For as long as I can remember, Nigeria has always had issues with its power supply. According to the World Bank, only about 55.4% of Nigerians have access to electricity.
Our lives are largely affected by the power supply. Businesses, hospitals, and homes are mostly dependent on electricity. The joy and satisfaction of having power are experiences we have all felt at some point. Pretty sure you’ve fought the urge to shout “Up NEPA!” in recent times.
For professionals, especially those working from home, you can easily draw a line between stable electricity and great productivity. I made a list of some of the ways electricity affects our work as Nigerians and how you can circumvent them.
Work Devices
Due to how unpredictable electricity can be, you always have to factor in the possibility that your devices can die at any time.
NEPA will have you dropping disclaimers before and during meetings because you don’t know how long your laptop battery would last.
The batteries of your devices are also at risk because you have to plug them in even when they aren’t low just to conserve power. Constant overcharging affects your battery health and the useful lifespan of your entire device.
Heat and Discomfort
There’s no way you can work effectively if you’re not uncomfortable. The combination of hot days/nights plus no light is dreadful. Most people get uncomfortable and are unable to concentrate on anything. It’s really hard to be productive when you’re restless.
Unplanned Movement
Have you ever had to run to a hotel, the office, a neighbour’s house or the nearest salon because you had a task to complete and there was no light at home or fuel in the generator? It’s not fun.
NEPA will make you suffer, sweat and look haggard just because you’re looking for somewhere to power your devices. This unplanned movement can greatly affect your productivity.
Missed Opportunities
The lack of electricity has also led to a lot of missed opportunities for Nigerians. Imagine interviewing for a remote role and your light goes off, plunging you into pitch darkness or your WiFi router dies, leaving you with no internet while the interviewers wonder where you’ve suddenly disappeared to.
As a Nigerian, it is important that you always have a backup for your backup. If you can afford it, stay in a location where power is guaranteed. If you can’t, be sure to make provision for alternative sources of power. Don’t let your village people win.