Your parents own land in the village. You own a laptop and hope. The wealth gap between Nigerian generations is not just economic; it is structural. They bought property when land was affordable. You face prices that require generational saving. They had stable civil service jobs with pensions. You have contract work with no security. They saved in a currency that held value. You earn in naira that depreciates while you sleep. The advice they give is sincere but outdated. "Save half your salary." Half of what? The rent that consumes 60%? The transport that takes 20%? The "small small" expenses that finish the rest? Their formulas were written for a different economy. And the guilt! They sacrificed for your education. They expected returns. You are struggling to return even presence. The family meeting where your cousin who "japa'd" sends dollars while you explain naira delays. The comparison is silent but sharp. But the opportunity is different too. Tech. Remote work. Global markets. The paths they didn't have. The challenge is navigating new opportunities with old expectations. Building wealth differently without disrespecting their sacrifices. Do you feel a generational wealth gap in your family? And how are you building differently from your parents?
