This Wasn’t the Plan – But Omo, We Move

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 A Reality Check on the Nigerian Dream Timeline

Introduction: The Great Naija Promise

When we were in secondary school, they gave us a clear-cut blueprint:

“Face your books, pass your exams, get into university by 17, graduate by 21, do NYSC, get your dream job, marry by 24, and you’ll be balling by 25.”

Omo, we believed it.

We didn’t question the system, the structure, or the brokenness. We believed because our parents believed. Our teachers reinforced it. Pastors preached it. Motivational speakers sold it. And society repeated it like a national anthem.

But now, here we are — in our mid to late twenties (some even thirties), tired, confused, broke(ish), and constantly asking ourselves: “Wait… was this not supposed to be easier?”

This wasn’t the plan.
But omo… we move.

That ‘Perfect Timeline’ They Sold Us

From JSS1, it was like we were being prepped for a race we didn’t even sign up for. We were told that life was linear:

  1. SS3 at 16 ✅

  2. JAMB and university admission at 17 ✅

  3. Graduate at 21 ✅

  4. Serve at 22 ✅

  5. Dream job by 23 ✅

  6. Car, marriage, house by 25 ✅

  7. Happily ever after ✅✅✅

Nobody mentioned ASUU. Nobody told us about delayed admissions. Nobody warned us about how “connection” beats CVs in Nigeria. Nobody factored in depression, unemployment, failed dreams, or the constant battle with self-doubt.

We were sprinting, but to where exactly?

University – The Plot Twist Begins

Let’s be honest — the university experience in Nigeria is a masterclass in patience and pain.

  • You write JAMB with the fire of a thousand suns… only to get “No Admission Given Yet” every time you check.

  • Or you gain admission and boom — ASUU strike. You entered at 17, but by 22 you’re still writing 300 level exams.

  • Or you picked the “wrong” course because your uncle said “there’s money in that one.”

  • Or you're just broke, overwhelmed, and constantly asking yourself: “Why did I come to this school sef?”

You start realizing that the timeline is cracking, but you still tell yourself, “E go better.”

NYSC – Wake-Up Call in Khaki

Nothing humbles you faster than that first NYSC posting.

You dreamt of Lagos, Abuja, maybe Port Harcourt. But NYSC said Jigawa, my dear. No light, poor network, and allowee that disappears before it lands.

You're posted to a school or ministry that doesn't even know what to do with you. And while you're there, reality starts to slap:

  • “So there are no jobs waiting for me after this?”

  • “How do I survive on ₦77k?”

  • “Wait, I need experience for an entry-level job?”

You send out CVs. You pray. You hustle. Still, no response. The ‘dream job’ is starting to look like a dream and job are not even on talking terms.

Post-NYSC – Welcome to the Wilderness

This is where it gets real.

You leave NYSC full of energy and hope, but then weeks turn into months. Savings vanish. Applications go unanswered. Friends are “relocating to Canada,” and Instagram people are “launching their businesses” and “signing deals.”

Meanwhile, you’re trying to figure out how to make money without selling your soul.

You try freelancing, content creation, affiliate marketing, maybe even crypto. Still, nothing’s consistent. Every time you get a win, life serves you two Ls to balance it.

The pressure from home starts to increase:

  • “So, when are you starting work?”

  • “You studied computer science, but you’re now selling wigs?”

  • “Your cousin just built his house at 26…”

  •   "That your nephew doing Yahoo nko?”

Your confidence starts to shrink. Your faith takes hits. But still — you move.

Comparison – The Silent Killer

Let’s not lie — comparison is the thief of joy, but Nigeria makes it hard not to compare.

Someone you went to school with is now in the UK working for Google. Another is married with a Benz and three kids. Another one just posted a Dubai vacation with the caption “soft life only.”

You start doubting your own journey. You question your past decisions.

But here’s the gag: a lot of people are struggling in silence too. The difference? They’re not tweeting about it.

Social media has made it easy to show off the wins and hide the wahala. So don’t ever let someone’s curated highlight reel become the standard you measure your life against.

What They Should Have Taught Us Instead

They should’ve told us:

  • Life is not linear.

  • Everyone’s timeline is different.

  • There’s no shame in starting over.

  • It’s okay to pivot — from medicine to makeup, engineering to UI/UX, law to logistics.

  • It’s not how fast you move, it’s how long you stay in the game.

  • Failures aren’t the end — sometimes they’re just redirections.

If only we were taught emotional resilience, financial literacy, networking, and self-worth beyond titles, many of us wouldn’t feel like failures in our mid-20s.

The Truth About the Nigerian System

We also need to talk about the system itself:

  • Corruption and nepotism in hiring.

  • Poor access to quality education.

  • No support for creatives, entrepreneurs, or dreamers.

  • Systems that drain you instead of empowering you.

The reality is: you’re not lazy or unserious — the system is broken. But we’re so used to blaming ourselves that we internalize the failure.

So again, let’s be clear: it’s not just you.

Real-Life Detours That Still Lead to Purpose

Let’s normalize these timelines too:

  • Graduating at 27.

  • Finding your first job at 30.

  • Starting a business after three failed ones.

  • Finding love after divorce.

  • Going back to school at 35.

  • Going viral at 40.

There’s no expiry date on purpose, growth, or happiness.

Conclusion: Omo, We Move – But on Our Own Terms

So maybe the plan didn’t go as expected.
Maybe you’re behind on “the schedule.”
Maybe you feel like you’re disappointing everyone — including yourself.

But here’s the thing: you’re still here. You’re still trying. And that counts.

Redefine your timeline. Take pride in your pace. Embrace your detour. And stop apologizing for a life that’s unfolding differently than expected.

The plan didn’t work. But omo… we move — this time, with sense, peace, and grace.

SEO Keywords to Include:

  • Nigerian success timeline

  • Life after NYSC

  • Unemployment in Nigeria

  • Pressure on Nigerian youth

  • Surviving in Nigeria

  • Nigerian youth career struggles

  • Nigerian dream vs reality

  • Adulting in Nigeria

  • ASUU strike delay effects

  • Social media comparison in Nigeria

Hashtags for Maximum Reach:

#NaijaRealityCheck
#OmoWeMove
#ThisWasntThePlan
#LifeAfterNYSC
#NigerianYouthChronicles
#BlowBy25MyFoot
#NaWhoDeyBreathe
#SurvivingNigeria
#NoBeWhoGraduateFirstDeyBlowFirst
#NaijaAdultingSeries

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