“Shege” is a respecter of nobody. Have you ever been stuck somewhere with no one to call? Or you took the risk of boarding a Sienna and almost got kidnapped, or your pregnant neighbor goes into labor by 1 am midnight, what kind of “shege” have you had to deal with?
What does “shege” mean to Nigerians?
The term “shege” means different things to different people in Nigeria. It can refer to financial difficulties, physical or mental stress, difficult tasks or unexpected events. It encompasses all forms of stress, be it financial, physical or mental. We can summarize “shege” as any form of financial, physical, or mental stress.
What scenarios can be classified as “shege”?
Being stuck somewhere with no one to call, getting robbed or kidnapped, having to help a pregnant neighbor who goes into labor by 1 am midnight, or being very ill when you live alone. These may not be perfect examples, we are only trying to paint a picture here. “Shege” is literally anything that stresses you in any way.
How can a Nigerian avoid seeing “shege”?
To avoid seeing “shege” as a Nigerian is almost like avoiding COVID that year, quite tough! Here are some tips that will help you.
- Be careful of unsolicited offers. If it is too good to be true, then it is too good to be true. How can you believe an “investment” offer that promises high returns in days or even hours? Especially when the offer is in your face, you should be careful. No one who is making money will announce the source of their wealth or try to persuade other people to join. These kinds of offers can lead to financial “shege”, which can result in other types of “shege”.
- Don’t be afraid to say NO. It can be billing, black tax or a job that would give you stress. If you think it might later cause problems for you, don’t hesitate to say NO.
- No pressure. A lot of times, “shege” can be self-inflicted. People get in certain situations because they have set unrealistic standards and they allow it to pressure them. Take things easy, one thing at a time and watch yourself live a less-stressful life
- Make adequate plans. The popular saying “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail ” might sound very old school, it is true regardless. Planning applies to different aspects and we’ll touch on how you can plan to avoid “shege” in the next paragraph.
For finances, you need to know how to plan well to avoid seeing “shege”. You should have a savings plan, a realistic investment portfolio, a spending budget and multiple revenue sources if you want to avoid seeing “shege” in Nigeria. Another very important aspect that needs planning is your transportation, especially if you’re in Lagos. You need to stay updated with traffic news and be sure your route is free from traffic before you head out. It is worse if you have to commute by public bus, that’s another type of “shege” on its own.
As you make plans, don’t forget your health and security. It is a good idea to have a health insurance plan. It is best if your health insurance covers you in an emergency as well. Last month, Sam Baddoo shared a story. He narrated the tragic loss of one of Fleri’s beneficiaries because none of their HMO partners could provide ambulance service at 1am in Abuja, Nigeria. It was very emotional to read. If you intend to spend some time in Nigeria this month and beyond, you should get a health and security plan that would be available when you need it to be.
