The Pressure to Survive

With the economic uncertainty, financial turmoil, and challenges people are going through, it is sad that the government does not seem interested in creating an enabling environment where business owners can thrive.

If you look at any sector in Nigeria today, you will realize how corruption has become the order of the day. People find it difficult to survive on the little they earn, and what do you expect them to do? Many of them use their positions and office influence to get what they want. It is like giving a police officer a gun to protect lives but refusing to pay him enough to survive. What do you think will happen?

Although those who are determined to commit crimes will always find ways to do so regardless of how much they earn, many people are tempted to engage in corrupt practices or abuse their positions when they cannot meet their basic needs. After all, what is the point of committing crimes when you have enough to take care of your needs?

The rate at which people worship money these days is alarming, and no one really cares where the money comes from. As long as you have money, people respect you. If you do not have it, society often looks down on you, making it difficult to function effectively. Even within some families, you may hardly be recognized or respected if you are not financially successful.

This has made making money at all costs one of the most pressing concerns for many people. Just yesterday, the corpses of three young women were reportedly dumped near where I live. One of the bodies was found very close to a Celestial Church. What was particularly shocking was that their private parts had allegedly been tampered with. What does this suggest? Many would suspect ritual killing, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.

In Africa today, some people display enormous wealth without showing any real sense of fulfillment or joy, and this is something we should question. Of course, some people genuinely earn their income through remote work and other legitimate means, making it difficult to distinguish them from those who have no visible source of income.

Apart from this, I recently came across a post online about a lady who allegedly attempted suicide. Unfortunately, complications from the attempt eventually led to her death. It is heartbreaking to learn that her actions may have been influenced by disappointment arising from a proposed collaboration with someone on TikTok that apparently did not work out.

The reality is that people deal with disappointment and depression differently. Not everyone can cope with emotional setbacks in the same way. This is why mental health awareness is so important. We need to educate people about mental health, encourage them not to give up during difficult times, and sensitize individuals to the impact their actions and inactions can have on others.

This issue generated a lot of controversy online. Some people argued that a lack of education contributed to her actions, while others maintained that education is not a determining factor because even highly educated people experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.

The truth is that depression can affect anyone, regardless of their educational background. One of the most important things we can do is teach people how to cope with disappointment, even when it comes from those closest to them. At some point in life, everyone will face disappointment, anxiety, and emotional struggles. It is simply part of the human experience.

The pressures of life can also contribute to these challenges. Sadly, the people who are expected to provide comfort and support are sometimes the very ones who cause emotional pain. Instead of helping, they may worsen the situation and deepen a person’s emotional trauma.