I have received many requests to summarize my recent experience in Nigeria. In order to avoid an unnecessary expansion of this post, my experience can be summarized as being 98% good to great. The remaining 2% are flaws. Yes, Nigeria, like all other places, has flaws. However, our flaws don’t have flaws, making them easily addressable. This post is about the people of Nigeria (I may address other specific issues in subsequent posts).
There isn’t very much I would change about the people of Nigeria who are easily the most resilient, kindest, and happiest people on earth. Two of a few things I would tweak:
- EXCESSIVE REVERENCE: I know that our culture demands respect for our seniors (which is a great thing), but we have recently expanded it to include excessive reverence for the rich and powerful. Some of us cower too much in the presence of such people, thinking that prostrating and showering them with titles and praises will get us ahead. Breaking news: trashing your dignity (no matter how impoverished you are) gets you no where. The easiest way to get in the circle of such people is by displaying confidence, being conversant with a wide range of subject matters, and not seeking direct material favours. Just like a bank will more likely lend you money when you don’t need it, a rich person will more likely take your phone call, if they believe you don’t need them. They don’t like to be pestered with constant requests for material favours, and will most likely invite you to cookouts and other events, if you don’t appear too needy. Such events are where you could possibly be exposed to profitable ideas, not to mention the possibility of expanding your network and possibly getting life changing referrals. You simply can’t get rich by selling your dignity and expecting unfettered access to a rich person’s vault.
Excessive reverence is also one of the reasons we don’t adequately hold our elected officials accountable….a post for another day.
- “WE THANK GOD”: Is a phrase we overuse and abuse in addressing all manner of questions and comments. Comment: I am so proud of you; your business is doing so well (response: we thank God). Question: you look so fit; how do you do it? (response: we thank God), etc. Thanking God is a given, and is something we should do all the time, but that phrase alone usually isn’t sufficient enough answer. You will probably teach and/or encourage someone to do better by expanding that standard response a little bit. Slight modifications that can be impactful: “we thank God, but my business is successful because I wake up early every morning to work hard at it”; “we thank God, but I try to stay fit by exercising three days a week,” etc. It’s a wonderful thing when we all learn from each other.
If you are wondering why I’m awake at 4 a.m. Chicago time, blame it on jet lag 😃.
GENE NONSO MOJEKWU
A Nigerian based in the USA recounts his experience when he came back for Christmas holidays
