Happy new week to everyone! I hope this week brings the best for every Hive user. This week’s contest question, “Who or what inspires you?”, really touched me, and I decided to share my thoughts.
Photo Designed in Canva
For me, this question is deeply personal, and I’ll break it down into three areas that inspire me the most: financial, spiritual, and educational. These three areas play a big role in shaping us as adults.
My Financial Motivation
If you’re Nigerian, you’ll understand my perspective better.
Our country’s current economic situation is a big challenge, especially when compared to the previous government.
Transportation costs are a good example. Before, fuel prices were more affordable, and getting to work wasn’t as expensive. But now, with fuel costs skyrocketing, transportation expenses have tripled. Singles are spared but it becomes challenge if there are kids to look after.
This economic pressure has motivated me to work harder. The rapid changes in the economy make it necessary to find ways to earn more. Nigerians are known for their ability to adapt to tough situations, we always find a way to survive.
For me, learning skills like graphic design has been a game-changer. It’s not just a skill; it has helped me earn extra income to take care of important needs like paying for my child’s school fees.
Another reason for my financial drive is that during tough times like these, people are less likely to lend you money or offer help. So, I’ve realized that it’s up to me to make things work.
My Religious Motivation
Religion plays an important role in becoming a responsible adult, and it requires personal dedication and commitment.
My husband has been a great source of inspiration for me in this aspect. I’ll never forget how he supported me during my first pregnancy, which happened outside marriage. Many people criticized and judged him harshly. He was stopped from attending church services and even faced hate and disgrace. But despite all that, he continued going to church and encouraged me to focus on my relationship with God rather than what people were saying.
His strength and commitment to his faith motivated me to stay strong, too. Through our mistakes, we’ve grown stronger as individuals and as a family.
My Educational Motivation
If you take a closer look at the African education system, you’ll notice that there’s very little focus on teaching practical skills.
Students are overloaded with assignments and textbooks, but many of them forget what they’ve learned after a few months.
I work in the health sector, where advertising isn’t allowed. Despite this, I’ve used my graphic design skills to help my friends create business cards and fliers to promote their products in the online space. I learned these skills through Canva, and it has been very rewarding and high paying if you find your hungry clients.
I am in my church's WhatsApp group where majority of member sells products. I handle their product designs advert and get paid.
I’m not against education in Africa, but I believe schools should include skill-building in their curriculum, especially skills that solve real-world problems.
Digital and tech skills are essential in today’s world, and they’re becoming even more critical with the rise of AI.
For me, learning digital skills is a huge source of motivation. While I’ve mastered graphic design, I’m now planning to dive into web design soon. This is very different from what I studied in school, but I’m excited to keep learning and growing.
Thank you, 
If you’d like to start learning graphic design, I can share the course that helped me for just 5 HBD. It’s a great way to get started!
