Growing up as a young African, particularly as a Nigerian, you learn quickly that life isn't a smooth ride. From childhood, life teaches you to be strong. You face challenges, sometimes so tough that it feels like the world is testing every bit of strength you have. Yet, you keep going.
Life in Nigeria is no walk in the park. Every day, I wake up to face new challenges. But, like many young African men, I’ve learned to bear it all and keep going. The economy isn’t easy. Prices rise; opportunities seem fewer. But despite it all, there’s hope. Hope that things will get better, one step at a time.
Life as a young, middle-aged Nigerian man isn't easy. We face economic challenges, societal expectations, and the daily hustle to make ends meet. The world around us keeps changing, and often, not in the direction we hoped. Prices go up, job opportunities are hard to find, and those who want to build a business often struggle with limited resources and support. But we wake up every day, face the world, and keep pushing.
Sometimes, I ask myself: why is it so hard? Why do we have to fight for things that should be basic – like good roads, electricity, clean water, and affordable healthcare? But then, I remind myself that life is what it is. We are here now, and while we may dream of better, we must survive and thrive within the reality we are given.
Every morning starts with the hustle. You step outside, and you can feel the energy. People are moving, working, trying to make something out of their day. Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan – wherever you are in Nigeria – the streets are always alive with activity. The noise, the rush, the crowd. It’s overwhelming, yet somehow, we are part of it. We live through the heat, the noise, and the struggles. We know that if we don’t keep moving, life will pass us by. So, we push forward, despite everything.
Many young Nigerians dream of leaving. They dream of a life outside these borders, where things might be a little easier, a little more stable. It’s tempting. You look at friends or family who have left, and sometimes, their lives seem better. But there’s something about this place – the resilience, the culture, the community. There’s a pull that keeps many of us here. We love our people, our music, our food, our sense of humor, and the unbreakable spirit that only we seem to understand.
Living here means learning to survive with very little. You become creative. If electricity is off, you find alternatives. If money is tight, you cut back on what you can. If there’s no work, you look for something else to do. Nigerians are known for their resilience, for finding solutions even when the odds are against them. And that’s what keeps us going. We know that every problem has a solution – we just have to find it.
Living in Nigeria teaches you resilience. It’s like a test you didn’t ask for, but every day, you’re forced to give it your best shot. I see people around me fighting their own battles. Some struggle to feed their families, others to find stable jobs, and some simply to make it through the day. But amidst all the hardship, you’ll also see smiles. Nigerians are some of the happiest, most resilient people you’ll ever meet.
It’s hard to stay hopeful, I won’t lie. Some days are heavier than others. You wake up and wonder if things will ever get better. But hope is one thing no one can take away from us. It’s hope that tomorrow will be better, that our hustle will pay off, that our children will see a Nigeria we can only dream of now. So, we hold on to that hope, even when it feels like it’s slipping through our fingers.
It’s important to take things one day at a time. Worrying about tomorrow can make today unbearable. So, I’ve learned to focus on what I can control – my attitude, my effort, my decisions. Some days are tough, but each day, I remind myself that I’ve made it this far, and I can make it further. That’s a mindset many young Nigerians carry. It doesn’t take away the pain, but it helps us to keep going.
When I look around, I see many others just like me – men and women, young and old, all pushing forward. We share the same struggles, the same dreams, the same resilience. And that’s something beautiful, something powerful. There’s a unity in our struggle, and that’s what makes Nigeria, despite its hardships, a place worth fighting for.
I won’t lie – some days are tougher than others. The struggle to stay positive gets real. But it’s in these moments that I remember why I keep going. I remember the dreams I have, the goals I’ve set, and the people I want to make proud. I hold on to these reasons because they give me strength.
So, to my fellow Nigerians and Africans out there, keep pushing. It’s okay to feel tired, it’s okay to feel frustrated. Life is tough, but we are tougher. Together, we can make it through. And maybe, just maybe, one day, we’ll look back and realize that all these struggles, all this pain, was worth it. Keep going, keep hoping, and keep striving – life as it is, is hard, but life as it will be, might just be worth every step we took.
If you’re going through a tough time, know that you’re not alone. We’re all in this together. The road may be hard, but we must keep walking. Sometimes, it helps to just take things one day at a time. Focus on today, and don’t worry too much about tomorrow.
There’s no shame in struggling. It’s part of the journey. And if you’re fighting hard now, it means you’re not giving up. That’s strength. So let’s keep pushing, no matter how difficult life gets. Together, we’ll make it through. One day, we’ll look back and realize that every challenge made us stronger.
Life as it is – we live it, we feel it, we survive it. And we’ll keep surviving.