The ‘fast money syndrome’ also known as ‘quick money syndrome’ is a deadly social ethical problem in Nigerian society today. The ‘fast money syndrome’ can be seen as a disease or disorder which affects individuals in their views of making or wanting quick money. It makes individuals seek ways or means, mostly illegal or unethical to generate money. The demand for instant results is seeping into every corner of our lives. This is basically what makes youths give into the ‘shortcut’ through nefarious activities in order to get rich. The irresponsibility on the part of many youths is highly infectious and has eaten deep into the psyche of many young people. The practice of quick money syndrome exists in virtually all sectors of our society.
Many studies have been conducted by different people on this syndrome and the observations made were related to families in Nigeria, in that most people experience this syndrome due to their background or the kind of families they come from. A family where basic needs necessary for survival are not provided breeds poverty, hunger, starvation and predisposes members of such families, especially the youth, to engage in illegal means of survival-the fast money syndrome. Even communities without strong social controls against delinquent behavior, religious commitment and involvement to protect youths from anti-social behavior, can lead to their involvement in unethical activities to get money. The level of indiscipline and crime in our society today also paves the way or give youths more options of illegal activities to participate in just to get money. It is very worrisome that society now encourages some of these “get rich quick” mentality, everyone wants to make it and no one wants to go an extra mile through hard work, honesty, prudence, and dignity of labor which surely pays off at the end. The former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, said that Nigerian youth are bedeviled by the culture of getting “rich quick syndrome”. He said that the increase in internet fraud such as ‘yahoo yahoo’, criminality, and other vices were hinged on the love for material acquisition and blamed the governments for bequeathing faulty educational foundation for the younger generation. The quick money syndrome has caused a lot of harm to individuals most especially the youth. Some consequences are greater and far more damaging than others, like the recent news of the alleged gruesome murder of Favour Daley Oladele by her boyfriend Owolabi Adeeko which trended recently. Favour, a final year student of theatre arts at Lagos State University was allegedly murdered for ritual purposes. News of the incident elicited wide condemnation. The confessional statement that detailed what happened to poor Daley Oladele is a reflection of man’s inhumanity to man in the chase of money. To think that a supposed boyfriend planned and executed the death of his own girlfriend is out of this world. As the Bible says, the love of money is the root of all evil and it is what drives devilish acts. Money is good and solves quite a lot of problems but the speed at which young ones are getting into criminalities with brazen audacity to make money should be society’s concern. Our main target should be our youth because they are the future leaders of our nation. As the saying goes ‘catch them young. Families, mostly parents should teach their children how to be contented and that the only thing that pays is hard work. They should also be taught that anything gotten through illegal means will not last and with it comes grave consequences. The government should also step in and create more jobs as well as skill acquisition programs to help the youth. This can help to eliminate this quick money syndrome.
In summary, the quick money syndrome has destroyed a lot of lives, homes, and societies in diverse ways. We should therefore be careful of the kind of activities we engage ourselves in order to get money. Sometimes it takes a little patience to get to where you are meant to be. As the saying goes ‘slow and steady wins the race’. So we shouldn’t be hasty to make money and above all, we should always pray and ask for God’s guidance and blessings on the works of our hands.
Written by
Israel Ogwuche Ogra
Effective Educational Leader
