Living a successful life depends on the decisions you make daily. As a Nigerian living in Nigeria, I can tell you the country is hard in terms of survival. The economic situation is getting worse every day; food prices have skyrocketed; universities are on strike; the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are threatening to go on strike.
On Saturday, May 7, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) announced they would be shutting down operations nationwide due to a hike in fuel prices. Though the association has suspended the planned shutdown, the fact remains that even the rich cry in Nigeria. One will wonder how to start life in Nigeria with all these problems.
However, there is always a way out if you know how to apply your wisdom. This piece will share the following:
- How to start life as a young person
- How to start life in Nigeria as a foreigner
- Reasons to move to Nigeria
How to start life as a young person
You lived under your parents’ roof as a child, enjoying their provision and protection. Now you’re a full-fledged adult; you are expected to go out there and fend for yourself. At first, you’re excited about the prospect of being independent. No more parents monitoring your movements and scolding you for doing what they disapprove of. Pretty soon, you realize as a young person, your chances of being successful in Nigeria are pretty daunting. Does it mean there is no hope for you? Of course not.
Here are successful ways to start life as a young person.
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Find your purpose
Your purpose refers to what you want to achieve in life. Do you want to be a successful artist or footballer? Does your purpose in life mean becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Finding your purpose is significant because it is the foundation that determines how you start life as a young person.
Passion
Now you have found your purpose, are you passionate about it? For instance, if your goal is to be a great footballer in Europe, are you passionate about learning how to play football and finding ways to move to Europe? Passion is the catalyst that propels you to achieve your purpose. Purpose and passion are different, but they walk hand in hand. Your purpose could be playing football in Europe while your passion is playing football.
Vision
Where do you see yourself in the next five years? This is one of the common questions employers ask candidates during job interviews. They are not asking to fulfil all righteousness. Instead, they want to know where you see yourself in the future. That is vision. As a young person starting life in Nigeria, you should include your vision in all you set out to achieve. Your vision should make you see your present situation as a stepping stone to a better future. Nigeria is a highly competitive nation. You need to think ahead, to see opportunities where others see impossibilities. See into the future and act accordingly.
Plan your activities
Without planning, your purpose, passion, vision, and mission will be for nothing. We often hear young Nigerians talk about how they want to “hammer” and look for who will “cut soap” for them. Yet, a lot of them do not have any concrete plans on how to start life. The bible says faith without work is useless. How do you work if you don’t plan? You can talk about your purpose, passion and vision from now to thy kingdom come; if you don’t plan them properly, you will surely fail.
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Discipline yourself
The only way to achieve your plan is through discipline. Discipline refers to the standards you have set for yourself to achieve your dreams. The twin of discipline is determination. Determination is an essential tool that will drive you to ignore distractions on your way to success. We all make New Year resolutions, but how many of us are disciplined enough and determined to see those resolutions to success? As a young person starting life in Nigeria, wear discipline and determination as your second skin.
Control your lifestyle
If you want to start life as a young person successfully, you must learn how to control your lifestyle. Your lifestyle encompasses everything that determines your way of living as an individual. What is your sleeping habit? Who are your friends or those you hang out with? What is your saving habit? Are you living within or above your income? Do you live a healthy life, or do you eat anything you find regardless of the health risks? As a young person who wants to make it in life, you must control the way you live.
Manage your time well
One of the basic secrets to a successful life is time management. Successful people know how to manage their time. There is no room for procrastination, no room for laziness or distractions. Every little time is utilized to a T. Be that successful person. Learn to manage your time well.
Find and grab opportunities
Always be open to opportunities. Constantly position yourself to opportunities, and when you find them, do not hesitate to grab them. While I disagree with the general saying that opportunity comes once, I know opportunities once lost will take a long time to find again. Dig for important information about opportunities of your interest. Google is your friend. Read extensively. “School is a scam” is a fallacy. A lot of people lost opportunities because they refused to value their education. Attend seminars, workshops and conferences—network with people and organizations. Make and keep important friends. Any one of these will take you to an opportunity of a lifetime.
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How to start life in Nigeria as a foreigner
While many Nigerians want to japa to more developed countries, other people, especially expats, are moving to Nigeria. Here’s a quick guide on how to start life in Nigeria as a foreigner:
- Ensure you tell your bank of your move to Nigeria. Your bank may stop your transactions to avoid any case of fraud.
- Your documentation as a foreigner must be legal and complete. You need to have a valid and appropriate visa. It includes Temporary Work Permit (TWP), Business visa; CERPAC (long term work permit); ECOWAS permit.
- Insecurity is a serious issue in Nigeria. Follow guidance from your embassy and authorities for your safety.
- If a company hires you, ensure the company at least partially finances your accommodation, health insurance, flights home, education and transport.
- Nigeria has plenty of great international schools. But they are pretty expensive. If you have kids, it’s good to make sure your employers grant you an education package to afford these schools.
- Ensure your accommodation has access to generators and boreholes to cushion regular blackouts in the country.
- Proper health insurance is a must-have in Nigeria as a foreigner if you want to access the best health care in the country.
- Hire a driver who knows the way around the city you’re living in. Getting stuck in Lagos traffic, for instance, can mess up your plans for the day.
- Try Nigerian food. Trust me, you won’t look back.
- Learn the Nigerian people’s culture. Most expats choose to isolate themselves by living in highbrow areas in the country. But Nigerians are very friendly, accommodating and entertaining. Mingling with Nigerians and learning their culture will ensure a fulfilling stay in the country.
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Reasons to move to Nigeria
Now that you’re done with the rat race that is associated with “abroad life”, you may be considering moving back to Nigeria to start a new life. Here are five reasons to move to Nigeria:
- Nigerian weather is great. You can wear light clothes and walk anywhere barefoot or sandals without worrying about freezing or suffering from a heatwave.
- You get to be around family and friends, which helps your mental health. Living abroad may be rewarding, but it can be boring and isolating as well. All you do is wake up and go to work. Return, sleep and wake up again to the same routine. In Nigeria, you will have a great social life.
- Nigeria is a land of untapped opportunities. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, you will see opportunities everywhere. All you need is to tap one of them, and you’re rich.
- While it is possible to get married and start a family abroad, nothing beats marrying from home and starting a family. Your children will grow up knowing their roots.
- You will get to live a wealthy life in Nigeria. You’ve spent years toiling and saving every penny abroad. Now it’s time for you to move back to Nigeria and start enjoying your money. The Nigerian currency is very low compared to other currencies from most developed countries. For instance, you will have enough money to live like royalty when you convert your US dollars to naira. You can build your dream house with the best furnishings and buy your dream car. You enjoy a more fulfilling life in Nigeria because you’re rich.
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