When I meet people I watch their language and tone, if they are so certain about everything they say or believe I almost always know there is a shallowness that can only be because of lack of experience or a narrowed view of how complex our world can really be. For example, if a man has fever and meets a doctor who concludes that he must have malaria because that is a major symptom of malaria, this doctor could be right except that there are a thousand and one illnesses that could make one have a high fever. So, I posit that when it comes to trying to prepare for our future financially young people either want to spend their money on immediate pleasure, or save crazily every single dime or also just invest in stock market, bonds, landed asset etc wherever they think they could get a good return in the future.

To bring this home I bought Japaul shares for 4naira per share in 2006 or 2007 and in 2024 if I adjust inflation etc it is worth less than 50kobo compared to what I invested, another one I invested in the ponzi scheme Wealth solution in 2006 (off-course unknowingly) and lost equivalent of 400 USD at prevailing rate then, maybe those were naive moves I also bought life insurance from AIICO pension and cumulatively after 4 years my investment’s purchasing power reduced by 60%. I could share other people’s tragic stories but those will make us more depressed. I know I have not done much in real estate right? I will save my analysis for a future time. My goal is to have us think, in life good does not always provide the right result. What then is the solution?

I believe if you are less than 30 years of age the most important asset you should garner are relationships, experiences, knowledge and a good mindset a combination of these will make sure you never loose in life. I also believe there are no perfect investments, there is just what is right for your situation,being a business executive positive cashflow is more important for me than prospective investments. If you are young spend money on good books, invest in solid networking opportunities, attend conferences, go and get life skills, love people genuinely these are the only real asset any individual could truly hold on to as it is trans-cultural, trans-location and delivers result every single time.