without access, training centres provide structured programmes. Parents can check providers’ websites for schedules and enrolment.
2. Learn how to drive
With public transport often limited and insecurity a concern, driving is a basic survival skill. By 18, the legal driving age, teenagers should know how to drive in city traffic and on highways, follow road rules, and handle emergencies such as flat tyres or dead batteries. Parents can enrol them in Federal Road Safety Corps-accredited driving schools that offer lessons on theory, defensive driving, and safety.
3. First aid training
Accidents can happen anywhere, so teenagers need to know how to clean and dress wounds, perform CPR, recognise stroke and seizure symptoms, use a first aid kit, and respond to choking, burns, and allergic reactions. Red Cross Nigeria and private health organisations offer certified training, and while some schools teach health and safety, formal certification ensures children can respond effectively.
4. Learn basic house chores
Many young adults leave home without knowing how to keep a living space clean, so every teenager should know how to sweep, mop, and vacuum, sort and wash clothes, including whites and delicates, change bed linen, wash dishes correctly, and maintain a tidy environment. These tasks develop independence and prepare them for life away from home.
5. Cook at least 10 popular Nigerian meals
Cooking allows children to take care of themselves when living alone, so they should know how to prepare Jollof Rice, Egusi Soup, Fried Rice, Okro Soup, Beans and Plantain (Ewa Agoyin style), Yam Porridge, Spaghetti and Sauce, Vegetable Soup (Efo Riro), Moi Moi, and Akara. Learning to cook helps them plan, budget, and manage their diet, and it preserves their connection to Nigerian cuisine even if they live abroad later.
6. Learn a new language
Although English is Nigeria’s official language, learning another language can create opportunities in education, careers, and travel. French is common across West Africa, Spanish is spoken globally, and German is valuable for academic and technology opportunities. Lessons can be taken through school programmes, private tutors, or online platforms such as Duolingo and Babbel, allowing children to learn at their own pace.
7. Money management and budgeting
Understanding money is crucial before adulthood, so every child should know how to save regularly, create a budget, use banking apps, differentiate between debit and credit, avoid fraud, and set financial goals. Banks such as GTBank and Sterling Bank offer teen accounts with tools for saving and tracking spending, and parents can teach financial habits by encouraging children to manage small earnings and make simple decisions about their spending.
