Life can be a confusing and frustrating journey, especially for a Nigerian student. From the moment we’re born, we’re told to work hard and be successful, but nobody tells us how to do it. We’re just expected to figure it out on our own, like we’re all some sort of life geniuses. Or maybe they think we have a magic wand that can solve all our problems. Well, spoiler alert: we don’t.
First off, let me just say that life is like a pot of jollof rice. You never know what you’re going to get, but you always hope for the best. Sometimes life gives you the perfect blend of spices, meat, and rice, and sometimes you end up with a pot of burnt, flavorless mess that even a hungry dog would reject. But hey, that’s life, and we all just have to make the best of what we’re given. Or pretend that we like it and smile through the pain.
Take exams for example. You can study for weeks, and just when you think you’re ready, the exam paper looks like it’s written in Martian. It’s like the questions are in code, and you need a decoder ring just to understand what they’re asking. And then you look around and see your classmates scribbling away like they know everything. How do they do it? Do they have a secret cheat sheet? Are they aliens in disguise? Or are they just smarter than you? The world may never know.
And then there’s the issue of money. As a student, it seems like you’re always broke. You have to stretch your Naira like it’s made of elastic, and every time you think you’ve got enough to last the month, something comes up that drains your account faster than a leaky faucet. Like when your laptop breaks down and you have to buy a new one. Or when your roommate eats all your food and you have to go grocery shopping again. Or when your girlfriend dumps you and you have to buy her flowers to win her back. OK, maybe that last one is not a necessity, but still.
Have you ever noticed how life always seems to throw unexpected obstacles in our way, just when we think everything is going smoothly? It’s like you’re walking down the street, minding your own business, and suddenly a goat appears out of nowhere and starts chasing you. And not just any goat, but a mean one with horns and teeth and red eyes. And it’s not just after your clothes or your shoes, but your soul. Or you’re in the middle of an exam, feeling confident and ready to ace it, and then the power goes out and you’re left in the dark (literally and figuratively). And then you hear a scream and a thud and realize that someone just fainted or fell off their chair. Life can be a real joker sometimes.
But you know what they say, laughter is the best medicine, and when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Or, if you’re Nigerian, you make zobo (hibiscus) drink. You have to learn to laugh at the absurdity of it all, because if you don’t, you might just cry. And trust me, no one wants to see a grown man or woman crying over a goat or a power outage. Unless it’s on YouTube or TikTok, then it might go viral.
But despite all the challenges, we Nigerian students know how to keep our heads up and keep pushing. We’ve got a sense of humor that can rival any comedian, and we know how to find joy in the smallest things.
Like when NEPA decides to give us light for more than two hours, we celebrate like we just won the lottery. Or when the lecturer cancels a class, we dance like we’re in a music video. And don’t even get me started on the joy of finding free food on campus. It’s like Christmas came early.
In the end, life may be unpredictable and at times frustrating, but as Nigerian students, we know how to laugh our way through it all. Because in the end, laughter truly is the best medicine. So if you're feeling down or discouraged, just remember that life is like jollof rice - sometimes it's a bit burnt, sometimes it's too spicy, but in the end, it's still delicious. And if all else fails, just find a Nigerian student and let them tell you a joke. Trust me, it'll make your day.
