The plight of a working Nigerian youth

Growing up, the goal was to get into a good university, serve, and get a good-paying job. That was the reality most of us wanted, and the reality our parents wanted even if it meant they had to toil and suffer in the hopes that we will achieve it. However, from the struggle we had to go through to get into the university, it was already obvious that the slots are few but the people in need of that reality are plenty. So we learned how to hustle, most of us read, prayed, fought for connection, and did all we could to get a slot in the university.

Upon getting into the university, we realized that it was another struggle to remain at the university, for some, they could not afford the fees due to unforeseen circumstances and for some, they could not cope with the pressure of the substandard level of education and very uncomfortable learning environment, while for some, the thrill of the reality they wanted, had faded and they aspired for other things, and so some fell out of the race for a beautiful white-collar job. Through the stress, the heat, and the lack of basic amenities, ASUU and its strike wahala, we graduated.

However, going through the 4 walls of the university had opened our eyes, we had seen the light, we decided not to focus on just white-collar jobs anymore, forward we matched, we ventured into technology, cryptocurrency, menial jobs, hairstylist, tailoring, so long as it fetched enough money to sustain us, we did it. The reality our parents dreamt for us no longer seemed feasible but for some of us, even though the dream of getting a white-collar job looked like a fantasy, we prevailed, and we kept working on the path our parents wanted. If serving our country was a necessity to get a job, well who are we not to do it, we served the country to the best of our abilities, collected our Nysc certificates, and walked into the Job market with open hearts and bright minds.

Resumes upon Resumes, Cover Letters upon Cover letters, Interviews upon Interviews, few were lucky enough to get a good job 1 or 3 months after service but for most of us, years passed by. Some people abandoned their dreams of a white-collar job and focused on other things, some traveled out, and some had to learn a new skill, but for those of us that persevered, we got the job we dreamt of.

If only we knew, that the Nigerian system affected everyone differently and in the same way, and getting the job of our dreams was not enough to protect us from the system, even for those who had focused on other things, it did not protect them. We are faced with the harsh reality of the country everywhere we turn, from the bad roads to the lack of electricity, to seeing the little boy with the handicapped leg begging in the middle of the street under the hot sun on a Monday afternoon. We accept the reality that our hustle and sweat of our parents is not enough to combat the country that is Nigeria.