The Nigerian situation calls for some intentionality in dealing with the times. Although economic and political downturns are not peculiar to Nigeria, leadership crises have been a bane in the country popularly called the “Giant of Africa”.

I argue in this piece that we can adjust or change some of our preoccupations to address some of the challenges of this time. Some situations take time to change; we must develop the forbearance and patience to see that the changes are actualized. We should endeavour to live with some situations after having exhausted our efforts. If we cannot effect a change in certain situations, we can change ourselves to accept such conditions. This is, therefore, an attempt to suggest some coping strategies Nigerians can adopt in navigating such a time like this without it taking its toll on their well-being.

1. Community Engagement: Engage with groups, such as academic groups, religious groups, peer groups, etc., whether online or in person. Although identifying with groups has its challenges, sharing experiences and resources can provide huge support at a time like this. Such support could be business opportunities, job opportunities, or any assistance, as one cannot live in isolation. Good advice can go a long way in reshaping people’s lives.

2. Practice Self-Care: Mental and physical health should be prioritized. People now carry so much burdens, which weigh so much on their mental health. Sometimes without them knowing it. Relationships, whether in marriages or families, could easily become sour because of insufficient funds to cater for their needs.  Sometimes, people might become a little more hostile or harsh because they lack money or cannot meet their basic needs.  The spate of insecurity and general uncertainty about the future can have untold impacts on people’s well-being and relationships. Activities like exercise, dancing, meditation, and other hobbies might be beneficial.

3. Focus on What You Can Control:  The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference” comes to mind. In uncertain times, concentrate on actions you can control rather than worrying about actions beyond your control.

4. Advocate for Change: Heraclitus is notable for saying you cannot step into the same river twice. This is his way of illustrating that the only constant in life is change. The world and, in fact, our nation, Nigeria, needs change agents. A kind of agent that is positive, visionary and transformational. When I talk about change agents, do not be quick to picture someone outside of you in your mind. You are the change that the world is waiting for! Do not forget that what you do now or fail to do can impact generations. Therefore, take up your pen and write that article you have always wanted to write, share the ideas burning in your heart, and read that book you have always desired to read. Say that prayer, get that work done, make that sacrifice, drop that vice, improve on that skill, etc. Get involved in local advocacy efforts or support organizations working toward positive change. Your voice can make a difference.

5. Seek Professional Support: Nigerians are popularly known worldwide for their resilience. This is something to be proud of, but it might also mean we are resilient in bottling up a lot. We must learn to understand that we cannot always be strong. We have a lot to learn from accepting our vulnerability. Once we observe an overwhelming feeling of anxiety or distress, consider speaking to a mental health professional or a trusted friend. Sometimes, a problem shared is a problem half-solved.

6. Limit Exposure to Negative News: Information is vital. It is often said that information is power. We must keep up with dependable news sources. While it is essential to stay informed, constantly exposing oneself to distressing news can be overwhelming. One needs to set boundaries for media consumption just as we do for most things. Today, more than ever before, there is an avalanche of verified and unverified information outlets, sometimes contradictory. We must be more circumspect in our consumption patterns to avoid becoming a “refuse bin” of information.

7. Planning for the Future: What is the future? Often, we imagine the future as a distant time to come. We forget that the next minute is part of the future we anticipate. We sometimes refer to the youth as leaders of tomorrow; it then registers in their subconscious that their leadership is not yet needed today. This orientation has placed our nation under gerontocratic rule while the youths are socialized to wait for a “utopian future”. Leadership begins now! It is a learning process that does not have to wait.  For example, a child who is the leader of a kindergarten class is not even a youth yet, but they would have been introduced to leadership qualities that will help them all through life.  In planning for the future, we must set goals. However, such goals must be SMART- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. This means our goals can be short-term, medium-term and long-term. Plans are severely affected by the current economic situation, but having a plan is far better than not having one.

8. Moderate Social Engagements: It is a fact that a considerable number of Nigerians love celebrations. We practically celebrate everything from birth (naming/Baptism/dedication) to death (funeral). Recently, I saw some parents celebrating their six-month-old baby. The culture of celebration has a lot of merits, and each celebrant is in the best position to explain the need for his/her celebration. However, the present time invites us to re-examine how we will celebrate, bearing in mind the economic implications of such celebrations.  I once attended a wedding in a Church in Lagos, and I was fascinated by the uncommon way the wedding celebration unfolded. We were all waiting for the reception venue to be announced right after the wedding Mass. Suddenly, we saw two people stationed at the Church entrances with packs containing food, drinks and souvenirs.  There was no need to rent a hall for the reception. This simple gesture saved the couple about a million naira back then. Again, the attendees were well taken care of and had the luxury of time to attend to other personal businesses.

We also do not need to attend every event we are invited to. Sometimes, converting your transport fare as gifts to the celebrants might mean more than going through the hazards and security challenges on the road. We must learn to make our celebrations a low-key one, with minimal expense. There is no need to judge the success of our celebrations based on the number of people in attendance. Also, our concept of uniform attire, “Aso-ebi”, can be redefined. One might, for instance, ask invited guests to wear white with a touch of blue to an occasion. We do not have to lure people into buying specific fabrics the celebrants provide. Some of these measures can help reduce the enormous cost of celebrations.

Finally, we should all join hands to make Nigeria great again! Many Nigerians are doing great things. We are equally endowed with rich natural and human resources. However, we need selfless, bold and resourceful leaders to help synergize our isolated greatness. In addition, we need to change our culture of waste and consumption to a culture of productivity and creativity.