In Nigeria, there’s a problem called Near Success Syndrome (NSS). This is a phenomenon that happens when an individual gets so close to achieving their goals but then falls short in the end.
This creates confusion and depression, especially in Nigeria, where, as an individual, you are meant to be tough and keep going no matter what life throws at you.
Knowing what Near Syndrome Success means will help us see the sad reality people face in Nigeria and also show how people handle tough challenges.
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What is a Near Success Syndrome?
Near Success Syndrome (NSS) is a psychological development where people go through recurrent phases of getting ever so close to reaching their goals but, at the end of the day, fall short at the last hurdle.
This can birth feelings of letdown, disappointment, and self-doubt, regardless of the obvious progress toward the sought-after outcome. This syndrome mostly points to the difficulties people face in going through the latter stages of their labour and can affect their motivation and confidence in future endeavours.
Near Success Syndrome Examples Nigerians are Faced with
In Nigeria, Near Success Syndrome manifests in various aspects of life, reflecting the unique challenges faced by individuals in the country. Some examples include:
- Academic Pursuits: This applies to students who constantly do well all through the school year but closely miss out on passing exams or gaining admission to preferred institutions that may go through NSS. Regardless of their hard work and commitment, the failure to conquer their academic goals can be heartbreaking.
- Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurs in Nigeria mostly come across NSS when their businesses show impressive growth but find it difficult to hold on to profitability or hold down necessary finance to move forward. Even after the first success and efforts to go further, difficulties such as limited access to funding or infrastructure can stifle progress.
- Career Advancement: Professionals in Nigeria may experience NSS when they repeatedly fall short of securing desired promotions or job opportunities despite demonstrating competence and dedication in their roles. Factors such as nepotism, favouritism, or limited upward mobility within organizations can contribute to this phenomenon.
- Sporting Achievements: Athletes who train rigorously and excel in their respective sports may face NSS when they narrowly miss out on winning competitions or qualifying for prestigious events. Despite their talent and dedication, factors such as inadequate training facilities, lack of support, or stiff competition can prevent them from achieving their ultimate goals.
- Political Aspirations: Individuals involved in politics may encounter NSS when they come close to winning elections or securing key positions but ultimately face defeat. Despite garnering significant support and campaigning tirelessly, factors such as electoral malpractice, political maneuvering, or lack of resources can thwart their ambitions.
These examples illustrate how Near Success Syndrome permeates various aspects of Nigerian life, highlighting the resilience required to navigate setbacks and the importance of addressing systemic challenges to foster greater opportunities for success.
How to Break the Near Success Syndrome as a Tech Person
Breaking Near Success Syndrome (NSS) as a tech enthusiast has to do with the adoption of strategies to tackle setbacks and achieve the needed result. Here are some steps you can go through:
Research about the international job market:
Tske your time and go through the job market acr8ss the globe to find out which skills and technologies are in demand in your field. This will give you the much needed concentration on building the right skills and gaining experience to become an asset to companies looking to hire.
Be certified in internationally recognized certifications:
Going out of your way to acquire well-known certifications in your field can help you strike a cord with employers all over the world. Some notable certifications include ones from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Google certifications.
Build a solid Presence Online:
With the way the world has gone digital today, it’s really essential to have a good presence online. This simply means that you should create a professional website, have a LinkedIn profile, and remain active in online groups and forums related to your work.
Connect with international Experts:
Another way is to make friends with experts from other countries. This can help you meet more people and boost your chances of getting a high paying job abroad. Attend tech events around the world or in Nigeria, join online tech groups, and form a bond with people who are in the same work as you on LinkedIn.
Gather international experience:
Getting experience in other countries can make you more interesting to employers from other countries. Think about working on projects for companies in other countries or volunteering with international groups. This way, you can learn about different cultures and industries.
Be open to Location Change:
Being willing to move to another country can help you get well-paid tech jobs overseas. Be ready to talk about moving during your job interviews and find out what visas you might need for the countries you want to go to.
At the end of the day, puting yourself in a position to land a high paying international gig as a tech person in Nigeria involves possessing the needed skill and certification, gathering enough experience for the skill you’ve acquired, having a good international network, and the openness to taking on new challenges.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively break the cycle of Near Success Syndrome and cultivate a mindset and approach that fosters continuous growth, learning, and success in your tech endeavours.
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Causes of Near Success Syndrome in Nigeria
Several factors contribute to Near Success Syndrome (NSS) in Nigeria:
- Socio-Economic Challenges: Nigeria faces socio-economic challenges such as high unemployment rates, poverty, and limited access to quality education and healthcare. These factors can hinder individuals’ ability to fully realize their potential and achieve their goals, leading to feelings of frustration and disillusionment when success remains elusive despite their efforts.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Nigeria’s infrastructure deficiencies, including unreliable power supply, inadequate transportation systems, and limited access to internet connectivity, can pose significant barriers to success for individuals, especially those in the tech sector. These challenges impede innovation, hinder business growth, and contribute to the difficulty of achieving tangible success.
- Corruption and Nepotism: Corruption and nepotism are pervasive issues in Nigeria that can undermine meritocracy and fair competition. Individuals may experience NSS when their efforts are overshadowed by favouritism, bribery, or unfair practices, preventing them from realizing their full potential or accessing opportunities based on merit.
- Political Instability: Nigeria’s political landscape is often characterized by instability, governance challenges, and frequent changes in leadership. Political instability can create uncertainty and disrupt economic growth and development, impacting individuals’ ability to achieve their goals and contributing to feelings of disillusionment and stagnation.
- Limited Access to Resources: Access to resources such as funding, mentorship, and infrastructure is essential for success in any endeavour. However, many individuals in Nigeria face barriers to accessing these resources, whether due to lack of financial capital, limited networking opportunities, or insufficient support systems, which can perpetuate the cycle of NSS.
- Cultural Expectations: Nigerian culture has always been strongly hammered on resilience, perseverance, and success. All of these can create pressure on people to get to a particular milestone or societal expectations.
The fear of not making it or falling short of these desires can add to NSS. As human beings, we may go through feelings of not being capable or disappointed when success continues to be tough despite our efforts.
Tackling these basic causes of NSS in Nigeria needs joint efforts from different people. These include government institutions, private sector companies, civil society groups, and people themselves. This is to create a working environment that enables growth, innovation, and fair opportunities for everybody.
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Conclusion
Near Success Syndrome (NSS) have important hindrances for people in Nigeria. This is a result of wider general issues such as socio-economic limits, bad infrastructure, corruption, political disorder, limited access to resources, and pressures from culture.
The phase of NSS can uphold thoughts of annoyance, sophistication, and inaction, limiting people’s ability to reach their goals and fulfill their full potential. Tackling Near Sucess Syndrome needs collective efforts to solve pending issues and create a functioning environment that embraces growth, innovation, and fair opportunities for all Nigerians.
This involves applying policies and openings to foster economic development, upgrade infrastructure, tackle corruption, withhold governance, intensify access to resources, and support people in going after their dreams.
In the end, nursing a culture of resilience, flexibility, and support can enable people to get over setbacks in the face of hardship. In the end, breaking the cycle of NSS and enabling a society where success can be reached for all.
By tackling the root causes of NSS and embracing an accommodating environment for progress and achievement. Nigeria can exploit its full potential and enable its citizens to prosper in chasing their dreams.
