‎In the early to mid-2000s, the use of the term “hustle” began surfacing more in Nigerian urban slang, though its emergence may go further back.
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‎The word hustle was already in English, but it gained another form of usage in African-American communities; it had evolved to mean engaging in street-smart, sometimes illegal economic activities.
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‎The widespread adoption of this slang can be said to have been influenced by: the growth of Nigerian Pidgin English as a cultural language, Youth street culture, especially in Lagos and other big cities.
‎Although the term “hustle” to some means backing up one’s earnings with some other legal sources to prevent being “broke”, to some it means acquiring wealth through cyber fraud, gambling, and the like, without putting its legal implications into consideration.
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‎Knowing what drove the popularity of this slang is of great importance to us in helping to better decide whether hustling should be taken as a necessity or counted as a pressure on Nigerian youths. The popularity is driven by, but not limited to, the following:
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‎1. Economic hardships and youth unemployment made “hustling” a badge of survival and resilience;
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‎2. Social media spread the term quickly among young people;
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‎3. Nigerian artists, comedians, and influencers began using it as a key part of their identity and messaging.
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‎Let’s take a glimpse at each of the points, as it may help us to conclude. While considering each of these factors, let’s keep in mind that, from the definition of this slang, illegal activities are considered “hustle”.
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‎Should Economic hardship lure youths into hustling? This question is best answered when the other two factors listed above are also considered. Youths’ exposure to happenings on various social media platforms, in addition to their craving to live a lifestyle like that of the so-called influencers, whose sources of income are not known to them, changes their orientation of what success means.
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Youths blame the government for not providing sustainable employment opportunities. Is this true?
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‎According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBA), “As of the second quarter of 2024, Nigeria’s unemployment rate stood at 4.3%.” This marks a decrease from 5.3% recorded in the first quarter of 2024. The decline in the unemployment rate suggests improvements in the labour market. However, it’s important to consider other indicators, such as underemployment and the labour force.

The cost of living in the country is quite challenging. It’s important to recognize that exchanging one unpleasant situation for an even worse one is not a viable solution. Young people often struggle to afford basic meals, yet they find it easy to spend five thousand naira on subscriptions to stay connected to social media trends. It’s crucial for youths to learn how to prioritize their spending and avoid wasting money on trivial matters, especially when they could be investing in more beneficial opportunities.

‎Let the youths ponder on the strategic development of those developed countries they long to have been living in.
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‎The development of countries like China is a result of a combination of strategic planning, economic reforms, strong governance, and integration into the global economy.
‎China’s development is not accidental. It is the result of deliberate policies, reform, investment in people and infrastructure, openness to the world, and consistent governance. Other developed countries have followed similar paths, though with different models based on their history, political systems, and resources.
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‎The mindset of using hustling as a means to acquire wealth, either legally or illegally, should be recalibrated. Youths should be more concerned with what their contributions to the development of their country may be.
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‎O, Nigerian Youths! It’s high time we changed our view of what success is and stopped allowing ourselves to be deceived by the “so-called” influencers’ display of unrealistic affluence. Let’s focus on the development of our immediate environment, as that’s how we can be sustained and enjoy whatever we’ve acquired with peace of mind.