If I had taken the easy route, I’d probably be in a nursing program abroad right now. My parents would understand that path. The world would validate it. Life would be simple.
But I chose something different public policy, trade, and economic development.
That choice has meant taking courses, moving cities, rejecting offers, and sitting with uncertainty. It has meant trying to explain my career path to my father, only to hear him say, “I don’t understand what you’re doing but I'll support you sha.” It has meant being okay with that, knowing I have to show him, not just tell him, that I know where I’m going.
It has also meant learning the hard way that conviction does not exempt you from struggle.
Social media makes it easy to track what everyone is doing. One scroll, and you see someone getting into McKinsey, another in Geneva, another announcing a new role. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to figure out rent in Abuja and balance the reality of your choices with the dreams you’re chasing.
On some months? Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is playing hide and seek with my finances.
I’m up, attending conferences, sitting in rooms where decisions are made. Other days, I’m down staring at my budget, adjusting, starving and figuring out what’s next. And no one can tell. Because no one posts their struggles. We see the highlights, not the hunger. We celebrate the wins, not the nights spent doubting everything.
By the way, If you’re watching people’s wins and feeling behind, pause. You’re not late. You’re not doing life wrong. Growth is a process, and every process has its own pace. If you need a break from social media, take it. If you need time to figure things out, take it. Becoming takes time.
I’ve opened emails that start with “Dear Tijesunimi” only to end with “We regret to inform you…” so many times that I could recite them in my sleep. But my convictions are stronger than rejection. My dreams for Nigeria and Africa are bigger than my fears.
So if it takes reading, learning, showing up, and sacrificing comfort now to be the kind of African child who will change things, then count me in. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.
But for now, we move—building, learning, and figuring it out one day at a time. I started a gadget importation business because while I’m growing, I also need to pay my bills. We're looking for investments to scale. If you know any funding opportunities, kindly send them my way.
Tomorrow, we’re back to talking about trade. But today, this is just a girl figuring out adulthood and career.
A Gen Z’s Diary on Africa, Trade & Growth
hashtag#Growth hashtag#Resilience hashtag#Becoming hashtag#Africa
PS: My friend gifted me this picture collage as a new year gift, imposter syndrome did not let me post it. Bye with that moving forward. I completely adore this women, so much.
Written by Tijesunimi Falade