Do I Have to Change to Thrive in Lagos? Yes. But Here’s What That Really Means
Let me be honest: when I first landed in Lagos, I thought I could show up as I was—soft-spoken, polite, schedule-loving Canadian babe—and just adjust a little. You know, tweak a thing or two. But Lagos? Lagos doesn’t ask for tweaks. She demands transformation. So, do you have to change to thrive in this Lagos, Nigeria? Yes.
But the better question is—how much? And what parts of you should never change?
1. You’ll Need to Get Loud Sometimes
Back home, if someone cut in line or spoke over me, I’d give them a look and maybe sigh loud enough to make a point. Here? If you’re not vocal, you’ll be invisible.
You’ll find yourself having to raise your voice (literally and figuratively), whether it’s at the market, in traffic, or even in meetings. It’s not rudeness, it’s survival. Lagos teaches you to speak up, not to fight, but to be heard.
2. Flexibility is a Superpower
In Canada, I lived by Google Calendar and “ETA 3 minutes.” In Lagos, I’ve learned that “I’m coming” might mean 15 minutes or 2 hours. Plans shift. Light goes. Fuel finishes. Rain falls. But Lagos rewards the adaptable. The ability to switch gears without losing your peace is what keeps you sane.
3. Guard Your Kindness, But Use Wisdom
Being too soft can get you trampled here. But losing your kindness? That’s not the answer either.
I had to learn how to be wise and kind, not naïve and kind. I still smile and I still give. But now I ask questions, read the room, and carry a little street smarts in my purse.
4. Unlearn the Need for Everything to Make Sense
Lagos is full of paradoxes: luxury and poverty side by side, traditions colliding with trends, policies that feel like puzzles. Trying to make sense of everything can drive you mad. Sometimes, you just accept it, laugh about it, and move on. Thriving here requires faith, not just logic.
5. Never Lose Your God-Given Identity
This one is big for me. The pressure to conform can be heavy—accent, fashion, mindset, even morals. But at the core, who God made me to be still stands. Yes, I adapt. I adjust. But I don’t compromise my values, my faith, or my joy.
That’s the balance: change what you must for wisdom’s sake, but never morph into someone you’re not.
Final Thoughts
So, how much do you have to change to thrive in Lagos?
Enough to stay sharp, not so much that you forget who you are.
I’ve become bolder, more flexible, and definitely more patient. But I’m still that girl who loves maple syrup, good manners, and God. Lagos didn’t change that. If anything, she refined it. And ultimately, my desire is not to just thrive in Lagos, Nigeria, but to thrive in the kingdom of heaven
And if you’re on this journey too? I see you, sis. You’re not alone.
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