₦airaland Forum

Only systems will help us defeat poverty as immigrants

As I conclude documenting my thoughts over the last few days, I find it imperative to reminisce about some of my experiences and the futility of wasted efforts especially in a wrong direction.

You know life is dispassionate – it lacks empathy and takes no prisoners. Earlier in the year I was stateside on business and my MIL passed. Few hours after the news, I had to jump on a quick call with a consultant. We needed to make some quick decisions on IP licencing and this call was me getting extra data to inform my decision to either licence our IP to a US business or not. This wasn’t just about lawyers, we had them, but I was the one to make the call. I knew what it had cost us, the future potential and all. The loss notwithstanding, life needed to continue.

What helped during this period was the presence of systems. Same day, my network was with my missus, bundled her to a family friend’s house and looked after her till I returned. They drove her all the way back home when I returned and all I did was say thanks. She had company all through that tough time, while I continued business. When the burial time came, it was another system that went overdrive ensuring everything went as planned.

I cannot forget years back when my missus was coming to the UK and a member of that network called to ask for her flight details. They paid for her flight and drove with me to the airport to pick her up. Picked her up, brought us to their house, fed her local food and drove us home. This is a professor – he is not jobless but understands the power of the system and network we have built.

Why this long narration? I have come to realise painfully that no one cares much about me than my network. What I have become and will be tomorrow is a function of my network. This network has allowed me to leverage their reputation in securing projects. They have provided jobs to members and friends of the network; they have provided me a platform to build and thrive.

This week we are hosting one of Nigeria’s erudite vice chancellors for a guest presentation here in the UK. This VC was responsible for positioning my academic journey. He introduced me to my PhD advisor. He published my first ever journal paper as an undergraduate! It is that system that he fed that is hosting him. I am happy to go round town carrying his bags and all – he understands the power of a network.

Earlier this year prior to signing a contract with a client, they setup a committee to review our costs. The wages we quoted according to the client were quite high. In their own words our lowest quoted rates were equal to salaries of permanent secretaries. Our accountant and I faced a panel of 5 to defend the high wages. We ended up convincing the panel that we had even taken a pay cut.

It was at this moment I realised something – what you think you are worth is useless. It is what your network or system is willing to pay that matters. I appraised different roles and priced the roles at competitive rates I determined was ideal. I determined that, not even the consultants. Because they were my network, I ensured they got the best. I defended their rates, stuck to my guns, brought in our accountant for extra measures and the deal was sealed.

I recall now reading Chinua Achebe’s book – There was a country – and somewhere he said something along these lines – we trusted the government with our future. It was the government that told us what to do. I have redesignated roles for staff simply because they asked for it. The business is a platform. My job is to position you as a valuable member of our network via that platform to be a high-flyer and take that and move upward.

It is that network that has made Nigerian immigrants lead processes to obtain certifications and authorisations for our business. You won’t find such opportunities elsewhere. In other businesses your role will mostly be support – the engine keeping the system functional. It is that network that has created upward mobility for our consultants. I have had the privilege of losing very qualified staff in our Nigeria business to bigger companies. Folks paying double our rate or even quadruple and for some in forex. Yes, it is painful to start recruiting replacements, but hey, I enjoy that. It means we have been able to equip people with skills and remuneration that make them attractive to serious businesses.

When we expend our energies in building businesses of others outside our network that see us as stats and numbers, we fail to grasp the knock-on effects long-term. First, we cannot compound wealth. Wealth compounds when folks can join efforts together over time. Nothing beats investing our prime ages on our own thing and as a group. Of course, as Nigerians, we have our own traits and attributes that are inimical to the success of such systems. However, we have no choice. We either change and realise that at some time in future, we become expendable, or we continue till we get laid off. The second thing is that we fail to realise that our future is insecure if our offsprings have no safe playing spaces. I have had members of my network reach out for employment/internship opportunities for their wards or relatives in our business area and it was all concluded on WhatsApp and on weekend.

Our kids will ask us hard questions and we will look like foolish people when tomorrow our failure to appreciate the need for an ecosystem of Nigerian owned and managed businesses results in lack of opportunities and career growth for them. How many of our kids will be able to access vocational training easily tomorrow especially in prime areas? How many of our kids will be able to access opportunities in AI, cybersecurity, research, etc if we don’t have businesses in our ecosystem offering that? Who do we think will offer employment to our kids that will enable them to thrive and lead successful and prosperous lives?

I am simply saying that it is us that will create the environment that will sustain us, enable us to thrive, support upward trajectory for us career-wise and guarantee the future of our race. Our race is endangered, and we do not know it. You think paying a mortgage or rent or being able to pay your fees is a problem now, wait till when you have worse problems and on a larger scale but only peculiar to us.

Today, we are like nomads moving from one city to city escaping expensive cities and looking for cheap cities with jobs (an irony indeed). Today, we are very much invested in care jobs, and we think it is for survival? Today, we are naturally seeing an increasing congregation of Nigerians up North in very poor cities with high crime rates. This is us, not yet our kids. What future then holds for these kids? Someone thinks when we work hard, we would be able to provide a secure future for our children. That they would grow up to be professionals. I look and laugh. Which ecosystem will allow them such? Many Nigerians are heading back home as universities lay off staff. Many businesses are cutting down employee numbers because they cannot sustain the cost of overseas staff and we don’t see a problem?

As I conclude I must reiterate that life has no emotions. The future of our race as Nigerian immigrants is bleak. We stand a chance only by thinking systems and the time to start is now. Please start something, anything, just start. It makes no sense for someone on PSW not to own a business – it cost £12. It makes no sense for dependant husband or wife not to own a business. Sell me puff puff using your business. Sell me your services using your business. Just start somewhere. I am not worried about our impending future collapse and recolonisation as a race, I am worried about the innocent children who will have no difference in life outcome when compared to their mates back in Nigeria.

Please note this is not a financial advice. This is just my experience and thoughts, and you should always seek professional advice.

Just to reiterate why we need to start and up our game.

jedisco:
Interesting read moreso given that this is from an independent government funded agency. It all fits into the BBC article on why every govt over the last 2 decades has been unable to cut migration despite promising to do so.

Who would have thought that migrants despite paying in much more take out much less. It is hard facts like this that the government have been aware of over time that makes them understand that though the average brit wants no/very low migration, they and the economy at large cannot afford it.

Funny thing is that the latest revelations are not being heavily highlighted or making it big in the media headlines cos it’s not what people like to hear.

Chukwuka16:
Just to reiterate why we need to start and up our game.

Been following your posts and I must admit you do make valid points but just like one of us here have said there are constraints which we can’t run away from but as people overcome these constraints or barriers am sure we will begin to see thriving businesses out there. Awareness like yours will surely help. I’ll suggest you keep on publishing articles on available sites or spaces or even a YouTube channel to articulate these thoughts. People will think or feel you’re not making any impact but I can tell you it does. Cheers.

Goke7:
Funny thing is that the latest revelations are not being heavily highlighted or making it big in the media headlines cos it’s not what people like to hear.

Exactly what I noticed. Imagine if it was the reverse or if there was a way to twist it out like when there was the media uproar of slow growth despite decent migration. It was funny how many jumped on the bandwagon to blame migrants (without asking what state the economy would have been in without no net migration) as if we are agro fertilisers for their economy.

lavida001:
Not when you don’t go behind your means and you pay back when it’s due.

I sha am not doing again.
I've seen people accumulate 15k in CC debt. Just 2 years in

Lexusgs430:
But tinubu's harsh economic policies and inability to control the economic activities, directly lead to the hardship majority are facing......😎

I would not completely absolve responsibilities, but people should also have children, they can fully cater for.......🚸

As the president of the country, he is responsible for everything. If that's the angle you are coming from, then he is responsible. That been said, no death would have happened if these events were properly organised and if the attendees were not unruly. Now I don't think the organisers needed Tinubu to organise it for them.

Viruses:
As the president of the country, he is responsible for everything. If that's the angle you are coming from, then he is responsible. That been said, no death would have happened if these events were properly organised and if the attendees were not unruly. Now I don't think the organisers needed Tinubu to organise it for them.

I have not said he is responsible for everything..... But,

His harsh economic policies, have sent many families "a begging"......

The organisers definitely cannot be exonerated.... Why would they announce on radio about free food for children, not organise a free ticketing system, put adequate crowd control in place........

Many of those that attended, could have feed their children(and can afford to), but the greedy nature in them, does not know when to say no...... Imagine the cost of transportation vs cost of free food.......

gtassure:
That guy writes like twitter influencer on crypto thread! Lol!

🤣🤣after all the preaching, to open group and put us through become waec 🤣🤣

rock86:
I sha am not doing again.
I've seen people accumulate 15k in CC debt. Just 2 years in

Those ones credit score go dey like 005

Lexusgs430:
I have not said he is responsible for everything..... But,

His harsh economic policies, have sent many families "a begging"......

The organisers definitely cannot be exonerated.... Why would they announce on radio about free food for children, not organise a free ticketing system, put adequate crowd control in place........

Many of those that attended, could have feed their children(and can afford to), but the greedy nature in them, does not know when to say no...... Imagine the cost of transportation vs cost of free food.......

They keep proving Lord Lugard right 🤣

Lexusgs430:
I have not said he is responsible for everything..... But,

His harsh economic policies, have sent many families "a begging"......

The organisers definitely cannot be exonerated.... Why would they announce on radio about free food for children, not organise a free ticketing system, put adequate crowd control in place........

Many of those that attended, could have feed their children(and can afford to), but the greedy nature in them, does not know when to say no...... Imagine the cost of transportation vs cost of free food.......

💯

If that happened here, the organisers would definitely be held responsible, especially for the tragic incident involving the children.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/22/us-news/suspect-accused-of-setting-nyc-subway-rider-on-fire-arrested/

Beyond shocking and sad. How can someone set a sleeping woman on fire and then sit and watch. Evil.

gtassure:
That guy writes like twitter influencer on crypto thread! Lol!

Big eloquent words with zero reality and pragmatism.

Exactly my thoughts when I read the write up.

jedisco:
Hehe.. crypto influencer don do do you something

He has some interesting views.. I'm keen to learn how to make the money he's mentioning.

I am speaking in this hallowed thread, standing on the honour of my house, if there is any heaven anywhere, those crypto influencers will not enter it!

lavida001:
🤣🤣after all the preaching, to open group and put us through become waec 🤣🤣

Do you mean to say "Wayec" Cha! There is god o!

gtassure:
Do you mean to say "Wayec" Cha! There is god o!

You having a laugh? WAEC is how it's spelt.
Not enough is being said about this longstanding institution.
>50yrs,I think.

gtassure:
Do you mean to say "Wayec" Cha! There is god o!

You having a laugh? WAEC is how it's spelt.
Not enough is being said about this longstanding institution.

>50yrs,I think of Waec and GCE

rock86:
Stay away from Credit card.

tell them ohhhhhh

LORETA:
Please I need clarification.
I opened my two uk bank app and got this notification.

UPDATE YOUR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
Our record shows u are a tax resident in nigeria.
Yes or No?

Guys I work offshore with nigeria company for 5 months where I pay tax to nigeria govt. (On sea)
I also pay tax in uk when i am off , because i work in uk for 2 or 3 months when I am off.i have my NI
.

Please what should be my reply

this might be correct but check well

Chukwuka16:
@jedisco, I do appreciate what you pose as a question. My write up seeks to address three issues – temporally document my mindset, encourage Nigerian immigrants who can to actually take entrepreneurship seriously and build an ecosystem on the one hand, and encourage Nigerian Youths to seek every legitimate means possible in both leaving Nigeria (especially to the top 20 cities worldwide within the next 24 months) and building skillsets that can be traded/useful to the ecosystem built by those before them, on the other hand.

I have seen students here in the UK on 20-hrs contract earn £400/day in consulting and move on to £600/day during their post study – they are under 30 and some have relocated out of the UK. I employed some of them. They could do that because two things worked – there was an ecosystem known to them, and they had skillsets that could be traded within that ecosystem.

So, what you pose as a question from my perspective is a symptom that clears off when the ecosystem is in place. I am thus advocating for Nigerian immigrants who can actually take steps in actioning this, take those steps and urgently. For the students, learn problem solving and be able to transfer your learning. When both parties play their game right, raising such funds to take bigger risks within those students is no longer an impossible feat.

Boss do you have a website for your business that I can lookup and see if there's any skill I have that I can offer?

rock86:
I sha am not doing again.
I've seen people accumulate 15k in CC debt. Just 2 years in

You don use cc orde food 🤣better start to dey cook

missjekyll:
You having a laugh? WAEC is how it's spelt.
Not enough is being said about this longstanding institution.

>50yrs,I think of Waec and GCE

Education in Nigeria need to be utterly overhauled. Imagine text books of 50 years ago is what student still use in primary and secondary schools even in some higher institutions, they have been using 1 syllabus for decades.

lavida001:
You don use cc orde food 🤣better start to dey cook

How u take know? U b winch?

Do you ever get tired of this country? This isn't life. Working all round to pay bills, no real connection except fake and superficial people.. No wonder people develop mental health issues. Which country can one go that gives a perfect blend of Naija vibes and Western sanity?

rock86:
Do you ever get tired of this country? This isn't life. Working all round to pay bills, no real connection except fake and superficial people.. No wonder people develop mental health issues. Which country can one go that gives a perfect blend of Naija vibes and Western sanity?

India

jedisco:
Interesting read moreso given that this is from an independent government funded agency. It all fits into the BBC article on why every govt over the last 2 decades has been unable to cut migration despite promising to do so.

Who would have thought that migrants despite paying in much more take out much less. It is hard facts like this that the government have been aware of over time that makes them understand that though the average brit wants no/very low migration, they and the economy at large cannot afford it.

The report kind of shows signs that the recent changes by Rishi will really cut down immigration in the next 5 years. Hopefully, that makes the anti-immigration gang happy.

jedisco:
Interesting read moreso given that this is from an independent government funded agency. It all fits into the BBC article on why every govt over the last 2 decades has been unable to cut migration despite promising to do so.

Who would have thought that migrants despite paying in much more take out much less. It is hard facts like this that the government have been aware of over time that makes them understand that though the average brit wants no/very low migration, they and the economy at large cannot afford it.

They can actually, if they put their minds to it. Nothing actually stops the UK from becoming a sort of Singapore-on-Thames if they so wished - just the political will to do so.

Britain's always had the fantasy that they could continue to have a mix of low[ish] taxes and first-world public services, straddling the ideological gap between the US and western Europe. Increasingly impossible to do in an increasingly financialised economy. The US functions largely on cheap immigrant labour. Healthcare and social care in the UK would break down without constant infusions of people at the lower end willing to work for the pay that's on offer which simply doesn't go very far.

The UK could decide to experiment with the model in most of western Europe, whack up taxes, increase pay, provide better public services, introduce health insurance for the better off, etc., but hasn't, with all the main parties hewing tightly to the status quo and just tinkering around the edges. It was basically the Tories, out of self-interest, who brought in this immigration increase with the aim of keeping wages and taxes low.

lavida001:
India

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Mrs Assad of Syria files for divorce and seeks to move back to the UK.

https://m.jpost.com/middle-east/article-834499

What are the parallels with 15 yr old Shamima Begum?
Do the same laws for a child apply to a sick,grotesque rich white woman?

Mrs Assad actually has dual citizenship so she can be legally stripped of British citizenship and kicked up the butt to send her on her way.

lavida001:
India

🤣🤣

South Africa

missjekyll:
Mrs Assad of Syria files for divorce and seeks to move back to the UK.

https://m.jpost.com/middle-east/article-834499

What are the parallels with 15 yr old Shamima Begum?
Do the same laws for a child apply to a sick,grotesque rich white woman?

Mrs Assad actually has dual citizenship so she can be legally stripped of British citizenship and kicked up the butt to send her on her way.

She should never be allowed into the UK ever again