I grew up in a blessed and peaceful town with both national and international histories that can't be wiped out. This town is called Badagry in Lagos state, Nigeria, this town is generally known as a place with uncountable coconut plantation, coconuts tree grows comfortably because it is a coastaline area. Badagry was one of the first places where the slave trade happened, the slave master came into Nigeria through Badagry so many years ago.
This town holds many history like first story building ever in Nigeria, first school established in Nigeria, the town of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a man who translated the Bible to Yoruba language, the point of no return was the route where slaves where taken to get to the river and transport them to a ship. The missionaries brought Christianity also came into Nigerai through this town. All this happened because of it is located close to the border of Nigeria.
I grew up in a community called Ajara Torikoh in Badagry. It is a very peaceful area blessed with fertile land for agriculture, known for it massive supply of coconuts and beautiful sky veiw in the evening. I can say we grew up in a local area,stayed in a local area and grew up like a local man. There is no so much to life there, than staying with the family, go to work, eat good food, enjoy the weather and peacefulness, sleep and repeat all. I have noticed that there are no big improvments like job creation, well financially sponsored empowerment programs, establishment of companies and firms.
The sponsored empowerment programs: the empowerment programs literally ruins my stomach each time I get to know what they want to offer. They don't do much at all, there is no new good skill to aquire that's different from what has been in the society; why teach the same basic skill that 80% of mothers can do by themselves. Though there only few empowerment program that could change one's life almost immediately but too few. I suggest that individuals and government who run these priograms think of better offers that would bring significant chabge to the town.
Establishment of companies and firms for job employment: the only places to get job are in the malls as sales reps, filling stations and hotels; these jobs doesn't pay much always between the range of $25- $60 per month. In fact, there are so many hotels and filling stations in the town than bakeries. Establishment of companies and firms even if it's a branch, would reduce the percentage of unemployed individuals in the town and also living comfortably will become possible.
Exposure: I noticed that there is this pattern and cycle of knowledge in this town, knowledge passed from parent to their children, teachers to their pupils and students, older siblings to younger ones, friends to friends. There is no much going out to other parts of the world to learn different and better things, see life from a new perspective and widen one's experience which in a way makes one's life a bit improved.
Level of Entreprenuership: the level of entrepreneurship skill is so low. Many people just sell, or put out their services in poor way that would not attract better customers. There should be programs that is 100% based on entrepreneurship and topics related to it like , sales and marketing, advertisment, customer target, etc. That would help traders and creative boost their entreprenuer knowledge to a higher level.
Also the level of excellence in jobs, career and skill is so low. I doubt if many can compete with creative outside the town and I know this can be solved if people go out to see and learn what other people are doing differently.
This is my entry to the #aprilinleo initiative day 25. Have you heard about this initiative, why not check it out, learr and know more about it) here