Good evening. My name is Claire Molen. I am a Nigerian doctor and writer. To be honest, when I got the call to be at this TED, I felt a rush of emotions, one of which was cynicism. As an overthinker, cynicism and imposter syndrome are constantly cinched into the fabric of my thinking. But that’s a bone for another day.

What is your perception of success? I want you to write down the first three things that come to your mind when you look at someone and say they’re successful. 

What are the things you need to have to call yourself successful too? We’ll come back to these questions later. 

After my final med school exams, we set aside a day for a celebration called the “sign-out”. This day was important because it was the culmination of an 8-year investment of sleepless nights, physical and mental stress. So, as you would imagine, we had a series of activities lined up to celebrate. That afternoon marked the beginning of the festivities. We hopped into a fleet of cars, screaming out our lungs as we paraded through the university campus in white and green sweat jackets. 

I remember frantically calling my friend who was running late cause I didn’t want her to miss this rite of passage. At various points, our cars stopped and a wad of cash was sprayed like confetti from the windows. The spectacular display of wealth and the music blasting through the speakers as we disrupted the school traffic called attention to us. Some passersby stopped and watched us in amusement while others scrambled for the wads of cash that had so brilliantly kissed the floor. 

That day was coincidentally the first time “Nigerian clubbing" happened to me. Before that, I was no stranger to loud Afrobeat music and dancing but nothing could prepare me for the vibrant spectacle that awaited me. 

Fast forward to that evening, I found myself in the company of my friends as the club gates welcomed us to an otherworldly scenery - a place pulsating with life, a cacophony of laughter, and chatter, with infectious Afrobeats and Amampiano music setting the stage. We danced heartily, our faces being illuminated by strobe lights. 

Amidst this revelry, the club lights were suddenly turned off and the music killed. To my surprise, I turned to see a procession led by a man adorned with yellow-beaded lights. He carried a wine box up in the air like a modern-day Dionysus. They made their way to a young man, accompanied by the hype man's crass commentary extolling wealth. The pantomime felt quite dystopian to me. 

This "strange" spectacle repeated throughout the night, punctuating the dance floor with interruptions. At first, I was irritated by the numerous interruptions. But then my irritation turned to amusing admiration as the young man ordering expensive drinks became the centre of attention. 

Throughout the night, the dance floor became a stage for a Darwinian display of wealth. Cash rained down like answered prayers, sparking a frenzy of hands struggling to grasp the most cash from the floor. As I watched videos of that night, while preparing this talk, I cannot help but acknowledge my role in perpetuating this culture - a celebration of wealth, excess, and the insatiable desire for more. 

I come from the world's poverty capital where the glorification of affluence has become ingrained in our culture, shaping our complex perception of success. This narrative is not just peculiar to Nigeria as it's a global ideology that touches on our collective perceptions of success.

When I asked you about your perception of success earlier, what were your answers? Did most of the answers revolve around wealth, ostentation, and opulence?

For many, success is synonymous with the acquisition of material things. We're bombarded with images of flamboyance, opulence, and excess, leading us to believe that true fulfilment lies in the accumulation of possessions. But what happens when we equate success solely with financial prosperity?

We perpetuate a cycle of insatiable desire, where the pursuit of wealth becomes an end in itself by any means necessary. We measure our worth not by the content of our character or the impact we have on others, but by the size of our bank accounts. Wealth is seen as a means to compete, intimidate and bend the pillars of power to one's bidding. This relentless pursuit of more leads to a society plagued by pillage, greed, inequality, and dissatisfaction. 

It doesn't have to be this way. We have the power to redefine success, to shift our emphasis from vain acquisition to who we are and how we contribute to the world around us. Our society is successful when we’re more empathetic. Personal success should be measured by the conscious effort to grow, to shed one's skin and sins of the past; to be better. 

So, what is “true” success? 

True success, lies in the power of impact. Did any of your answers to the questions I asked at the beginning of this talk have this element? 

As a writer and medical doctor, I've found fulfilment in empathy, sharing stories that challenge societal norms and provoke introspection. Through storytelling, we have the opportunity to shine a light on the complexities of the human experience and inspire change.

Together, we can redefine success and create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their financial status. Let us embrace a new paradigm of success—one rooted in purpose, passion, and the pursuit of a more equitable and compassionate society.

Thank you.