It's Time

It’s time to stop being myopic. It's time to shatter the mentality that has kept us in the rut. It is time to realign our perspectives and ride in the wing of opportunities that is opening up in the 21st century.


A lot of young Nigerians, like you and I, are trapped in the psyche that being a Nigerian is a great tragedy of a life time. And worse of, being an African, they believe, is a serious disadvantage that limits the full realization of their potential. It has been ingrained in their minds that though all human being are suppose to be equal; some (like the Americans) are more equal than the other. That being a Nigerian is a leveler that has kept others in America or Europe always a shoulder above us. That being in Nigeria, with all the her dark omen and realities, have positioned them for a mediocre life and a lifelong battle for survival.

This seems to be confirmed by the facts around. The level of unemployment is alarming and disheartening. Many graduates are being churned out year in year out for a limited job prospects. Many of the creamy organization are complaining that the few graduates they manage to pick up are inadequately and inappropriately trained. A typical graduate in his or her NYSC year is already weeping in despair about the future ahead. especially if he or she did not make 2nd class upper in his or her degree. The entrepreneurship craze being hyped around seems to be a difficult path because of unavailable financial resources and basic amenities needed to sustain such a venture. It all seems gloomy.

This is really a half-truth- it does not mean the facts are distorted or are not true but it is just one aspect of the state of things. Because in this same country, people are getting beautiful jobs in beautiful organizations and are getting paid handsomely. Don’t hurry to conclude that it is because of the connections they have. Many people are getting jobs on merit.
Many entrepreneurs have sprang up in this same harsh climate with scarce resources and have built great ventures with their talents and skills. There are one thousand and one of them, this is the fact!

It is imperative we zero down to you as an individual. How are you adapting to your environment to make a great success out of it and your life. Isn’t time you get out of this mentality that no good can come out of Nigeria and probably out of your life, too because of the constraints in this country? I think it is a shame to you when you see your mates are getting out of the rut and you sat down wallowing in what Nigeria has not done for you or you are gripped in the fear of what Nigeria will not be able to do for you.

It is true that our economic and socio-political landscape is not a haven; but it not a hell too. It is left to you as an individual to make what you want out of it. If the cheese has been moved, you need to change strategy to get the cheese wherever it has been moved to. (Check out “Who moved my cheese”). Don't get a wrong impression about this: the cheese has not been moved to America, so don't begin hustling for the next flight out of the country or looking for how to creep into the next Europe-bound ship as a pathetic stowaway.

All you need is to begin the second revolution (read "the Second Revolution" by Sam Adeyemi). It is a process of internal readjustment. You must believe that you can make it in this country in whatever area you decide to create your niche. You must disabuse your mind from the lie that you are a no good when compared to the Americans and Europeans. You must change your mindset.

Then you must begin to work on yourself so as to be capable of hopping on the economic train. You either make yourself employable or are self employed. The first question you need to ask yourself objectively is that: if I were the MD of Shell would I employ myself? Would I be fit for the job and capable of doing the job? I think the problem of complacency is the issue here and also, lack of career direction or goal.

Complacency in the sense that we are all contented with our dusty certificate and class of degree we have and we believe it is good enough to get us the job we desire. That's not true. It’s much more than that. Certificate is only basic. Every employer always look out for particular sets of skill, qualifications and personal qualities in the individual they want to employ and all the interview questions are directed into confirming you have such skills and qualities. But most people do not go out to get this pre-quested skills or have not sat down to do personal audit to realize their strengths and talents. And you can not have the skill or personal quality for all kinds of job. That's why it's important to have a career direction.

I believe deciding where to pursue a career is critical to your getting the job and it is imperative for it to be an area you have a flair for. This is because it gives direction to your preparation. For instance, if you want to be a professional accountant, you must think of ICAN qualification, computer skills which include ability to use packages like SAGE, PEACHTREE or QUICKBOOKS and you must like numbers.

Being self-employed is a serious big deal. It involves, apart from entrepreneurial spirit, a lot of many other skills and qualities which you need to run a successful enterprise. Most of the best companies like YAHOO, FEDEX were started by guys who had idea they dare to pursue from their university days. I believe ideas are important to an entrepreneur as well as the motivation to pursue it against all odds.

Most importantly, we must not settle for mediocrity- a local champion kind of stuff. It is time to go all out and be a global player. The world has become a global village-that's already a cliché you have heard over and over again but it is a reality we have all failed to explore. The Indians are exploiting it and it is working for them. It is working for their economy. Information technology has changed the way the world is and it is a great opportunities we need to exploit. Look at the "yahoo-yahoo" boys they are exploiting it thought it is on a negative note.

It's time we begin to prepare of making ourselves employable globally and building a world-class enterprise. Information technology has opened up a window into limitless opportunities which we must peep into and exploit. So anybody that is not IT- literate is shut in cave age.

The truth is that despite the odds that pile against us as Nigerians, despite the discouraging economic environment, we can still survive and thrive in this same country. We can stand shoulder to shoulder with anybody from any corner of the world. All we need is to believe, get informed and be prepared.