PHOTO BY MEAfter much persuasion, my wife agreed to let me get a new phone, based on my promise to take content creation seriously. This means expanding beyond Hive and creating videos for platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
So, I naturally got the best phone on the market—a Samsung S24 Ultra. She also got herself a new phone, for no apparent reason other than being my wonderful wife. The entire experience felt surreal because, this time last year, I had barely $500 to my name.
BEING COMFORTABLY BROKE
While in Nigeria, my life wasn't exactly poor, but it required a lot of struggle and self-deprivation. I had to manage very scarce resources, which limited what I could do or afford, regardless of my effort.
I remember an incident last year where a lender called me "a bum" because I couldn't pay my debt on time. It was heartbreaking; I knew how hard I had worked, but there wasn't much to show for it. I was always stuck in a dilemma, having to make difficult decisions. This had been the story of my adult working life.
Moving to Europe late last year and experiencing the drastic improvement in my quality of life has made me ponder several issues. For instance, I ask myself: Where would I be financially if I had migrated five years ago? I likely would have completed my master's degree and obtained a high-paying job. I likely would have also had at least one or two Bitcoin in my wallet. It was never about my skills or commitment, but rather my location.
GEOGRAPHY IS DESTINY
PHOTO BY ME
I understand that many people have built successful lives for themselves in my home country, starting from nothing—I did as well. However, it wasn't enough to get me where I am now. For the first time in my adult life, my possibilities feel limitless, even though I'm still far from financially free. The difference now is that I can achieve my dreams and aspirations within reasonable timeframes.
Migrating to a first-world country has cleared my doubts about many things. Firstly, my abilities. There were times I doubted my efforts, but now I realize I'm achieving acceptable results with far less exertion. I'm unsettled when I remember that, at some point, I was accepting such low pay and the accompanying insults.
Secondly, the importance of an enabling environment that rewards hard-working people.Many of my diligent compatriots are languishing in generational poverty and hardship simply because they were born on a different side of the globe. I feel fortunate to have a different life now (though it's still far from ideal, I must stress).
CONCLUSION
Unfortunately, not everyone can migrate to a first-world country, and that's not even a solution to the problems plaguing most third-world countries. One reason I left my country was the clear consensus among most people to maintain the status quo, which has done nothing but impoverish them. This wasn't the life I wanted to live or pass on to my children, so I moved to a society of like-minded people to contribute my part in maintaining, upholding, and improving a system that gives everyone an equal opportunity to thrive (or at least live a decent life).
I understand many external forces are hindering Africa's growth and development, but we, as a people, are also complacent in our demise and destruction. Until a consensus to move forward emerges, I don't see much changing. Fortunately, I don't believe in blind patriotism. Moreover, countries, borders, etc., are all social constructs that shouldn't limit one's self-actualization.
I'm willing to do whatever it takes, as long as it's legal and ethical, to live the best possible life imaginable.