Top 10 priorities for Nigerians under 30 in 2025
Young Nigerians in 2025 remain a paradox: impossibly vibrant, fiercely intelligent, yet hindered by a landscape that often feels managed by a committee that misplaced the instruction manual.
They are restless, resourceful, and increasingly convinced that if tomorrow is to be better, they’ll probably have to build it themselves, likely using imported parts bought with money earned from a remote job that requires constant generator power.
So, other than the neighbour’s generator and tuneful mosquitoes, what keeps these bright sparks up at night? What fuels their hustle, their hopes, and their hilarious coping mechanisms?
Call it ‘how they cope, ‘The Renewed Hope they desperately need’, or ‘the things making them consider swimming to Italy, here’s a quick rundown of top priorities for the under-30 crew, 2025 edition:
Japa
Forget just visiting the US or UK in the summer; the ambition now is a full-scale relocation, preferably to anywhere with stable electricity and a currency that doesn’t devalue while you’re enjoying a weekend break. Canada is the promised land, the UK is the familiar cousin, the USA is the cultured escape, and even smaller African nations like Rwanda are looking appealing.
Unfortunately, the hustle for a visa is still an extreme sport, involving IELTS scores that even the British natives would struggle with, proof of funds that could buy a small Island ten years ago, and agents whose promises are as reliable as the Nigerian politician’s. The Japa dream isn’t just a search for greener pastures; it’s escaping a rigged system.
Securing the bag in foreign currency
Oh, you’ve secured a new job? That’s cute, but we’ve moved on from that. The ultimate priority now is getting a job that pays in foreign currency. Tech skills are the new oil – coding, UI/UX design, digital marketing, content strategy, and more.
Young Nigerians are upskilling furiously, and the ones who haven’t are trying to, aiming for remote roles with companies abroad (or at home) that can pay their wages in Dollars, Pounds or Euros.
Why? Because earning in Naira in this economy feels like trying to fill a basket with water. The ultimate goal: earn forex, live a bit more comfortably, and ultimately afford to fund that Japa blueprint.
Social Media and the network that allows you to enjoy it
Social media isn’t just a course; it’s the entire curriculum. TikTok, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, and Facebook – they are the office, the market square, the therapist’s couch, the newspaper stand, and the party venue.
But all these run on data, the price of which requires complex financial planning. And the network? It’s fickle, perfectly fine when watching the ‘Bana’ trend on TikTok, but vanishes when a crucial Zoom call starts or a payment needs to go through. The collective prayer isn’t just for daily bread, but for ‘4G that stays’.
Electricity from the National Grid, Generator, or Inverter
Remember when getting a car was an escape from bad transport? Now, the escape needed is from perpetual darkness and lack of power. The national grid seems like a patient in the intensive care unit, and the ambitions of the power sector seem like a myth.
The reality is a symphony of generator noise, paying for Band A light or nurturing the inverter/solar panel dream that often clashes with the nightmare of installation costs and fake battery. How do you work remotely when your laptop battery dies and the generator refuses to start? Juju? Mostly just pain.
Finding Sanity and Protecting It
The pressure is getting worser. Economic anxiety, career uncertainty, societal expectations, and the sheer sensory overload of Nigerian life have made mental wellness a critical priority. Therapy is less taboo, but finding an affordable, qualified therapist is another hustle.
So, coping mechanisms thrive: dark humour on twitter, clinging to religious faith, alcohol and drug consumption, finding solace in online communities, binge-watching shows or gaming to escape reality, and maybe, just maybe, admitting that ‘it’s okay not to be okay,’ even if you still have to hustle tomorrow.
Getting a side hustle
One job is rarely enough. The 2025 Nigerian dream is built on multiple income streams. Today, everyone seems to be selling something online – clothes, hair, gadgets, food trays, digital products.
Content creation has now become a serious contender for ‘Plan B’. Dropshipping, affiliate marketing, maybe a cautious dip into crypto because you need to get your bread up. In fact, some people will not take you seriously if all you do is ‘banking from 9-5.’ God forbid if you’re a civil servant.
It’s not just about ambition; it’s about survival. Your 9-to-5 may pay the bills (and I honestly doubt it); the side hustle funds the Japa plan, just buys the drink at the club or pays for your skin products.
Getting a car
With public transportation still as useless as possible because the buses available for public transit will stain your steeze and taxis (Uber, Bolt, etc) are still expensive, the top on the scale of preference for young Nigerians is getting a car. Anything from a ‘foreign used’ to a local second-hand would do.
Housing
The housing crisis continues, but with 2025 inflation adding ata rodo to the wound. Rents haven’t just soared; they’ve achieved escape velocity. Some landlords still demand two years’ rent upfront, and prospective tenants would pay ‘agreement’, ‘commission’, ‘caution fee’, and probably a viewing fee for considering renting the space.
Young professionals are forced into endless searches for flatmates, paying a lot of money for tiny spaces, living further from city centres, or enduring living with their parents long after achieving nominal adulthood.
Staying single, getting married, or getting married to the hustle
Is marriage still a priority today? The ladies are waiting for Mr Right, but they do not mind ‘benefitting’ from another person’s while their own finds his way to them. Most of the men are hoping to stay single long enough to score more adventures (without breaking the bank) before finally saying ‘I do’.
Engage or Endure in 2027
The post-EndSARS generation carries a complex mix of heightened awareness, deep cynicism, and targeted digital activism. While faith in the overall political system might be low, especially after the 2023 general elections, young Nigerians are still engaging. The Nigerian Youth continues to demand accountability online, organise around specific causes, critiquing policies (like fuel subsidy removal or economic reforms), and generally refusing to be ignored.
The question isn’t if they care, but how they can make their voices count in a system that often seems determined to tune them out. Many young people have voiced their displeasure with the current administration, so get ready for the wave of people who will secure their voters’ cards and actively participate in the next elections.
Navigating Nigeria in 2025 as a young person requires determination, humour, and an almost supernatural ability to adapt. They are building futures amidst uncertainty, finding joy in chaos, and constantly remixing their priorities to survive and, hopefully, thrive. Let’s just hope the network holds up while they do it.
