Kylie Jenner’s Forbes Feature: Nigerian Youths Shouldn’t be Triggered to Cut Corners

I have a knack for teen/youth affairs, so you don’t wonder why most of my pieces are either on entertainment, social media or anything that affects the youth because we consume more content on the internet and are easily influenced by what we see on the internet compared to the older set. Some young people are often subjected to societal pressure and uncalled comparison on seeing  happenings in the lives of other young people especially when they’re older than or within the age range of the person on the spotlight.

I have a knack for teen/youth affairs, so you don’t wonder why most of my pieces are either on entertainment, social media or anything that affects the youth because we consume more content on the internet and are easily influenced by what we see on the internet compared to the older set. Some young people are often subjected to societal pressure and uncalled comparison on seeing  happenings in the lives of other young people especially when they’re older than or within the age range of the person on the spotlight.

By statistics, Nigeria has a youth population of sixty-five percent. This is a rather obvious estimate considering the teaming number of persons between the ages of 18 to 40 within the country. However, in view of the many economic woes of the nation particularly evident from the heightening of unemployment, underemployment and all that jazz, it only becomes necessary to wonder, Should Nigerian youths cut corners or sweat it?.

Can cutting corners be justified?

Maybe, in a country like ours cutting corners could be justified but shouldn’t take center stage. It may be justified while working under atmosphere of intense pressure and high demand with little unsavory resources but that’s not reason enough.

To an average Nigerian youth presently resident in Nigeria the question the question is not far fetched. “Why work hard in a nation where the reward for work is barely sufficient?”. I had to listen to a group of youths chirping about how tough and bottle neck the success rate in the country has in time narrowed. A relatable product to the difficulty of surviving within the country is the increasing spate of illegal immigration as people in droves risk their lives in search of greener pastures.

It’s ironic how every single youth wants that dream life but isn’t ready to tour the rough edges. We have gotten to a cross-road were indulging in delinquencies and consciously boycotting hard work and perseverance  is now blown with a trumpet of pride. Apparently, sticking to the status quo is now a trend hence wrongs are _not so wrong_ anymore.

For youths who are salary earners, the salary scale with competing economic demands of feeding, clothing, and housing makes the average graduates salary of N20k a pinch of salt in an ocean of basic survival needs.

Nigerians as we all know are the most resilient and adept people in Africa. We are equally very impressionable and have a flair for bandwagon especially for situations or philosophies which tilt towards decadence. The world is evolving, trends are changing and more needs are rising by seconds, hardship increases by the day, and responsibilities add up then comes peer pressure, all these are compromising factors that births the urge for fast cash or shortcuts.

In times back, people made their millions through sweat and hardship which was the price paid for decency and perseverance but things somehow  went south since internet was introduced and abused and Nigerians are famed for that. Education and proper mentorship is now kept at bay.

You meet daily headlines of a nineteen years old hitting a net worth of millions. At this point your patience is at the brink of erupting, and you are berserk with greed. Then you ask yourself, what am I waiting for?.

The craze for financial prominence among Nigerian Youths is a direct result of the distortion of the notion ‘success’. When we keep defining success only in monetary terms, and leave out the value one can create for himself, and the lives of people around one as he forges ahead in his preferential path, including the value his contributions bring into a society.

The Paramount thing is purpose. Your popularity will only survive minutes. No Internet fraudster can make Forbes list, No drug Baron can make world’s richest, even though they may be richer than the richest.

When your cover is blown, you run to a hideout and live in fear. What is the essence of making illegal money when you can’t roam around like a free mason? This therefore, draws our attention back to ‘Purpose and self discovery’.

If Gates had cut corners due to pressure or urgency to make cash, we wouldn’t have Microsoft today. If Zuckerberg had been greedy and not purpose driven, we probably wouldn’t be enjoying Facebook today. Ask yourself, what do I really want to be known for?

Lack of patience has eaten deep into the very fabric of our conscience that we tend to forget morals. If you want to be rich pay the price for success by sweating it.

Gold has no other way of being refined if not going through the furnace.

If our established Institutions are failing, we can stand up to fit the bit we can.

Let us learn that every bad choice has its consequences. Let us teach and imbibe the mindset that hard work is rewarding and begets great/durable dividends.