Getting The Best Out of Nigeria: A Must Read for Youth

By: Afolashade Osho

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We often think our future is attached to development of our country. While that it not entirely wrong, it is also not true in its entirety. I’ve stayed a few years on this part of the world to know that the future of our generation can be built by us – everyone – and infact, the youth.

Today in Nigeria, a lot of graduates are out there – job-hunting. They perhaps won’t get one except one is well connected. Despite the mass of unemployment, some of these youngsters proceed on Master’s degree. They prefer to use the little they earn with their graduate certificate to further their academic pursuit instead of focusing fully on life.

While further academic certification is not out of place, I beg to say, you don’t need to be fully educated before success comes knocking on your doors. Many today smile to bank a whole lot with craftsmanship and thousands of business ideas.

I know a few graduates who consider travelling out for their Master’s. This often comes without deep thinking of the implications of their action. Don’t get me wrong, studying in another country would be a plus to your career, but, it’s important to ensure you have solid financial backup. Survival is a major challenge to those who study abroad; even those who are ‘sponsored’ by organizations in Nigeria and government at all levels have at one point in time been faced with financial difficulties. How would you survive in a ‘No-man’s land?’

All other countries can not be like Nigeria where due respect is not accorded to due process. Countries in Europe and Americas, to mention a few, make effort to meet the needs of their citizens, before considering needs of other nationals. Nigeria may put the needs of foreigners first, but such doesn’t happen there.
It is noteworthy for most youth to understand that there is more to life than travelling abroad; many who fund themselves abroad may be counted lucky, but it has never been a bed of roses for them. Many youth have spent fortune on botched oversea travels while thousands have lost their lives in the Medditaranenean sea through Libya, all in a bid to cross over to Europe via Italy. From my experience, living abroad doesn’t mean you have everything you want, it is merely a case of time zone difference and system of government variance.

The question that begs for answer is, why waste money you can gather to survive and establish yourself for a great future on fruitless and uncertain future? There are a lot of people that do not even the leave country and they are making it.

To carve a niche for yourself in that country, get a goal, put up a structure/work modality and work hard. Your goals are just a few steps to success.

As a way to start, personal development should be made a priority – read books, attend seminars, conferences and meet people. In this age, synergy would do.
You can do businesses with your colleagues and like minds. Sometimes, a billion naira idea needed to push you to limelight/wealth may come through brainstorming with likeminds. When you synergize, your knowledge on the particular area would be different from that of your colleague.

Summarily, study yourself, develop your skills and fire on till success becomes your friend.

Peace!