Introduction

Success in Nigeria isn’t just about who you know or how much money you start with—it is deeply tied to mindset, habits, and the things you stop doing. Many people focus on what to do, but equally important is what to give up. The following 50 items are habits, attitudes or constraints to let go if you’re serious about climbing, growing, and achieving in Nigeria’s environment.

50 Things to Give Up

1. Waiting for “luck” or somebody else to do it for you – Success often comes to those who act, not wait.

2. Excuses – Blaming the economy, the government, corruption, or “where you come from” without acting just holds you back.

3. Fixed mindset – Believing “I can’t change”, “this is just how I am”, or “people like me don’t succeed” restricts growth. CNBC+1

4. Short-term thinking – Wanting instant reward over building long-term value. CNBC

5. Comparing yourself to others instead of competing with your yesterday self – Other people’s journey is different; you have your own. Vocal+1

6. Perfectionism – Waiting for everything to be perfect before you start will mean you never start. CNBC+1

7. Trying to please everyone – In Nigeria especially, the urge to say “yes” to too many demands (family, friends) can divert your focus.

8. Saying “yes” to everything that doesn’t align with your goals – Say no more often. CNBC

9. Toxic relationships – People who drain your energy, discourage your ambition, or belittle your dreams must be phased out. CNBC+1

10. Fear of failure or making mistakes – Mistakes are lessons; Nigerian culture sometimes stigmatizes failure more than it should.

11. Blaming others for your situation – Own your actions and outcomes. CNBC

12. Waiting for “permission” – Too many folks wait for someone else (boss, family elder) to approve their ambition instead of just acting.

13. Being stuck in your comfort zone – Growth demands stepping into discomfort. Vocal+1

14. Unhealthy lifestyle – Poor health drains your energy, clarity and productivity. CNBC+1

15. Over-reliance on social media / TV as your pass time – Time is a valuable resource; many Nigerians spend too much of it scrolling, not building. Swyi+1

16. Ignoring your finances / financial illiteracy – In Nigeria, understanding savings, investment, inflation, and risk matters.

17. Believing in “overnight success” or magic bullets – Real success is built over time. CNBC+1

18. A scarcity mindset – Thinking “there are limited opportunities” rather than “I’ll create mine”. CNBC

19. Holding onto past resentments or failures – Let your past be a teacher, not a jailer. The Muse

20. Neglecting your personal brand or reputation – In Nigeria, word of mouth matters; character counts.

21. Waiting for perfect timing – There’s never a perfect moment; start with what you have now.

22. Multitasking to the point of inefficiency – Doing many things badly instead of one thing well. CNBC

23. Not investing in yourself (skills, learning, networks) – The world changes fast; keep upgrading.

24. Underestimating the power of discipline and routine – In Nigeria, success often comes to those who grind quietly.

25. Ignoring constructive feedback – Accepting criticism helps you grow. CNBC

26. Holding on to rigid beliefs about how success must look – Success in Lagos, Kano or Abuja may look different; define your own path.

27. Reluctance to delegate or collaborate – Trying to do everything yourself limits scale and growth.

28. Excessive worry about what others think – Fear of judgment can kill your ambition. Reddit

29. Initial ‘small thinking’ – Don’t limit your vision to only what seems safe now. CNBC

30. Ignoring health of mind (stress, burnout, no rest) – Your mental health impacts performance.

31. Chasing every shiny opportunity instead of focusing on a few key ones – Spreading yourself thin is counterproductive.

32. Being reactive instead of proactive – In Nigeria’s dynamic environment you need anticipation, not only reaction.

33. Not setting clear goals – Without clarity, you’ll drift.

34. Waiting for external validation – Don’t need everyone to say “good job” before you believe you can. CNBC

35. Allowing fear of rejection to stop you from pitching, asking, applying – Many Nigerians fear “no”; push through.

36. Over-attachment to comfort / security instead of growth – Many settle for “just okay” instead of greatness.

37. Not cultivating a network / ignoring relationships – Who you know can open doors—but it still comes down to what you bring.

38. Ignoring local realities (regulations, culture, local market) – Success in Nigeria demands adapting to local context.

39. Avoiding responsibility for results (personal or business) – In Nigeria, people may shift blame; successful people own outcomes.

40. Neglecting to adapt or pivot when things change – From policy shifts to tech disruptions, adaptability matters.

41. Being dishonest or cutting corners – Short-term gain via corruption or shortcuts often undermines long-term success and reputation.

42. Holding onto a “victim” mindset – Thinking “everything happens to me” rather than “what can I do?”

43. Undervaluing your time – In Nigeria, time wasted is opportunity cost; treat it as precious.

44. Avoiding risk altogether – Calculated risk-taking is part of growth.

45. Ignoring backup plans or resilience building – Things go wrong: economy, power, logistics in Nigeria; you need backup.

46. Failing to celebrate small wins and build momentum – Don’t wait for the “big prize”; acknowledge progress.

47. Keeping only local or limited perspective – In Nigeria you need to think globally, as local businesses get global competition/opportunities.

48. Neglecting to build personal integrity and trust – In a society where word-and-handshake still matter, reputation is key.

49. Being afraid to ask for help or mentorship – Success rarely happens alone.

50. Assuming that if others succeeded, the path will be exactly the same for you – Nigerian environment shifts; you must carve your own route, learn and adapt.

Conclusion

If you truly want to succeed in Nigeria, don’t just ask what should I do? but also what must I stop doing? By giving up these 50 things, you create space for new habits, new mindsets, and better results. It’s not easy—change never is—but giving up is half the battle. The other half is consistent action.

Here are three Nigerian-case examples of people who gave up certain limiting habits and built success — and the specific habits they abandoned, plus how you might apply those lessons in your own journey.

1. Ada Osakwe

6

What she gives up / changed:

• She gave up the idea of waiting for the “perfect time” or perfect background. She took a leap from policy/finance roles into entrepreneurship. Brookings

• She gave up the comfort of only working within large institutions and instead accepted the risk of running her own venture.

• She moved away from a fixed mindset of “I should follow this safe corporate path” to “I will build something of my own impact”.

How you can apply it (in Nigeria):

• Don’t wait for ideal conditions (e.g., perfect funding, perfect connections) before you start.

• Be willing to step out of a safe job or comfort zone if you have a vision.

• Trade “waiting to be ready” for “getting ready while doing”.

• Focus on building something meaningful, not just replicating someone else’s path.

2. Adepeju Jaiyeoba

6

What she gives up / changed:

• She gave up the mindset of “this is how things are” – i.e., accepting high maternal death rates as inevitable in Nigeria. She saw the problem and acted. Wikipedia

• She gave up purely academic/career-comfort path (law) to go into social entrepreneurship and health innovation.

• She let go of fear of failing in a high-risk area (health, social enterprise) and embraced that failure is part of pioneering new solutions.

How you can apply it (in Nigeria):

• Identify a real problem in your environment (local community, Nigeria) and give up the excuse “someone else should fix it”.

• Don’t just aim for “safe” jobs; consider creating value that also helps society.

• Accept that pioneering something may come with resistance — give up the need for everyone’s approval before you act.

• Use your skills (even from another field) to transition into something you’re passionate about.

3. Bidemi Oke

6

What he gives up / changed:

• He gave up limiting himself by age or “experience” constraints—he’s a younger entrepreneur making waves in fintech despite being under 40. Wikipedia

• He gave up the mindset of “I must follow the traditional career path” and instead embraced innovation, cross-border payments, digital assets in Nigeria (which is less trodden).

• He gave up under-investing in his education/skills: his profile shows he pursued formal education and specialized certifications.

How you can apply it (in Nigeria):

• Don’t think you’re too young or too inexperienced to start something significant.

• Let go of the belief that only certain “approved” sectors (oil, government) yield success; explore emerging fields.

• Invest in yourself (education, certifications, network) even if you’re starting small.

• Be willing to operate in a niche or innovative field where there’s less competition but high potential.

Summary Table

1. Onyeka Akumah (Founder of Farmcrowdy)

6

What he gave up / changed:

• He gave up the assumption that agriculture must remain traditional and low-tech; instead he embraced digital platforms and investor-linkages to amplify impact. Wikipedia+1

• He gave up waiting for major government programs or large institutions to reform agriculture; he created his own platform to enable smallholder farmers to access finance and markets. Punch Newspaper+2Legit.ng – Nigeria news.+2

How you can apply it (in Nigeria):

• Abandon the mindset “this is just how farming is done here” and ask: “How can technology + networks make this better?”

• Don’t wait for external help; start connecting with what you can control (e.g., platforms, small networks, direct market access).

• Scale by leveraging innovators and community-based models rather than only top-down infrastructure.

2. Ikenna Nzewi (Founder of Releaf)

6

What he gave up / changed:

• He gave up the idea that value must be extracted only at the end-product stage; instead he built technology to improve the raw material supply chain economy for farmers. TechEstate

• He gave up low-scale thinking and built systems (machines, mapping tools, tech) that allowed scalable and efficient operations. TechEstate

How you can apply it:

• Don’t accept “that’s just how the process works” — challenge inefficiencies.

• Build or adopt tools that let you scale rather than just replicate manually.

• Focus on solving upstream problems (input, supply, distribution) and not just the visible end product.

3. Seyi Vodi Adekunle (Founder of Vodi Group)

6

What he gave up / changed:

• He gave up the expectation that employment in the “safe” sector (banking, government) was the only path; after failing a bank test he built his own tailoring/fashion enterprise. Wikipedia

• He gave up limiting his ambition to local markets and built a fashion group that serves high-profile clients and scaled operations. Wikipedia

How you can apply it:

• Don’t see failure (e.g., not getting the job you wanted) as the end—use it as a springboard.

• Look at your skills or interests (even if they seem niche) and turn them into something unique.

• Scale by servicing higher-value clients and developing a distinct brand rather than competing purely on low cost.

4. Veekee James (Fashion designer & Entrepreneur)

6

What she gave up / changed:

• She gave up the limiting belief that you must conform to conventional career paths and instead embraced her creative side as fashion designer + entrepreneur. Wikipedia

• She gave up staying local only—she built a brand that reaches a broader market and makes waves beyond Nigeria. Wikipedia

How you can apply it:

• Don’t box yourself into “what people expect me to do”; allow yourself to pursue what you’re passionate about.

• Build a brand that can transcend your immediate environment—local markets may be starting points, but global relevance is possible.

• Use social channels, storytelling, and uniqueness to differentiate yourself.

5. Samson Ogbole (Founder of Soilless Farm Lab)

6

What he gave up / changed:

• He gave up the traditional farming boundaries—choosing to apply aeroponic/soilless technology in Nigeria rather than sticking to land-intensive practices. Wikipedia

• He gave up limiting growth—his venture scaled into certified processing facility, training youth and women, exporting produce. Wikipedia

How you can apply it:

• Explore how innovative technology or fresh models can disrupt an industry in Nigeria (even if it seems “not typical”).

• Don’t treat your business only as local; build with scalability and broader markets in mind.

• Invest in people/training/community to build value beyond just product output.

Summary Table