By Seun Sylvester | Strategy | December 7, 2025
Introduction
A few months before the end of my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year in Kano state, Nigeria, something unusual happened. We were conscripted into the first-ever voter registration exercise organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). For weeks, we traveled, worked, and registered thousands of Nigerians. It was exhausting — but rewarding. When the project ended, I received what, at that time, felt like a handsome payment. As a corps member, I was finally returning home with some good money in my pocket — a big deal in those days! Like every youth corps member, the big question was: What next after service?
The Missed Opportunity
While many were waiting for NYSC to end before job hunting, I decided to act early. I invested in newspapers and began applying for jobs immediately. One of those applications was to the National Planning Commission — a perfect fit for me as a fresh Economics graduate. When the recruitment exam date came, I traveled from Kano to Abuja with just enough money for a same-day return. The venue was packed — typical Nigerian chaos, with far more candidates than the number invited. Despite the crowd, I made it into the top 40 shortlisted for an on-the-spot interview. My heart was racing — this could be it! But when it was my turn, Professor Sylvester Monye asked a question that shattered my hopes:
“Young man, where is your NYSC certificate?”
I explained that I was still serving and had about three months left. He smiled kindly, but that was it — I was disqualified.
I spent that night sleeping at the park in Abuja before heading back to Kano the next morning — heartbroken, but not defeated.
The Reality Check
Earlier, I had missed another opportunity — a First Bank recruitment exam at Bayero University, Kano. The crowd was overwhelming — thousands of young graduates competing for just a few openings. Those two experiences taught me something profound:
Getting a job is hardball.
I asked myself: Should I leave NYSC and chase jobs full-time? Then a thought hit me — No.
The Turning Point
I had just been paid well by INEC. Instead of spending it waiting and hoping, I decided to invest in myself. If it was going to take one or two years to get a job, I didn’t want that time to go to waste. So I called my dad:
“Dad, I’ve seen how tough the job market is. I’d rather register for a Master’s in Economics while I continue job hunting. That way, when the job comes, I’ll be more valuable.”
He agreed — and I sent him the money to purchase the postgraduate form at the University of Port Harcourt. When I finished NYSC, I was admitted. I focused on my 18-month Master’s program, writing exams, attending lectures, and still applying for jobs.
Then, 14 months later, I got a call that changed everything — I’d been hired! Union Bank of Nigeria PLC became my breakthrough opportunity.
That job became the start of a banking career that spanned 10 years. Even better, I graduated from my Master’s program with the top CGPA, and the same year, I gained admission to begin my Doctorate program. The very decision I made out of frustration — to not waste time waiting — had positioned me for a future I couldn’t even see yet.
Faith and Strategy in Action
Today, looking back, I realize that faith gave me courage, but strategy gave me direction. Both worked hand-in-hand to build the foundation of my life.
Faith without works is wishful thinking. But when faith meets preparation, the results are transformational.
5 Lessons Learned
1. Don’t Wait for the Perfect Time — Move Now. Sometimes your miracle needs a plan. Faith without initiative stalls progress.
2. Turn Setbacks into Setups. What felt like rejection in Abuja was actually redirection toward preparation.
3. Invest in Yourself While You Wait. Waiting seasons are not idle seasons; they’re seed seasons. Grow something in them.
4. God Rewards Action Anchored in Faith. My decision to act wasn’t rebellion — it was faith expressed through wisdom.
5. Preparation Opens Doors Before Opportunity Knocks. When the right opportunity finally arrived, I was already qualified to step in.
Conclusion
Strategy isn’t just about clever thinking — it’s about faithful action. Sometimes, God hides your miracle behind the next wise decision you make. So, if you’re in a waiting season, don’t waste it. Build, learn, and prepare — because your future self will thank you for every strategic move you make today.
Seun Sylvester Opaleye, PhD
By Seun Sylvester Opaleye | July 13, 2026
By Seun Sylvester Opaleye | July 8, 2026
By Seun Sylvester Opaleye | July 4, 2026
A very insightful story filled with important lessons.
Understanding the times and acting swiftly. Very inspiring write up.
Strategy is about faithful action not clever thinking!
Great piece.
I love this writeup. It’s very inspiring and motivating.
Beautiful Piece! “Invest in yourself while you wait”
This was an engaging and thought-provoking read. The quote that resonated most with me was, “Faith gave me courage, but strategy gave me direction.”
This was an engaging and thought-provoking read. The quote that resonated most with me was, “Faith gave me courage, but strategy gave me direction.”
A read worth the while, thank you for sharing this profound truth, faith and strategy truly works hand in hand. No waiting season should be a waste, Invest in yourself while you waiting.