The myth of the returnee is slowly dying. Competition is tough, and no one is expecting you, unless you have cash to flush.
If you are not a successful returnee (which means you don’t have a minimum of 100 000 dollars in disposable money), then your return here will be tough. People won’t respect you if you don’t have a big house and a big car, and if you could not pay for their meals and drink when they are hanging out with you.
The time of “small thing” is over. Everyone prays God, but the real king in town is Money, Big Money! It’s the ONLY thing people really Respect. You can keep your patriotism, panafricanism or activism for yourself.
If you are a returnee who have to compete with locals for job, business or attention, you’ll face an unspoken resentment of returnees, which will translate into many forms of ostracism or rejection.
People coming from human zoos (Europe, USA, etc) will be shocked because it’s not a zoo here. You have no one who is responsible for you, guard you, or give you a list of things not to eat or to drink. You have to constantly use 100% of your native survival instincts and trust them.
Very thrilling, but not for people who have grown up under neon lamps. You have to be ready to experience life out of the zoo net!
If you don’t have the guts and stamina, you better stay in the human zoo. Here it’s close to the jungle. There is no one to clean your ass, and the competition for resource is tough.
Yet, the thrill is real. For people who love freedom and challenge, and have the instinct for business, it’s the best place on earth to be now!
Yes, Africa is truly the best place on earth to live and die, regardless of above observations. The genuine laughter, the unscripted kindness, the holy impulsiveness is so boundless. If you want to see what is humanity before capitalism destroy it all, Come visit Africa.
We still have a lot of work to do to get rid of the illness tied to the old methods and mentalities which are holding Africa back. There are alternatives, but the old guard is still strong and forcefully defending the status quo.
Progress is slow, but change is on the way with a new generation of young africans who are hungrier and more impatient …a generation that realizes that it’s true potential is in its mind and in its hands, not in the checkbooks of foreign donors!
For Africans in the diaspora who don’t have money, one of the best approach is to return to their country for short periods and invest in understanding, meet people, work the paths, take notice, leave tracks, and wait for the moment!
If you could go over the shame of “un-success” in the West or abroad, and take small steps toward your return to Africa, you’ll be greatly rewarded after only a short period of time.
“You have to plan and make it a carefully phased one. Before I finally relocated, I visited Nigeria about four times within two years, I had my business plan well drafted, I knew what I wanted to go into, I knew what areas I wanted to live in. I asked questions, I contacted some family members (mine and those of my spouse) and old friends. I spoke to people I knew that relocated as well. I had interviews with companies I could work for (as Option B, in case I decide not to venture fully into business). When I finally decided to, I was well aware of most of the issues that would confront me in Naija asides from realising other opportunities in the course of my visits. I then requested for 12 months sabbatical leave from the investment bank I was working with (just in case things took an ugly turn, I could always have something here to fall back on). Things turned out even better for me (lucky me, I guess) and I resigned within 6 months.
So my brother, for you to relocate, have no fears. Just plan, visit, re-plan, visit and alter your plan again … Also try to hedge your risks. Always have an Option B (even option C). Then ask questions too. Don’t relocate at same time with your family. Come in first. You can get a job first and with time you can decide to do other stuffs. But please don’t kid yourself, a sea of opportunities exist in this country called Nigeria and so many sectors are still either virgin or untapped. It’s not easy doing business, but it’s well worth taking a plunge, if you ask me. The decision is yours to make.” Shared a Nigerian who has successful returned.
No one could be respected or could ever claim ownership of a land he/she has not built, no matter the number of years he/she has lived there. Africans in the Diaspora have to come to build a place they could call Home.
Nothing good comes easy. Outsiders come to Africa to invest and they are making it, while the land owners are there in another man’s land struggling! Just have it in mind that a home you did not Arrange can never be yours.
Source: Mawuna Remarque KOUTONIN Silicon Africa
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