On my commute home yesterday, I found myself continuing a conversation that started at the office earlier in the day.
We were debating why young people and young ladies in particular are so crave iPhones.
Earlier, our intern at work explained it simply: “We like iPhones because the camera quality is top-notch. It is also good for shooting videos,” she explained.
Surprisingly, a young lady sitting next to me on my commute gave the exact same answer, completely unaware of my earlier chat at the office.
Curious, I asked her which model she was using. She mentioned it was an iPhone 13, telling me with a smile that the iPhone 18 was already out in the market.
“So you’re five steps behind?” I asked jokingly. “Exactly, and I wouldn’t mind having it!” she answered playfully.
When I asked about the price of the one in her hand, she joyfully revealed it costs ₦600,000.”₦600,000? You are carrying a plot of land around!” I exclaimed. She laughed, “Sir, that amount can’t buy a plot of land!””Well, maybe not in Lagos, but certainly in your village,” I teased. Beyond the lighthearted banter, she explained that the device is actually a crucial business investment.
Working as a travel agent, she relies heavily on the phone to manage high-value clients, market services, and run her daily operations making back far more than the cost price.
Much like our intern, who is a student journalist perfecting video editing, this young lady uses her phone as her primary tool for work. It made me realise how easily we dismiss young people as just “pressing phones.”
In reality, many are smart, enterprising individuals leveraging modern technology to build legitimate income streams.
Nigeria’s youth population represents immense, untapped potential that deserves belief and investment rather than quick dismissal. Of course, a local commute wouldn’t be complete without classic street drama. After switching buses, I ended up in a vehicle driven by a cheeky, elderly man.
When another young lady clutching an iPhone boarded, the driver couldn’t stop staring at her unusually long artificial eyelashes often looking backwards to steer at her instead of using his rearview mirror if he must.
An elderly market woman sitting beside me immediately raised the alarm: “Driver, face front and don’t jeopardise the passengers!
“When the front passenger seat freed up, the driver eagerly invited the young lady to move up front. “Young lady come forward to the flat and leave them in the room and parlour,” he jokingly invited.”
You’ve finally upgraded her to the front seat so you can concentrate properly on her!” the grandma teased.”Na you sabi,” the driver fired back with a grin, meaning that’s your problem.
That was all the cue the grandma needed to launch into her full side commentary. She leaned over to share her unsolicited theories about young girls. “You won’t believe how many of these young girls date old men,” she declared with absolute authority. “These men give them money and take them out. But don’t be deceived by their outward clean looks,” she told me.”I may not believe you easily,” I refuted. “Dey play!” She said, meaning “keep kidding yourself. “Don’t you know that many of these so-called clean girls actually prefer dirty men?
They don’t mind infectious diseases once there is money!” She continued her stereotype.
I listened quietly, exhausted as we pulled into the terminus, reflecting on the sharp contrast of the day: on one hand, hardworking young ladies using their phones to make honest living; on the other, a generation ready to label her based purely on stereotypes and cynicism. What do you think? Are we too quick to judge young people based on surface appearances?——–
-Meanwhile, I have an iPhone for sale. Inbox if interested.Lol
