Nigerian Youths and the Burden of Hustle Culture

 

By Abolade Oyeyemi, FCT, Nigeria

You hardly come across any Nigerian youth today who doesn’t have multiple skills or side hustles. The “hustle culture” has become a defining tag for our generation.

I recall attending a training where Julie Mkay, one of the international partners, remarked, “It feels like a Nigerian thing to have multiple skills” , and she kept wondering how we actually cope. She was right. On the surface, it looks admirable. But in reality, many of us are not coping; we are barely surviving.

It is even more disturbing that in a country where young people are hustling this hard, the economy remains unfavorable and unrewarding of their efforts. The big question is: how exactly are Nigerian youths surviving? Because if we’re being honest, it can be mentally draining.

Ironically, the same government that should be building safety nets for its youths has often dismissed them with sweeping statements such as, “Nigerian youths are lazy.”

Of course, there is a place for hard work and smart work. Some are still figuring that out. But the truth remains that the economy and governance structures are not making the journey any easier.

In my latest report, I spoke with experts who explained how hustle culture is taking a toll on mental health, and I also documented the experiences of young Nigerians juggling multiple jobs just to get by.

In the end, the economy doesn’t respect whether you are a student, graduate, or professional. Everyone must “hustle.” And while the world tags us as resilient, deep down, we know it is survival, not luxury that drives our endless hustle.