Welcome address by Azuka Onwuka, President, Association of Nigerians in Nova Scotia

Most times when I strike up a conversation with Nova Scotians and they get to know that I am from Nigeria, one comment they usually make is: "Are you a doctor? I have been treated by Nigerian doctors. They are amazing." I also hear Nova Scotians talk glowingly about Nigerian nurses, caregivers, engineers, IT professionals, project managers, financial services professionals, etc.

The positive reports given about Nigerian health professionals happen despite the tortuous path Nigerians go through to be certified to practise in Canada. For instance, Nigerian doctors who enter Nova Scotia directly from Nigeria go through some rigours of studies and examinations, with heavy financial demands, before they can be licensed to practise. While waiting to complete their certification, many of them drive cabs, work as cashiers, clear snow, etc. A classmate of mine who had practised as a doctor in Nigeria for over ten years is undergoing that process now. That is the persevering spirit of the Nigerian. The Nigerian believes in stooping to conquer. No hurdle is too high to scale. No valley is too deep to waddle through. It is just a matter of time.

It is well, even in the well

That spirit is captured in the Nigerian saying: "It is well, even in the well". The Nigerian believes that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

No wonder that in 2014, the World Value Survey ranked Nigerians as the happiest people on earth. Explaining the factors that put Nigerians in the number one position, Rod Dreher pointed at Nigerians' “super religious” disposition and their unusual level of optimism even in the face of daunting odds. It is not surprising that Nigerians give their children names like Ndubuisi (once there is life, there is hope), Nkeiruka (the future is more important), Onyemaechi (who knows what tomorrow will bring?), Iretiola (hope for wealth/tomorrow), Durojaiye (wait and enjoy life), etc.

That unusual level of optimism imbues in Nigerians the can-do, never-say-die spirit. The Nigerian usually thinks of “how can it be done?”, not why it cannot be done. It comes from years of being told: "We need results, not excuses."

It also comes from a system where 9 to 5 only exists in theory. In Nigeria, you are not expected to close from work and shut down completely until the next working day. If there are emails that demand urgent responses at night or over the weekend or public holiday, you are expected to attend to them. Sometimes, even on your sick bed or during your vacation, there are emails and tasks you may have to attend to. The principle is to go above and beyond and deliver results to the clients and save the organization any embarrassment or displeasure.

Plan B is key

The other trait that marks the Nigerian out is having a back-up plan or Plan B for virtually everything. Almost everybody in Nigeria has at least two phone lines. If one network experiences hiccups, you switch over to the other line. Sometimes one network offers some freebies on data while the other is cheaper on calls. If public electricity fails, we switch over to a generator. We have overhead water tanks in case the public water supply fails. We save documents on email, external drive, cloud, etc in case our laptop crashes. We have cash in our wallet or purse in case the bank card or ATM malfunctions or is not close by.

This Plan B mentality drives our management and official engagements. We always have a second plan in the background in case the main one we are banking on fails.

Knowledge is power

Another trait is the quest for knowledge and degrees. The love Nigerians have for education and degrees is hard to explain. In Nigeria, a first degree is considered not enough. Those with only one degree feel inadequate. A first degree is just seen as a foundation. A second degree is considered the standard for those seeking to work and retire in any profession. Having two master’s degrees is not uncommon: one master’s in one field and then an MBA.

Then there is the icing on the cake, which is a PhD. For many Nigerians, educational pursuit is not complete if it does not end with a PhD. Even for people who have no business with the world of academia, a PhD is an ambition. Many acquire it, not to use it in their field, but to fulfil that desire of getting to the apogee of knowledge. Another point that fuels this quest for knowledge is to make one’s parents proud. Mum and Dad need to boast within their circles that their children have so and so degrees and accomplishments.

Financial Times of October 29, 2020 wrote as follows: “In the US, Nigerians are the most highly educated of all groups, with 61 per cent holding at least a bachelor's degree compared with 31 per cent of the total foreign-born population and 32 per cent of the US-born population, according to 2017 data from the Migration Policy Institute.

“More than half of Nigerian immigrants (54 per cent) were most likely to occupy management positions, compared with 32 per cent of the total foreign-born population and 39 per cent of the US-born population.”

It takes a village to raise a child

Then there is the spirit of volunteerism and community. From childhood, Nigerians build their community and help one another to rise. Government and institutions do not provide scholarships and grants for individuals to go to the university. Parents pay their children’s school fees. For those whose parents cannot afford the school fees, communities or individuals come to the rescue. Similarly, the government and banks don’t provide loans for mortgages. People save to build or buy their houses. Relatives also help with loans and gifts. Only those who have big assets can get loans from the banks to buy a house or a car. Nigerians buy their phones, clothes, groceries, home needs, etc, with cash or a debit card.

If there are no schools or clinics or roads in a neighbourhood, Nigerians raise money to provide such. These things are so ingrained in the system that nobody sees it as anything special to put in a resume. They help Nigerians to succeed, excel and soar wherever they find themselves.

Nigerians in Nova Scotia love Nova Scotia. We are happy that Nova Scotia is welcoming. We love the calmness, warmth and family-friendliness Nova Scotia provides. We are happy with the hospitality we have received here. We are glad that our contributions are recognized. Therefore, we are eager to contribute more of our skills and knowledge to the growth and well-being of this province which we now call home.

We welcome you to the 2024 Gala Night and Awards of the Association of Nigerians in Nova Scotia. Thank you for honouring us with your presence. We hope you enjoy yourselves, learn more about us as we learn more about you.