₦airaland Forum

EgunMogaji2:
Deep.

I saw a construction thread of yours. I can only imagine the amount of sweat saliva equity that went into achieving your results with the clean finishing , sharp lines, etc. People pay a lot of premium for supervision to achieve results like that with their homes and sometimes, those premiums are still not enough. You must have spent a lot of man hours micro managing to get your results.

Bright, airy home, lots of windows and light plus the white paint looks good. Congratulations!

MulticolourDeco:
The Dos and Don'ts of Decorating a Kids Bedroom

I love Beautiful Kids Room Decorations. I have seen so many themes, colours and designs and I am always amazed even being an Interior Decorator. Some of them just simply takes your breath away.


Let's talk about amazing Bed designs. I have seen so many amazing bed design structures made to work incredibly well with the kids bedroom theme. Some with some fascinating shapes made to look like objects e.g airplanes, baskets, Canoe etc. They all look gorgeous.

Children's Bedrooms Designs has really evolved. Princes and princesses themed are so not the in-thing anymore. It's now more of cartoon character, kids interests and kids wishes. I have seen kids rooms with Space Themes, Alien Themes, Animal kingdom themes even Dinosaurs. Some are like scientist and love their room designed thus. Also seen kids rooms made to look like a gardens, Incredible designs.

Kid's Room shelving is one of the most planned structure in Interior Designing. Designing kids room to follow all safety protocols are paramount. Aside for safety reasons, they are made to serve all required purposes. Studying, playing, sorting, sleeping, resting etc are few of the things to put in mind when designing a kids room. An atmosphere where a kid feels safe is important. Continue reading on https://kemimulticolour..com/2022/01/kids-rooms-decoration-dos-and-donts.html?m=1

I am curious, what would you say to people who say paying an interior designer is an unnecessary expense? How do you convince them? Why should someone spend the extra money if they could just do things themselves? I have an appreciation for interior designers, I’m not trying to discourage you nor knock your hustle. I see how the market has really taken off, especially in high end luxury homes. I’m just trying to get you to explain why your services should be part of a middle class home owner’s budget? Why should this be considered a reasonable expense? Who knows, maybe your explanation could stimulate someone’s interest in the service.

Born2conquer:
A quick question Ma, how do you navigate the stock market because it seems that field is not for the faint hearted.

2021 was bad and extremely bad for stock holders with most stocks falling as low as 75% from their ATH, I bought JMIA at around $50 and same Jmia is $9, several other tech/health related stocks, so how do one navigate the stock market to maximize profit and also minimize losses because it's been hell since 2020.

2) I believe in one way or the other, we all have something to contribute to Nigeria development which involves but not limited to REAL ESTATE and good houses to encourage development, if people in diaspora refuse to invest back home by building quality houses in their villages, local governments and states, how will most of these places develop? Reason why SOUTH WEST have been tagged the brown roof region.




Even if we attain other countries citizenship, we will always remain A NIGERIAN.

1) When it comes to the stock market, I watch and listen to those names that have been exceedingly successful at it and I learn from them. I’m not one to give stock tips because I do not consider myself to be an expert plus I would hate to be accused of trying to sell something. I will however, say that greed and fear are 2 of the greatest problems when it comes to the stock market. As I said in my write up, compound growth is one of the big drivers as is time so a short term horizon like a year would be challenging.

2) Oga, you make it sound like people abroad are the ones driving Naija’s construction industry Well, I cannot say for sure but I think it’s mainly those resident in Naija and I would think that the construction business would still survive even without those abroad. I can be quite hard nosed when it comes to personal finance, I leave limited room for sentiments after all, the same polithiefians that raped and still raping the country are the ones pouring money into Dubai real estate. Nigeria needs nothing from me when it comes to real estate development.

As for other people’s posts about real estate being the greatest and all that for wealth creation: First, I don’t argue about how to make money, I consider that to be extremely tacky behaviour so each adult is welcome to embrace what they understand. My write up was specific to Nigerians that think they can’t save money abroad and I gave an example of an everyday couple to show that it can be done, just so happens their vehicle is not real estate. I made several points and I am confident that some people found benefit in some or all. Safe to say that I don’t shy away from controversial view points, I might be back with another one tomorrow LOL. In relation to the real estate issue, I won’t re-hash what I already wrote but I will lay emphasis on certain words in the write-up:

Nigerians abroad
Savings
Exchange rate
Inflation

A reminder that the same USD/Euro/GBP etc exchange rate that floods your account with naira is the same magic that erodes the value of your Naija assets when denominated in the international currencies with which you pay your bills and save in the abroad you live in. If you are a Nigerian living in Nigeria, I don’t think that would be a problem. If you are resident abroad, then the opportunity cost is in full play if those Nigerian assets are not keeping up.

When I wrote a year ago, the USD/NGN rate was about 460. Last I heard in Dec /2021, it was 570. That is a 24% deterioration in less than a year. The current hyper inflation rate in Naija is also significant and not to be compared with the current rates we are seeing in western countries.

In the past, only Naija’s polithiefians and the ultra wealthy saved their money in foreign currency. The middle class just bought as needed for vacations abroad or to pay their children’s school fees. Today, the middle class are converting any idle cash to foreign currency savings because there’s no confidence in the naira. That should tell us something. As someone living abroad, it’s important to me that I create value in a stable currency. I believe in miracles and I know Naija can be good again, I just have no confidence in the timeline. It’s good to make money but perhaps even more important is the preservation and real growth in the value of that money.

Continued in March, 2021. . . .

- Avoid unnecessary debt, run from it. The only good debts are mortgage, student loans and “affordable vehicle debt.” A lot of financial experts would argue against any form of vehicle debt but I’m partial to it. Credit card debt, credit card cash advances, payday loan debts, should be avoided. These kinds of debts have the worst interest rates. Pay day loans are those you take in advance of your next pay day which means the debtor is constantly behind, always a pa day loan waiting to be paid with the next pay cheque. Every $ going to pay debt is a dollar that cannot be saved or used for better things. Some spend hundreds and even thousands a month on debt, that’s major leakage right there.

- For couples, an inability to work together for unified financial goals. This is where whom you marry comes in, the ability to trust another with yours and your family’s finances. The bible says “two are better than one.” Even if only one person is working, having partners that are in tune with each other’s financial goals is important. Planning together goes further. Usually, one person is better at the financial management than the other. Whichever person is better at it should handle it, husband or wife, doesn’t matter. The non active participant should have a basic understanding of what’s being done so they are carried along. Financial goals includes adequate term life insurance so that the family will not suffer should a partner pass away.

- Fraternize with people that are doing/have done what you aspire to. If you spend all your time associating with people who say it’s impossible to save or get ahead, it’s tougher to have a different mindset. They will draw you into dead end jobs that will prevent you from developing yourself into more skilled, better paying employment.

-With savings, start early because part of investment returns is the advantage of compounding and over time, that compounding can do wonders. Have compartments for savings, long term and short term savings.

- Budget! Budget! Budget! Know what’s coming in and out and when. It doesn’t have to be complicated. The family budget is on a notepad on my phone. I know however much is coming on each payday and I allocate in advance to different areas. At any given time, I’ll have the current month’s budget + at least the next 3 months. A budget does not have to be rigid but it should be adhered to most of the time. Sometimes, you’ll blow the budget and there will be little or no savings. That’s human, it happens but it should not be the norm.

-Unwillingness to change locations. In the US, there are over 50 states. In the UK, between Britain, Scotland and Ireland; there are several cities. Sometimes, all it takes is moving for a better job that can make savings happen. I always say if you could move thousands of miles away from your homeland, what is stopping you from moving to another city when you move abroad? In downtown NY, you’ll find so many of our brothers, Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, wearing polo T-shirt uniforms of sightseeing tour companies. They are there soliciting tourists on the streets to sign up for bus tours. Frankly, it’s an agbero job, more or less. I hear it’s not a high paying job but it’s very physically taxing. I’m not knocking anyone’s hustle, what I’m saying is work smart. Some have been at this employment for decades. The trouble is living in New York is not cheap so a low paying job doesn’t get you far. Same with LA. A low paying job is fine for a little while maybe when you’re new in the country and still trying to settle but you can’t afford to make a career of it. I should add that all these things I’m saying relate to legal immigrants/residents because not having papers and the freedom that comes with papers can condemn a person to a lifetime of menial, dead end jobs. You constantly struggle to make ends meet so saving is not a consideration.

-The owambe lifestyle aka ariya olopin aka party no dey finish. Sure, a person could commit to a life of partying but you can’t turn around to say you can’t save. You buy aso ebi at inflated costs, you pay tailor to sew, you spray celebrant(s) and musician. At the end, one party costs hundreds of dollars. Parties are fine, it’s a lifestyle of it that robs a person of the ability to save.

-Constant “loud” unaffordable trips back home to show you’ve arrived. It’s one thing to go visit family and manage yourself. It’s another thing to borrow money (usually credit cards) at exorbitant rates to go show off and pop champagne in the club so people know you are living the good life. Once you take showing off out of your vocabulary, it’s a lot easier to save because you’re only taking trips you can afford.

- Baby daddy lifestyle. This one can be very very expensive. In general (there are exceptions), if you impregnate a woman and you are not married or common law, you are liable for child support payments. The authorities set the amount and each jurisdiction has their way of forcing you to pay if you are recalcitrant. Depending on the baby daddy’s income, child support payments can be financially crippling. Multiply that by a couple of baby mamas and a Naija man would not “ko ere oko de le” return home with an harvest.

Alhaji, this is the write up I mentioned, Sir. It’s my musings . This post is from February, 2021. I have modified slightly to remove any personal reference to my person.

Cc Mufutau55
Abolarin91

There are Naija born USD-millionaire, first generation immigrant families. Not physicians, just regular people, professionals who live below their means, pay themselves first, and don’t jump to get rich quick schemes. Rome was not built in a day and don’t I know it but you get to a point and you really start seeing the possibilities. Every little 10% growth is suddenly a big deal. Of course, stock markets fluctuate so it’s not all rosy but if you’re invested for the long term in securities that have time-tested proven returns, the sky is the limit.

Automatic payroll deductions, whether pre tax or after tax, have given the world an excellent resource when it comes to saving money. If your employer matches your contribution, make sure you are contributing enough to at least get that match. That 50% or 100% match is a freeee return on your contribution. I think it was Rockefeller that said he tithed 10% then saved 10% and that contributed to his wealth. 10% savings is great, more is even better if possible.

People in the diaspora get a bad rap, all you hear about is living pay cheque to pay cheque and nothing in the bank. Ogbeni, speak for yasef! Because you see people not making mouth, you assume they don’t have. One of our Naija family friends have over a million dollars in readily accessible, stock market assets with zero leverage and they have no debt. Fun fact - they are renters, no mortgage. They have 2 cars, one luxury SUV and the other is an entry level sedan. Simple, nice people who rent nice homes. No airs, dress well, eat well, exercise regularly. Both are professionals but it’s not like they are making a million dollars a year. Very, very savvy stock market investors. The wife once gave me an investment tip that’s really not rocket science so I know they’re not invested in fly by night fads or anything funky. The tip made sense and it’s obviously worked for them but I got with Suze and Warren in my 20s so I’m not about to change what I’ve been doing.

Some of the factors that prevent wealth accumulation for Naijans living abroad:

- Laziness, free stuff, whether it be subsidized housing, plenty government money for children, etc. Most of these awoof are tied to income level. It’s literally more beneficial for some people not to work at all or work little so that they can get all these benefits. So, instead of going back to school or re-training, they stop at “soft work” that pay the minimum. It’s tougher to save when you’re not earning at your optimum potential.

-Unwillingness to integrate/adapt to their new environment. This comes in different forms. The common one is “business” back in Naija. The biggest problem I have with this is the unreliability of the naira. The exchange rate is unpredictable so it turns into a gambling game. You make #xxxx and you know how much it’s going to be in USD when you convert it. What you don’t foresee is an upheaval that causes USD to go from #365 to #460. If it’s money that does not need to be repatriated abroad, not so bad and we have such an investment for Naija outlays but it’s tougher to plan on that to build wealth in the US. Now, if you could bill and collect in foreign currency, that’s a different ball game.

- Get rich quick schemes. Awoof must run belle, no be lie. Contentment is a major character strength here. There’s no free money anywhere. Even if it looks free and you grab onto it, greed sets in and eventually, all is lost. Majority of wealthy people didn’t get rich instantly, it’s a process. I’m not talking about here today, gone tomorrow wealth like yahoo yahoo money. Most of these quick schemes have elements of fraud because someone, somewhere is going to lose or suffer. The bible says we reap what we sow. Within this segment is jumping to fads. Today it’s MMM, tomorrow it’s another fad scheme, wasting and losing money as the years go by.

- Living above your means, keeping up with the Joneses as if everyone’s script is the same. Every person has their own path but sometimes we are derailed because we are trying to impress others. You don’t go and buy a Chanel bag because someone else has it. You wait till you can comfortably afford it. You don’t go pick up a Range Rover because that person in church drives one. You don’t put your kids in schools you can’t afford just to feel among. How about having your wife not work because Chukwudi’s wife does not work as per big man wife; forgetting that Chukwudi is earning more than enough to pay his family’s bills but you and your wife’s incomes combined can’t keep up with your bills.

- Over-dependence on real estate assets, especially in Nigeria. The 2008 recession showed us that real estate does lose value after all and since that period, we’ve seen re-occurrences. Maybe not in Naija but with the rate of inflation in that country, you have to use a calculator to check if there are actual gains or you are just trying to keep up with inflation. From experience, I know that owning real estate in a place like Nigeria only makes sense if you are making correct money from that building. Not the one that you’ll spend millions building a home and be collecting 250k rent, mbanu!

- Building a house in the village. You’ll see someone living in a tight apartment abroad, building mansion in the village. A house he can’t retire to for decades to come and which would generate zero rent in that location. To me, it doesn’t make sense. Growing up, you travel to the hometown a few times a year. The first 2 days of arrival, all you do is clean up the family house and battle dust just so you can spend 5 days and then back to Lagos again. Next time, you repeat the same thing so I knew early on that there was no sense to that. I realize that for some, it’s a tribal sentiment of wanting a home in the village, I’m just doing me. I’m willing to sleep at a hotel and my waka no dey too far from Lagos. Even if I were to spend a month in the hometown, building would still be a bad financial move. I only support builds in locations that give you good rental income.

- Unnecessary sentimental attachment to personal finance planning. I use my head when it comes to money. I don’t jump into something because one relative or close friend says it’s a great idea and it’s working for them. Not all things work for all people. I have a particular dislike of ponzi schemes and I’m averse to anything involving sales pitches. I’m a salary earner and happy with that. Some people allow themselves to be led into schemes that run them into trouble, using the little money they have to “buy products” they can’t sell. I don’t mix money and friendship and I don’t do personal loans, I’m not a bank. Instead of loaning, I prefer to give what I do not need back.

- If you want you help someone, teach them to fish. Putting an adult back home that is not a parent on a regular allowance is not the best. Occasional support is fine but when it turns into a regular thing, not so good. Better to save up those regular allowances and see if the person has any acumen to set up a long term venture to supply their needs. Of course, the problem is most people do not have what it takes to run a business so if you just dash somebody money for business, they end up just spending it on recurrent expenses. A person funding a household in Naija concurrent with their own family expenses abroad is likely to run into trouble. Sure, the forex rate creates a windfall in naira but that money could be invested here for the future and grow in USD. Plus, you earn USD but your expenses are also in USD. It’s not like you pay bills in naira here.

- Apathy towards structures like a tax system that makes you contribute what you earn towards the development of society and others. Paying tax is not a bad thing. It’s what makes it possible to enjoy a lot of the things we enjoy. A lot of people prefer under the table, lower paying work so they can hide their actual earnings and save the pittance they would have paid in taxes. Some just plain under report their earnings but they are doing themselves. Even the bible says give Ceaser what belongs to Ceaser.

-Apathy towards charitable contributions in Oyinbo society. I have heard of people who pay tithes to their Naija pastors back home but won’t contribute a penny to the coffers of their regular Sunday church here. Even to give used stuff or money in Oyinbo society is strange to them. I say, do both. If you are living a comfortable life courtesy of this society, try to give back. Donate to food banks, poverty alleviation organizations, youth organizations, research programs, etc. It doesn’t have to be a million dollars. Don’t forget to give back to the land where God has blessed you.

- Disrespecting money, a popular pastime for a lot of people because it’s “posing.” Even people that work for their money want to spend it like yahoo boys. “I get am before “ no be moni. Respect the money you earn, think before spending. No shame in thinking before you spend, no shame in making sure the expense is affordable first. Always do you. . . . . . to be continued.
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EgunMogaji2:
My first born. Full ride at Stanford.

Definitely didn’t get the brains from me but like you said I slaved to provide the enabling environment.

So doings full dis thread like dis

These posts give me great joy. We immigrants sacrifice when we leave the known, the familiar, to another land. So, if a person has children, the greatest gift is to see those kids do well and make us proud. That is when it all truly comes together.

You should hear me cheering loudly anytime I’m at a convocation/graduation. Irrespective of the education level and whether or not I know the child; when I hear a Naija name, I am screaming because I know what it takes to raise these kids right.

Well done, Sir!

kopell:
2 Graduate from Columbia 4 years, 2 more to go @ NYU. Not easy Alhamdulilahi we thank God so far for the journey.

Se NYU wa keere ni? I get excited when I hear/see kids of Nigerian immigrants doing well because that is proof of what our people can achieve, given the right environment. Plus you know you will never have to chase or beg anyone to give your child admission or a job or any other advantage.

America rewards talent and all we need to do is set them on the right path to eat the good of the land.

sonnie10:
Daddy’s girl got this in the mail last week.
All I said was, “you are truly dads girl,. No noise just “show your work.”
MSc. Computer Engineering loading.
Doings!

LOUD IT!!!!!!!
Awon omo ire bi custard

#Naijagirlskillingit

Yesterday, someone mentioned that 4 of his kids graduated from an Ivy League, Columbia university and there are 2 others currently in university? At the minimum, assuming the remaining 2 are not in an Ivy League, that is 67% of your kids attending one of America’s topmost universities.

It was a post I read fleetingly as I was in and out of the thread, replying to mentions and I didn’t get a chance to respond to it. Well, better late than never. I thought it was Kopell but I checked his post history and apparently not. To that gentleman, my arms are raised, I hail you, I give honour to whom is due. In my neck of the woods, those are the kinda things we recognize as “doings.” Awon omo ire bi custard, wonderful kids like custard that make your head swell. Those are the kinds of achievements that impress me, that I seek - kids that make their parents proud and make a difference in their generation. Whoever that Oga is, your feat is marvellous in my sight. You are doing extremely well

Some would say shebi it’s the kids that had the intellect to attend and graduate an Ivy League school but I say to parents: Never underestimate the power of the upbringing, the motivation, the direction that you give your children and the conditions you create to help them succeed. May our offspring make us proud, may we have the resources to help them achieve their purpose. Well done, Sir!

mufutau55:
Thank you Ma'am, I will surely like to read that.
I can surely relate to everything you have written from the experience of being un USA for many decades.
After more than 40 years of service, I just fully retired, so I have been thru some good and bad times. Thank you.

Hajji M.

Alright Sir, I will find the posts and paste here.

Congratulations on your retirement, may you enjoy it in an abundance of good health with peace of mind. I can only imagine the stories you could tell after more than 4 decades.

somehow:
Unfortunately, you're not communicating with this mindset.
Share your view, no need thinking other's views are wrong.

There are 2 or more sides to all issues or you don't think so?

No one said everyone made their monies illegitimately.

The point I want to believe some are pushing is that building to show that you have arrived or to pepper others is actually pushing those who never knew how you made your money into trying by any means possible to "outdo" you.

Build because you want to and because it gives you fulfillment, not because you wish to make others envy or worship you.

If you have actually made enough money legitimately, trust me, you don't even need to prove you have. The world will surely know.

There are people you haven't seen their homes but obviously have heard of them being rich and all that.

A successful man does not need to "pepper" anyone to prove that he's successful, it will naturally tell.

Thank you for spelling this out for him, I was not going to waste a single alphabet responding to him. They have started to add salt and pepper to my comments so that they can attack a narrative that I did not espouse. That was after trying to introduce tribal sentiments as if I did not mention the things my Yoruba people do.

michlins:
has it occurred to you that some people have done everything you listed here and still have insane amount of money left and they legitimately made it too. So they can afford to splurge it on mansions,cars or very expensive vacations.


We're all different people. We derive pleasure in different things. Your source of pleasure might sound stupid to me but it's your money and your choice. Same goes here too

Where did I imply or suggest that everyone that shares your mindset must be into illegitimacy? You should go back and read my first post on the topic.

You and your crew have repeatedly made it clear that peppering people is the driving intention, anything else is secondary to that. This is not even the first time I’ve seen your post where you said something similar.

We both know our mindsets are worlds apart. Your comments about the female child, of which I am one, makes that double glaring. Here’s a piece of advice - you do you and I will do me. I don’t recall trying to convince you not to build the tallest house in the village so go right ahead while I make my own comments. No need to be triggered

michlins:
I'm sorry if I sounded disrespectful and commanding. I just want to pick your brain as you have displayed you have wealth of knowledge to share

First, I’ll tell you the reasons for which I do not work:

I do not work to impress anyone
I do not work to compete with or rival anyone
I do not work to pepper anyone
Let’s just say I do not work to keep up with the Joneses and in fact, I have no Joneses in my life
I derive no pleasure in publicity that stems from anything I own or do
I am not comfortable with anyone feeling I am more than them or better just because of economic disparities


I work because God has blessed me with the physical and mental resources to be able to do my job
I work so that I can do my quota by paying tax to support the social welfare system that takes care of the have nots in the society and keeps our social infrastructure going
I work because we have achieved success in raising kids with the right moral values, kids not consumed with the idea of money, kids I can trust to be prudent with their inheritance
I work so that I can have enough for my needs and desires and have excess to be generous towards others, to be the reason why someone still believes in miracles
I work so that I can support my husband to create the utmost financial comfort for our family
I work so that I will not be dependent on anyone in my old age
I work so that our children will never have to worry about money
I work so that our kids do not lack and so that we can give them an even better life than we had
I work so that we can donate money to social causes like cancer research
I work so that I can buy any comfort I desire and splurge on overpriced luxuries when my husband agrees
I work so that I can pay a tithe to further the work of God’s church
I work so that I can invest to show our kids that in the end, it’s not how much you make, it’s how much you save
I work so that I can show my kids that honest labor can lead to rewards beyond the imagination and there’s never a reason to steal or cheat to make headway.

I’ll stop here but I will say that I’m not a typical Naija woman and my value system reflects that. I am not mother Teresa, I am not an angel but I am a simple person with simple convictions . You’ll see that most of the lines are inter-twinned.

sonnie10:
One prayer point of every Igbo family is for God never to never allow any woman that would discourage their sons from building a befitting house in village in their life. That prayer is still being said even till as we are talking.

I can only speak for myself and how I have planned to live my life. Upbringing has little or nothing to do with pursuit of personal happiness. Your premise is that impoverished background is the reason why people do some of the these things, and that is wrong. I for one is an exception.
My parents did extremely well in their days. As a matter of fact I went to the most expensive school in the whole SE /SS Nigeria and so did my other siblings. I was chauffeured to school everyday in Citroen.

Someday I will post the picture of the whole compound where I am building, a mix of old and contemporary mansions is one evidence of family past and present position.

Beside my mansion are two others my brother's and my dads. My brother mansion in the village did not stop him from completing his 32 units of flats last year ( Onye buru ebu, ebu go). If I mention his companies name here, my identity would be revealed because its a household name

In terms of cheap housing in the US, in planned communities there is hardly any relatively cheap single family houses among other big mansions in those specified neighborhood

When family people with kids buy cheap houses, they later find out that the school system in those area are bad, they now turn to expensive private schools. At the end, school fees alone for two kids would have been enough to pay for mansion somewhere with good free school system. I call it deceiving oneself not prudence or maybe ignorance.

We can never agree on this issue, I am Igbo, male.

LOL your first paragraph is the one that interests me. Incidentally, the prayer of every female like me, born into a household where we are treasured and respected and elevated like our male siblings, raised strong and proud, is that we never end up with domineering, controlling men who are close minded and irrevocably stuck in traditions that dictate they must impress all and sundry and who would never listen to the counsel of their female partners.

This is the prayer I pray for my nieces.

michlins:
why do you work hard. Sum it up in two sentences or maximum of four

When you’ve learnt to make requests in a polite manner, I might respond.
I don’t respond to commands. Good breeding/manners matters

mufutau55:
This my Mama need to write book o. You have covered a lot of avenues on this wrte-up. Very useful information that most of our people are not aware of, or may be that they dont want to accept.
Thank you for this write-up, "you are on the money".

Hajji M.

Eseun Sir!

I did a write up somewhere else a couple of months ago about some of the reasons why Nigerians struggle abroad when they shouldn’t . Maybe I’ll post it here so that our youth can “gb’ori duro” learn a few things. Rome was not built in a day, honest wealth acquisition takes time.

cayorday89:
Comments like this makes me to feel that I am on the right path, results might not be visible now, (not that I mind though, I have lived a low key life that my poor moments and my okay moments in terms of finance cannot be differentiated from my every day life) but I sure know I will get there. And I was enjoying this beautiful piece until I saw my name coming first as a bad example. It pain me oooo, as I have met few Kayodes who are humble and hardworking as I am.

LOL Kayode, sorry your name came first. I can testify that if you focus on honest labor, save and invest your money, run your race, be generous, don’t try to keep up with the Joneses, you are going to wake up one day and realize that you have achieved beyond what you can imagine. The way God will bless you will leave you in amazement. Not just money but your children, your career, your investments. Everything takes time but it’s time well spent.

sonnie10:
99% of Nigerians in US are working hard for their money. Most have family of 4-5 (parents and children) and earning about $100k a year between both parents. Most are nurses (wife) and husband in the same level of pay. If they live a modest life, total monthly expenses would not exceed $5-6k a month. Whatever is left can build any mansion in Nigeria if self supervised under 1-2 years.

They do not need to work 2-3 jobs
The do not need to go into any shaddy thing
They do not need to max credit card
The do not need to change cars every years
They have brains to manage their own finances.

First of all, I made a distinction between the ones that are criminals and the ones that are not criminals so no point saying “no need to go into any shady thing” since that does not apply to the group whose net worth/ debt profile I highlighted and whom I assume are your reference point for this post?

I’m not sure where your statistics are coming from re 99%, nurses, $100k household income , same level of pay, etc. I can speak for my family and my Nigerian social circle and all of what you’ve stated here is inaccurate.

There’s only one nurse in my Nigerian social circle
My husband earns significantly more than I do so our pay levels are not even close
Our monthly expenses exceed $6k per month
Household income is significantly more than what you’ve stated, etc. so you see why you can’t just generalize.

With that said, I am quite aware of households making less and more than your stated $100k a year who are maxed out on their credit cards even with side hustles (2nd, 3rd jobs), paying monthly leases running into thousands of dollars for multiple luxury vehicles, white elephant building projects in Naija that they are constantly struggling to fund, buying the biggest houses in the most affluent neighborhoods etc. You and I know you can live in a nice neighborhood with a good school district without buying the most expensive house there that makes mortgage payments an uphill battle every month.

You may not necessarily like with what I said but it’s a fact. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in my decades abroad, it is that background plays a major role. We are products of our upbringing, our experiences. Some people grew up in lack and/or members of the oppressed group, economically disadvantaged. Many spend the rest of their lives trying to prove that they are good enough, they have arrived and no matter their achievements, they can never move beyond the mindset of trying to impress those that considered them “less than.” Yorubas have a term “oju o ri ola ri” eyes that have never seen wealth. This is the set of people that commonly “do more than themselves” at home and abroad. They’re constantly boasting that they’ll do things they cannot do because the compulsion to show off is overriding, even when those around them know they are lying.

There is no way you and I would ever see eye to eye on this issue because we come from different ends. I did say my opinion would be unpopular but it’s still mine, no apologies You are entitled to yours too. I said what I said!

kopell:
Gbosa LBT, sister you to much, facts remains same oooo. It looks like people are competing with themselves in our society showing off wealth without sweat, that's what's driving criminality on social media especially between the youth, may the lord help us out of this calamity.

Social media has completely elevated and enthroned the nonsense because now anyone can find a pic from anywhere to show off what they own or do not own to pepper others. Plus majority no longer care where the money comes from.

money121:
Hello mama

https://www.nairaland.com/1173970/scam-alert-omowunmi-allen-pre-order/86

The reason why i need your assistance
This person accussed on this thread scammed me imon 2m+
Since last yr all attempt to get my money void
So today when i went thru the name she use to send fund to me last
I notice she's a fraudster and av been called out on nairaland
So ma how can you assist me here

Attached is my last chat with her b4 she blocked me

+1 (614) 556-8548 her whatsapp number

Hi money121,

I vaguely recall something about this woman from many years ago but I think it was in relation to the Siena moniker from the auto section and also, something about her selling lands in the Ajah/Lekki area.

I’m really sorry, I don’t know how to help in this case other than the legal route someone suggested on the off topic thread.

Awon apanilekunjaiye

money121:
Hello mama
Please do you saw my Post

Sorry, not yet. I will check.

PSA

If you choose to move and live abroad and raise your kids there, know that your children would consider themselves to be American/British/Finnish/Australian, etc first before Nigerian. The sooner we accept this, the better - I learnt that from experience. These kids are a different generation, being raised in a different world. Do not expect them to be accommodating/tolerant of the Naija of today.

michlins:
here's the thing. We're Igbo people. Our children will always return home and will try to outbuild us. I have been to many people homes from this thread, you will put a respect to their name.

If I get money today, I will build a modest bungalow for old age but you see MANSION, I must build it. It can waste after I die for all I care. But I must have it to my name. You see red cap and chieftaincy title,it must be added to my name. Have you listened to any osadebe or Oliver decoque? Someone is called

"Mkpuogiriga 1 na umuoji". This person can't stand up in his community and you make noise. At the end of it all,all these are the reason we work hard to make money. Many people have enough money to live modestly till they die but they went that extra mile to become wealthy. It might sound vain but then, everything else in life is vain

No, reason why “you “ work hard. A lot of people have moved on from the mindset that drives you. In the end, as long as your aspirations can be achieved through honest sweat. It is dishonest sweat that adds sorrow during a person’s lifetime.

Unpopular opinion (?):

These unhealthy rivalries, ego drives and need to show off are some of the major causes of the current state of our morals as a nation and it is not restricted to the people of the SE alone. I can’t speak for the north because I don’t know enough northerners to make a judgment but these mindsets permeate the whole of southern Nigeria from the Yorubas of the SW, all across our country’s southern regions. Please note the use of the word “average “ in my write up below, I’d hate to see any hasty responses that ignored that qualifier.

These “ideologies “ are one of the reasons overseas prisons, from Asia to Europe to the USA are flooded with Kayodes, Nosas, Emekas and all manner of southerners. The journey to riches at all costs with no boundaries. The average southerner desires wealth , first and foremost to prove that they have arrived. Personal utility/benefit of the riches is secondary. Part of human development is mental development. I’m old fashioned myself in a lot of ways but when it comes to finance, I allow little room for sentiments. Speaking to the SE aspirations already mentioned by several people, it’s interesting that we have a number of Igbo friends, professionals with good jobs, great incomes with the financial resources to build mansions in the village yet have no desire to do such but are content with donating money to fund infrastructure that benefit the villagers. I will admit the ones we are close with were largely born and bred in Lagos so maybe that’s the difference in thinking. It’s easier to embrace certain ideologies in adulthood if they were already instilled from birth if you were born in the region. You more or less grow up with people with the same mindsets and rub minds with them. Similar to the SW asoebi, owambe crew for whom life is “party after party.” If your social circle is filled with people of a certain mindset, chances are high that you would mirror their thinking and aspirations.

In the old days, it was possible to achieve certain inspirations without crime but in Naija of 2022 with an economy that is all but comatose at this point, a person would still be panting and sweating to build white elephant projects in a village of 1500 people or less while some other southerners just want the money so that they can throw multi million naira parties with KWAM1 and Sunny Ade on stage as they celebrate 10th, 20th, 50th death anniversaries of loved ones or so they can buy an AMG G63 they are not capable of maintaining or make it rain dorime at the clubs so they can be hailed. Is it any wonder our morals as a country is in the pits when we have high end desires that cannot be supported with economic realities? Realistically, what are the chances of the average person in these groups, in Nigeria, being able to achieve such misplaced priorities through honest labor with zero criminal acts? Again, I say average. I know there is a very tiny minority that is capable of achieving without resorting to crime.

Abroad, even if they are not into crime, they are leveraged (in debt) to their eyeballs. Credit cards are maxed out, multiple loans are being serviced, little or no savings compared to incomes earned. They even patronize pay day loan lenders that charge astronomical rates because they are living pay cheque to pay cheque. With a take home pay of USD10k or more after deductions, some cannot save USD1k a month and I’m not exaggerating. It’s called “doing pass yasef.” You no fit drink water drop cup. For some, that is all on top of working 2/3 jobs to make ends meet and complete the village white elephant project back home or fund the next owambe at Eko Hotels. Even in the abroad, they are the “house poor “ Nigerians with the biggest houses that are mortgaged to the hilt, occasionally even unable to make mortgage payments. Cars nko? Multiple leased luxury vehicles to keep up with the appearance of wealth even as they are voracious consumers of luxury brand knockoffs because they cannot afford the real thing but want to keep up appearances.

At Naija parties, they are the braggarts, always ready to make grandiose announcements that may not even be rooted in fact. Picture people like N3xt. With no prompting, they announce all these assets that they own, all these projects they are funding but they won’t say pim about their debts. Ladies and gentlemen, the koko is the net worth (assets-liabilities). That is the real wealth if you are looking to measure. Some of these people have declared personal bankruptcy one or more times in the US because their debt load became uncontrollable but their people in Naija have no idea.

I’m going to touch on the swimming pool idea that has become so popular now with detached homes. I can understand pools in apartment buildings that have the population and hopefully traffic and maintenance funds (service fees) to keep them viable but these tiny, soak away sized “swimming pools “ in detached homes are the ones that baffle. Note, I’m not talking about the ones you find in homes that have plenty land to accommodate beta pools. If you cannot afford enough land to accommodate the house and a proper-sized pool, why must you build a pool that is going to end up breeding mosquitoes and drowning lizards? To start with, it takes money to maintain those pools and that is on top of the house’s maintenance. Half the time, these pools are not even built to international standards but we like to copy international ideas. The average Nigerian’s idea of relaxing has nothing to do with wearing swimming trunks or being in a pool. It’s strictly isiewu/peppered snails/nkwobi/small chops, etc with alcohol but we build a pool as a status symbol even if it ends up in disrepair within a few months.

DUNKA:
We have long since moved from this stage of videos, pictures and moonlight stories. You had the opportunity to trash is privately with Somehow before we got to know there were issues. You had the chance to handover properly but you were more interested in engaging the qs and client here on Nairaland.

Go and tell these lies to the maga's on your Kobocity App/website we refuse to engage you and your falsehoods here as when you were chopping Somehow money did you do video of you chopping it.

E go red for you this year

It’s all he’s got! Unending stories, photos, and videos. Which builder has unlimited time for videos and even drone shots? All hours of the day and night, he’s prowling and posting on Nairaland with videos and pics. Build 2 coaches, take 10 photos! Which legitimate builder does that? Only Yahoo boys stay online 24 hours to ply their trade.

emmyN:
I can't speak for next. You both have been unable to properly come up with a concession on why the project was abandoned. For instance next cited that you did tiling of roof walls in September or so, something he wasn't contracted to do and was a prerequisite for installing roofing sheets. But when you came up initially to tell us project was abandoned since May 8, you didn't tell us these, and when he brought that to you here, you did not respond to it. Next's citations still did not add up to me though as there were too many gaps in dates unaccounted for. I can only judge from information willingly supplied by you both.

The QS; I wonder if you had contracted with him initially to be fully involved as your project manager that you had to take recommendations from him to terminate the contract. The QS was the right person to play mediatory role here since you consulted with him first when the fall-out started, but... At this point you were already agitated. Then came review of contract sum versus work done and agreement on an amount to refund. Since QS was involved in the initial bid selection, he should have been in better position to bring to figures a near accurate amount that was due. But his quote which was clearly overbloated from evidence supplied here had to be reviewed a number of times. It makes me question his competencies or if this was a deliberate sabotage. He was asked to show proof here but ignored.

These are bygones. What is important now is that you recover your money, and I hope your contractor comes up with it real quick.

Afterthought: You say you are willing to take 2M from the 2.45M quoted by QS. Now I wouldn't know why you easily conceded 450k, but next showed estimates here on how he feels he is only due for a little over a million. I notice you haven't really contested this yet. Why?

Look, if you’re going to attempt a defence of the indefensible, come correct! Like, put some effort into it no matter how dead on arrival.
Apart from the sum owed, the thing most of us will never forget is the #2MM quote vs #1.4MM signed contract and your friend’s attempt to re define the terms of that contract after collecting money! Who does that? A so called seasoned builder with over 10 years experience attempting to tell us that what the #1.4MM covered is subject to wide interpretation because it could be marble or not bla, bla, bla! Classic utterances of a shady businessman and not a particularly sophisticated one at that.

You did not notice that part of the exchange with the QS? Abi that is the language of honest businessmen in your neck of the woods? Sign contract, collect 100% disbursement and then months later, start to define what the disbursement covers? Na so dem dey do business?

Utterances like yours only prove that those providing cover for people like N3xt are not any more intelligent than the scammers themselves. Consider doing what his diehard supporters are doing - throw shade and move on , do not open your mouth to actually pen nonsense!

He says he only owes #1MM yet shingba e no get , a very common trait of people like him. If there’s any money in his account, it’s other people’s money, funds “in trust “ that he shouldn’t even touch. A decade of this enterprise with nothing to show for it save for his deteriorating Shagamu house with 10 year old photos he still shows in the new decade to deceive the unsuspecting . Even the business truck was a one hit wonder. Truck to which he dedicated several photo shoots no longer exists and was probably only leased temporarily. Kobo no dey pocket.

If crime paid he wouldn’t have crawled back to Nland after a 4 year absence to restart where he stopped! Hunger almost finished him while he was away from here. Do him a favour and help him pay back all monies owed. Don’t be like supporters of Oyinbogoju, Nairaland’s decorated child rapist who is serving 3 life sentences + 76 years in the US. Supporters that only make mouth and cannot put money down for their “innocent “ fraudulent buddies. As one gentleman already said, you supporters should put your money where your mouth is. Help him with cash too, it’s not by selective reading and comprehension or a display of gross ignorance or misinterpretation of civil and criminal law!

On a side note, for anyone who knew Oyinbogoju aka Adedoja Olaniyi Bah, who was once popular on Nairaland, his story is in the crime section. It reads like a novel and I daresay it’s interesting if you have the time. Yahoo boy deported from Japan to Nigeria for money laundering and sex crimes but still found his way to the US state of Georgia where he is currently locked up for life on a 12 count conviction, including rape and sodomy of a 13 year old Black girl.

That thread highlights how easily my people swallow packaging even without the criminals trying very hard. It’s a real eye-opener.
Spoiler alert **************






Oyinbogoju did it! He was duly prosecuted and convicted.

money121:
Ok ma,
But ma i want it to be private discussion
I don't know if we can chat thru Whatsapp ma

Sir, let’s chat here. No offence and no rudeness intended but I don’t share contacts with anyone on Nairaland so that’s why I would not be comfortable with WhatsApp . If not this thread, we can chat on a different thread.

STARKENNETH:
I THOUGHT YOU WERE DIFFERENT FROM MOST NIGERIANS,CAUSE YOU SAID YOU WERE TREATED THE SAME WAY AS ME,I THINK YOU WERE A STUDENT OR ASPIRANT LIKE ME,HOW COULD YOU INSULT SOMEONE TRYING TO HELP THE NEEDY WITH LITTLE E GET? EVEN IF HE SUSPECTS YOU,HE HAS EVERY REASON TO NA,AT LEAST SIR DAMILOLADUKE DIDN'T INSULT YOU WHEN ASKING FOR PROOF,I WAS BRUTALLY INSULTED BY A NAIRALANDER CALLING ME A LAZY SCAMMER PIG,I DIDN'T GO WILD AS YOU DID,CAUSE I KNOW GOD SEES US ALL,AND GOD KNOWS I'M NOT WHAT HE CLAIMED I AM,EVEN A NICE,CARING GOD FEARING WOMAN, MMOTIMO ,ONCE PROVED MY INNOCENCE.

I did not at any time prove yours or anyone’s innocence. I assisted you once, I know nothing about you beyond what is online

I am almost speechless and that’s not at all normal for me.
Gentlemen (no offence, no ladies spotted) of this thread, I say “well done.” You have done excellently. Wow! The outcry, the outrage, the indignation- all very loud as it should be.
For standing up and speaking, your labor, your sweat, your harvest will be blessed. Strangers will be good to you and your seed. People you have never met will rise up to do good for you and your offspring. Favor will find you and enrich you. Traps laid in your path by “packagers “ and the “yahoo nation “ will not ensnare you.
I am happy at what I’m seeing and reading. It’s about time!
Even his most ardent supporters are speaking out at last and calling a spade a spade. Truly impressive. What God cannot do does not exist!

God bless you merry gentlemen

We need an active moderator who knows how to deal with fraudsters, preferably diligent individuals like Tabbaz and Justwise. People that are regular on here and have zero tolerance for BS. The current moderator is completely ineffective and is not at all present. He is fully aware of brabus’ / N3xt’s/ brabusng’s escapades from the past and there’s no excuse for not saying a word or intervening in the current crisis. By multiple acts of omission, he has enabled N3xt’s “enterprise.” Nairaland is his personal hunting ground. He has tried severally yet failed to drive traffic to his kobocity website.

A stickied scammers list is imperative so that active and aspiring fraudsters in this section can be properly recognized and avoided.

Seun
Dominique
Lalasticlala
Mynd44

damiloladuke:
Do you mind dropping a little proof. Sorry i asked, we can't afford to give those who don't actually need the stipends

FYI - The person you quoted has multiple usernames and has been successfully asking for money on this site since at least 2019 however I cannot say whether or not he “actually needs the stipends.”
Adedeji1993
Brotesquex

Hi money121

I saw the email notification. We can talk here, I only use that account for Nland so I don’t check on it regularly.