Thread by @wholewomancoop

1/7 Why do a lot of Igbo professionals thrive in Canada?

They thrive on Competition/Meritocracy

They ensure they/their kids have at least 2 degrees/engage in strong extra curricular activities+Sports/community Networks

They do not choose courses/careers based on sentiments..

2/7. Igbos in Canada support one another. Especially economically. It is a remarkable thing and I am often inspired/humbled by it. Even with all the ego/intra - group fightings, the town - union networks are cohesive and ensure all members get the skills they need to thrive here.

3/7. When you arrive in Canada, there is often an Igbo family to take you in for the first few weeks or months. Yes. You live with them, they put you through -how to get "Canadian work/study experience", how to upgrade your skills, how to use a cohort type of shared accommodation

4/7. Most Igbo professionals/traders have an unwritten rule; regardless of your day job, you have a side business e g A teacher in public school will offer individual lessons, those who cook well have catering businesses, and there's an unwritten "patronize your own" initiative☺

5/7. And so if say 4 new families arrive town, you will find a network of Igbos who reach our to them, help with groceries/accomodation/driving them around, until they settle in. They could someone to loan then a car, teach them how to get lower insurance based on residence etc.

6/7 If there's a scholarship available for students, these town union groups keep a tab and share with families. If there are new policies on housing/taxes/all regulations, professionals run in-house workshops to let the community members know how it affects them. Info -sharing..

7/7. People invest as coops. One person may not be able to buy a house but 3 or 5 people can come together and invest in real estate. Within a few years they sell/split returns. Then reinvest again. Here, "Igwebuike" is real. No lone rangers in the abroad or hunger go wire you!😂

7/7a. And MENTORSHIP is prized here. Just like the "IMU AHIA" apprenticeship model we all grew up with back in Nigeria, our measure of success here is HOW many youths/families have you mentored/helped to succeed? Whether in trade or professionally. There is always someone to help

7/7b/ So for instance, that your own children finished from universities, got great jobs, while this is celebrated, the bigger accolades goes to how many other children of OTHER people did you replicate the same with. So you see a lot of joint scholarships/grants/mentorship etc..

7/7c. Quick story -A few yrs ago, I'd travel far to get my African grocery and there were a lot of other Nigerians living in my neighbourhood. Guess what? The Grocery store owner told me to buy in BULK from her and she would simply direct all these people to buy/pick up from me..

7/7d. And I'll never forget that experience. It showed me how collaboration opens up new value chains/opportunities. For her, she didn't view it as competition, rather a way to serve all her customers, and a way to even create wealth for me too. "Onye agha na nwanne ya" in action

7/7e. Children are ENCOURAGED to excel in SPORTS/CREATIVE ARTS/ACADEMICS...So it's not surprising to see kids being drafted in SPORTS (NBA/CFL etc), when they go into Fashion/Art etc, the community of town unions abroad offer incredible support. And those who excel are CELEBRATED

7/7f And IF you doubt the Igbo spirit of IGWEBUIKE, you need to simply witness HOW they rally around any member of their community who experiences a loss abroad. I have seen young widows/kids being surrounded with such support/resources, not just at time of incident but for years

7/7g. Don't get me wrong, our usual ego-based in-fighting are still there, community associations splintering and then coming back together🤣🤣The 'IGBO ENWE EZE' is both a positive and a curse BUT we know how to put all that aside and really rally round one another for PROGRESS!

7/7h. Anyway, I am excited about the next wave -a whole NEW generation of Igbo youths, most of them born abroad, who are so focused on giving back to their communities back home and have created a VOLUNTEER platform to do so, in collaboration with youths at home. It's pretty cool

7/7i. In due time, you will see the works/activities/projects from #SERVE Youth-led, and built from a tradition/culture of youths who have experienced first hand the power of community service, of being there for one another, of ensuring the most vulnerable is supported to EXCEL!

7/7j. NWANNE DI NA MBA; Here, I saw the beauty of this in action. Just like Maya Angelou's poem -"You cannot make it out here alone". And I love that a whole new generation raised in the west is now committed to rebuilding their VILLAGES/COMMUNITIES...giving a DIGNIFIED hand up😊

And FINALLY, when I say "OGADIMMA", "NKIRUKA" -it is not a dream or rhetorics. We are ACTIVELY and with deliberate INTENTIONS, investing in a NEW Generation that will do better than we have done. That understands that we all win, when everyone gets a fair chance to EXCEL IN LIFE!

When we love ourselves, it's so easy to love others. When you value your life, it is so easy to value the lives of others. When you support one another, it is so easy to extend the same support to others. That is why LOVE is the key that unlocks it all. IFUNANYA..trite but true!

My ONE request after you're done reading this thread (I tell all mentees/groups/platforms):

Read "OUTLIERS" by Malcolm Gladwell 3 Times:

1/ Read alone and take notes;
2/ Read with a like-minded friend/buddy/partner and take notes
3/ Read as a group/community -DISCUSS/IMPLEMENT

*HEALTHY COMPETITION & COLLABORATION, based on clearly established values of Excellence/Meritocracy/Inclusivity are powerful frameworks to unlock any groups potential. You can fill gaps and break down systemic barriers. Study how systems work, learn from mistakes of others, GROW!

IF you already have a neurology where culturally you can pack your belongings in a plastic bag and head to LAGOS/KANO/ABUJA from your village, with a mindset that you WILL thrive, EMIGRATING ABROAD becomes an easier process because you already know HOW to use town-union networks.

I am sharing some of these proven tips/strategies/experiences because I assumed all communities were doing same and it saddens me to see people come abroad as 'lone rangers' then struggle to survive for years. Why make the same mistakes that others before you made? COLLABORATION

Tip: When you come abroad, we typically suggest to new immigrants WITH CHILDREN, to find accommodation in the best neighbourhood; rent a smaller unit/basement/apt/share a split unit with other families, then get your own, cos GOOD NEIGHBOURHOODS = Good Schools/SAFETY/AMENITIES...

Please, if you're a Nigerian in the abroad, help other Nigerians thrive. Do same at home. WE are all stronger, together. When ALL of us thrive, we all benefit. When all our children thrive, we leave a meaningful legacy. All these East/West/North/South divides are just nonsensical

#CelebratingExcellence #IgboAmaka @Umu_Igbo @IgboProverbs #IgboRenaissance

A blog that inspires me and so many Nigerians across the globe:
igbopeople.blogspot.com

Let's keep recalibrating our values & celebrate Integrity, Enterprise, Accountability, Unity, Empathy, Excellence