Maroc - CMONIONLINE.COM - A La Une - 14/Aug 08:32

Diaspora Diary: Are You More Likely To Succeed Abroad?

Chatting with a friend who recently relocated abroad, I inquired about Clinton, his cousin and was shocked to learn that he had also moved to America. I couldn’t get my head around this information. Clinton owns a fine detached duplex in a gated estate with a fleet of luxury cars in his garage. The bar and lounge at the back where we usually had our little gatherings was tastefully furnished. During his birthday bash a couple of years ago, the state governor, a former senator and 2 members of the House of Reps among other dignitaries were present. He is a person of heft by every Nigerian parameter. “When…why?”, I asked in bewilderment “Since last year, his family moved as the economic hardship increased and he later joined them”, replied my friend. Clinton is also a jolly good fella. He’s a magnanimous host who enjoys the company of friends. He would celebrate anything at the slightest opportunity. Whenever he learns I’m visiting, he invites me to share a fun time in his beautiful home. We will gather for a craic with an endless supply of music, jokes, assorted foods and drinks including my favourite, palm wine specially delivered by his wine-tapper. “So what will he be doing abroad?”, I asked, curious about his plans to survive in America. “Hian, he’s back to his former hustle. He was a truck driver when he lived in America previously”. Ahaaaa! Now I understand better, so he used to live in America. I was immediately reminded of my previous story on the benefits of a driver’s license in this part of the world. You see, all you need to make your life a success in a place like America is an employable skill because the opportunities to earn are endless. This is not to say that skilful people do not earn elsewhere. Far from it, it’s just that a place like Nigeria takes so much from you while at it. Watch this video to have a better grasp of what I mean. Nigeria works better for the powerful and greedy few because corruption is the social and political capital in my country. Sadly, it is for the same reason that it isn’t working for many hardworking and responsible citizens. Worse still, it is a society that is increasingly discouraging genuine hustle because many entrepreneurs I know who are engaged in legitimate businesses are struggling. With Clinton, I suspect the gravy train developed hiccups after his pals around the corridors of power left office. He must have started feeling the pinch. And this is the thing with many Nigerians. The hope that one of your own may soon be in a position of authority to patronise you keeps you optimistic in a broken and desperate system. This mindset may not be wrong but it’s reductive. It limits your perspective on wealth creation Also, receiving patronage isn’t illegal. Yet you can’t build a working and equitable society like that. Currently in Nigeria, only the rising inflation can force any rational person to search for alternatives let alone one who has a ready option B. Clinton is either a US resident or a citizen. He has the skill and experience to earn and reside in a saner clime. Why wouldn’t he move? Once you start earning abroad, you have escaped poverty and it’s up to you to build from there. For instance, the minimum wage here is €12.70/Hr. This means a week of work rewards you with more than €500. An amount that is above the country’s poverty threshold of €318 per week which only over 3% of the population falls beneath. Contrastingly, about 41% of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per person per day while 63% are multidimensional poor. With a regular income flow, the worry of providing your basic needs is eliminated. With a clearer mind, you can plan. And that is how to succeed. Those who plan do better than those who do not plan, even should they rarely stick to their plan. ~Winston Churchill If you have no skill, learn one. And the good thing is that over here, skills are usually taught by instructors who are more interested in passing the knowledge than grading. Succeeding here is proportional to your skill, productivity and network. Entry jobs in services and sales are usually available with basic training provided. Skills like driving can be acquired in a short time. Driving, particularly in the commercial sector can start you from double the minimum wage rate. If you don’t have money, support is available too. Free or partly funded. I have only paid between 0-10% of course fees for all my certifications. Thanks to government-supported agencies/institutions like SOLAS, Springboard, ETB, Fetch, Skillnet and countless others. I’m giving you practical tips now should you wish to come over here. The benefits of these agencies are mostly accessible to all here regardless of residential status. So here is my summary; The thing about this part of the world, as I keep saying, is productivity. Those who came up with the ideas of capitalism and consumerism are brilliant. Once a society is built around production and consumption, opportunities abound for everyone to escape poverty. You only need a skill or product you offer to a large market. And this advantage is why you are better programmed to succeed abroad. Before you accuse me of unpatriotism take note that I am facilitating platforms of engagement through communities of practice that offer free & affordable digital skill and knowledge acquisition. By so doing; 1. More youths will acquire globally employable and marketable skills. 2. This in turn stems wanton/illegal migration by making migration a choice since you can earn forex from your remote village. 3. New & potential migrants are equipped with employable skills and a support network. So the aim of this piece isn’t to convince everyone to relocate, rather it is specifically targeted at you because you are reading it. If you enjoyed this, please share it and hit the follow button to join our community of digital creatives at cmonionline.com let’s