Being a man in today’s Africa is a very confusing assignment. One minute, society is telling you:

“Be responsible. Be a good man. Don’t stain your father’s name.”

And the very next minute, that same society is whispering,

“But look at your mates… they’re buying houses for their parents. They’re driving Benz. They’re making money, how about you?”

It makes you wonder what we really want from men.

Integrity or instant wealth? Morals or results? Because honestly, the pressure is everywhere.

Women don’t want to marry a man who doesn’t have a house or a car. Parents don’t feel proud until their sons start buying them things. Even in everyday interactions, the man who doesn’t “seem to have much” is ignored, underestimated, or outright dismissed. Your opinions magically become more valuable the moment you “make it.”

In other words, society wants you to live like Oboz, the principled, hardworking, rule-following man but will only celebrate you when you start behaving like Efe, the charming, reckless rule-breaker who cashes out quickly and doesn’t overthink anything.

They won’t say it out loud, but they definitely think it, and that’s where the dilemma begins.

If you watch Nollywood, you already know these two men:

The hardworking, principled man. He’s smart, disciplined, doing his best, earning an honest living, and hoping the system rewards him one day. He’s not rich, he’s barely afloat, but he’s trying.

The charming rule-breaker who cashes out quickly. He will do anything to make money as long as he stays wealthy, respected, and admired. These aren’t just characters; they exist in real life.

Society claims they want you to be Oboz, but they applaud, admire, and hype Efe the moment he shows up with luxury, connections, or visible success.

If a man earning the average salary saves 40% every month, it will take 75 months (about 4 years) to afford that car, and that’s assuming:

So… of course, the pressure is choking.

Why Many Men Start Considering Efe’s Path

Let’s be honest: we can’t even fully blame the guys who go rogue. Look at the Oboz archetype in Nollywood: that man always suffers. He does everything right, and life still deals with him. That’s not far from real life.

Nigeria is hard. Being a man in Nigeria? Harder. Every day presents a new problem, a new bill, a new responsibility.

So when an alternative path presents itself, one that only requires a bit of rule-bending, many men whisper to themselves: “After all, everybody is doing it…” And genuinely, sometimes life doesn’t even give you a choice.

Yes, Oboz is struggling. Yes, Efe looks like he’s winning. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to be Oboz or Efe. There is a middle ground.

You can earn honestly and earn well, with strategy, small shifts in thinking, and better positioning. Here are simple, practical ways modern Nigerian men can escape the extremes:

1. Work on Skills That Actually Pay in Today’s Economy

Not every skill is valued the same. Some skillsets multiply your earnings faster than others. Focus on:

In Nigeria, the right skill can change your earning power faster than raw hard work.

2. Build Multiple Streams, even Micro Ones

Not side hustles that drain you, but things that stack:

Little by little becomes something stable.

3. Remove “Pride” From Your Financial Decisions

Many men stay broke because they want to look like Efe before they can afford Efe’s life. Cut lifestyle pressure, simplify, stabilise and play the long game. Your future self will thank you.

4. Build Community With Men Who Are Not Pretending

5. Seek Help Early, Financially, Mentally, Emotionally

Men are conditioned to “figure it out alone,” but that mindset destroys more futures than poverty. Therapy, mentors, teamwork, advice, and even honest conversations save lives. Nobody wins alone.

The whole point of this conversation is simple. Being a saint isn’t all you need to succeed. You also don’t need to be a criminal to succeed. You need to be strategic.

Yes, society rewards wealth loudly. Yes, many people will overlook you until you “make it.” Yes, the pressure on men is unfair, deeply unfair.

But your dignity, your peace of mind, and your future matter more than applause. Be a good man but be a wise one too. At the end of the day, the world may celebrate Oboz today, but it is the patient, disciplined, intentional man who builds a life that lasts.

Society tells men to be humble, honest Efe… then tun around and started clapping for fast-money Oboz. This real breakdown exposes the pressure, the confusion, and why men are low-key tired. With simple, practical ways to survive society’s double standards.

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