Nigerian Lives: 5 Youths Tell Us What It’s Like Living With Their Parents

Living with Nigerian parents comes with ups and downs especially when you are an adult. From curfews to invasion of privacy to paying house rent and providing food, it’s a bitter-sweet situation. Due to the high cost of living in Lagos, many have chosen to remain with their parents to save money until they are financially stable and enough to move out. For this week’s episode of Nigerian lives, we reached out to 5 Nigerians who are still living with their parents to tell us what the experience is like. 

Buchi, 26

Living with my mum is kind of annoying but I kinda like it. No matter where I go or how late I come back, there is always food at home. If I lived alone I will probably have to buy food. Asides from the food, electricity and fuel bills are sorted. Someone is home to ensure the house is running properly. There are a lot of downsides to living with parents. As a guy, I can bring different girls home every time. She will ask me questions about who I bring home. Also, I can’t smoke in peace. I always have to go outside to smoke. Living with parents means running errands for them. It’s exhausting.

Barbara, 25

It has its advantages and disadvantages. I don’t get to spend as much as I would if I lived alone; I don’t pay house rent, feeding is kind of sorted, and bills are less which makes me save money. It makes things easier if you are not yet financially buoyant. As for the cons, there’s a lack of privacy, they tend to monitor what you do. It is annoying, especially when you feel you are an adult and are passed the age where parents keep an eye on you and treat you like a kid because you are under their roof. Also, you can’t just do anything you want or go out whenever you want. These are my major issues living with my parents. 

Jane, 25

Living with Nigerian parents means being their slave and stroking their ego which can be exhausting because it can make you look stupid. I have dreamed about moving out but living alone in Lagos is not for the faint-hearted. You become fully independent and have to sort out rent and groceries without your parents’ help. You also have to cook for yourself and pay for your transportation to work. I do not look forward to that. While living with parents, you are expected to do chores every day, both in the morning and night. You have a curfew, especially as a lady, you are being monitored and even your privacy is invaded. In their old age, they always complain about little things. The upsides about living with parents are you get to live with them for free and food, clothing and other bills are taken care of. I feel better and at peace when I am not home. 

Wolf, 20

Living with my mum can be exhausting. All her works become your work. They complain about everything in the house even though you are the one paying the bills. Every heavy thing, I have to pick it up and most times she refuses to cook and insists I cook because she prefers my cooking. She goes as far as making me feel like the best chef just to get me to cook. She also wants me to go everywhere with her so I can drive her. She doesn’t want to drive, she wants to drink and relax forgetting that I have plans of my own. They want you to work around their life, they don’t want to know if you have your own life. It’s always a thing of quarrels and arguments because I always try and put my foot down because I am stubborn too.

Tobi, 26

My parents can be funny. You always have to tell them every single place you are going and you have a curfew.  Most times it depends on the sex of the child. Most times, females are required to come back earlier than males. My curfew is 10 pm but sometimes I go beyond that. I do not think It’s a bad thing if parents want to know my location but they tend to overdo it and it can be annoying. I know the nature of the country like the insecurity and all contribute to the extra protection but still, it gets exhausting. What I love the most about living with my parents is I don’t get to cook all the time. my mum takes care of that. Overall, living with Nigerian parents is not bad. I feel they need to ease off a bit especially when the child is a grown adult. They should be able to trust the child.

*This article is based on real-life events. The names used are mere pseudonyms to protect the identities of the individuals mentioned in the article.

Nigerian Lives is a Culture Custodian weekly series where we hear from Nigerians who share tidbits about their experiences. It goes up every Monday.

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