Self Leadership

Self-leadership is the first cardinal point to learning and mastering tech skills. I remember how I had been exploring Digital marketing online; there were many exaggerations then; as it was not popular in 2014. I was in my hundred level and on the verge of taking my first assessment at college when I popped up with a Facebook advert promising me the secret to earning online consistently, and firstly I saw this as an opportunity to learn a skill “this is an opportunity for me, I said to myself”.

I had no money in my bank account, before then I had bought training material from a church brother who attended the same church as me, training where he thought about mini importation, I learned how to buy products cheaply from China Ali-Express, how to bring them to Nigeria, and sell for like double or triple the amount. As of this year, I had no laptop, so I had to get to the cybercafé to study and write down my ideas and execution plan. I was only about 17, and I was in a hurry to learn, this is where self-leadership begins from

I had to draw out a list of 10 persons that believed in me, can match their words with their mouths, and give me money if I need a certain amount of money that will give me the best opportunity of my life.

I went ahead to buy a N15,000 course, I was mad, I was crazy, and I was promised that if I take action then I will never be poor again. I raisedN15,000 from 8 persons to buy the course, and I had no laptop, I used a cybercafé to study; I was desperate, I was hungry, and I knew I needed a change in my life and I had a strong reason and burning passion to succeed.

No one ever told me to be serious, no one ever called me to enquire if I have finished the course, and no one ever finds out if I face challenges taking the course, I  had major challenges but I used my mind to figure it out. At night, I will take an internet subscription to be able to watch the videos, or during weekends, I will pay cybercafé to be able to access it from their own end. This is why my platform Bankable Wisdom exists to help young people access Tech skills in Africa.

It is clear fact that young people must pay the price to get it right, you must be hungry enough to lead yourself, deal with seeming distractions around you, and grow yourself. The first thing that makes it possible to learn a tech skill is self-leadership: you must learn to lead yourself; you must learn to make a great decision if you must make any change in Africa. Young people must learn to lead themselves without motivation, and without blaming anyone for their successes or failures.

Young people must learn to fight the battle of self, and go on to take action. No one is coming to save you; no one is coming to give you victory.

The elders will help you follow their agenda and sponsor people that are loyal to them. If no one is coming to help you, you must set great goals and lead yourself to battle; lead yourself to wake up early to that goal, lead yourself to wake up and show up consistently to your goal.

Dear young people, lead yourself. If you cannot lead yourself to solve your seeming challenges, then you cannot do the same for others. If you cannot lead yourself, then you can never create a change in the world.