In a world where everyone is switching careers, starting over, or juggling multiple side hustles, staying in one profession for decades might seem outdated or even risky. But not for these older Nigerians. From broadcasting to oil and gas, they found purpose, satisfaction, and stability by walking a single path and walking it well.
Here’s why they never made a switch.
“I don’t need to hop around. The path I’m on still leads upward” — *MaryAnn, 42, Radio Broadcaster
I’ve been a radio broadcaster for over twenty years, and people often ask why I’ve stayed so long in the same place. The truth is, I love what I do. I love the feeling of my voice connecting with people I may never meet, shaping how they feel, think, and move through their day.
I’ve never seriously considered leaving radio. The career ladder in broadcasting moves slowly, but if you’re in it for the long haul, the rewards come. Every few years, a door opens: bigger show, a wider reach.
The salary is decent, and I’m patient with the process because I love what I do. It gives me purpose and a sense of public service. I help people process the news, feel less alone, and laugh a little in traffic.
I didn’t imagine it would become my life’s work when I started. But over time, I’ve built credibility, influence, and a voice people trust. That’s not something I’m trading for novelty or a slightly higher paycheck.
I don’t need to hop around. The path I’m on still leads upward.
“Every year I stayed, the job became more secure, and that’s what my family needed” — *Rita, 53, Admin Officer
I started as a typist in a government secondary school in the early 2000s. At the time, it felt like a big deal; there weren’t many jobs women could easily access without a university degree. I had a school leaving certificate, and this was stable work. The hours were regular, the office was close to home, and being a “government worker” came with respect in society. People treated me differently once I got the job.
Over the years, I moved from typing letters to managing student records and coordinating exam logistics. Eventually, I became a Principal Secretary, supervising the same system I entered as a young woman.
I didn’t try to switch paths, not because I lacked ambition, but because my qualifications limited my options. I didn’t have the luxury or time to return to school, and every year I stayed, the job became more secure.
My children never went hungry, and I was always home early enough to help with homework. In this line of work, consistency is a virtue. I have job security and a pension to look forward to, and I proudly wear my ID card. That’s enough.
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“I typed my resignation letter in 1995. I’m glad I never submitted it” — *Bodun, 61, Clinical Pharmacist
I spent over 30 years as a pharmacist in a government hospital. But if you’d met me in 1995, you’d have found a deeply frustrated man. I was 30, earning ₦7,000 a month while private companies were offering ₦12,000. I was ready to quit, so I typed up my resignation letter.
My manager sat me down that day and said, “Bodun, think long-term.” I hated him for it then, but he was right. I stayed, even though it hurt. The salary barely changed for three years. I was depressed and angry, but I kept showing up. And then, in 1999, under Obasanjo, the pay jumped to ₦19,000. It felt like validation, like we were finally seen.
After that, everything changed. There were more increments and better structure, and slowly, I found peace in the routine. Over the years, the job became more than just work. It gave me a deep sense of purpose. I wasn’t just dispensing medicine, I was contributing to healthcare.
I evolved with it, and each year, the job gave me something back: satisfaction, stability, purpose, respect.
Now I’m retired, but I run a small community pharmacy outside my house, and I receive my pension every month. I built a life out of that government job.
I never got rich, but I was never desperate either. I served people, loved what I did, and never worried about what the end of the month would bring.
“Academia fed me intellectually, financially and emotionally — I never wanted to leave” — *Folarin, 62, University Lecturer
I found my calling during my NYSC year. The federal government posted me to a college of education, and standing in front of a lecture theatre lit something up in me.
After my master’s degree, I returned to the university where I studied, this time as a lecturer. Lecturing gave me purpose, but scientific research gave me drive. I wasn’t trying to become the next Albert Einstein, I just wanted to ask questions and try to answer them.
In academia, everything feeds into itself: I taught, researched, completed my PhD, and supervised others, all within one system. It’s like planting a tree and watching it bear fruit year after year.
At 62, I still feel fulfilled. My kids are grown, and my pension is set. When people talk about switching jobs, I just smile. When you find work that makes you feel whole, why would you?
I never once resented my job. It paid the bills, helped me educate myself further, and gave me a platform to shape young minds. I may not be rich or famous, but I contributed to society, and that’s enough for me.
“It wasn’t just a job. It was a strategy. It gave me a life I’m proud of” — *Musa, 58, Oil & Gas Engineer
I got into oil and gas straight out of NYSC and started as a graduate trainee at 28. It was the kind of job everyone prayed for: international exposure, good pay, and a structured path. It demanded everything: long shifts offshore, tight schedules, and heavy machinery. But I loved it. I loved the problem-solving, the pace, and the teams.
I worked two weeks offshore, two weeks off. That rhythm shaped my entire career. Thirty years later, I’m in senior leadership, overseeing operations. I learned the business inside and out, and along the way, I invested my salary and bonuses wisely, and built a petrol station in my hometown: something solid to retire into.
People think working in oil and gas is only about the money. Yes, the money is good. But I stayed because I genuinely enjoyed the work: fixing machines, managing people, building things that matter. It gave me more than a career; it gave me a life.
And it wasn’t just for comfort. It was a strategy. This job gave me a life I’m proud of, and something solid to pass on.
“Banking gave me leverage. I used it to build something beyond the office” — *Abubakr, 56, Retired Banker
I spent over twenty years in banking, starting as a junior banking officer and slowly climbing to management. It wasn’t easy, but rewarding; banking gave me leverage. With access to credit and insider knowledge, I invested early, mostly in real estate and a small Hajj travel business I run on the side.
About ten years ago, I thought about pivoting. I’d been in banking so long and was tired of the routine. But I was 46, with three kids in university, and besides, I was close to retirement. Starting over didn’t feel smart. So I stayed. In 2023, the bank retired me early due to some internal restructuring. I had no option but to leave. I was grateful I’d used my time wisely.
Banking taught me discipline and gave me the capital to build a life outside of work. Even though I’ve stepped away, I’m not starting from scratch.
