Working From Home 🇳🇬
I am currently in Nigeria for work and a sprinkle of enjoyment. It’s amazing to be back here again as the last time I came was in 2015. Here's how my trip is going so far...
Happy New Week!
I am currently in Nigeria for work and some enjoyment. Not many know and it’s not something I hide but I was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK when I was ten years old. It’s amazing to be back here again as the last time I came was in 2015. Being born in Nigeria is one of my driving factors and a reason for my high work ethic.
In Nigeria the work ethic and hustle culture is crazy. Everyone is trying to make it out. Some are born into privilege, some more fortunate than others, and some are born without a single thing. So everyone is hustling to be in a better position or to maintain their position. This trip plus my Barcelona trip reminds me how developed we are in the UK, from our buildings, work-life, and opportunities. These things make us pretty far removed from how people outside the UK live.
My Nigerian roots mean a lot to me. Nigerian culture plays a huge role in who I am as a person. Culture gives us an identity and helps us build our character, it makes us who we are. Our values and beliefs are ingrained in our lifestyle, right down to the way we think and communicate. The shared experience gives us a sense of belonging. The culture we’re exposed to creates our perception, and our perceptions drive our behavior.
Nigerians are very resourceful and innovative. Not being able to access much, you have to make do with what you have. This resourcefulness and a constant spirit of innovation has led to many interesting startups succeeding in Nigeria such as Flutterwave, Nigeria’s fourth $1bn unicorn. There are a lot of problems that need solving and startups that solve problems in high demand have a large chance of succeeding. This isn’t just in Nigeria, but anywhere in the world.
As I am getting older, the idea of living in different parts of the world is becoming more and more appealing. The world is much bigger than just London and I'm grateful to be exposed to see some of what the world has to offer. Regardless of where you are, you can always find a community. There has become a trend of the African diaspora returning back to the continent for various reasons such as new business opportunities. Many are using the skills they’ve learnt in the Western world to be part of Africa’s growth. With fully remote work becoming a more popular option, I'm seeing people working for UK companies in different countries now.
“Home is not where we live but where we belong” African Proverb
One thing I've noticed that is very different from the UK is the fact that people here aren’t afraid to ask for money. They don’t shy away from taking advantage of any opportunity to make something happen for themselves and their family. It’s almost taboo talking about money in the UK and many miss out on opportunities from buying into that narrative. Regardless of the (relative) position of privilege we live in, there’s still no ceiling in terms of opportunities and our potential. Personally, this has taught me that I need to be bolder in asking for things regardless of the response I get. Closed mouths don’t get fed. I’m thankful for this trip as my perspective as a Nigerian living in the UK has evolved.
I look forward to coming back and spending more time and meeting more interesting people.
Have a great week!
Subomi