Nigeria, April 2 -- I was trained as an engineer, and for many years I pursued, intently and passionately, the dream of building a career in the oil and gas industry. Given the industry's reputation for professional prestige and financial reward, this ambition felt both logical and worthwhile. From Nigeria to South Africa and onward to Europe, I pursued this path with determination and resolve.

I applied widely, leaving no opportunity unexplored. I was interviewed by several major organizations, including Shell Nigeria, Sasol in South Africa, ExxonMobil, and Subsea7 in the United Kingdom. Despite multiple interviews and strong efforts, no job offer materialized. Over time, the repeated rejections became deeply discouraging.

Eventually, ...