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A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush

Akorede Ayomide, a 30-year-old man, graduated from the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, four years ago, with a Second Class Upper honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language. After completing his mandatory national youth service, he began searching for jobs that would grant him much at a go, and that really affected him.

Akorede’s desire is to secure a job that would enable him to acquire a good car within six months. His first job offer was as an administrative secretary with a salary of four hundred and eighty thousand naira (₦480,000) per annum. However, he rejected the offer, because the offer would not make him attain his desire.

Thereafter, another organisation offered Akorede a job of six hundred and forty thousand naira (₦640,000) per annum, but he rejected it. Uncomfortable with the situation, his grandmother, Mrs. Asake Oladele (nee Olasupo), advised him to take his life seriously. She cautioned him that his habit of being overambitious might hinder his progress in life. However, Akorede did not heed his grandmother's advice and continued to insist on getting a high-paying job.

For over three years, Akorede was unable to secure a job that met his desire and taste. Eventually, his parents began to threaten that they would stop supporting him financially since he had graduated for over three years.

With no other options, Akorede later contends with a job offer from a language coaching academy with a salary of seven hundred and twenty thousand naira (₦720,000) per annum, even though it still fell short of his desire. Six months into the job, he spotted another opportunity at a media organisation with a salary of one million and two hundred thousand naira (₦1.2 million) per annum and jumped at it. He got the job in April 2024, but the organisation asked him to resume work in July 2024.

Since Akorede had already spent six months at his current job, he decided to leave, anticipating a smooth transition to the media organisation. Unfortunately, the media organisation underwent a management change. The new management directed a halt in recruitment. As a result, Akorede was unable to resume work at the organisation.

Displeased with the situation, his grandmother called him and said, "I advised you to lower your overambition and take care of your life, but you did not listen. You left your job at the language coaching academy because you secured another job at a media organisation. Now, you are unable to resume at the organisation. Regrettably, the coaching academy has recruited someone else to replace you. You are left with nothing! Remember, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

Akorede regretted his decision and promised never again to give up something he already had for something uncertain.

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