wazobia68:

Lol, not like that, only Abacha was that hard. We had SAP riots all over the country. Aluta struggles here and there etc. Even Babangida had to settle the vocal ones with appointment. People like Wole Soyinka, Tai Solarin etc have to be settled with appointment. We were vocal but not brainwashed like today's youth.

holocron:


What's all this Igbo this Igbo that. We are talking of Nigeria made up of 250 ethnic groups and you are bringing up Igbo matter.

The Biafra war only occured in the south east alone, while the rest of Nigeria were enjoying peace and development - and only for 3 years out of a 20 year period we are talking about.

You Igbos should get over your self importance. Nigeria will continue to exist with or without Igbos.

Kobojunkie:
So Dele Giwa and Fela were delusions of ours!

wazobia68:


Less than 1% of the population enjoyed what you are talking about. The main population wallowed in abject poverty then. What was the %age of university graduate then.
In my village, my dad was the only person that had car around 70s. Now the whole village is littered with cars and mansions.
The people eat rice once a week. No electricity in the village then. None could afford gen then.
No comparison between now and then. This generation are enjoying more
In my university days 88-93, you hardly see students having ordinary tv's in their rooms. But now tv's is a small thing. Students now have everything, Tv, laptops, phones, tabs, car etc.

Nothing like good old days. That was only for the few rich and contented folks

tensazangetsu20:

Omho and we abuse them for destroying the country. These guys suffered so much.

RodgersAkpafu:

I was about to applaud you for the Initial comment you made
Then I scroll down to see this
This comment is in bad taste and is uncalled for
The civil war was an ugly part of our story as a country
And Igbos are Nigerians too
The suffering should be acknowledged
And your comment Insensitive
You still have a point
The years before Buhari first coming were good old days

tensazangetsu20:
I used to abuse the older generation blaming them for completely destroying the country for the younger generation especially Nigerians in the 45 plus age bracket but I have been thinking and I feel that age range of Nigerians actually had it much worst than Nigerians of today.

Nigeria is still an absolute shithole today but at least the internet exist which is enabling young people to make a living online. Something that was impossible or unheard of like 10 years ago.

How did older men survive Nigeria when they were young. I mean let's say you graduated from unilag or unn with a mechanical engineering degree in 1984 when Buhari was head of state. They were no jobs, unemployment was still very rife. There was no internet for freelancing or stuff like that. Bujari destroyed the economy then and a demon IBB entered and became president as if that wasn't worst Abacha came in. By the time Abacha left, a 22 year old man from buhari tenure might have been 35 or close to 40 years. Lived through all this bad governance, poverty and hardship. It's so terrible when I think about it.

Older Nigerians how did you guys do it? I am really curious to hear your experiences.

Xilsbridalhouse:

Reading your post felt like I was drinking milk! So smooth!!!

crackhaus:

No matter how you look at it, they had it so much better... Waayyy better.
Nothing depressing about it.

Yes they lived through the military era and saw firsthand what that was like, but it was still a better deal than what we have now.

Nigeria/Nigerians didn't have such a bad rep in the eyes of the world back then.

And who told you there were no jobs?

Just having a university degree guaranteed you a job without the need for man-know-man or bribing your way into federal agencies.
My dad with his University of Ibadan 2'2 degree didn't stay without work for up to 3 months after serving – got a really good job for that matter.

Nigerians could travel easier back then and even though the standard of living wasn't all that high, things were affordable in comparison.
Today, the standard of living is low (even lower if we're being honest), yet commodities aren't that affordable.

The internet age, satellite TV, and advent of mobile devices which ushered in the era of remote jobs and internet-based sources of income, also came with the introduction of make-believe lifestyles from watching reality shows like MTV cribs, KUWTK, etc...
Young Nigerians became obsessed with living wealthy lifestyles and acquiring expensive things (even when unnecessary).

Please there's no comparison to be made...

Older Nigerians definitely had a much better Nigeria than we do now. It wasn't heaven then, but it still wasn't as hellish as it is now.
People actually lived in Nigeria back then, but what people are doing now is surviving – there's a big difference.

I can't even take my car to a random mechanic to fix for me because they will bill me like a yahoo boy.
Internet fraudsters who don't mind paying whatever price they're told to pay for anything, have succeeded in contributing to inflation.

All those overpriced estates in places like Lekki built on top of reclaimed land that is just hoping/praying the sea doesn't develop mood swing, do you think if they were not seeing people to buy them, they won't drop the prices?

My brother, the overall mentality of Nigerians is very different now from what it was then.

Although it's not that the country was European-standard for older Nigerians back in the day, but contentment seemed to be more prevalent as people were okay with just having the basics/having just what was necessary.

I have a lot more I could type on this topic, but I've exceeded my social media allocated time for today.

hahn:


I swear. Just travel to ordinary Cotonou by road and it will seem you dropped one heavy bag at the corner.

No one is trying to be rich fast but they are enjoying themselves with 24 electricity, good roads, stable economy, cheap food etc

Just come back through the border and you go just tire

Kobojunkie:
You practically had nothing much to do , and no way of expanding your minds except for when you had school to attend.

crackhaus:

No matter how you look at it, they had it so much better... Waayyy better.
Nothing depressing about it.

Yes they lived through the military era and saw firsthand what that was like, but it was still a better deal than what we have now.

Nigeria/Nigerians didn't have such a bad rep in the eyes of the world back then.

And who told you there were no jobs?

Just having a university degree guaranteed you a job without the need for man-know-man or bribing your way into federal agencies.
My dad with his University of Ibadan 2'2 degree didn't stay without work for up to 3 months after serving – got a really good job for that matter.

Nigerians could travel easier back then and even though the standard of living wasn't all that high, things were affordable in comparison.
Today, the standard of living is low (even lower if we're being honest), yet commodities aren't that affordable.

The internet age, satellite TV, and advent of mobile devices which ushered in the era of remote jobs and internet-based sources of income, also came with the introduction of make-believe lifestyles from watching reality shows like MTV cribs, KUWTK, etc...
Young Nigerians became obsessed with living wealthy lifestyles and acquiring expensive things (even when unnecessary).

Please there's no comparison to be made...

Older Nigerians definitely had a much better Nigeria than we do now. It wasn't heaven then, but it still wasn't as hellish as it is now.
People actually lived in Nigeria back then, but what people are doing now is surviving – there's a big difference.

I can't even take my car to a random mechanic to fix for me because they will bill me like a yahoo boy.
Internet fraudsters who don't mind paying whatever price they're told to pay for anything, have succeeded in contributing to inflation.

All those overpriced estates in places like Lekki built on top of reclaimed land that is just hoping/praying the sea doesn't develop mood swing, do you think if they were not seeing people to buy them, they won't drop the prices?

My brother, the overall mentality of Nigerians is very different now from what it was then.

Although it's not that the country was European-standard for older Nigerians back in the day, but contentment seemed to be more prevalent as people were okay with just having the basics/having just what was necessary.

I have a lot more I could type on this topic, but I've exceeded my social media allocated time for today.

Ikwerelastborn:

Anywhere I see your comment the next thing that comes to my mind is Atheist

twosquare:
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. I took time to read all. So much lies and lies of people trying to paint the good old days. Idealising the past is sweet; just looking at their head, spurning lies like spiders...

*If you want to know the truth, check the art of that era (literary themes & works); newspapers, memoirs, journals, etc. You will sniff it out. Not people who lived with privileged parents or someone who was fed by his/her parents, only thinking the world revolves around 1% of their experiences.

It is relative.

calcal:
Sincerely, that was a terrible experience. awaiting results, no job, even no fuckmate.

When the sleeping was too much, I join Jeahoval withness to pass away time.

No day wey that country good.

hahn:


There was no constant electricity or access to loans. No atm, no internet, no GSM, multicellular cost like N300k and that was big fvcking money then for one huge pile of junk.

And they grew up in the military regime where there was NO freedom of speech

All they could do was sleep

Citygal:

In the early 90s

calcal:
Sincerely, that was a terrible experience. awaiting results, no job, even no fuckmate.

When the sleeping was too much, I join Jeahoval withness to pass away time.

No day wey that country good.

Offpoint1:

this thread is meant for 70s and 80s, you're too young to contribute.

Limassol:
And who told you teenage pregnancy and young males going into crime was non-existent? History suggests these baby-boomers were as bad if not worst... You think these guys were saints back then, if you do then you've been fooled for real,and seriously need a rethink.

Citygal:

Until we start exchanging banters now before you respect yourself.

SlyfoxxjReturns:


Who says? Of course we socialized and I partied hard in my university days, in fact I don’t think Uni students of today party as much as we used to then. But we always maintained our focus and had much stronger principles at the end of the day. The shame and stigma of failing in school, getting pregnant before marriage or generally not doing well in life was so strong back then that it always kept us in check no matter how much we wanted to misbehave. Kids today no longer have that fear that’s why they busy doing drugs, getting knocked up and dropping out of school anyhow.

Also we didn’t have to deal with what I call the ultimate distraction of this generation - social media. Back then we had distractions but they were not as instant and “in your face” like it is today with smartphones and social media. I don’t see any mind stimulating thing on most of these platforms. It’s all sex and other forms of immorality 24/7. We expanded our minds back then by reading books, watching documentaries and other educational stuff to the extent that I am more articulate and knowledgeable than most kids currently in university that I speak with. Why is that? despite all the easy access to information they have with the internet today that we didn’t have. That just shows you all they do with these technologies is play and debase their minds with nonsense not learn.

Mind you I am just in my mid 30’s, not that old and I can already see the vast decline in the quality of youth we are producing today compared to my university days.

crackhaus:

No matter how you look at it, they had it so much better... Waayyy better.
Nothing depressing about it.

Yes they lived through the military era and saw firsthand what that was like, but it was still a better deal than what we have now.

Nigeria/Nigerians didn't have such a bad rep in the eyes of the world back then.

And who told you there were no jobs?

Just having a university degree guaranteed you a job without the need for man-know-man or bribing your way into federal agencies.
My dad with his University of Ibadan 2'2 degree didn't stay without work for up to 3 months after serving – got a really good job for that matter.

Nigerians could travel easier back then and even though the standard of living wasn't all that high, things were affordable in comparison.
Today, the standard of living is low (even lower if we're being honest), yet commodities aren't that affordable.

The internet age, satellite TV, and advent of mobile devices which ushered in the era of remote jobs and internet-based sources of income, also came with the introduction of make-believe lifestyles from watching reality shows like MTV cribs, KUWTK, etc...
Young Nigerians became obsessed with living wealthy lifestyles and acquiring expensive things (even when unnecessary).

Please there's no comparison to be made...

Older Nigerians definitely had a much better Nigeria than we do now. It wasn't heaven then, but it still wasn't as hellish as it is now.
People actually lived in Nigeria back then, but what people are doing now is surviving – there's a big difference.

I can't even take my car to a random mechanic to fix for me because they will bill me like a yahoo boy.
Internet fraudsters who don't mind paying whatever price they're told to pay for anything, have succeeded in contributing to inflation.

All those overpriced estates in places like Lekki built on top of reclaimed land that is just hoping/praying the sea doesn't develop mood swing, do you think if they were not seeing people to buy them, they won't drop the prices?

My brother, the overall mentality of Nigerians is very different now from what it was then.

Although it's not that the country was European-standard for older Nigerians back in the day, but contentment seemed to be more prevalent as people were okay with just having the basics/having just what was necessary.

I have a lot more I could type on this topic, but I've exceeded my social media allocated time for today.

Bagehot:


I grew up under millitary rule, and trust me, Nigerians have it much better now. Economically, job opportunities were far and few between - and there certainly was still a lot of man know man. There was a lot of insecurity and (non-political) assassinations were rampant. Social mobility was pretty difficult. The government frequently sponsored cultists to kill and maim student activists on campus. Random people were disappeared, and we couldn't mention Abacha's name out loud on our own front porch. Covol Servants earned bloody peanuts, and we all stood in long queues at NITEL to make phonecalls.

Nigeria's name was bad even back then: the country was a transit hub for drug smuggling (aided by the millitary regime) - google Gloria Okon. If you think Yahoo boys are new, then clearly you are too young to remember the glory days of Goddy Anabor, Anajemba, Ade Bendel etc.