Ageism in the Job Market

Hi people! Hope you had a great weekend. Mine..really busy. Didn't feel like a weekend at all.
However I found time to gist with one of my guys, and he mentioned the curious (and sad) story of a 36 year old man with years of working experience seriously trying to get a job position at a firm. What's wrong with that you wonder....well the fact that the position requires less than 2 years working experience (infact 20 year-olds straight out of university could occupy this position) and the firm is based in Nigeria is what's the problem.

Nigeria is all about respect for elders, suffers from a serious case of ageism in the job market (if you're over 26 years and you've never worked in your life, you better go rent shop for market because most likely, as Lagbaja says "nothing for you..."), and the competition to outshine your "neighbor" and make the next person look bad, don't get me started! Now imagine our 36 year old friend, lets call him Joe, were to miraculously (remember this is a private company located in Nigeria) get this job, what would he face:

a) Joe would be at the same level with 20 - 25 year old, automatically his name will change from Joe to 'Baba Joe' (or Papa Joe, or maybe the less severe 'Uncle Joe')

b) Joe's manager/oga would most likely be aged 23 (private/foreign university graduates) and above. Striking a balance between being a junior colleague and way more senior to the young turk forming manager would require the mercy of God

c) Joe's age mates are all senior managers, directors and even "ogas on the roof". As in your mate go send you to buy N5,000 recharge charge, you go scratch am, help the boss load am. The boss won't even tell you thank you..."Close the door on your way out"

d) Everyone would think Joe is a topshot at the company, until introductions have to be made that is. As in...Joe go dey form deaf and dumb for office.

e) Now Joe's co-workers know that he is pretty much at an entry-level position and treat like him to a cocktail of derision and mockery, with a slight dose of pity (shaken not stirred)

f) Now Joe is bitter and wondering just how his life turned out this way

g) Reality Check: Wake up, the chances of Joe getting the job in the first place are close to nil

With existing labor laws, or the lack of them, alot of Nigerians dread birthdays because the chances of getting gainful employment, especially in a privately-owned establishment fade with each birthday (employability menopause).

Sad thing is that there are so many 'Joes' out there who suffer from the lack of enabling legislation to eradicate ageism in the job market.

So now Joe wants to start a business, but electricity (NEPA/PHCH/ECN) is inadequate, the roads have potholes big enough to create Olympic-standard swimming pools, area boys come around weekly to collect tax (for market-based business people), air rather than water flows out of taps, interest rates payable on bank loans could have you feeling suicidal, and the government is not implementing laws and legislation to encourage the setting-up and growth of small and medium enterprises, which just so happen to be critical drivers of economic growth.

This January the government is running a scheme to provide funding for the start-up of  small businesses. Fantastic initiative by the government by the way! Now all we need is an enabling business environment.

Finally, lets say NO to ageism in the workplace, after all no be age person go use buy garri for market.