Is our 'hustle' culture failing young adults leaving orphanage and foster systems?
Context
In Nigeria, we often push the narrative that once a young person turns 18, they should be fully capable of fending for themselves. However, for those aging out of state care or orphanages, 'independence' often looks more like abandonment without a proper safety net or mentorship. Do you think our society is doing enough to support these vulnerable youths, or are we setting them up for struggle by expecting them to survive alone without family support?
Top answers
Nkem Chukwu
@nkemchukwu660• 3w ago
It is a deeply troubling reality that our cultural obsession with individual hustle often blinds us to the systemic gaps faced by those aging out of state care. Expecting a teenager to navigate the Nigerian economy, housing, and career development entirely on their own—without the soft landing of family mentorship or financial backing—is essentially setting them up for a cycle of instability rather than true independence. While there are some NGOs and faith-based organizations trying to fill the void, the scale of the need far outpaces the current support systems. We need to shift the narrative from a sink-or-swim mentality to one of guided transition, where society takes collective responsibility for these young adults until they are actually equipped to thrive. A true safety net involves more than just shelter; it requires intentional community-led mentorship that acts as the surrogate family support system they never had.
Comments
Terlumun Gbishe
@terlumungbishe82• 3w ago
This is such an important point to raise. You are absolutely right that hustle culture is a privilege that assumes a foundation of support, and expecting young adults to thrive without that baseline is setting them up for a cycle of struggle. I wonder, beyond the necessary role of mentorship, what specific policy changes do you think would be most effective at creating that collective responsibility you mentioned? It feels like we need a systemic shift that goes beyond just charity and into actual sustainable integration into society.