A Practical Alternative to Japa for Young Nigerians
The richest Nigerians—Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Dr. Mike Adenuga, and Femi Otedola—are living in Nigeria. Interestingly, none of them were ever politicians or had anything to do with government contracts, but during the President Tinubu regime, all of them registered a massive increase in their net worth. So, what is their secret?
The answer is simple: invest, produce, and create. The lesson of the story is that if you invest in Nigeria, produce locally, and create opportunities, you will prosper.
Let’s take a reality check. Most Nigerians are trapped in their circumstances and end up getting bogged down in the emotional baggage of believing that the country owes them. But such a mindset blinds them to the possibilities staring them in the face. Rather than focusing on what Nigeria “should” do for you, why not channel your attention to what you can do in the country?
Consider this: The money you are planning to spend on one night in a lounge in Lagos can be utilized to a greater advantage. Imagine buying a train fare from Lagos to Oyo, taking the bus to Şaki, and buying yam in quantity. On your return to Lagos, you can double your investment by selling at Ketu Market. Or else, go to Eruwa in Oyo, buy different types of Amala, and get instant buyers in Lagos.
And if farming is not your thing, try livestock. Every day, 3,000 to 5,000 cows are being slaughtered in Lagos, yet there is a beef shortage.
Tufiakwa! You can sneer and grumble, “I have a degree, why must I do that?” That is, however, how Aliko Dangote started—by selling produce from Kano in Lagos.
It’s easy to dismiss these possibilities, but when you take a seat and figure out how small ideas can lead to great success stories, you’ll realize that it’s all about starting small. Just as an avalanche begins with a little snowball rolling larger and larger, your good fortune can go in leaps and bounds when you start. It won’t amount to much in the beginning, but if you keep going, it will snowball into something much bigger.
Do not be trapped into thinking that japa, or moving away, will be the solution to all your problems. Life abroad is not as glamorous as it seems to be. You might be drawn to the social media highlights of friends who have already japa’d, but sometimes things are not exactly the same in real life.
When you arrive, you might discover that your friends no longer take your calls. They never imagined that you would really turn up. Their real concern is that, once you arrive, you might end up depending on them, which is something they are not in a position to do. The picture they painted to you was typically exaggerated, and they are either too proud or ashamed to inform you of the truth.
The truth is, immigrants who are successful in countries like the U.S. or European nations are typically independently wealthy individuals. They’ve built businesses that do not require their physical presence for 9-5 work. They may have intellectual property, an online company, or monetized social media platforms that generate income for them without a set schedule. These individuals are rich, not since they did things the conventional way, but because they learned how to make money without being geographically bound.
I travel to over thirty countries a year, and my secret? My survival does not rely on a traditional job. It relies on e-commerce. Unlike many people who are still in the rat race, working multiple jobs just to keep ahead of the bills, I can live life on my own terms.
The majority of us are trapped in the daily grind, working 9-5, and a second job in the evenings or at weekends. Without these jobs, everything that they have ever worked for—houses, cars, phones—would be repossessed by the bank after a few missed payments. The truth is bitter, but it’s the reality for the majority.
Relatively, owning a bungalow in Lugbe or a flat in Oworonshoki, Lagos, can be far more assured than the “golden” life that some of your friends flaunt on social media. Quite a good number of them are owed up to their eyeballs, without any solid asset to substantiate their claims.
This is not to mean that you should never think of moving. If there is an opportunity and you think it is best, then proceed. But don’t do so with the dream of duplicating an illusory life. Not all things that shine abroad are gold.
Start small. Start from where you are. Whether one is investing in agriculture, starting a small enterprise, or opening an e-commerce business, the opportunities in Nigeria are endless. With determination and the right mind-set, you can build your wealth here and now, and not have to “japa.”
– Anonymous writer
