Mark Elliot Zuckerberg is an American programmer, internet entrepreneur, executive, and philanthropist. He is the chief executive officer, and co-founder of social networking website, Facebook and has a net worth of $53.7 billion.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of social media platform, Facebook, is in Nigeria. Photo: Zuckerberg.
That’s a lot to take in, especially if you convert it to naira with the current dollar rate. Zuckerberg is currently in Nigeria to inspire and encourage the growth of our social media platforms and Nigerians are excited and recording moments with him. The billionaire has worked hard to get to where he is and it’s common for people to want to copy his success story.
However, as a Nigerian living in Nigeria, it’s not everything that Zuckerberg did that you can do. Here are six things you had better not try to copy from Mark Zuckerberg if you like your life in Nigeria.

1. Think that your money is yours alone
Zuckerberg is worth $53.7 billion and currently the 6th richest man in the world. If you achieve such wealth in a Nigerian home, it is “compulsory” that you remember those who helped you get to where you are. Your parents for all their years of sacrificing for you and your younger siblings who you need to put through school.
In fact, any bills that come into the house, you should be able to take care of them as you are earning the most. If you decide to be stingy and refuse to let anyone in your family have out of your money, you will not have peace of mind in that house.

2. Marry someone outside your tribe/race/country
Zuckerberg is married to his lovely wife, Priscilla Chan, who is Chinese-American. They are not of the same race but love brought them together. You may travel abroad and find love elsewhere but how willing are you to bring a man or woman of who is not Nigerian to your parents?
Things are evolving and Nigerian parents are not so closed-minded but be ready to give a full thesis on why your man/woman is better than 93 million potential husbands/wives in Nigeria.

3. Say you don’t believe in God
Zuckerberg is an atheist. An atheist is a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods. Now, to say this is an abomination in a Nigerian home is correct. Your parents will most likely believe in one God or many gods and you must join them.
When you are old enough to have your own house, you can do as you like but so long as you live under their roof, you will follow them to all their religious services, sorry.

4. Drop out of university
Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard University in America to work on Facebook. For those of you who don’t know, Harvard is the top university in the world based on statistics.
So, imagine your parents can afford your school fees there or you won a scholarship and made them proud. Next thing, you call them and say you don’t want to graduate because of your social media idea. How many of you would dare make such a revelation to your parents?

5. Say you do not eat meat.
Zuckerberg became a vegetarian in 2011 as a challenge. Vegetarians do not eat meat or fish, and sometimes other animal products. This means that when your mother makes her range of African dishes with meat, chicken, stock fish and so on, you will politely decline and tell her you only want vegetables and fruit.
Maybe the dirty slap you will receive will set you straight or maybe it will add to your hunger because my dear, you must eat what is given to you or starve.

6. Take a surprise trip to another country without telling anyone
Zuckerberg surprised most of us on Tuesday when he appeared in Lagos to visit tech startups in Yaba. Now, it was no surprise to the organizers but the rest of Nigeria never expected it. We are now wondering if his family knew.
Nigerian families do not like surprises. Especially if you are travelling. People need to know and need to pray for you or wish you a safe journey and make sure you are okay. If you show up unexpectedly in attempt to surprise your family members, it may turn into a family meeting over your unruly behavior.