If you’re still waiting for the government to fix your future, you’ve already wasted too much time. Here’s the hard truth: in Nigeria or most African countries, nobody is coming to save you. Nobody is doing anything to change your future for the better—not your local chairman, not your state governor, and not the president. But there is good news: the power to change your life is already in your hands.
Why the Government Won’t Save You
The government has the resources to improve your life, but they won’t. Why? Simply because you are not one of their priorities. It’s astonishing to hear people passionately discuss politics, convinced that the leader they support will bring about change. But come election time, the same people vote for politicians who have been in power for over a decade without meaningful results.
These politicians know they can do whatever they want because voters often choose them again regardless of their previous performance. Despite individual struggles with poverty, overcrowded public hospitals, and widespread insecurity, many still believe that what they need are better roads or other surface-level improvements.
In reality, what most young people need from the government is for it to leave them alone. When the government does get involved, it often ends up taking more than it gives. That’s why you shouldn’t depend on the government to change your life. What you need is the determination to take control of your future.
The Power of Taking Responsibility
Excuses are easy to make, but they won’t get you anywhere. I teach people how to start freelancing and virtual assistance, and I often hear reasons why they can’t get started. Some say, “I don’t have a computer.” Well, I didn’t have a personal computer when I started. Others say, “I don’t have a degree.” I never had a degree either—my highest level of education is a Polytechnic Diploma. Some say, “I don’t have any online skills.” Nobody has online skills when they first start.
The reasons for not taking action are endless, but unless you make the decision to change your life, those reasons are meaningless. Once you make a conscious choice to do whatever it takes to change your life, the next question is how?
Why Online Entrepreneurship Is the Key
I firmly believe that online entrepreneurship is one of the best ways for Africans to transform their financial future. It changed my life, and there are so many different types of online businesses that almost anyone has a chance to succeed.
However, most people who try online entrepreneurship never reach a life-changing level of success. Why? Because they chase instant gratification. They start with unrealistic expectations, thinking they’ll make a lot of money within weeks. When that doesn’t happen, they quit or jump to another “shiny object.”
Before I started freelancing, I tried everything from affiliate marketing to dropshipping and print-on-demand, following false advice I found on YouTube. None of it worked, and I didn’t make a single dollar until I discovered freelancing. But I discovered freelancing because I never stopped searching and trying.
It took me three months to make my first money freelancing. I succeeded because I refused to quit. Every obstacle I faced was a challenge I had to overcome. And I did, no matter how long it took.
The Value of Persistence and Delayed Gratification
If you want to succeed, the key is persistence. Don’t give up, no matter how long it takes. I believe freelancing or virtual assistance is one of the easiest and most predictable paths to success. You don’t need financial investment, advanced skills, or help from politicians. You just need to start learning something useful, like video editing, graphic design, Microsoft Excel, or content writing. There are so many skills you can begin learning today that will allow you to offer your services to clients in the near future.
If you’ve never tried freelancing, it will take time to learn the skills and figure out how to sell yourself to clients. But that’s where delayed gratification comes in. If you dedicate the time and effort, regardless of how long it takes, you will eventually change your financial future. It’s only a matter of time.
Every online business I’ve started took me months before I made any money. Take YouTube, for example—it took me 12 months and 80 videos before I started earning anything from it.
Can You Commit to the Long Haul?
Ask yourself this: Can you do something for 12 months, day in and day out, without making any money? If your answer is yes, then you have the best chance of changing your financial future through online entrepreneurship.
Right now, open your phone, sign up on a freelancing platform, or watch a tutorial on a skill you want to learn. The first step may seem small, but it’s the first of many that will lead you to freedom.
Set aside one or two hours every day to work on building something that can free you from financial struggle. If you can stay committed without giving up, I promise you—it’s just a matter of time before you succeed.
Conclusion: The Power Is in Your Hands
The power to change your future isn’t in the hands of politicians or government officials. It’s right in your hands, in the choices you make every single day. Don’t wait for someone else to save you—take control of your life and build the future you want.
