We Were Raised Extra – And That’s Our Superpower

I once met an American who looked me in the eye and said, “Honestly, what’s so special about you Nigerians? Every single one I’ve met ends up successful.” I laughed, but deep down, I knew the answer: We were raised extra.

Everything about growing up Nigerian is extra. The discipline? Extra. The expectations? Extra. The prayers? Extra. Even the love, though sometimes wrapped in tough words and louder-than-life voices, was extra.

We were taught to greet everyone, not just say “hi.” To say “yes ma,” “no sir,” even to people who were just slightly older. We grew up navigating family gatherings that were louder than stadiums. We weren’t allowed to slack. You were either first in class or not good enough. “You got 95? Where are the other 5 marks?” Sound familiar?😅

We grew up in systems that weren’t perfect. From epileptic power supply to the hustle of commuting in overcrowded buses, nothing came easy. And yet, we thrived. Because our parents, imperfect as they were, told us we were destined for greatness. They planted that seed. Sometimes with cane in one hand and blessing in the other.

We didn’t just survive. We flourished.

We didn’t just learn to live. We learned to rise.

So imagine what happens when someone raised in that environment, where hope is squeezed out of hardship and confidence is built on correction, finds themselves in a land where systems work, opportunities exist, and dreams don’t require government connections.

It’s like being trained to bloom in infertile soil and then you’re transplanted to a fertile garden.

What do you think happens? We blossom beyond belief.

We’re not just hard workers. We’re visionaries. We’re not just resilient. We’re relentless. We don’t give up because we were never taught that was an option. We don’t wait to be chosen. We show up with our extra and we become undeniable.

Call it delusion. Call it confidence. But this is what makes us Nigerian.

We carry greatness like it lives rent-free in our minds. Because, well, it does.

If you’re a Nigerian reading this, whether you're in Lagos traffic or in a quiet flat in London, remember who you are.

You were raised extra and that’s your superpower.

Let the world see it.

Own it.

Live it.

And keep flourishing.

Dee🥳