Recently, I had a conversation with a dear friend, PO, about the ongoing economic challenges affecting people worldwide, including Nigeria. We discussed the impact of high unemployment rates and rising costs of living, which have led to various social issues like domestic abuse, mental health struggles, divorce, kidnapping, crime, and prostitution. We touched on leadership problems, greed, and other systemic issues that contribute to these economic challenges.
As we spoke, PO shared a story about a single mother in her church in Nigeria who, despite her challenges, has always prioritized her teenage children’s well-being. She pays their school fees on time, provides nourishing meals, and clothes them well. In the past, she maintained an “open door” policy for food in her home. Her children could access the pantry freely and help themselves to soup, meat, and fish whenever they wanted.
Recently, however, she had to make some changes. She gathered her children to explain that, given the current financial strain, they would need to limit themselves to three meals a day. She locked the pantry and instructed them to respect her new rule of “ma fowo kan obe mi” (don’t touch my soup). The children have adapted to this new system, understanding that it’s necessary during these difficult times. PO mentioned that, unlike this family, many Nigerians are already down to one or two meals a day, often with little variety or nutritional value. She remarked that I was fortunate to be in Canada.
I told PO that while Canada offers better infrastructure and social welfare support, the high cost of living here is hitting families hard, too. I shared a story about my friend JH, who lives in Canada and recently faced a similar change at home. His wife bought a goat for $800—something that would have cost only $150 a few years back. After boiling some of the meat, she firmly instructed JH not to taste it as he usually would. He would have to wait until the meat was cooked in the stew and served as part of a meal, with just a single piece of meat allowed per meal.
JH, known in his family as the “boiled meat taster,” had picked up this habit as a child in Nigeria, where sampling the boiled meat was a ritual. Never in their 30 years of marriage had his wife restricted him from tasting the meat—until now. The high cost of meat and other essentials has led even them to ration carefully, a small but telling example of how people are being forced to adjust their lifestyles to weather the economic downturn.
Around the world, people, families, and communities are making similar adjustments, whether by reducing grocery spending, skipping non-essential purchases, or sharing resources. It’s a reminder of the importance of adapting to our circumstances, finding ways to make the best of what we have, and supporting each other through these challenging times.
NB: Johnson Babalola, a Canada based lawyer, leadership consultant and corporate emcee, is a public affairs analyst. Follow him for discussions on real life issues that affect us all:* https://substack.com/@johnsonbabalola https://medium.com/@jblawyer2021 https jbdlaw Website: www.johnsonbabalola://www.facebook.com/jbandthings
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