Odita Sunday 
The exchange of goods and services is a fundamental human imperative. Its successful execution rests upon a non-negotiable architecture: efficiency, expertise, ethics, and excellence. In a healthy market, patronage is never an act of charity; it is a mutual exchange of value. When one party introduces the “favor” sentiment into this movement, it ceases to be a professional transaction and becomes an anomaly.
Throughout my nearly two decades as a corporate identity consultant for a global clientele across the EMEA region and the Caribbean, I have identified a recurring psychological barrier: the “Favor Fantasy.”
This phenomenon characterizes a specific segment of the Nigerian diaspora. It is the distorted belief that by engaging homegrown professionals or businesses, they are performing an act of benevolence rather than securing a competitive service.
In my circles, among seasoned professionals who have built the bedrock of Nigeria’s creative and corporate industries, this topic is a frequent point of discussion. We share these stories not with bitterness, but with the quiet dignity of experts who are already sustained by a high-value, home-based clientele – one that understands the premium nature of our work and pays it without hesitation.
I recently had to offer this clarity to a prospective client in Canada. I noted politely that our rates are not merely “standard,” but are indexed to reflect the realities of delivering world-class output within a challenging economic infrastructure. We generate our own power to engineer the prerequisites of excellence. Our local clients understand this; they do not see our pricing as an “outrage,” but as the cost of quality.
To the Nigerians in the diaspora: No favors are required. We offer expertise, not an opportunity for favors. A message from Nigeria’s foremost logo designer.
By Dayo Abiola
#NoFavorsRequired
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