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Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Banking Tsunami: Effects on the Economy

In 2010, I was downsized by Oceanic Bank. They called it the "Oceanic Tsunami". It was a very big blow. I had  worked with them for almost 2 years, and I can tell you by myself that I worked hard. But somehow, my name was on that "black list". I honestly can't explain how I felt, because I still don't understand my feeling at that point. In a cloud, I cried because I felt that I had somehow I had "failed". How do you explain the fact that it was just 2 of us in a whole branch? I really felt bad because I knew how long it took me to get the job. (omo, no be small tin ooo), and then overnight, poof, the job developed wings and flew away. I just told God to deal with it. (thank God for family and friends- that's another story by the way) Exactly one month after that, I got another job.

This week, I heard that a second Tsunami had occurred. I know a lot of people who got affected, and I may understand a bit of what it is they are going through right now. It's not funny at all. Many of them have families... and I'm not talking about Oceanic alone, but also people who got downsized in other banks as well.

Now, what I really want to say is this, be careful to remember people when the going is good, because life is a circle...one minute its one side and the other minute, its the other side. Most times bankers are too busy being bankers to really have a life. Its really not their fault, but sometimes they get carried away. Yesterday, I got a call from someone I used to work with, telling me he needed a job and asking how I got my job after I was downsized. I politely told him I submitted my CV to job search sites, recruitment agencies and what have you and wished him luck. Suddenly, my chats with some people has increased as well. 
Before I got my job, the impression I had of some of my former colleagues was that I wasn't trying hard enough. They probably felt I was just crossing my arms. I don't blame them anyway. I felt that way about someone too when he was job hunting. 

1Cor 10:12 says be careful when you think you are standing firm, that you don't fall. That's something we all need to take seriously. 

Please help people if you know you can and don't judge, because you'll never know when the unfavourable circle of life will revolve... #just saying.

To those affected, I want to tell you that "everything good will come, just hold on to the one you call God and look deep inwards...its an opportunity to do what you really love. I know because I was once in your shoes. Just be determined and you will succeed.

Now another thing I want to talk about is the effect this Tsunami (not just the Banking Industry) this will have on the economy. Already, standard of living in Nigeria is low. There are so many unemployed people who have families and look to the employed to feed daily. With the number of people out of jobs on the increase, tell me how individuals and families will survive. The other day I heard of a girl (she had been laid off earlier) whose husband was laid off. Where do they go to from here?

I sincerely hope the government has a plan, because a massive wave of revolution is on its way right now. The  rate at which robberies occur this days is quite alarming. And you guessed right. Graduates are fast becoming thieves to "survive". The other day, I was in a bus and the conductor was "spreeing". I felt so sad. He just had to survive. Now more people with certificates are on the streets... We keep hearing the government say they will create jobs, if that doesn't happen soon, I fear that #occupy Nigeria will be child's play compared to what will come up. There are unemployed youths everywhere, and we know what idleness does...

God save Nigeria!!!


21 comments :

  1. Whats the meaning of 'spreeing'?

    Some of us have placed our security in our jobs, I hope we have learned better.
    A country that has not developed its SMEs is not yet ready for development

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    1. spreeing- a term we used to use back in sec. school, and it means "speaking with a foreign accent".

      And you wonder what all the committees and sub-committees do when they meet.

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  2. whats the meaning of "spreeing?" *again* :)

    Only God can come to the aid of Nigeria,just wonder what hes waiting for.anyway i`m in no place to ask Why now..that was once upon a time..

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    1. spreeing- a term we used to use back in sec. school, and it means "speaking with a foreign accent"

      Lol...you wonder what God is waiting for??? If He gives you an orange tree when you ask for orange juice, you don't expect him to come and squeeze it for you. Unfortunately, that's what we are waiting for, squeezed oranges!

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  3. Word! It's easy to point fingers at others when they are still searching because we feel 'secure' in our own jobs. But like you quoted, 'let he who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall'. that is so true.

    Everytime I think about Nigeria i'm so pained. Because I see opportunities for job creation everywhere but I wonder why the government doesn't see it. The people that can make things happen because of their monetary resources are few compared to the masses. That is why we need the government at all levels yet they are so slow

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    1. Government is slow granted, but we can't keep waiting for the Govt.. We actually need to do things for ourselves because the Govt. is too fat and can't move a single finger.

      And you are so right, opportunities abound, and I believe there are people who have a lot of ideas, but where do they get "sponsors" from to start out? No bank wants to lend, and even if they do, the rate of interest can bury borrowers with change sef.
      Then we elect people thinking they can bring the change we need, and they start buying the shoes they were deprived of before they "hit it big". And so the vicious cycle continues... *sigh*

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  4. Hmmmm! This definitely hit me. True, we all need to be careful of the way we treat people. The same people we meet on our way up are the ones we will meet on our way down. That said, our nation is indeed on the brink of collapse and only God can save us now. I bet God himself would be shaking his head at this nation. What else could we do but pray and work on our individual lives.

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  5. I've been really worried about the spate of redundancies in the country especially in the Banking sector, and more worrying is that the severance package was quite poor. At least those retrenched can use that to start new businesses.

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  6. Hopefully, you know money has a way of "slipping away" if people don't know what to use it for. I saw someone I used to work with at Oceanic, we both left at the same time. According to what she said, she hit a gold mine in form of a business opportunity and the rest as they say is history. Another person is still "job hunting".

    If only people can believe that they can do whatever they set their minds to achieve...

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  7. Wow Interesting post and thanks for sharing. I really like the bible verse you use and yes lets not forget how we got there also. As for Nigeria, I just feel sad every time I hear of the things going on.

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  8. Losing a job is tough. I have been there so I know. Good thing is that it only makes you strong, if you refuse to let it affect your dreams. What's more, it tens to open up so many doors you never knew existed.
    The wife of my husband's friend was affected by the recent Oceanic/Eco Bank 'tsunami', as you put it and she's worked there for over eight years. Well, good thing is, she was so happy about it. Probably has been wanting to leave, but not having the courage to do it until God helped her roll the too comfortable rug from beneath her. Now, she's got options to explore.

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    1. I'm glad she realizes that this is an opportunity...If she maximizes it, then the sky is her starting point!

      And yes, losing a job is a nightmare.

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  9. wow! i can only imagine how tough it is. thank God you got another job in no time and i pray the fresh ones also get something to do to survive

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  10. Spreeing, dats a new one.
    I really fear for Nigeria and I totally hate thinking about it. So many things people do to survive right now.
    I gave you the versatile blogger award on my blog, go get it :)

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  11. We used to use the word (spreeing)a lot in my sec school...
    The thing is that we have the answer to our problems in our hands, but we are too lazy to make use of it. God help us

    Thanks for the award! I already have it, but will just update the post.

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  12. Hey Ema, nice blog here. Comes off as easygoing and real. Kinda gottn addicted but mnot rushn it. Been tryin hard to take my time to read; like a topic a day but mgna run out soon. Hope you will keep me in the style I have bcom accustomed.

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    1. Just visited your blog as well, and I am about to settle down to "watch you create pictures with words". (wink)

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  13. Thanks a lot, really.

    I hope you still visit the blog? Please feel free to leave comments about the posts, as I love reading the comments. That will also help me improve.

    Enjoy!

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