When you talk about change, I doubt any change compares to what we experienced here in Nigeria. It's the kind of change I can only describe as "From Frying pan to Fire" But despite the challenges, I’ve learned a lot, and I’m grateful for the chance to share my lessons. A big thank you to @ifarmgirl for this opportunity.
I want to clarify that this post isn't about blaming or blackmailing the government. Instead, I want to highlight what I’ve gained and learned despite the changes.
The current ruling party in Nigeria is the All Progressive Congress (APC), and their slogan is CHANGE. Many Nigerians, including myself, believed this would bring about better governance than we had ever seen. However, it turned out to be far from what we had hoped for. Instead of improvements, we faced greater difficulties.
The sudden change that impacted my life occurred during the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. People were already predicting a hike in fuel prices even before he took office, but I didn't think it would affect me much until three months into his tenure. That was when I started paying double the amount for transport to my usual place of work. I used to spend N500 a day on commuting, but now I spend N1500, all while my salary remains the same.
The fuel prices, which we once thought were kept low by subsidies, were reformed and skyrocketed beyond our expectations. Fuel used to cost N180 per litre, but now it's N700 the last time I checked. Nowadays, if you don't have a specific reason to drive, it's advisable to stay at home to avoid unnecessary expenses. This has become my new routine.
Despite these challenges, I decided to embrace the digital world. This period became an opportunity to dive into digital skills and explore new possibilities. While the political change brought hardships, it also pushed me to adapt, learn, and grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
Not only did fuel prices skyrocket, but the price of food also doubled for almost everything. You can end up spending your entire salary in just two days on food if you aren't careful.
This situation taught me the importance of finding additional sources of income. I had to re-strategize to meet my needs, especially since I have people relying on me. I saw the necessity of going to the farm to cultivate food crops.
Although it requires effort, the harvests help me save money, allowing my salary to cover other essential items while the food crops provide sustenance.
How I Tackled This Change
One thing about changes is that we can always find a way to navigate through them. Whether they bring joy or hardship, there is always a route or a backup plan. For me, embracing farming was that plan. By adapting to these challenging times, I found a way to provide for my family and manage the increased cost of living.
This period also became an opportunity for me to dive into the digital world and explore new possibilities. Despite the difficulties, I chose to adapt, learn, and grow, finding ways to thrive even in tough circumstances.
With these changes occurring, I saw the need to connect with people in the online space. I remembered my long-time business coach, who often emphasized the importance of not letting money be the sole factor when pursuing new skills. He mentioned that there are certain skills you can learn that will not only help you earn but also help you grow personally and professionally.
Taking his advice to heart, I started exploring various online communities and making friends with individuals who were successful in the digital world.
This network provided me with valuable insights and support, helping me navigate the challenges brought on by the economic changes. Through these connections, I discovered opportunities to learn new digital skills that could open up additional income streams and personal growth avenues.
With this change, I took the opportunity to conduct research. One important lesson I learned is that the power of research can keep you progressing. The online space is a global world where everything you need is available on the internet. Just get data for your smartphone, and you're good to go.
This wasn't the only change I experienced. Covid-19 was also a life-changing event that prompted me to seek new skills. However, I didn't implement them until the government of CHANGE came into power in Nigeria, and I began to realize things on my own.
In summary, it has been a hard time, especially for me, but these challenges led to innovation. I never thought I would take up farming, but I did. I also never saw the potential in the digital space, but I learned to embrace it and socialize with people online.
