If You Can’t Get a Job, Why Not Create One? (Postscript on Opportunity Spotting)

A day after wrapping up the first chapter of our dialogue on entrepreneurship, I found myself indulging in a familiar pastime — scrolling through Facebook. Little did I know, this idle moment would lead me straight to a revelation. Two posts appeared, almost back-to-back, and in that serendipitous overlap, the researcher in me woke up. A few quick dots connected, and voilà — the idea for this postscript was born.

Let me set the stage. In Nigeria, onions occasionally ascend to the status of a luxury item, particularly in certain regions where scarcity strikes hard. The first post I stumbled upon was by Nzubechukwu Ezim, who personified onions with an air of reverence, calling them “Aunty Onions.” She wrote, “Aunty onions, sit down for chair I can’t buy you for 11K and allow you to stay in the booth.”

In many Nigerian cultures, addressing someone as “Aunty” signifies respect. But in Ezim’s post, the term took on a playful, satirical twist — a lamentation of onions’ meteoric rise from a humble kitchen staple to an unattainable luxury.

In my region, where onions are grown in abundance during their season, the package Ezim described, priced at NGN 11,000 elsewhere, can sell for as little as NGN 300 — or up to NGN 500 if you’re dressed sharply and step out of a fancy car. Yes, here, pricing often comes down to perception. Sellers size you up and adjust their prices accordingly — a fascinating intersection of psychology and economics.

Ezim’s post struck a chord, amassing an impressive 7.6K likes, 1K comments, and 179 shares. The comments were pure gold — overflowing with humor, wit, and a collective sigh of exasperation:

• “Is your onion single?”

• “Aunty Onions, this life nah turn by turn… this is your time, shine on aunty.”

• “Anybody using onion now to cook supposed to be questioned. Where you see money buy gold?”

• “No be small thing, Her Excellency, ONIONS power!!!”

The message was clear: onions had reached exalted status. To be called “Her Excellency” is no small feat — it’s a title reserved for the powerful and influential. Onions had earned their crown.

Not two minutes later, another post popped up, this time by Ahmad Abba Alee. He elevated onions further, captioning a photo with “Queen sai da kyakykyawan adana,” loosely translating to “Queen must be safeguarded at all costs.”

And there it was: two posts, one message, and an undeniable opportunity. What others might see as social media banter, entrepreneurial minds could interpret as a treasure map. These posts raised questions ripe for exploration:

• When does onion scarcity hit, and which regions are most affected?

• Where are onions grown in abundance, and when is their peak season?

• What are the most efficient ways to preserve, package, transport, and sell onions?

• Can innovative farming methods make onions available year-round?

• What networks or partnerships could transform this idea into a thriving business?

These questions aren’t just hypothetical — they’re a starting point for anyone ready to turn scarcity into opportunity.

This experience reinforced a truth I hold dear: entrepreneurial thinking often begins in the mundane. Opportunities don’t always come with neon signs. Sometimes, they’re tucked away in the comments section of a Facebook post or hidden in plain sight during a casual conversation. All it takes is curiosity and the courage to ask, “What can I do with this?”

So, let me pass the mic: What opportunities have you stumbled upon recently? Was it during a commute? A random TikTok scroll? A chat with a friend? Share your story in the comments. Because sharing isn’t just caring — it’s empowering. The more we exchange ideas, the more we fuel each other’s growth.

The world is brimming with untapped potential. Sometimes, all it takes is an ordinary scroll to uncover extraordinary opportunities.