back to Nigeria after growing up in the United States. She shares her
interesting account of moving back to Nigeria and after a challenging
stint, moving back to the US. Read on for her interesting and humorous
account. Enjoy!
Let's start with introductions: Can you tell us about yourself?
My name is Toyin Olaleye and my background is in communications. I am
an individual who is very passionate about Nigeria which may be
considered interesting especially because I grew up in the US. I also
have a passion for helping people, writing and speaking.
Can you tell us about your educational background?
I left Nigeria in the late 90s as my whole family moved to the US,
where we have since resided. I initially wanted to major in Bio
Chemistry, to become an Anaesthesiologist. However, after a year at
school I realised I did not particularly enjoy it and so I decided to
do something more fulfilling, which for me was Communications,
Journalism, TV and Writing. I went on to study Corporate
Communications at the University of Baltimore and graduated in 2010. I
am currently doing a Masters in Writing at John Hopkins University.
What is it about communications that interests you?
I have always had a natural flair for communications. While in High
school in the US, I did a lot of talk shows, and was part of a
Nigerian group involved in planning and hosting events. It was
basically a passion for communications that made me switch career
plans.
Alright. So after graduation, what came next? A high-flying media career?
Interestingly, I actually upped and left for Nigeria a few days after
my graduation and this was because I graduated a semester earlier than
scheduled and decided to use the opportunity to visit Nigeria, seeing
as I had never been back home since my family moved to the US.
Why did you feel you needed to be in Nigeria at that point,
particularly without any work experience?
It was primarily curiosity. I wanted to see what Nigeria looked like
since I couldn't remember what I had left behind. I had also talked to
Nigerians in the US who constantly visited Nigeria, and they often
regaled me with fabulous tales of the country, mentioning the youth
service corps as well, so I thought I would go for the NYSC as a way
of transitioning and moving back to Nigeria.
How did you find the Youth Service corps?
I was really enthusiastic about taking part in the Youth Service
scheme as a result of all the stories I had previously heard, however
I must say that it was a really stressful experience, the most
stressful experience of my life to be precise. It was so stressful
that I cried on the first day and even thought of quitting the program
midway but was encouraged to soldier on by my uncle whom I was staying
with. He encouraged me to continue, as it was the only way I would get
a job if I ever planned to move back to Nigeria. There many factors
that contributed to my experience: For instance, the lack of hygiene
was appalling, as I was in Abuja camp and it turned out to be one of
the most unhygienic (and disgusting) places I had ever stayed. The
almost inhumane treatment of the corpers was also astonishing and to
worsen matters, I was really picked on, particularly as I didn't grow
up in Nigeria.
On the flipside, I enjoyed certain aspects of the service year, as
during that period I was shuttling between Abuja and Lagos working on
a radio show called Digital Passion which aired on Cool FM and
Inspiration FM. I also hosted a program called Melody Shelters which
aired on Silverbird last year, and got to visit many states while
doing it.
NYSC will certainly always be a controversial issue. What happened afterwards?
Unfortunately, after my NYSC stint, I couldn't get a job, and even
though I thought my 'connections' would render my job hunt successful,
there were just no jobs available. I then realised I had not properly
researched and planned my move to Nigeria and it is just one of those
countries that needed adequate and thorough planning. Apart from the
unsuccessful job hunt, I found living in Nigeria quite challenging and
so I did what some may consider the 'easy route', I decided to go back
to the US to get a Masters degree and hopefully come back better
prepared.
If you had to mention a few specific challenges you faced, what would they be?
The main challenge for me was cultural as I found it difficult to
satisfactorily communicate with some of the people I met and this was
most likely due to the fact that we had very different backgrounds and
experiences. There were also a lot of people who looked down on me
because I had studied abroad which was really hard for me to deal with
because I am naturally a sociable person, and had come back to Nigeria
with the best intentions. My being unemployed and idle was also quite
frustrating. I also had to get used to being dependent as I did not
have a car and my uncle did not let me drive any of the cars because
the road culture was totally different from what I was used to and he
was sure I wouldn't be able to handle all the 'gra gra'.
Having described your challenging experiences so succinctly, you go on
to mention a desire to return, what drives this?
Ultimately, Nigeria is my country and there are a lot of things I know
I can do when I go back. Although it can be a difficult place, one
just has to be very savvy to succeed and survive in Nigeria. Right
now, I am in negotiations with an organization which could potentially
lead to my moving to Nigeria in the next few weeks. I would definitely
put my masters on hold if that happens, as there is nothing like good
work experience and also because this is in line with my life choices,
which is to be of service to humanity.
It definitely speaks volumes that you would be ready to put your
masters on hold for a potential position. Apart from this particular
plan, do you have any other project you would be looking to implement
in Nigeria?
Yes I do. A group of us are currently looking into issues related to
women and children in Nigeria. We are thinking of setting up schools
and shelters to help people and although we still have a long way to
go, it's a project we are passionately invested in. Also as a writer
and analyst, I would love to come back and set up a writing firm in
Nigeria, as I think that a lot of the business writing needs to be
more professional. I have observed a lot of substandard work on this
nature which means the companies are either not employing qualified
professionals, or they simply don't care how they communicate with
their clients and members of the general public, through writing.
Fascinating Stuff! You seem to enjoy writing, how did you pick it up?
I have always loved writing and this started right from when I was
much younger, I remember spending more hours on writing assignments
than other subjects, and winning some awards in writing essays in
middle school. In my communications major, I registered for some 400
level courses while I was a freshman, and though it's not allowed, I
actually performed excellently in those courses to the surprise of
everyone. I went on to write a book in 2012, about being an African in
America, and right now I am in the editing process of the book, while
still blogging frequently. I have also written for an online newspaper
called African Examiner and I have occasionally contributed to
BellaNaija. Right now whilst studying for my MA, I am a writer at
Hopkins, so you see, writing is something I am quite passionate about.
Who do you particularly aspire to be like in the communications and
writing sector?
It would have to be Nigerian OAP Toolz, as I have seen her grow from
strength to strength in the media and I admire her professionalism. I
should also mention Nelson Mandela and even though he is not a writer,
I admire the impact he has made on a global scale. I have learnt from
these people and would ultimately just want to be a successful version
of myself.
That's admirable. On a final note, as someone who has made the move
back to Nigeria albeit somewhat unsuccessfully, what can you say to
people who might be considering moving back to Nigeria?
I believe that to move to Nigeria you have to actually really want to
be there, as you are going to face certain issues which might set you
off balance. Also you should be prepared to adjust to the kinds of
people you meet and also learn to be really patient in your dealings.
This is because you are bound to come across uncomfortable situations,
to put it mildly. You basically have to develop a thick skin because
initially some people would want to look down on you.
I would also advise against going to Nigeria with the sole aim of
making money, instead think of the bigger picture and be ready to be
part of the change the country needs. Ultimately, I must add that
Nigeria is an interesting country with great people and so while it
may be a difficult to adjust, it's certainly exciting. Plus I love the
sharwarmas in WUSE 2!
Thanks for speaking with us, best wishes moving forward.
Source: Cp-Africa
