The Emptiness and Zero Fulfillment in the Nigerian Labour Force

 

Let your PASSION be your PROFESSION, and you'll see work as play.

 

Very many people today who are currently working, find themselves in areas where they have very little or no interest in. Each day people wake up, they do so without excitement as they will have to go facing another lengthy and insipid day in the office.

 

You'll see a Chemical Engineer by qualification working in a Bank; a Petroleum Engineer as a Front Desk Officer in an office. They do not like it but, they just have to do it just to make money and pay their bills. They do it just to survive!

 

This situation has virtually become a tradition. A man or woman works hard/hustles to make money with which they will pay bills, train the children, send them to school, most of them to acquire certificates rather than education, and to get a job after school and acquiring the certificates. The children get jobs and continue the same cycle. The issue of a child following or pursuing his/her area of interest or passion is taken out of the equation. So long as the money comes in, your wife, family and by extension, your relatives who benefit from you in one way or the other find it okay. Your happiness is sacrificed on the alter of meeting their financial needs. Even in our churches, our Pastors pray for jobs for the youths just for them to start making money and perhaps relieve their parents of their financial burdens rather than jobs that are in tandem with their passion.

 

The seamless corruption, political instability, lack of political will, visionless and self-willed leaders and the current economic quagmire and conundrum that have enveloped the country, Nigeria, have done very little to salvage the situation. Instead of job creation, job losses have escalated. Thus, the quest for survival has upstaged that for living.

 

I envy, healthily though, those who enjoy what they do and do what they enjoy and make money in the process. They look forward to work with interest. They wake up on a Monday morning rather than a Monday morning waking up on them. For them, work is fun. That's one of the best things that can happen to anyone, and with such a situation, one is destitute of depression.

 

Depression is a condition in which one finds him/herself when in a continued state of feeling very sad, anxious and without hope. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the most common illness worldwide and the leading cause of disability. They estimate that 350 million people are affected by depression globally.

 

Depression is a metal health disorder. Specifically, it is a mood disorder characterized by persistent low mood in which there is a feeling of sadness and loss of interest. So interest and passion are key to a healthy work and mental life of an individual.

 

 

Let's now examine the factors that create this itinerary to depression;

 

1. Parents. 

 

Parents are the major stake holders in this problem. Parents, right from the birth bed of a child, determines or try so hard to chose the the profession of the child. While some want their children to be Doctors, others want theirs to be Lawyers and Engineers - the three professions society has made to appear prestigious. Children are not allowed and encouraged to pursue their dreams, interest and passion. They are tailored to go to school, make good grades and get jobs not of their interest but of their parents.

 

I know of a childhood friend who had wanted to be an Engineer, but the father thought otherwise, and threatened not to train him in school if he went ahead to study Engineering. In the dad's rationale, Engineering will not put food on the child's table. What a reason! The boy got admission into the university to study medicine but could not go beyond the third year even after two attempts. He would latter be taken to complete his undergraduate Degree studying Geology - a derailment from either of Medicine and Engineering. The dreams, aspirations and happiness of the child is allowed to suffer for the desires and egos of the parents.

 

 

The influence a Peer group and environmental pressure have on an individual can not be over emphasized. People tend to chose their professions just because their friends are in that line. Consequently, they have become disasters in their current careers, a credence to the fact that they do not belong there. Though some may still have accomplishments as a result of hard work, perseverance and conscious efforts to accept the situation and be happy, fulfilment ultimately eludes them.

 

 

The gross and incorrigible unwillingness of our rulers to consciously, systematically and strategically diversify our economy has ensured our country continues to struggle in a mono economy and high unemployment rate. The value placed on school certificates in order to secure jobs has not helped either. People now go to school especially the universities not to get education but certificates, as these should enable, perhaps, qualify them to get a share of the limited jobs available.

 

In the quest for survival, passion and happiness have been thrown to the wind. Hustling and struggling for ends to meet are the order of the day. I watch, as early as 4 to 5am, as people trod the popular 'Molue' buses in Lagos heading to their respective places of work, either to beat the incessant traffic jam or that it is the nature of their work. A closer observation reveals that a majority of the passengers sleep while in transit in order to compensate for lost sleeping time by virtue of leaving their houses very early. This condition, of course, is very unpalatable but, to them, what can they do?

 

Sometimes you find people who consciously pursue their desires but when there is no money enough to show for it, especially when such individuals have dependents, they are subjected to pressure. Depression gradually creeps in. Take, for instance, an individual may love music and is consciously pursuing his dream. However, if he fails to have a breakthrough and that quickly, pressure from his dependents may begin to have their toll on him causing him to review his love and passion for music. I know of a guy who followed his interest (and was even encouraged by his dad, how interesting!), studied Fine and Applied Arts in the university, and wanted to be self employed. However, due to low patronage and the attendant frustration, he would latter abandon drawing and painting for a paid employment. In his inference, "Art works are what people can do without". "People on this part of the world, due to economic hardship and uncertainties, spend their money with priority for food than for aesthetics", he concluded.

 

 

Having examined some of the causes of depression through wrong professions, a look at ways to combat and mitigate depression to the bearest minimum, therefore, becomes imperative and are outlined below:

 

 

One the fastest ways of unproductivity is seeing work as stress. You lack inspiration, desire, excitement, happiness and FULFILMENT. Some say that a day without an accomplishment is a day wasted. But I say a day without FULFILMENT is a day wasted. One can have an accomplishment yet no fulfilment. The latter supercedes the former in that fulfilment itself is the accomplishment.

 

Can you imagine what a monumental disaster it would have been had Lionel Messi not played Football? How about Mohammed Ali, the greatest Boxer the sport has produced, being a Banker or a Doctor? How would you imagine the music and Pop icon, Michael Jackson, as an Engineer? The list goes on.

 

Ask yourself what you wan to be. Is it a Journalist, a Banker, an Engineer, a Business man or woman, a Musician, a Doctor, Lawyer, an Artist, a Movie Person, a Sports Person, a Fashion Designer, a Pastor, a Writer, etc? What is your area of inclination and why? What are you passionate about and why? MAKE YOUR PASSION YOUR PROFESSION AND YOU'LL SEE WORK AS PLAY. Avoid a disaster!

 

 

Take an expeditious expedition to the nadir of your heart. Engage yourself in retrospection. What is that thing that you look forward to? What is that exercise that gives you great delight? What is that thing in which you derive Joy and happiness? Make concerted efforts to go back to it (at least as an extra curricula activity to provide a solace or panacea for you if you can not afford to leave your current job), for therein lies your fulfilment. Everyday will be worthwhile for you. Leaving your house for work will be greeted with excitement and mixed feelings. You will not want to leave work except for the fact that your family is equally important and should be excitedly attended to.

 

Keith Harrell, the author of "ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING", wanted to be a Basket Ball Star. He spent most of his young adulthood chasing his dream to become a professional Basketball player. In high school, he was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the State championship team. He accepted the scholarship to Seattle University, where he was the team captain for three of his four years in the University. His records were astounding and remarkable. He expected to be drafted by a National Basketball Association (NBA) team. It was a dream he shared with everyone he knew.

 

On the day of the NBA draft, he waited and waited and waited to no avail. He was shattered and depression followed. He ran away from his neighbourhood, got another job but was very distant from fulfilment. This continued until he met a man - a fan. That was the cradle of his journey to self discovery. He met a cousin of his - a staff of IBM - who worked on him, reshaped him and helped him to get a job in IBM.

 

Keith Harrell would latter go on to become an International motivational speaker. Whether it was a professional NBA star or a professional motivational speaker, one thing was COMMON and sure: he was a star, - one who served the public and provided them with joy and happiness. In return, he got contentment and fulfilment. Achieving this through the basketball courts proved abortive. Fortunately, however, he found another route - through the microphones. He fulfilled his dream.

You too can fulfill yours.

 

Lastly, your attitude is key. Attitude is paramount in achieving personal fulfilment. Be optimistic. Be fulfilled. However, let your FULFILMENT BE FOUNDED ON MORALITY.