For seven years straight, I was stuck without a proper job in Lagos. I’d wake up most mornings feeling that familiar weight—fear mixed with shame and just plain tiredness. I had skills, some good ideas, and real drive, but no steady income. Nothing seemed to move forward. Friends and old classmates were getting ahead, starting careers or families, while I felt like life was passing me by.
At the beginning, I thought it wouldn’t last long. I sent out applications every day, updated my CV, and went to interviews across town, even in traffic that ate up hours. I kept telling myself more effort would pay off. But months dragged into years. Rejections piled up. Calls stopped coming. Some people I knew started whispering I was lazy, not realising how much I was trying behind the scenes.
The shame hit hardest during family visits or gatherings. Everyone asks, “What are you doing now?” I dreaded that question. I’d make excuses to stay away. Meanwhile, others were buying things, building lives. I scraped by on little, sometimes skipping meals. Nights were rough—I’d lie there wondering what went wrong.
Confidence faded over time. Small side gigs like hawking or odd jobs never stuck. Opportunities felt blocked. Then one day, after another “we regret to inform you” email, I just broke. Tears came, and I thought maybe this was it. But that moment made me see I couldn’t keep going alone. I needed real support to change things. Continue reading https://drbokko.com/?p=35796
