google.com, pub-3998556743903564, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Nigerian Youths and Get-Rich-Quick Mentality

Nigerian Youths and Get-Rich-Quick Mentality

By Emeka Chiaghanam

The fascination with sudden wealth has captivated many youths across Nigeria. This allure beckons them toward a relentless pursuit of imagined affluence; an Eldorado seen as an obligatory achievement. Such unbridled quests for wealth undermine the inherent socio-cultural values of Nigerian society.

However, this inordinate desire for instant wealth has consequences. Beyond eroding esteemed values like industriousness, honesty, and fear of God that is deeply embedded in our society, young people engaged in unscrupulous practices suffer repercussions. Some have even died or gone mad in the process.

Recently, during a casual conversation I overheard, a 20-year-old man spoke passionately on the phone. His story felt like a Nollywood movie, but it was real life. He urgently needed to make quick money, insisting he must achieve significant success within the next two or three years. The intensity of his urgency struck me, as if time were running out. He influenced the person on the other end, polluting his mind with the notion that success had to be swift, regardless of the means.

This conversation reflected a distorted mindset that prioritizes accelerated financial success over ethical values. This young man's perspective is not isolated. Among the Igbos, the current mad quest for wealth reflects a trend that has seeped into the minds of many youths, leading them away from the age-old values of 'igba mbo'; patience, hard work, and gradual progress, ingrained in Igbo culture.

'Igba mbo' encourages a steady journey toward success, but it is overshadowed by a frantic mindset that disregards traditional values. The Igbo culture supports wealth creation through doing things the right way, even if it means repeated effort. Unwritten principles guide individuals on the path to wealth, weaving honour, dignity, and success into valued Igbo culture.

There is nothing wrong with acquiring wealth; Igbo culture promotes it. The republican nature of the Igbo encourages young individuals to seek wealth through legal means. 'Igba mbo' represents a pursuit not only for success but for honest wealth. Hence, there is a push to start this journey early. Any young person who achieves success or wealth early is acknowledged and honoured in Igboland. The saying "nwata kwo aka, osolu okenye lie ni," meaning "A young individual who dedicates themselves to hard work and achieves wealth will dine with the elders," highlights the recognition bestowed upon those who create honest wealth.

Before legal tender, recognition manifested through farm produce or hunting proceeds, determining one's influence. Most traditional Igbo titles, while associated with wealth, reflected the values of our progenitors.

The arrival of Europeans disrupted traditional means of earning a livelihood but did not truncate the values of patience and hard work. It opened more doors for earning a decent living. The Igbo man's dignified nature of growing into success continued with the ‘Igba mbo’ philosophy. Those who embraced Western education found no shortcuts to success, evident in the intellectual achievements of many Igbos like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chinua Achebe, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

In traditional Igbo society, the 'Igba mbo' philosophy is evident in the apprenticeship scheme, where a boy learns a trade under a master for five to seven years before starting his own enterprise. Many wealthy Igbo personalities rose through this scheme.

Today, patience for such tutelage has vanished. The fabric of our society has been deeply affected, as secondary school students no longer value education. Stories abound of students involved in the 'Okeite' ritual or 'Yahoo Yahoo' syndrome, threatening 'Igba mbo.'

The 'Okeite' rituals or 'Yahoo Yahoo' symbolize wealth that comes quickly, akin to hitting a jackpot, achieved through crooked means. They contradict the values of honesty and hard work. The 'Okeite ritual or Yahoo Plus syndrome' involves charms crafted by witch doctors from various components, enforced with oath renewal.

These renewal rituals require appeasement through animal or human blood. Neglecting them can have severe consequences, risking one's sanity or the well-being of loved ones. Failure to participate leaves individuals and future generations vulnerable to adverse outcomes.

The 'Okeite' or 'Yahoo Yahoo' syndrome evolved from scams that began in the mid-1990s, gaining momentum with the internet and mobile technology. Yahoo Messenger, initially a networking tool, soon became a platform for fraudulent activities. Many individuals amassed sudden wealth, glamorizing the notion of instant riches without real business foundations. The idea of “getting rich now or die trying” took root among the youth.

As awareness of internet scams grew, anti-graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) intensified crackdowns, making 'Yahoo Yahoo' schemes less viable. This led some youth to a new crime known as 'Yahoo Plus,' involving rituals for success.

This shift in mindset has deeper implications, affecting individuals and society, especially within Igbo culture. The pursuit of immediate wealth risks replacing traditional values with an emphasis on instant gratification, eroding the resilience, dignity, and respect for heritage that have long defined Nigerian society.

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