₦airaland Forum

Nnamdipapa:
Marrying individuals my early 20ies, the biggest mistake of my life. Should have married very late.

PROPEACE:
I Left Nigeria in my mid 20s, completed my MSc with a fully funded scholarship in UK, the son of poor naija civil servants o! Used my two legs to come back to Nigeria. My European girlfriend discouraged me from returning, she told me we should get married, I said no, I struggled for over a decade believing hardwork and merit in Nigeria will get me there. I was interviewed many times by several government agencies in Nigeria but never got the job, today I sit in my 40s licking my wounds. My naija friends that were friendly while I was there have vanished. Some have humiliated me before leaving when it seemed to them the tunnel I am in has no end to it. My biggest undoing in life is I believed too much in this country. Today, my peers that stayed back in UK are doing very well as citizens. I am trying very hard not to give up. Still strategizing. It's hard but deep down in me, I know I have learnt so much. Too much to not make it in the end. I pray for God to grant me long life.

Sonofgod1990:
I letter cash out 18k. But d game letter enter Sha. We move

Anfieldboss:
Not taking risks in my 20s. I've had a decent job since my mid twenties, when the economy was still fair and the japa movement was yet to be popular. If I was determined to leave Naija then, I would have been able to save up and leave via study route.

The painful part was that I was well informed about travelling abroad....I knew about the process and all but I wasted my time trying to get a fully funded scholarship. I pursued getting one for about 6 years of my life before I finally gave up.

Even when I got my Masters degree @29, a good age and profile for Canada express entry, I didn't make the move. A friend of mine, that we got our Masters the same time is in Canada today as a Permanent resident. He actually told me when he started the process, but I overthought the process like how will I get POF, and I didn't do anything. It was years later I got to know that POF can actually be arranged.

In my 20s, I was risk averse. I knew I wanted to leave Naija, but I wanted to go on a smooth sail. I didn't want to go abroad with uncertainties, and I missed opportunities of going abroad because of not taking risks and overtinking.

Another thing was not adapting to my career path on time. I studied Electrical Engineering, but somehow found myself in Internal Audit @ 26. I refused to adapt and chart a career in Internal Audit...I stubbornly went on trying to pursue a career in engineering. I did a Masters, got engineeering certifications like COREN, NSE and NIPE but could not land an engineeering job.

I became stuck in my career for years. I couldn't apply for senior Audit roles because I did not develop myself, I also could not land engineering roles.

But I thank God, delay is not denial. After working as an Auditor for 7 years, I decided to embrace my career as an Auditor and God gave me divine speed, I got Chartered within a year. My newly acquired qualification as a Chartered Accountant, coupled with my 8+ years as an Internal Auditor, landed me a senior role within the same industry.

I am sincerely grateful to God, because I thank God I am still young to learn from my mistakes.

My advice to the younger ones, especially those still in their 20s, do not be afraid to take risks and do not overthink anything you want to do, just start.

sunkee:
We have similar experience. I was on a scholarship in south Korea for my MSc in chemical engineering with good stipend then in 2019. I was told by my professor ( a Korean) that I should stay back and do business with him but I refused. My friends in Korea begged me not to leave but I didn't listen. I'm still working with government agency taking less than 200k as take home after tax.
I always cry anytime I remember this act. My still struggling to make it though by learning new things and even I tried to enter US last year November but my Visa was denied.
I put all my hope in Almighty Allah now sha.

PROPEACE:
My story is 100% true. My story is actually worse than this. There are uglier details that I am too ashamed to share even on an anonymous forum like this. I will not be able to get angry with anyone that calls me a fool because how can I even prove that I ain't one? God help me.

pimplucious:
Leaving Nigeria for UK for my masters immediately after graduation. Mistake.

mohbadliveson:
Not changing all my naira to dollars when GEJ was president

Anfieldboss:
Not taking risks in my 20s. I've had a decent job since my mid twenties, when the economy was still fair and the japa movement was yet to be popular. If I was determined to leave Naija then, I would have been able to save up and leave via study route.

The painful part was that I was well informed about travelling abroad....I knew about the process and all but I wasted my time trying to get a fully funded scholarship. I pursued getting one for about 6 years of my life before I finally gave up.

Even when I got my Masters degree @29, a good age and profile for Canada express entry, I didn't make the move. A friend of mine, that we got our Masters the same time is in Canada today as a Permanent resident. He actually told me when he started the process, but I overthought the process like how will I get POF, and I didn't do anything. It was years later I got to know that POF can actually be arranged.

In my 20s, I was risk averse. I knew I wanted to leave Naija, but I wanted to go on a smooth sail. I didn't want to go abroad with uncertainties, and I missed opportunities of going abroad because of not taking risks and overtinking.

Another thing was not adapting to my career path on time. I studied Electrical Engineering, but somehow found myself in Internal Audit @ 26. I refused to adapt and chart a career in Internal Audit...I stubbornly went on trying to pursue a career in engineering. I did a Masters, got engineeering certifications like COREN, NSE and NIPE but could not land an engineeering job.

I became stuck in my career for years. I couldn't apply for senior Audit roles because I did not develop myself, I also could not land engineering roles.

But I thank God, delay is not denial. After working as an Auditor for 7 years, I decided to embrace my career as an Auditor and God gave me divine speed, I got Chartered within a year. My newly acquired qualification as a Chartered Accountant, coupled with my 8+ years as an Internal Auditor, landed me a senior role within the same industry.

I am sincerely grateful to God, because I thank God I am still young to learn from my mistakes.

My advice to the younger ones, especially those still in their 20s, do not be afraid to take risks and do not overthink anything you want to do, just start.

Onewazobia:
See your life

Achieverxoxo:
i regret being too serious in sch like i dont even have friends and its so sickening to feel all alone and no friends. havent ever been to a date no club no girls trip no flowers no nothing i was busy forming serious tech sis, going for tech events up and down i didnt even know people where learning skills. likeeee, i dont even have any tech skilll, no friends and now people think she has her life figured out already omo i de die in silence

chatinent:
It's definitely the adult films. It would make you start to x-ray women you meet...their body features..and fantasizing the sexperience you have watched.

It's ok to reduce it too.

callmealways:
I will forever regret marrying the wrong woman when I had the opportunity to travel out of this country for free. Though we both had kids together, but no longer together as a couple, cos of her bad attitude and way of life.... I still cannot forgive myself to date for that one mistake I made at the prime of my Life

Uptown444:
You had no idea, I knew nothing then.
Life can happen, especially when you don't have a mentor

Archtype:
As I grow older, I came to realize that everything I called a mistake was the universe’s own way of redirecting my path to fulfill my purpose.
I called it mistakes but it was a blessing I never understood when it happened.

The cheat code is to always see the good in every bad situation.
It would help you make the most of every situation.

*I’ve learnt to only focus on things I can control and allow things I can’t to fix itself.

chatinent:
Mine:

1. Putting others before my life...while others actually put their lives first.

2. If you live in a public yard, you must understand that your neighbours aren't your emergency family members.

3. Avoid taking things on credit from shops close to where you live.

4. You really do not owe anyone an explanation when you say NO to their requests.

5. Learn to speak not talk.

6. You are the most important person to you in this world. Remember that.

7. Don't let them kill you!

8. Learn when it's apt to walk away.

9. Set boundaries. Whether they call it pride or whatever, they will respect you.

10. Overthinking will only get you sick. Start doing whatever you can.

11. You really do not need to recruit others to hate someone you hate with you.

12. Some relationships should be valued by you than always trying to be right always.

13. Drink clean water always. Eat good food. Sleep when needed. It's your health. If you can ensure your car gets sealed engine oil and better fuel for efficiency, how much more your body?

14. You don't need to lie to refuse lending money to someone; a simple "I don't have" is accurate. You don't need to attach a reason..damn it's your money!!

And it is also very necessary to collect collateral or they put it in paper. If they refuse, it's ok to let them fck off. A lot of borrowers have no conscience.

15. Avoid too many friends. If possible, avoid it completely. When your are becoming more successful, too many friends and you are closer to your grave.

16. It's not everyone you should bring to your house. This is very important.

17. Refuse binge drinking or eating outside. It's a one-way ticket to hell.

18. Ensure you know how to respond to peer pressure bullies.

19. Buy what you can afford...everything depreciates..



Share yours.

ManOfSon:
That protest was triggered by the Goodluck Jonathan government hiking the price of a litre of fuel from N65 to N141. Right? How much is a litre of fuel today? And why are all the so-called leaders of that protest, including the likes of GO Enoch Adeboye, Buhari, Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, even Tinubu, all mute?

chatinent:
Mine:

1. Putting others before my life...while others actually put their lives first.

2. If you live in a public yard, you must understand that your neighbours aren't your emergency family members.

3. Avoid taking things on credit from shops close to where you live.

4. You really do not owe anyone an explanation when you say NO to their requests.

5. Learn to speak not talk.

6. You are the most important person to you in this world. Remember that.

7. Don't let them kill you!

8. Learn when it's apt to walk away.

9. Set boundaries. Whether they call it pride or whatever, they will respect you.

10. Overthinking will only get you sick. Start doing whatever you can.

11. You really do not need to recruit others to hate someone you hate with you.

12. Some relationships should be valued by you than always trying to be right always.

13. Drink clean water always. Eat good food. Sleep when needed. It's your health. If you can ensure your car gets sealed engine oil and better fuel for efficiency, how much more your body?

14. You don't need to lie to refuse lending money to someone; a simple "I don't have" is accurate. You don't need to attach a reason..damn it's your money!!

And it is also very necessary to collect collateral or they put it in paper. If they refuse, it's ok to let them fck off. A lot of borrowers have no conscience.

15. Avoid too many friends. If possible, avoid it completely. When your are becoming more successful, too many friends and you are closer to your grave.

16. It's not everyone you should bring to your house. This is very important.

17. Refuse binge drinking or eating outside. It's a one-way ticket to hell.

18. Ensure you know how to respond to peer pressure bullies.

19. Buy what you can afford...everything depreciates..



Share yours.

Chief2410:
Now you understand better. The universe is always teaching you.sometimes when you are stubborn to learn,the lessons repeat. The universe can even delay your progress just to make sure you are ready for the place it wants to take you to. You make efforts and you see no results,the universe might be trying to redirect your path. Everybody you meet has been designed by the universe to teach you or be taught by you. That your gal friend was orchestrated by the universe to teach you something. Even the workplace or your environment is path of the grand design of the universe for you. Listen carefully,the universe is always talking;through dreams; through strangers; through numbers;through everything around you and within you.

jayce232:
Life sha...one guy just posted above for marrying late & didn't marry early, here u are regretting it?

Oosa4sure:
I was 27 yrs when I caught my wife with 3 children all girls with a man in our materimonials bed , which nearly cost me my life ,thank God I survived it ,but I took responsibility of the all the girls by taken them awa6with me,but today they're all married,doing well but failed to recognise me as their father, this really made me so sad

geechy:
Oh noo.
Same thing we see on dependent group.

Genuine people don't know who to trust. It's scary.

If you don't mind, can we play 10, 10 ?

I am Geechy

merits:
If you are dating your coursemate in the same faculty or department don't ever sit down together with her during exam,I was a victim of that during one of my exams back then in school I was already done with the exam and gave her my answer script to copy so both of us can leave the exam hall together but unfortunately I was caught and my answer script was tore and that lead to my ectral year in school.

Deeegbee:
You would have gotten the PR easily with your PhD back then in 2017 because the cut off scores were damn low.

aniblue:
Where is the girl today?
I'm sure she has moved on and might be married to someone else,