“My community people would have banished me” — Graduate who returned to the village to farm recounts his experiences
A young Nigerian graduate has sparked conversations online after sharing his emotional journey from unemployment in the city to starting a new life as a farmer in his village.
In a viral video posted on social media, the graduate recounted how the lack of job opportunities forced him to return home and begin farming despite criticism and pressure from people around him.
According to him, many members of his community looked down on his decision to embrace farming after spending years in school.
Graduate speaks on rejection and frustration
The young man explained that before returning to the village in March 2026, he had applied for several jobs in the city without success.
He said employers repeatedly demanded work experience, making it difficult for him to secure employment as a fresh graduate.
“If my community people had their way, they would have banished me from the village. The only offence I committed was being a graduate who came back to the village to build his life through farming,” he said.
The graduate added that the pressure became overwhelming on April 25, 2026, leading him to contact relatives and friends in Lagos and Ogun State in search of any available job.
According to him, one of his brothers in Lagos was unable to accommodate him because he was also struggling with accommodation challenges.
He revealed that despite continuing his farming activities, he often worked while battling frustration, depression, and uncertainty about his future.
Social media encouragement changes his mindset
The young farmer said his outlook changed after he shared a single video about his struggles on Instagram.
He noted that the support and encouragement he received online gave him the confidence to continue building his farming business instead of abandoning it.
The graduate further disclosed plans to expand his agricultural activities and develop something “unimaginable” from the land he owns.
Showing parts of the farmland in the video, he pointed out that a river flows behind the property, describing the project as the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
“This is me building and no more hiding. I’m currently in the farm,” he said.
Watch the video here….
“If my community people had their way, they would have banished me from the village, and the only offense I committed was returning to the village to farm after graduating from university.”
— Man recounts his experience and what gave him courage to continue farming.
According… pic.twitter.com/lgYnHYGoFd
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) May 11, 2026