At The Corner of My Self-Destruction

I’m always amazed by how people (in Nigeria) do not generally want to help you solve your problems. 

They just want to check in with you every couple of months in the hopes that somehow by some magical turn of events your problem has been solved. And if it has, Congratulations! You’re now an acceptable member of society!! If it hasn’t…the clock continues, they bookmark to check in again, perhaps in the next 2 months.

Or sometimes they want to sit idly by and watch you implode, self destruct from your frustration so they can clamor at the celebration of your demise and reminisce about how it is that they knew you and "you seemed to be handling things rather well" so to speak under the circumstances, considering things are hard for everybody and how they helped as much as they could and didn’t quite know when things fell so out of hand, at how you should have known to reach out to them if you needed help but you just never really did. I can imagine them saying it now even without having reached that point. They're probably rehearsing it in the belief that that time will come. 

But it won't come, shall it? Oh, I certainly hope not. 

As I move from one job to another, from an apartment to another, from one country to another, I find that, there is a search there, an unburnished thirst for satisfaction, for a blissful rest in one’s life, and that state is so elusive. Regardless I am amazed at the dearth of human character in this country that I call home and wonder is it worth trying to explore yet another country? 

Or will it just be me trying to quench that thirst?

Women's Day 2020

In between job hunting (aggressively) for the next great big project in Nigeria and fresh from the overwhelming 'wokeness' of Black History Month, totally forgot that it was Womens' month this March. 

But the good folks at LinkedIn who never fail to utilize every opportunity to relish in their achievements however minute they may seem (even attendance of mere events), did not let this pass them by. They also lined up some cool Women's Day events to not only further tout their horns and their accomplishments, but to groom young women on how to resoundingly navigate their careers as women in a male-dominated and male-celebrated world. I only attended for the free food and opportunity to network, neither of which this event had to offer. Nevertheless, some pointers and notables resonated with me and served as reassurance as I continue with forging a career in this dense climate.  

Here's to kicking butt! Hopefully, reclaiming our stance in the corporate world. Shaking the tables of conformity...owning this ish...and most importantly, here's to achieving zero tolerance of gender discriminatory job ads. We would no longer tolerate ads that state: Male only. 

#Alllove #ToThewomen #WomenDay2020

An Exploration of Legalese

Legal practice in Nigeria is single handedly one of the most hapless and thankless professions one could ever embark on. It makes you question why you even became a lawyer in the first place, if there were aspects of the law that you liked, and if it's too late to try something else, do you even know how to do anything else, at this point.

For one - there are so many lawyers, and we're all doing the same thing. All aptly titled - General Practitioners. All exceedingly versed in practicing ALL areas of the law. No specialization necessary. We're all also expected to practice the same way, know the myriad of laws in Nigeria, and tackle a legal problem just the same using similar solutions. We're all also expected to practice the same, look the same, converse and write the same as if we're all playing the same part in a play.

And two - There's no demand for the law or legal guidance in private and corporate dealings. System is not built to institute the use of a lawyer at every instance. How many times as an individual have you been persuaded to sign an agreement without engaging the use of a lawyer? Instead, we're all expected to be reactive (and not proactive) lawyers, effectively curtailing whatever problem that's erupted from neglect of the law.

And three - When demand is lower than supply it leaves no room for law to thrive and of course, in a system where law is not apparent it lets other elements filter through and subsist. There are even lawyers who meticulously design how to navigate these (dare I say!) "undesirable" elements, and excel at doing it to, so much so that one is expected to join the ranks and play to such despicable acts, otherwise, it should cause one to ask, are you really a lawyer in Nigeria. 

When it should really be about practicing law - what's good, right, equitable and ethical - using your own method to achieve your own results.