The Nigerian Dream: Four Unequal Paths to Success

What does the Nigerian dream really look like? This essay compares it with the familiar American dream of hard work leading to a home, career and stability. It explores four very different routes to success in Nigeria: being born into wealth, building a business at the right time, meeting a powerful mentor, and leaving the country for better opportunities. From prominent business families to banking careers, fintech growth and japa stories, the essay argues that these paths rarely connect. It ends with a blunt question: is the Nigerian dream simply to do better than one’s neighbour?

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