Bola* (26) never planned to run a business, but when her friend Ezinne*(26) invited her to run hers, Bola agreed and turned it into something incredible. 

However, resentment over finances grew, and desperate to claim the business as her own, Bola made a decision that eventually wrecked her friendship with Ezinne.

At the end of this story, you鈥檒l get to answer one question: Did she fuck up or not?

This is Bola鈥檚 dilemma, as told to Azara.

I stole a business from my best friend, Ezinne. 

I know that鈥檚 a crazy thing to admit, but I鈥檓 not ashamed to say it. The business was mine, and should have been mine from the start.

Let’s go back to where it all began.

Ezinne and I met in 2020 during our final year of university. I鈥檇 helped her with an assignment, and the rest was history. 

From that day on, I became the person she turned to when she was too lazy to do something. I was the 鈥渟erious one鈥�, the one who attended all my classes and graduated with a second-class upper. Ezinne was the 鈥減arty girl鈥�, going out whenever she could and then making me do the bulk of her work. At the time, I didn鈥檛 mind. That鈥檚 what friends do.

When we graduated in 2021, I learnt that the real world unfortunately didn鈥檛 care about my grades. Jobs were scarce, and the few available ones wanted years of experience from people who had just left school. We both applied everywhere and heard nothing. I wasn’t so bothered by this until I finished NYSC in 2023, still jobless and fully dependent on my parents.

By this time, Ezinne decided she was tired of waiting for a job, so she started a small jewellery business, selling necklaces, earrings and bracelets on Instagram. I was happy for her, but I braced myself for the day she鈥檇 try to make me take over because she got tired of running it.

Things took an interesting turn a month later. Somehow, Ezinne got a job as a media specialist, earning 鈧�120k a month. At this point, her jewellery business hadn鈥檛 amounted to anything, and she鈥檇 only made about two or three sales, so she dropped it to pursue her new career.

I鈥檒l be honest: I was jealous. I was the more focused and hardworking one, but somehow she was the one with a job. I felt cheated, but I also knew there was nothing I could do about it.

Just as I expected, Ezinne soon said, 鈥淏ola, I can鈥檛 run my business on my own. I have too much going on. Will you help me?鈥�

I might have said no if I had a job, but I was desperate, so I didn鈥檛 hesitate to say yes.

I took over the business at the end of 2023. At that point, the Instagram page had 53 followers and Ezinne had barely made any sales. But I was determined to make it worth something.

I treated the business like a job. I learned how to take better photos, figured out where to buy stock cheaply, wrote catchy captions, and replied to every DM within seconds. For the first few months, I barely made any money, but I kept going.

Then it started to work. By 2024, about six months after I took over, I was making a steady 鈧�300k in profit every month, and the page had grown to 2.6k followers. I made my highest profit in March, 鈧�610k.

My life changed. I started saving for the first time, restocked my wardrobe, and began taking online business courses to learn how to manage the business better. I was so proud of myself; I had built something that was working, and I had done it all on my own.

But Ezinne didn鈥檛 see it that way.

In the six months since I took over the jewellery business, she hadn鈥檛 contributed in any way, not even to ask how things were going. But once I started upgrading my lifestyle, she realised the business was working.

One day, she called me and said the words I feared hearing, 鈥淲here鈥檚 my half of the profit?鈥�

Her half? What half? I was doing all the work. I didn鈥檛 want to give it to her, but I felt like I had no choice. I had been running the business with her blessing, and she could have taken it back at any time. I also didn鈥檛 want to fight my best friend, so I agreed.

From then on, Ezinne got half of my profit every month, and still I did everything. I sourced the jewellery, went to the market in the blistering sun, took photos, packaged orders, handled customer complaints, and posted every day. She never helped with any of it. She鈥檇 just text me for her half at the end of every month. It didn鈥檛 help that she never said thank you or acknowledged how hard I was working. She even once joked that I was her salesgirl.

Our friendship began to change for the worse. I was used to doing things for her, but those things had never involved my money.

I was tired and resentful, and every time I sent her my profit, I would have flashbacks of all the other things I helped her with but never got properly appreciated for. It didn鈥檛 help that she was still making money from her corporate job, so her taking half of my money wasn鈥檛 even necessary. I realised that Ezinne had been leeching off me since we met, and now I couldn鈥檛 handle it anymore.

At the beginning of 2025, on New Year鈥檚 Day, I decided I no longer wanted to share the business. New year, New me, right?

I wanted it to be mine, but I couldn鈥檛 just tell her, because I knew she wouldn鈥檛 agree. I also didn鈥檛 want to complicate things before I could take ownership. 

And that is what I intended to do: legally take ownership. 

The business had never been registered, and no agreement between us said we were partners. The little stock she鈥檇 started with had been sold off long ago, and everything the business had now, I had paid for with money it made while I was running it. 

Knowing all this, I said to myself, 鈥淲hy not register my business under a different name?鈥� And that鈥檚 exactly what I did. 

I picked a name that wasn鈥檛 taken, uploaded my ID, paid the registration fee out of my own savings, and waited. Nothing about it was illegal because it had nothing to do with Ezinne anymore. By April 2025, I was certified.

That same week, I changed the Instagram password. Then I told her everything.

She screamed that I was a thief and that I had been stealing from her all this time. She added I wouldn鈥檛 be living the life I have if not for her. 

I retaliated, saying what I felt: that she hadn鈥檛 done anything for the business in almost two years. She said she would sue me, but I explained there was nothing to sue me for. If she wanted the Instagram page, the only thing she’d made, she could have it. I knew I could build a new one. 

She cursed me in every language she knew, and then she blocked me.

I want to tell you I felt free, but truthfully, it was difficult. I knew I was risking my friendship with the stunt I pulled, yet a part of me hoped she would be understanding.

To make matters worse,  a month later, Ezinne went online and started talking about the business. She posted on her Instagram story and lied, claiming I was a scammer and a thief and that people should be careful.

I was terrified. This business was my only source of income, and a claim like that could ruin everything. So even though I didn鈥檛 think I had done anything wrong, I called her and apologised. I told her I was sorry for the way I鈥檇 handled things and that I hoped she could forgive me.

To my surprise, she broke down in tears and apologised as well. She said she was sorry for never contributing to the business and for taking so much of my money. She told me she knew I deserved the business but was jealous that she hadn鈥檛 been able to scale it as much as I had.

Within the hour, we were friends again, and she took the posts down. The moment those posts went down, the business matter was resolved.

We鈥檙e cordial now. We sometimes text and like each other鈥檚 posts, but we no longer laugh together like we used to. I miss what our relationship used to be, but I did what I had to do.

To this day, I don鈥檛 actually feel sorry. I apologised because I had to, not because I believed I was wrong. I was the one who worked hard; I was the one who built the business, and I only did what I did to protect myself. 

Today, my business is a little rocky. Sales have dropped, but I know things will pick up, especially with Christmas around the corner. Business income fluctuates, so I鈥檓 not afraid.

The only interesting thing that happened with Ezinne recently was that she texted me a few days ago.

She said she wants to buy my jewellery.

READ NEXT: 听鈥淚 Fell in Love with my Boss鈥� 鈥� 7 Nigerians Share Why They Quit High-Paying Jobs

We love these people. We celebrate these people. But does saying we appreciate them show how far our care extends? When all is said and done, who cares for the carer?

Here are three important archetypes of Nigerian carers, and what people need to do for you if you find yourself in one of these categories. 

Plus, if you鈥檙e looking to care for your carer, here鈥檚 why AXA Mansard insurance is the best way to show that love as wholly as possible.

听1. The Breadwinner

It鈥檚 no exaggeration to say that we owe a lot to the breadwinner. 

Every paid bill, every meal eaten, every shirt on our backs is thanks to, or was once thanks to, the person willing to set aside money for us.

There is no forward momentum in a Nigerian home without the breadwinner leading the charge. And with the state of the Nigerian economy, they sacrifice far more than many may realise.

If you鈥檙e the type who sets aside money for others before thinking about yourself, if you鈥檙e called the second something needs to be fixed. If you budget your salary for your family before your fulfilment, then this archetype is yours. There is literally no Nigeria without you.

However, the breadwinner needs a little more than thank-yous and praise to keep going. Being told you鈥檙e the best can only go so far. This week, the breadwinner should take the time to ask for help with their own needs. It doesn鈥檛 need to be something big, maybe calling someone they love to help chip in for something they want (and they must absolutely not feel guilty for it)

2. The Firstborn

Parents are fantastic, but a lot of us only turned out half as well as we did because we had an older sibling in our lives.

Who was our first best friend and defender? Who asked for things on our behalf? In some cases, who cleaned and cooked for us while we were free to be children? 

Before they were adults, many firstborns were the third parents, shouldering struggles so their siblings didn鈥檛 have to.

If you would sacrifice anything for your siblings, if you feel mature for your age, if you tackle your brother鈥檚 problems like they鈥檙e your own, or learn the hard way so your sister doesn鈥檛 have to, then you鈥檙e the firstborn, and possibly the most vital member of your family. 

But being the responsible one is tiring, and hearing  鈥測ou鈥檙e so mature鈥� or being blamed for mistakes your younger ones made is exhausting.

 This week, the firstborn should let their younger siblings take their job. Let them solve family drama or carry the stress of sorting out their future on their own head. You deserve, for once, to be the one lying back and not worrying about what comes next.

3. The Medical Professional

It takes a lot to become a doctor: many years of school, several difficult exams, sleepless nights, and busy weekends. Not to mention actually dealing with stressed patients without letting your own stress show.

And for Nigeria鈥檚 medical professionals? It鈥檚 even more difficult: showing up with limited equipment and an even more limited salary, doing overnight shifts, and dealing with the stress of a Nigerian hospital. 

If your job is to take care of other people on their worst days, if you鈥檝e been asked for medical advice even outside your job, if everyone talks to you like you can magically cure all their physical problems, then this archetype is yours. We trust you with our lives, and we鈥檙e grateful that you handle them perfectly.

But gratitude from the people you treat doesn鈥檛 replace self-care. Being the calm one isn鈥檛 the same as being well. This week, the medical professional should take a turn as the patient and make sure they get themselves checked or babied. They deserve it for all the millions they鈥檝e saved.

So, how do we care for the carers?

The Nigerian instinct to look after each other is probably one of the best traits we have as a people. But in receiving care, we have to make sure we give it as well.

Buy someone who you owe your life to food they like, a gift they鈥檝e been hinting at, or, if you want something long-lasting and practical, you can opt for AXA Mansard insurance.

Nothing screams care like insurance that covers every aspect of your life. You want to make someone鈥檚 day brighter? Soften the blow of life鈥檚 issues before they even happen.

AXA cuts across life, non-life, health and asset management, so it makes sure that your carer can move through life confident you鈥檝e got their back from every angle possible. It is the best way to make someone feel loved.

If you鈥檙e interested in giving someone who loves you all that love back, or if you want to protect yourself so they can worry a little less about you, then get started with AXA Mansard today.

Don鈥檛 take our word for it; take theirs. This list explores six of the best Redmi phones under 鈧�200k, ranked by price, features, and user feedback. 

6. Redmi A7 (3GB RAM/64GB ROM) – 鈧�159k

If affordability is your top priority, the Redmi A7 is worth a look. It has a 6.88″ 120Hz display, a 13MP AI rear camera, an 8MP front camera and a 5,200mAh battery.

Tobi*, a university student, says, 鈥淭he screen is smooth for scrolling and watching videos between lectures, and the battery lasts all day. But 64GB fills up fast, so I鈥檓 always deleting things.鈥�

If you need lots of storage or heavy multitasking, you should try another model.

5. Redmi 13C (4GB RAM/128GB ROM) – 鈧�159k

The Redmi 13C is a good pick if you want a good camera within budget. It has a 6.74″ 90Hz display, a 50MP main camera, an 8MP front camera and a 5,000mAh battery. Storage is expandable with a microSD card.

Kelechi*, a secondary-school teacher, noted, 鈥淚 record short lessons and take photos of student work on it. I got this phone last year, and it hasn鈥檛 run out of space since then. Scrolling can be a struggle sometimes, though. It tends to freeze.鈥� 

For a faster phone, you can check out the next item on the list.

4. Redmi Note 11 – 鈧�138.5k

The Redmi Note 11 is the only AMOLED phone on this list, which means watching content on it is a top-tier experience. It has a 6.43″ 90Hz AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 680 chip, a 50MP main camera and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging. It also has an IP53 rating, stereo speakers and a headphone jack.

Seyi*,  a freelance editor, says, 鈥淭he colours and contrast on the AMOLED screen have made my work pop out more. It also charges in about an hour.鈥� However, he doesn’t think it’s the best for gaming, as the phone can鈥檛 handle heavy graphics.

 3. Redmi A7 Pro (4GB RAM/64GB ROM) – 鈧�186k

The Redmi A7 Pro is better than the standard A7 and costs about the same. It has a 6.9″ display, 4GB RAM, Android 16, dual SIM, 4G LTE and a bigger 6,000mAh battery.

鈥淚鈥檓 on the road from morning till night for work, and the phone never dies.鈥�  Emeka*, who has had the phone for a month, claims. However, he and several other users don鈥檛 recommend the camera. Luckily, there are better choices on this list for good camera quality.

2. Redmi 14C 5G (4GB RAM/128GB ROM) – 鈧�195k

The Redmi 14C 5G is the best choice for reliable, fast network connectivity. Chioma*, a user who frequently uses her phone for online meetings, says that her video quality is incredible. It has a 6.88″ display, 128GB of storage and a 5,160mAh battery.

However, the battery is slightly smaller than the A7 Pro鈥檚, so this phone may be best for people who don鈥檛 mind carrying a power bank around.

1. Redmi 15C (4GB RAM/128GB ROM) – 鈧�198k

At the top of the list, the Redmi 15C is one of the most beloved Redmi phones in the world. It has a 6.9″ 120Hz display, a 50MP main camera, 128GB of storage, a 6,000mAh battery and Android 15. It seamlessly blends great storage and a great camera. While it鈥檚 the priciest on the list, it鈥檚 certainly worth all the money.

Femi* got the Redmi 15C over a year ago, and since then he has never run out of storage, despite being an avid picture-taker. He had no complaints about it.

*Note: Names have been changed. Also, prices are indicative estimates for the Nigerian market and may vary depending on the seller, specifications, condition, and availability.

READ NEXT: 10 Best HP Laptops You Can Buy for Under 鈧�1 Million

For those lucky enough to land one, a high-paying job can make up for long hours, a stressful work environment, difficult bosses, and everything else work throws at them. If the money is good, surely it鈥檚 worth putting up with hell鈥� right?

These Nigerians don鈥檛 think so. In this story, they share why they walked away from high-paying jobs, what they chose to do next, and whether leaving the money behind was worth it.

鈥淚 fell in love with my boss.鈥� 鈥� Kayode*, 35, M.

I鈥檝e worked in investment since 2013. After my first role, I job-hopped for a few years before finally landing a senior risk analyst role in 2019 that paid me 鈧�700k/month.

The work was boring, but I was good at it. However, my boss, Diana*, made things difficult for me.

I like strong women, and she was one of the toughest women I鈥檇 ever met, but she was still fair and kind when we deserved it. I didn鈥檛 even realise when I fell for her.

I鈥檓 not talking about a small crush either. I hadn鈥檛 liked someone in years, so my thing for her was intense. I thought about her all day and did everything I could to talk to her, even though I kept it professional. It got to a point where my best friend told me what I felt wasn鈥檛 normal.

I soon found out she was married, and the jealousy I felt was insane. Even though I knew my feelings weren鈥檛 normal, that didn鈥檛 make them any less real.

I became depressed, and my work started to suffer. This only made things harder because she started asking me if I was okay and if she could do anything to help. I even came close to paying for therapy.

After a year in the company, the impact of my crush was too much on my mental health, so I found another job paying only 鈧�500k/month, and I pivoted. I stayed at that new job and was promoted recently, so I鈥檓 back to earning 鈧�700k/month.

Looking back, what I felt for my boss wasn’t normal. It must have been spiritual.

鈥淚 chose sleeping over a career.鈥� 鈥� Mide*, 26, F.

I finished NYSC in 2022 and, for months, I struggled to find any jobs worth my time or talent. I’d started to give up when my friend sent me a job offer for a talent acquisition officer at the beginning of 2023. The salary was 鈧�650k/month.

I was a late applicant, so I didn’t think I’d get the job. Plus, who would pay an inexperienced entry-level hire 鈧�650k? But to my surprise, I got the job. 

At first, everything was great. I only had to go to the office two times a week, and my boss seemed chill compared to other Nigerian bosses. However, at least three people left in my first month. That should have been an indicator that something was wrong, but I just thought they鈥檇 gotten better opportunities.

I soon learnt what the problem was: no one was sleeping. 

My hours were meant to be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but to complete the sheer amount of work we had, many of us would wake up at 7 a.m. and work for hours long after the sun went down. My job took over my life. I had to stop visiting friends because I used weekends to try and lessen my workload. Even my mum, who never lets me skip out on hard work, said the company wanted to kill me before my time.

My final straw was when I got malaria and asked my boss if I could take the day off, but he said, 鈥淎re you so sick that you can鈥檛 work when you come back from the hospital?鈥� I resigned the following weekend after just five months on the job.

Now, I run a thrift business, and it鈥檚 doing well. Ironically, I used the money I saved from my first job to start it, so I guess that means it all worked out. 

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 understand the job.鈥� 鈥� Ifeanyi*, 55, M.

Before COVID, I sold cars, and I made really good money, above 鈧�500k a month. But COVID affected my business, and it never fully recovered.

I wanted my family to keep living the life we were used to, but I never wanted to work in an office. My daughter introduced me to online jobs, but I didn’t understand most of them. The only one that made some sense to me was being a virtual assistant.

My daughter took a virtual assistant course for me, and I started applying for jobs with the certificate she got. A few months later, in 2023, I got my first job for a Kenyan who paid me the equivalent of 鈧�1.2m a month. I told myself I would learn on the job.

Unfortunately, navigating a laptop was tougher than I thought. At least three times, I scheduled something for my boss on the wrong day, and my output slowed because I had to do extensive research to understand how to handle my tasks. 

My boss was patient, especially since he was my agemate and understood why I struggled, but at a point, it was just undignified to stay there.

I quit six months after I started. I鈥檓 surprised I wasn鈥檛 even fired before then. Before I left, however, I recommended my daughter to him, and she now works there.

I鈥檓 still trying to get my business running, but I think I might pivot into farming. 

鈥淣o one liked me.鈥� 鈥� Yetunde*, 24, F.

Immediately after I graduated from uni about four years ago, my mum鈥檚 friend got me a position at her bank. I didn’t have a proper job title; I just worked as my mum鈥檚 friend鈥檚 assistant. They paid me 鈧�300k/month, and the role came with free lunch. It might not seem like much, but I was 21, barely did anything all day, and I used that extra time to build my copywriting business.

It was great. I was always going out with my friends and paying for everyone. Copywriting was also paying me about 鈧�70k a month, which was a nice extra.

However, there was one big problem at my office: All my coworkers were much older than me, and none of them liked me. 

I don鈥檛 know if it was because I was young, or they were frustrated that I got the role via nepotism, or if my boss being really nice to me and then really hard on them was too much, but these grown men and women began to bully me. 

They would laugh at me when I tried to make contributions during meetings, then insult my generation as Nigeria’s fools. I won鈥檛 lie, I enabled them by laughing along, but only because I wanted them to like me.

One day, when I went on my lunch break, a particularly nasty co-worker told me all I do is eat, and I should continue because I鈥檒l soon be even more obese. I鈥檝e always struggled with my weight, so that really got to me. Another time, I鈥檇 just done red braids, and my boss said it was fine, but my co-workers held a grudge against it. They would pull my braids and tauntingly call me a nepo baby.

I stayed for about a year and a half, and most of that was because I did NYSC there, but the moment I finished my service year, I told my mum鈥檚 friend I wouldn鈥檛 go back. She begged me, telling me I was good at my job, but enough was enough,

Luckily for me, at this time I was earning about 鈧�200k a month from copywriting. It was less than my previous earnings, but I didn鈥檛 mind one bit. Now I鈥檝e scaled it up and earn in dollars.

鈥淚 chose my husband over my job, and I regret it.鈥� 鈥擡zinne*, 44, F.

In 2000, I got a job as a receptionist at a new private school. Back then, my salary was 鈧�7k a month, which was good money for me. 

The Head of School (HOS) and I quickly became good friends. Our school was like a family, so a lot of us who started with her got raises and promotions very fast.

That was my case. I was good with children, so I was soon promoted to teacher, and later to head of the math department. It was great. By 2020, I was earning 鈧�700k a month.

While I saw my growth as a good thing, my husband was disturbed by it. I got married a year before I became a receptionist, and at the time, I was only supposed to work until my husband got on his feet. After that, I鈥檇 quit. But I fell in love with being at that school.

Once I started earning 鈧�700k, my husband and his family began hounding me to quit, saying my husband would take care of me. My daughter and colleagues begged me not to listen to them, but the pressure became too much, and I left my job after 20 years.

True to his word, my husband takes care of me, and I lack nothing, but I miss my job so much. I鈥檓 still friends with the HOS, and she has told me that whenever I want to come back, there鈥檚 always a place for me, but I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 brave enough to go against my husband鈥檚 wishes. 

鈥淢y boss was weird.鈥� 鈥擬una*, 29, F.

In 2021, I got a job as an evaluation specialist for an NGO. It was 鈧�500k/month with healthcare and other benefits.

I loved that job. The people were nice, the pay was good at the time, and I was good at what I did. We were comfortable with each other, but my boss was鈥� too comfortable.

During meetings, she would ask us what we did over the weekend; if we told her, she鈥檇 say, 鈥淭hat can’t be all. Give me details.鈥� In the end, she was prying into people’s personal information. She did this so intensely that she even discovered my co-worker was having sex problems with her man.

During meetings, she would share those personal details and expect people to laugh with her. One time, she used a colleague’s mother鈥檚 death as an example in a training session. The colleague broke down in tears, so she told him to go to her office, and she would comfort him after the training.

I thought I could endure it for my pay, especially because I had a good chance of being promoted, but one day, my fianc茅 came to pick me up, and my boss saw him. Every day after that, she鈥檇 ask about him.

I never said anything, and this pissed her off. She started being passive-aggressive, saying I was keeping things from her.

I endured that crazy woman for two years before I quit without any prospects. Since then, I haven’t found another job I think I鈥檇 love as much as that one, but my husband takes care of me, so I鈥檓 comfortable for now.

鈥淪omeone died from stress鈥� 鈥� Albert*, 40, M.

I worked as a corporate lawyer for most of my life until 2024, when I quit because a colleague died of stress.

The job I quit was at an international company, and I鈥檇 worked there for 10 years. Since only a few of my co-workers were Nigerian, we often rented a workspace together. One of them was Remi*.

We all worked long hours, even during weekends, and never took breaks. During lunch, everyone ate quickly so we could get back to work. Clients could also be hostile, and our bosses demanded perfection. The fast-paced environment worked for me because I do well in spaces where I don鈥檛 have time to overthink, but for Remi, it was a death sentence.

He was a decade older than me, and we weren鈥檛 anything beyond work friends, but I really cared for him. He wanted to be an artist, but he was working in law because, when he was younger, that made sense. But he hoped to pursue his dream one day.

However, Remi had long-standing health challenges, and the stress of our job made them worse. Any time he had to go to the hospital, my boss would joke on Zoom calls that the work would soon kill him.

Unfortunately, it did. One day, in 2023, he didn鈥檛 come to the workstation, so I called his wife. She told me he鈥檇 been hospitalised because of high blood pressure. He was dead within the hour.

I鈥檝e never lost someone, not even my elderly parents, so this hit extra hard. During our meeting, my boss mentioned his passing once; we had a minute of silence, and that was it. It was as if Remi had never worked for our company.

It broke me. I stayed another year, but after that I couldn鈥檛 do it. He gave his life to his job, and for what?

After I resigned, my wife supported us for a year while I figured out what I wanted to do next. I eventually became a legal management consultant for another international company at 鈧�600k/month, and I鈥檓 still there today. 

I鈥檓 getting paid way less than the 鈧�1.3m I earned at my previous company, but I鈥檓 much happier. I didn鈥檛 even realise the stress was getting to me too. I now spend more time with my family, but Remi is always at the back of my mind. 

I considered picking up painting as a hobby in his honour, but I鈥檓 not artistic.

READ NEXT: 鈥淚 Started It for Fun. Now It Pays My Bills鈥� 鈥� Nigerians Share How They Turned Their Skills Into Income

From the first payout that showed him he would succeed, to every sacrifice he has made for his reputation, and now rolling into one of the biggest career opportunities of his life, here鈥檚 how Oreoluwa became one of Nigeria鈥檚 most critically acclaimed content creators, and how you can do it too.

This is Oreoluwa鈥檚 story, as told to Azara.

A few months ago, an international company offered me a monthly payment of 鈧�30 million to create two videos each month. I turned it down. 

It鈥檚 not the first big offer I鈥檝e ever let go of, and I don鈥檛 think it鈥檒l be the last, but when building a good content creation business, a lot of nos have to be thrown around before you get to your perfect yes.

Interestingly, just three years ago, I was eagerly accepting 鈧�200k jobs. Now, I can afford to turn down millions. How did I get here? 

For one, I have always had a desperate desire to be independent.

I got into university in 2011 at 16. It was my first time away from my parents, and the distance taught me just how much I liked being on my own. But if I wanted to live alone, I had to earn the money to support that decision. Fashion brought me my first opportunity. In 2015, right before I graduated from university, I started making leather bags and selling them.

The business took off quickly. I had no showroom, and I learnt how to sew bags as I went on. Yet, within my first few months of making bags, I earned enough to hire an assistant and to get a new MacBook. Before the year was over, I鈥檇 made my first million as a 19-year-old.

We surveyed 5,000 workers across Nigeria鈥檚 formal and informal sectors to examine what Nigerians earn, where the money goes, and whether hard work actually translates to financial security. This is what we found. Download the 糖心原创 State of Income Report.

My fashion business quickly took over my life and became my soul鈥檚 work. I loved what I did, and I did it as best as I could. I earned in the millions, bought a car, employed workers, and my business shipped to 15 countries worldwide. I also achieved my dream of living alone and rented a nice apartment in Lekki Phase One. By every standard, I was doing well for myself.

And then COVID snatched that away.

I had a store in Lekki, and its profits covered my staff鈥檚 salaries and the shop’s rent. I relied heavily on the money it made. But lockdown meant people stopped going out to buy bags, and shipping became a hellish task. I was forced to scale back my business.

But even when the lockdown eased, my dissatisfaction did not. I realised the fashion social scene wasn鈥檛 for me. I hated having to attend so many events and fake so many smiles just to be recognised in the industry. I wanted my work to do the talking, but I often felt that was overshadowed by who knew whom.

It was around this time, in 2023, that I adopted a Miniature Schnauzer dog named Duke. 

That year, I lost my uncle, and the grief was overwhelming. I got Duke, hoping a pet would help me manage my mental health challenges, but it didn鈥檛 happen as quickly as I thought.

I didn鈥檛 know what I was doing as a first-time pet owner, so life with Duke was hard. Things got so bad that, for a few months, I wanted to return him. But slowly I got the hang of things, and Duke became one of the most important parts of my life. 

One day, I thought, 鈥淲hat if I show the world what my life with Duke looks like?鈥� So I made a skit where I lamented about the state of Nigeria to him. I never thought anything of it, only that Duke鈥檚 reactions were funny and hopefully it would reach a few people.

Little did I know it would reach more than just a few. Overnight, the skit got 250,000 views.

I had barely had time to make sense of what had happened when YouTube asked me to join their Partner Programme. I did, and by the end of the month, I鈥檇 made my first $300 (about 鈧�400,000) as a content creator.

Before then, I hadn鈥檛 once considered going into content creation. To tell you the truth, I didn鈥檛 even believe it was a real job. It took me making that $300 from a single video to understand this was actually a career. I realised this was more than just a fun hobby. It was the beginning of something special, and for the first time, I could see content creation as a path worth pursuing. Still, I hesitated to go all-in because of Duke. 

He鈥檚 a dog, but more than that, he鈥檚 my child. Introducing him to a world where he would constantly be in front of cameras or forced to interact with fans didn鈥檛 sit right with me. It wasn鈥檛 until my sister sat me down and explained that I could make this work, both for Duke鈥檚 sake and for mine, that I really dove in.

I started with my iPhone 12, used a tripod my sister gifted me to film, and edited with free software like CapCut and Edits: Video Editor. To this day, this strategy has barely changed. In 2024, I switched to using a brand-gifted phone, an iPhone 15, for editing and have a team that makes minor edits to my videos, but for the most part, I鈥檓 still making videos the way I started.

You may see these as small things, simple strategies, but look at where they鈥檝e gotten me in three years.

I’ve crossed 1.2 million followers on Instagram, worked with Meta Creators and major international brands, been featured on Fox News, appeared on BBC Radio in the UK, been interviewed by major publications like the LA Times, and even had UK teachers use my videos to discuss self-confidence and mental health in class. Earlier this year, I signed with an international management company that now provides the professional support I lacked at the start of my career.

As someone who never planned on becoming a content creator, especially not alongside a dog I鈥檇 only had for a few months, this journey has been nothing short of incredible. 

But getting here hasn鈥檛 been all smooth sailing, especially when the dynamics of being Nigerian come into play.

Content creation in Nigeria can be predatory, and when I first started my journey, I was easy prey. I accepted every opportunity under the sun, and Nigerian companies would offer me one-off payments of 鈧�100k鈥撯偊200k for a video, using it for as long as they wanted.

At first, I saw nothing wrong with that, but I eventually learnt that no business is allowed to use your video for as long as it wants without charge. Each month, they must pay for usage rights. Learning this showed me the extent to which I was being cheated. After finding this out, my team approached the businesses I鈥檇 worked with to ask about usage rights, and they quickly tried to fix things. That meant they knew what usage rights were but chose not to disclose them so they wouldn鈥檛 have to pay me.

But while it may have taken me time to learn my own worth in the Nigerian market, I never once questioned Duke鈥檚.

Many Nigerian brands treat him like he doesn鈥檛 exist. To them, Duke is a prop to feature in the background of their content. I once nearly worked with a brand that paid me millions to have Duke and me shoot content. However, on the day of the shoot, Duke wasn鈥檛 feeling well. I told the brand this, but instead of understanding, they said I should just put him in the car, and he鈥檇 be fine. I refused, refunded them, and called off the shoot.

Another lady had wanted Duke to model for her fashion brand. While we were still in talks about the deal, she started lamenting her hatred for dogs. You hate dogs but want to shoot with mine? Absolutely not. I stopped it right there.

My sacrifices extend beyond Duke鈥檚 well-being; I have to think about my brand, too. A lot of the time, brands will ask us to partner with them for huge amounts of money, but what they鈥檙e selling goes against my morals. Duke and I make family-oriented content. What would it mean to my audience if they woke up one day and saw we鈥檇 partnered with a gambling company?

And that鈥檚 how we got to that 鈧�30m deal I turned down. A big international gambling company offered me about 鈧�30 million for two videos a month. I was tempted, I won鈥檛 lie, but my morals have always come first, and they always will. I said no.

So yes, I鈥檝e had to make a lot of sacrifices, but that doesn鈥檛 mean monetisation has been difficult for me.

Meta monetisation has been a lifeline for my business. With one video, I can earn millions of naira over multiple months. Some creators earn $1,000 a month for years from one video. Now, imagine that multiplied across every video they create.

Brand sponsorships have also been incredibly helpful. I haven鈥檛 bought Duke鈥檚 food in a long time because brands send it to him. In fact, even though he鈥檚 living lavishly, I鈥檝e been able to cut costs on most things related to Duke, save for his healthcare and grooming.

And that gambling deal I turned down? It actually led me to one of the biggest deals of my life. I was approached by one of my dream companies, and they told me that, out of 600 creators worldwide, I was one of the few they chose to work with because I stay true to my values.

It鈥檚 been a wild journey, and I wouldn鈥檛 change it for anything. Duke and I have been through so much together, and I know we鈥檙e going to have so much more ahead of us. We鈥檝e been working on a lot of things that I鈥檓 very excited to share soon, but right now I鈥檓 happy to be doing what I love with the animal I love most.

Ore鈥檚 Career Advice:

• Start small. I started on my iPhone 12 and look where I am today. Large equipment will never be more important than the story you鈥檙e trying to tell. 
• Stick to your niche. A variety of mismatched content confuses the algorithm, leaving it unsure where to place you.
• Not everything is about money. I once turned down a job from an international company, and the first thing the owner said was, 鈥淏ut you鈥檙e Nigerian. I thought Nigerians would do anything for money.鈥� That鈥檚 a terrible reputation to have, and if I鈥檇 had that mindset, I may not have scaled to the degree I have.
• Strive for the best. I ensure my work is never shoddy. I鈥檇 rather turn out a few good videos a month than several bad ones. Good work speaks for itself. 

Ore鈥檚 Resources:

• I like editing with CapCut and Edits: Video Editor.
• For how to build a good reputation as a content creator, I鈥檇 recommend watching Funke Akindele and Maraji. 
• I use a MacBook and iPhone for work, nothing else.

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Rather than walk away, Amara decided to recruit her wealthy friend, Tobi* (27), in hopes of changing her fate, but what she thought would be a way out of her financial troubles soon became a decision she would regret, one that would change her friendship for the worse.

This is Amara鈥檚 explanation, as told to Azara.

鈥淲here is our money?鈥�

The panicked messages on our business鈥� WhatsApp group chat came in fast. Every member was either demanding payment or begging to speak with the people in charge, but neither was happening.

On that fateful day in February 2025, I realised I鈥檇 been scammed out of 鈧�940k. Worse, I鈥檇 dragged my friend into it, and he鈥檇 lost far more.

But a few months prior, before everything fell apart, I seemed to be getting my life together. In March 2024, I moved into my first big-girl apartment, a 鈧�1.3m/year self-con that I funded from my 鈧�300k I.T. specialist salary. But even though I was finally independent, I felt trapped.

I imagined that at 24, I鈥檇 be able to go out as I pleased and pay for most of my wants. But with so much of my salary going into rent and the terrible state of the economy, I was left with only enough to take care of myself, and sometimes, not even that. I remember a time when something broke in my car, and I had to pay over 鈧�100k to have it fixed. That entire month, I could barely afford the garri I was drinking.

I wanted more, so I started looking for ways to make extra money. But nothing seemed to work. I contemplated moving back in with my parents, but I knew that would be a different kind of trap. For a while, it seemed like my only option was to work hard and hope for a promotion.

However, everything changed when my friend invited me to an investment seminar.

鈥淚t鈥檒l be helpful,鈥� she promised. 鈥淭hey teach people about investing and how to make your money work for you.鈥�

I wanted to tell her I wasn鈥檛 interested, that stocks were too confusing for me, but I decided I might as well give it a shot. At least, even if I didn鈥檛 understand how to invest by the end of it, I might network and meet someone who could give me a good job opportunity.

So, we attended the seminar, and at the end of it, I met the woman who changed my life, Kamsi*.

I could tell Kamsi was around my age, but the way she dressed made us seem lifetimes apart. She was put together, and her perfume smelled expensive.

She struck up a conversation with me, and I soon found myself opening up to her about my financial struggles and my desperation for better opportunities. Kamsi listened, and when I was done, she said, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e just the kind of person I wanted to meet.鈥�

Kamsi explained that she was a financial guru and knew how to help me grow my money fast. She said she could help me invest in a way that wasn鈥檛 difficult, and that she wouldn鈥檛 charge me for her services because she liked me.

If she was anyone else, I might have been sceptical, but she seemed to have the lifestyle to back up her offer, so I eagerly agreed to let her help me, and we exchanged numbers.

A week went by, and she called. She said she worked with a company dedicated to growing people鈥檚 money, and after she鈥檇 told them my story, they chose me out of millions of Nigerians for their open slot.

She invited me to a class that weekend and claimed it cost 鈧�50k, but said she would cover it for me.

When I got to this so-called 鈥渃lass,鈥� there were only a few people there, but the excitement in the room was palpable. The organisers congratulated us on being chosen, then took us through a slideshow of mostly testimonials from people who had completed their programme and were now millionaires. With each passing slide, I grew more hopeful for my future.

In the end, they promised a 10% monthly return on all investments made with them, starting at 鈧�100k.

I should have asked more questions, but in my excitement and because I trusted Kamsi, I gave them half of my savings, 鈧�200k. Then, I was added to a group chat.

With every passing day, I became increasingly aware that I had made a mistake. What if they didn鈥檛 pay me? What if the whole thing was a way to steal from me? I even called Kamsi to tell her I wanted my money back, but she assured me this specialised investment plan was what afforded her the lifestyle she had. This was the same girl who told me she鈥檇 gone to London the year before, so who was I to turn down her advice?

A month passed and, in July, just as promised, my account was credited with 鈧�220k.

All my doubts were replaced by excitement. I put the 鈧�200k back into my savings, bringing it back to 鈧�400k, then used part of the 鈧�20k to treat myself in a way I hadn鈥檛 since I left my parents鈥� house. I bought takeout, thrifted a dress off Instagram, and still had a little left over to put back in my savings.

Was 鈧�20k a lot of money? No. But did it feel like the start of a new life? Absolutely.

Now, invigorated not only by my success but also by the earnings of others in the group chat, I leapt and put my entire 鈧�400k savings into the business. This time, I was told I鈥檇 made a bonus and was promised 鈧�50k in interest.

Again, a month passed, and on the promised payout date, I eagerly refreshed my account.

Nothing.

Don鈥檛 panic, I thought. Kamsi had already told me that, because the business worked with foreign products, it might take time for the money to hit my account.

So I waited a week, but still my 鈧�450k hadn鈥檛 shown up. A few people on the group chat also made the same claim, but the group admins promised us that it was just an international delay. It helped that some people said they鈥檇 been paid, but it was finally enough for me to find the business sketchy.

So, this time, instead of going to Kamsi with my concerns, I went online and, through other people鈥檚 experiences, immediately discovered I was in a Ponzi scheme.

Me? A Ponzi scheme? That couldn鈥檛 be right. I didn鈥檛 know a lot about what that meant, but I knew it was bad.

I called Kamsi again, and this time I demanded she tell me the truth about my money. While she didn鈥檛 confess to any wrongdoing, she informed me that payouts sometimes came faster if you put more money in. Once again, she told me she liked me, so she lent me 鈧�100k until my own payout came. Then, she started pushing me to recruit people I knew and get paid for referrals.

I knew at that moment that what was happening was wrong, but I also knew that the chance to earn was still there, and still tempting.

I contemplated walking away, but when 鈧�450k was credited to my account three days after my call with Kamsi, I couldn鈥檛.

As sketchy as this was, it had proved that it could change my life.

For a few months, I refused to reinvest. But when life started beating me down again, I became open to reinvesting in October 2024.

I took Kamsi鈥檚 advice and looked for someone I could recruit. The idea was to find someone who could handle a loss if it came down to that, though at the time, I was sure it wouldn鈥檛. That was how I involved Tobi.

Tobi was my good friend. But beyond that, he was the only person I knew who worked for a foreign company as a software engineer. He never told me his exact earnings, but he lived in a three-bedroom apartment and had recently bought himself an iPhone 15, which was more than enough evidence for me that he was rich.

I called him, and after we talked a little, I told him about the investment opportunity. I explained that there were occasional payment delays and showed him I had earned twice and planned to put more money in.

Tobi was intrigued. He told me he had been looking to start investing, so I gave him Kamsi鈥檚 number, and that’s how he came on board.

For his first investment, he put in 鈧�1m.

I was shocked. I had known he was rich, but I didn鈥檛 know he had 鈧�1m to spare. For my referral, Kamsi convinced me that any amount I put in would increase by 20% in a month, and, believing her, I once again put all my savings in: 鈧�450k.

A month passed, and sure enough, in November, I made 鈧�540k while Tobi made 鈧�1.1m. My parents also sent me 鈧�400k at the time, so I had nearly 鈧�1m in savings that wasn鈥檛 for my rent.

Tobi and I were on top of the world. Yes, people in the group chat were seriously complaining that they weren’t getting paid and hadn鈥檛 for months, but that wasn鈥檛 my story, and I truly believed I had hacked the system better than they had.

Tobi and I became closer, and he told me he wanted to make 鈧�500k, so he was going to push for 鈧�5m. Giddy with his own belief, I also opted to put in my entire 鈧�940k savings, especially so I could have some money for the holidays.

Little did we know that our biggest investments would be our last.

We invested that money so that it would come before Christmas, and Kamsi said she had a great feeling about this one. Their foreign products were doing really well, and we might earn more than our usual 10%. But even as she reassured me, I noticed more and more people on the group chat were calling the business a scam. It was at this time that the business owners started removing people from the group.

So, despite it falling apart before our very eyes, Tobi, I, and a few people on the group chat eagerly awaited our December earnings. I鈥檇 planned to buy my parents Christmas gifts and even get myself a small tree for my apartment.

The day we were supposed to get our earnings arrived, then passed.

This time, it was Tobi who promised me it was no big deal. I had had delayed payments before, and they had still come. To be honest, I didn鈥檛 doubt that. What made me worry was that I would not get my investments before Christmas, but that soon became the least of my worries.

Christmas came and went, but there were no gifts for my parents and no tree for my apartment because my payout hadn鈥檛 come.

In anger, I called Kamsi after the worst Christmas of my life. She apologised and promised me that when she came home, we would discuss extra interest on my and Tobi鈥檚 behalf.

The group chat was also getting angsty, and the same promises were made to them. The only person who seemed not to worry was Tobi.

鈥淚nternational clients,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t happens.鈥�

So January came, but not one of us had been paid. It wasn鈥檛 until the new year that Tobi started worrying.

A bad feeling settled in my chest, and I called Kamsi, but her line rang out. I called her throughout January. And then, one day in February, she picked up.

鈥淲hat is it?鈥� she asked me, sounding annoyed.

I was too stunned by her tone. I鈥檇 planned to shout at her, but I could only meekly ask for my money. If not the interest, then just what I had put in.

Instead of being understanding or apologetic, she told me I was pestering her and that she had already promised I would get my money.

鈥淚 know, I just wanted an expected day I would get it,鈥� I begged her.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know yet. I鈥檒l call you back,鈥� she said flatly, then cut the call.

I tried calling her back that night, but the number didn鈥檛 go through. I had been blocked.

And that鈥檚 how we get back to the beginning of the story, when everyone on the group chat made demands of a silent business owner. I realised I had lost a lot of money and had made my friend lose even more.

A few days later, the group chat was disbanded, and Tobi, who had been the calmest through all this, finally fell apart.

He tried calling Kamsi, but she blocked him too. With no one else to blame, he blamed me.

I begged for his forgiveness, but Tobi stopped talking to me. That was last year, and no matter how many times I try to reach out, he just ignores me.

As if my problems couldn鈥檛 get worse, a few of my friends started asking me why I stole from Tobi, meaning our gist had spread. I was so embarrassed that I stopped going out with friends for a long time. Besides, it鈥檚 not like I could afford it.

It鈥檚 been a while since this happened, and looking back, I still feel so foolish. I鈥檓 not the type to claim trauma, but once I hear the word 鈥渋nvestment鈥�, I start panicking. I hate what I allowed, and I also hate that what was meant to change my life ended up putting me in an even worse situation.

But I鈥檝e learnt my lesson, and one day, I hope Tobi can answer one of my calls.

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Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, .

How long have you and your partner been together?

鈥淭ogether鈥� isn鈥檛 the word I鈥檇 use. Kunle and I are in an exclusive situationship, but it started in March last year, during my final semester of university. 

Exclusive situationship? How did that happen?

I kept seeing him around campus and bumping into him outside school, too. We both smoke, so whenever I needed a cigarette, he seemed to have one, and whenever he needed one, I did. That became our thing.

Around the time Kunle and I started hanging out, my friends warned me that he was a fuckboy, but that only drew me to him. I鈥檇 been in this slow talking stage with someone else, and I needed something casual to make my life exciting, so fuckboy Kunle was perfect. He also seemed chill, so I figured he wouldn鈥檛 cause me any problems. 

About two weeks into us talking, a few people went to a popular hangout near school for the weekend. We saw each other there and had a drunken makeout session.

This was the day we exchanged numbers and started texting, just to show you how unattached we were at first. When the topic of what we were doing came up, he told me, 鈥淒on鈥檛 catch feelings,鈥� and I said that worked for me. Then we planned to meet at a hotel near school, and we started sleeping together.

What was the dynamic like?

At first, it was a very standard 鈥渇riends with benefits鈥� situation. We鈥檇 meet once a week at a cheap hotel near school, have sex, smoke, and then Kunle would listen to me talk about my life. I鈥檓 the sort of person who is always in one mess or another, so Kunle constantly had to be brought up to speed on my drama. I think the fact that he was such a good listener was what first attracted me to him.

And then, just a few weeks into this no-strings-attached relationship, I caught feelings. It was April, a few days to my birthday, and one thing about me? I hate my birthdays. Things just never go right. I told Kunle this, but instead of pushing it aside, he said we could go out and make a whole day of it. I thought that was sweet.

So, we left school the day before, stayed at a hotel, and spent the whole day together. By the end of that night, I understood that I liked him. He also claimed he liked me too, and we agreed to sleep with each other only.

But, funnily enough, this was also the night that Kunle鈥檚 bad money habit really shone through.

Bad money habit?

He would make me pay for things like the hotel, promising to pay me back, but he never did. Our hotel outings weren鈥檛 cheap for me, especially as a student with an 鈧�80k allowance. An overnight stay cost 鈧�25k, so most of the time, Kunle and I used the hotel鈥檚 hourly rate, which was 鈧�5k. But even at that, it was a lot. 

He did this with cigarettes as well. I would buy a 鈧�2k pack, only for Kunle to take half of them without a word. 

One time, he asked to  鈥渂orrow鈥� my pack for the night, promising to return the rest. The next day, however, he said he鈥檇 smoked everything with his guys, and there was nothing to return.

So clearly, this had already been a pattern, but what happened on my birthday was particularly bad. 

What happened?

We went out for ice cream, and Kunle made sure to get an extravagant order: a cone with extra sprinkles and lots of toppings. I thought, as the celebrant, he would pay for both of our ice creams, but when it was time to pay for the 鈧�12k bill, Kunle pushed it on me.  

He didn鈥檛 give an excuse, but promised that, on his own birthday the following month, he鈥檇 take me out and spend on me. 

I wish I could tell you I fought or something, but now I liked him, and because I’d had such a good day, I paid for it without a second thought.

That鈥檚鈥� interesting. Did this bring up any money conversations?

Not any serious ones. As I said, we were in a situationship, so technically our money wasn鈥檛 tied to each other, you know?

The closest we came to seriously talking about money was when I told him about my savings. I鈥檇 saved up over the summer because I wanted my final semester to be extravagant, and I mentioned in passing that I had about 鈧�150k. I wish I hadn鈥檛, because I suspect that Kunle used that as an excuse not to pay for things.

One time, I was walking somewhere but realised too late that the place wasn鈥檛 within walking distance, and I didn鈥檛 have cash for a ride back to school.  I stopped at a filling station, and the attendants felt so bad for me that they gave me 鈧�1k. When I told Kunle, he wasn鈥檛 sympathetic. 鈥淗ow are they dashing someone with over 鈧�100k in her account 鈧�1k?鈥� he asked bitterly. That鈥檚 when I realised he was listening closely to everything I said about money.

He was also the sort of boy who talked a lot about what he鈥檇 buy for you, how he鈥檇 take care of you, and more nonsense he never actually followed through on. I later heard stories from friends about him doing the same thing to other girls.

These things should have done it for me, but they didn鈥檛.

Why?

Because once I liked him, they became easy to overlook. I鈥檓 also pretty empathetic, and Kunle always had a sob story. He said his parents were toxic and that he鈥檇 lived on the streets for a while as a child. How do you demand money back from someone like that?

He also painted himself as selfless. He鈥檇 say he sometimes didn鈥檛 eat all day, then bought food for his guys when they said they were hungry.

That made me start asking if he鈥檇 eaten, and if he said no, I鈥檇 send him money. The first time, I sent 鈧�2k, and he slyly said that it was too small. So after that, I sent 鈧�4k here and 鈧�6k there. 

I started feeling like his sugar mummy, and I think he saw it that way too. 

One time I went to hang out with some mutual friends of Kunle and I. I got high, and one of Kunle鈥檚 friends started kissing my neck in a way I didn鈥檛 like. I messaged Kunle to say his friend was making me uncomfortable. He came, stopped his friend, and looked really upset. But later that day, he told me I owed him lunch for saving me. 

He wasn鈥檛 joking.

That鈥檚 insane. How long did this go on?

We were in this situation for the three months I was in school. I started keeping tabs on everything he said he鈥檇 pay for and didn鈥檛. At one point, he owed me about 鈧�30k, and my savings, meant to fund the best school year of my life, were quickly disappearing into Kunle. Sometimes, I would spend so much that my monthly allowance would run out, and I would have to ask my mum for more. She couldn鈥檛 understand what was draining my finances to the last drop.

Between the rooms, the money I sent him and everything else, I鈥檇 estimate that I spent 鈧�120k to 鈧�150k on him. I was a student, so that was a lot.

What made it worse was that he started to expect that I鈥檇 just buy things for us. He once told a friend, 鈥淲hy would I buy cigarettes for myself when she鈥檚 here?鈥�

Dear God.

I finally had my eye-opener one night in  June.

He wanted to go to the hotel for an hour. It cost 鈧�5k, but I was down to my last 鈧�3k in my spending account. I told him he was paying for the room, and he agreed. 

But when it was time to pay, he claimed he鈥檇 thought he had 鈧�5k on him but had given some to one of his guys and only had 鈧�3k. Reluctantly, I said I鈥檇 cover the 鈧�2k difference. Suddenly, his story changed. He claimed he actually only had 鈧�2k because he鈥檇 left 鈧�1k in his room. But once we got back to the hostel, he鈥檇 give it to me.

 In the end, he paid 鈧�2k, and I paid 鈧�3k. I showed him it was the last of my spending money, and he promised he鈥檇 pay for the next one.

That night, we had sex without protection, and when I asked him to at least try to pull out, he refused. His reasoning was that I鈥檇 take Plan B anyway. I was already angry about paying for the room, but that made things worse. When we got to the hostel, I told him to give me the 鈧�1k he鈥檇 said he had there so I could pay for a ride to the pharmacy, but the boy said he couldn鈥檛 find it. The pharmacy was a 鈧�200 keke trip away, and he wouldn鈥檛 even pay for that. I woke up early the next morning and walked there myself, furious. 

I called a friend, who鈥檚 a fuckboy himself, and told him what had happened. He said, 鈥淭his boy doesn鈥檛 like you at all. Even I wouldn鈥檛 do this to a girl who meant nothing to me.鈥�  

That was when I understood something had to change.

Did you confront him?

Not directly. I just wanted to cut him off. But he owed me a lot, and I brought it down to 鈧�50k. He sent 鈧�30k, saying it was all his parents had sent as allowance. I took it as him trying to make amends. When I asked if he鈥檇 eaten, he said no, so I sent him 鈧�4k back out of the money he鈥檇 just sent me. I decided to give him a second chance, but I didn鈥檛 plan to stay exclusive to him anymore.

Did things get better?

Lol.

On one of my last days of school, we went to a hotel for the last time.  I just wanted to have fun and spend time with him, but he didn鈥檛 even kiss me; he just tried to sleep with me. I was already upset, so I left the room and went to sit with one of his friends. I rested my head on his shoulder, trying so hard not to cry. We were in a room with a glass door on the hotel’s veranda, and Kunle was outside with another guy, so he could see us.

Then I got a text from him: 鈥淚f you kiss him, just block me. Don鈥檛 talk to me again.鈥� I was sad, on the verge of tears, and all he cared about was whether I kissed someone else. I didn鈥檛 reply. I left, found two of my friends, and cried to them. 

As silly as it all was, our relationship didn鈥檛 exactly end. After I left school, he kept trying to see me, but I made it clear that if I was meeting him, I wasn鈥檛 paying for anything. We鈥檝e met up and slept together a few times since, on outings he actually contributed to, and we still talk occasionally.

At some point, he had the audacity to ask, 鈥淚f I asked you out right now, would you refuse?鈥� After everything, I said yes, I鈥檇 refuse. He looked shocked.

And what about his debt?

By the time I left school, he still owed me 鈧�13k. Eventually, I told him to forget about it, because he always seemed to be going through some money-related trouble, and I no longer wanted to be tied to him that way.

Things are just okay now, I guess. I left school, and I鈥檓 currently doing NYSC. We鈥檙e still technically in a situationship if we鈥檙e still open to sleeping with each other, but for the emotional side of things, I鈥檓 done. Besides, I haven鈥檛 seen him in a while. 

But I think that will soon change because, a few days ago, he said he鈥檒l come see me.

Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, .

*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.

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From the finance guy bragging about his affair to the teacher who claims she can never be fired because she鈥檚 beautiful, we rounded up 6 Nigerians who overheard strange conversations they weren鈥檛 supposed to at work.

鈥淢y wife? That one can never give it to me like Mama O.鈥� 鈥� Jennifer *, 22, F.

Earlier this year, I started working at this PR firm as a brand management intern. I really like my job, especially because it鈥檚 female-dominated and all the women are really nice.

However, there are a handful of men who rub me the wrong way. The worst of these men is Dimma*, who works in finance. He always makes odd comments about how my trousers 鈥渟hape me鈥�  and smiles at me in a way I think is supposed to be seductive.

Anyway, last month, I went to his office to get something for HR, but I stopped short when I heard him and another man laughing inside.

I shouldn鈥檛 have listened, but I鈥檓 nosy. The other man was talking about getting a blowjob and how his wife does it for him every night because he likes it. He asked Dimma what his wife does for him that he likes, and, condescendingly, Dimma said, 鈥淢y wife? That one can never give it to me like Mama O.鈥� I鈥檇 heard enough, so I entered his office, and the conversation stopped.

I wish I could say I was shocked, but I expected something like that from someone like him. 

鈥淢e? Work? That鈥檚 what that boy is for.鈥� 鈥� Johnson*, 23, M.

I work as a junior news editor for a small tech firm. I like my job, but one thing about media? It moves quickly, so people have to work fast.

While I feel like everyone pulls their weight, there鈥檚 one person I鈥檝e always felt slacked off: my supervisor and senior editor, Mr Joseph*. I鈥檓 meant to edit about three stories a day, but sometimes Mr Joseph will come and pile some of his work on top of mine, leaving me editing five stories a day and burning out before the close of work.

He always says it鈥檚 for my betterment and that when he came, that鈥檚 how he started. But that鈥檚 a lie because he didn鈥檛 start from a junior role like me, so there was no one to harass him.

Anyway, last year, the toilet I usually use was occupied, so I used the one in his office. He walked into his office while I was there, talking on the phone. At some point, I think the person on the line told him to get back to work or asked him when his break was over, because Mr Joseph scoffed, then said, 鈥淢e? Work? I don鈥檛 work again; that鈥檚 what that boy is for.鈥� And by that boy, he was referring to me.

I was shocked. I knew he was using me, but him being so blatant about it was a different kind of pain.

I came out of the toilet and greeted him, wanting to draw attention to myself, but he didn鈥檛 even acknowledge me. Either he didn鈥檛 think I heard him, or he simply doesn鈥檛 care. Whatever the case may have been, it made me start looking for another job. I refuse to be disrespected when I鈥檓 doing so much work.

鈥淗ow can they let me go? You know Mr T* likes my figure.鈥� 鈥� Amaka*, 23, F.

I started working as an administrative assistant for a private secondary school last year. It鈥檚 not permanent, and I鈥檓 only doing it until I figure out what I actually want to do with my life.

The students are fine, but I don鈥檛 like the teachers. I think they鈥檙e typical, wicked Nigerian teachers: shouting at students instead of helping them learn, lazily breezing through classes, and things like that. The Principal, Mr T, is also very strange, and I don鈥檛 like the way he looks at the female students.

Of all these teachers, Miss Olaogun* is the worst one. She always screams at her students and favours the boys. She鈥檚 also one of the few young, unmarried teachers at the school, so she looks very different from her colleagues.

One day, during lunch, she and some teachers were sitting together, teasing each other about various things. I was at the table beside her with a different set of teachers. That鈥檚 how someone joked that Miss Olaogun would soon be fired, and she said, 鈥淗ow can they let me go? You know Mr T likes my figure.鈥� And then they all burst out laughing. I was shocked by her audacity in saying something like that in public.

Since then, I鈥檝e been keeping an eye on her and Mr T. 

鈥淭he way ChatGPT has been writing my reports, I鈥檝e even forgotten how to do my job.鈥� 鈥� Tunde*, 26, M.

I think there鈥檚 an ethical way to use AI at work, but in my office, those ethics have been completely abandoned by my teammate, David*.

I work as a research assistant at a consulting firm, and my work relies heavily on gathering data, analysing reports, and helping staff prepare presentations. Clearly, a lot of rigour goes into it, so my reports usually take time, whereas my coworker, David, churns them out quickly. Our bosses constantly commend him for his fast pace.

However, one day, I stepped outside to stretch my legs and saw David by his car, making a call. He didn鈥檛 see me, so he kept talking about work. Eventually, he said, 鈥淭he way ChatGPT has been writing my reports, I鈥檝e even forgotten how to do my job.鈥�

I鈥檓 not against using ChatGPT to help with tasks, but it was clear that David had been making up information in his reports. He even added, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e paying for my reports to sound intelligent. It doesn’t have to be factual.鈥�

That was in December last year, and I worried he was getting away with it. This March, however, David was queried. No one knows why, but I strongly suspect he was caught.

鈥淚s it simple sleeping with him that I can鈥檛 do?鈥� 鈥� Ore*, 34, M.

In the decade I鈥檝e worked as a pension officer, I don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e ever met someone as bad at her job as the new intern in my office, Farida*.

She鈥檚 21, and she spends all day on her phone. She doesn鈥檛 even get much work, but the small tasks she鈥檚 entrusted with, she completely neglects. Thankfully, someone reported her to our boss because she was yelled at last month.

When she was screamed at, she started crying, and one of the other interns took her to the toilet to comfort her. As they were coming out of the bathroom, the other intern joked, 鈥淏ack in the day, we could sleep with our oga and not have to work.鈥� I thought it was a stupid joke, but I also understood it for what it was.

However, Farida muttered with all seriousness, 鈥淚s it simple sleeping with him that I can鈥檛 do?鈥�

I knew that thing wasn’t a joke, especially since the other girl told her to shut up. I told my colleague, and he said she鈥檚 just playing, but something about that girl doesn鈥檛 sit right with my spirit.

鈥淒id I tell you I care about the f*cking staff?鈥� 鈥� Thelma*, 28, F.

Three years ago, when I was religious, I used to volunteer in an Anglican church.

It wasn鈥檛 a mega-church, but a lot of people liked going there. However, a few things some pastors did rubbed me the wrong way. I knew a bunch of them weren鈥檛 living the pious life they claimed; they fought constantly behind the scenes and argued a lot about money. In particular, who deserved the most of it.

One day, some volunteers and I were counting the offerings after work when Pastor Abba* walked in and took a handful of the money. Obviously, we let him because we were just volunteers and he was a lead pastor, but outside the building, he was intercepted by another pastor, one of our more level-headed leaders.

He tried to reason with Pastor Abba, asking him if what he did was right, but Pastor Abba was annoyed and tried to sidestep him. Then the other pastor reminded him that Pastor Abba knew they tried to share the money equally among staff members. That鈥檚 how Pastor Abba exploded and shouted, 鈥淒id I tell you I care about the f*cking staff?鈥� We all gasped, but he didn鈥檛 even care; he just kept walking away with the offering money.

It shocked me so much that I left that church. I was never going to be paid since I was only a volunteer, but the disregard for other people was more than I could handle. It鈥檚 been a long time since then, and even though I no longer think about God, I think about Pastor Abba a lot.

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In this story, we follow Esther鈥檚 tumultuous journey through nursing school, her struggles to secure a job, and how her decision to borrow money set her on the path to a more secure future. She also explains why, despite the national economic hardship, she believes anyone can earn well if they work hard enough.

This is Esther鈥檚 story, as told to Azara.

My story starts where most of ours do: in the trenches.

I was a 19-year-old final-year nursing student, crippled by a mounting pile of work, and living hand-to-mouth because my dad could no longer afford to care for me like he did in the past.

He used to have money, not nepotism-level money, but enough to fund all my needs and some of my wants. But in 2023, my grandpa got really sick. 

His illness not only drained the life out of him, but also drained my dad鈥檚 funds. All of my dad鈥檚 money went into caring for him. Most of the time, there was nothing left over to care for me. 

Yet, my dad tried his best. Every week, he sent me a small amount of money, but unfortunately, it never exceeded 鈧�5,000. I would stretch the money to afford food and sometimes school essentials, but there were no funds for anything else. I couldn鈥檛 get the clothes I wanted, do my hair the way I liked, or even buy mobile data regularly. 

Still, I remained optimistic. I鈥檝e always believed that things will work out if I give it my all. That鈥檚 why, when I saw an online creative writing program, I knew I had to do it.

I鈥檝e always loved writing, and for three years, I鈥檇 been following this lady who taught people how to earn dollars through writing. I never had the money to enroll in her class, so I was waiting for the right time. But with my family鈥檚 dwindling funds, waiting no longer felt like an option.

The class cost 鈧�12k, money I didn鈥檛 have to spare, so I mustered up the courage to ask a friend for a loan. 

It was such a painful thing to do. I hate burdening people, especially people I care about, and the fact that I had no idea when I鈥檇 pay him back also weighed on me. But he didn鈥檛 feel the same. 鈥淚 can see your determination,鈥� he said as he handed me the money. 鈥淚 trust you.鈥�

He was right about my determination.

I took those classes as seriously as I took nursing, and soon my schedule was overflowing: there were school classes I had to attend, work postings I had to go to, and fellowships I never ignored. That, mixed with the writing classes I鈥檇 started tackling, meant I was barely resting or seeing my friends. 

Sometimes I would stay up until 4 a.m. working on my writing course and still wake up at 7 a.m. to attend my nursing class. When we went for work postings and there was nothing to do, my classmates would spend their time doomscrolling, but I鈥檇 learn a tip or two to help me improve my writing. Even when exam season began, everyone would spend their days studying, but I used the time to research my writing, only studying at the dead of night.

It was a lot, but I understood that, as someone who didn鈥檛 come from much, I couldn鈥檛 just rest and wait for life to happen to me. 

My hard work paid off because at the end of 2023, I graduated from nursing school with a strong degree. I also finished my writing course, but I decided to set it aside and see what my nursing degree could get me in Nigeria.

鈧�50k/month jobs seemed to be the answer.

During the two months I job-searched, that was the best offer I saw. I鈥檇 understood that Nigerian nurses were underpaid, but 鈧�50k was not even the minimum wage. How much had been spent on my school fees? On my textbooks alone? It startled me, and after only eight weeks of toying with the idea of becoming a nurse, I abandoned it to focus on writing.

I eventually landed a remote writing role for a foreign company around the time I stopped looking for jobs. I was paid 鈧�50k/month to write 12 articles. It eventually increased to 鈧�70k/month, and I found it much better than being a nurse because at least I wasn鈥檛 wasting money on transport. With this money, I took another writing course.

I鈥檇 been posting snippets of my writing on Facebook. It was something we鈥檇 been taught to do during my first writing course, and I was inconsistent with it, but I never stopped doing it. I got a few low-paying jobs this way, no more than 鈧�10k-鈧�12k per task, but that, plus my current job, was enough for a while. I was easily earning about 鈧�100k per month.

About a year and a half passed, and at this point I wanted more.

I signed up for LinkedIn and started posting as I had on Facebook: motivational stories, short snippets of my writing, and so on. Those posts were poorly done, but I kept learning and tweaking until I did better.

And then, four months later, my life changed.

A man had been engaging with my LinkedIn posts for some time, so I slid into his DMs to thank him. Rather than just telling me he was welcome, he asked about my portfolio and how much I charged for writing.

After a little back-and-forth, he commissioned me to ghostwrite 200 pages of his book for 鈧�500k.

It was like a switch in my life flipped. Only a year ago, I was considering a 鈧�50k/month job, and now I was getting a 鈧�500k offer without even applying. I took the job without a second thought. But looking back, I wish I had charged a little more. 

Two months later, I was reached out to again by another foreign client. He wanted me to write a 50-page book. This time, I charged over 鈧�1m, and he accepted without a fight. 

It鈥檚 been over a year since I got that offer, and my earnings have been good ever since. I have several clients I write for, and I consistently earn between $600 and $800 a month (about 鈧�790k – 鈧�1m a month)

The changes in my lifestyle have been drastic. Last month, I moved into a new apartment that cost 鈧�800k (鈧�1m with agent fees), and I can easily afford the rent. I also furnished it without having to struggle and save up. I can also get any food I want now, even healthy food, which is always more expensive than the unhealthy options.

Some of my money goes into taking care of my parents. I send a little bit of money home every month, and I鈥檓 helping put my brother through school. I don鈥檛 mind spending on them, especially my dad, after everything he sacrificed for me.

I鈥檓 happy with my life, but there鈥檚 always space to grow, right? I want to be earning at least $2,000/month. Like I said, I鈥檓 optimistic, and I know it鈥檚 something I can achieve in the future. I also really want to teach others how to write the same way writing was taught to me. It hurts me that there are so many Nigerians walking around aimlessly, just like I once did, who have no idea they can earn big. But I believe anyone with enough dedication can make what I鈥檓 making and more. I鈥檝e already trained over 1,000 people, and a few are earning in dollars as well.

But the future is still a distance away, and I don鈥檛 have to think about it right now. I鈥檓 still fairly new to making millions, and I think, for some time, I鈥檓 going to bask in my newfound success before jumping into the next thing.

One thing I know for certain is that, whatever my next goal is, I wouldn鈥檛 have to borrow to make it happen. 

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So when Seun discovers a financial secret that Modupe had been keeping for years, it becomes the straw that breaks the camel鈥檚 back, and she retaliates in a way that ruins their relationship as they know it forever.  

This is Seun鈥檚 explanation, as told to Azara.

Life with an older sister can be difficult. My relationship with my elder sister, Modupe, is a prime example of what I mean.

While she has been my role model in many ways, she has also been my biggest bully: forcing me to do things in her own time and in her own way.

Growing up, I watched the shows she liked because if I refused, she would give me the silent treatment or yell at me. I dressed the way she thought was best because, as she once said, 鈥淵ou will embarrass me if you go out wearing that.鈥� 

As a result, my preferences always changed depending on Modupe鈥檚 judgment. I grew up unsure of myself until she approved of things. I wouldn鈥檛 say I鈥檓 a people pleaser, but, God, I wanted her to be pleased with me.

Subconsciously, this insecurity followed me into my twenties. Particularly, my finances.

I got my first real job nearly two years ago when I was 21. It was a content executive role for a marketing firm that paid me about 鈧�150k a month. At the time, I was bewildered by that amount of money. I know it鈥檚 not much, but I had friends in entry-level roles earning 鈧�70k a month, so I counted my blessings.

A few months later, my sister scored a new job as a customer success manager for a foreign company. I was so excited to hear what her salary would be since she was working for a foreigner, but she shocked everyone and said she was earning 鈧�300k.

鈧�300k? When she鈥檚 earning in dollars? Even then, it sounded strange. I should have questioned it, but I didn鈥檛 think my sister’s finances would be a problem in my life, so what was there to question? Little did I know that this one oversight would haunt me for the next two years.

My sister claimed that since we earned about the same salary, it was only fair that we split the bills down the middle. We both still live at home with our parents, and our mum wanted us to start chipping in for things like food and internet. I agreed to that, but I didn鈥檛 understand why I had to split the bills equally with my sister. 鈧�300k may not be the highest salary, but it was double what I was earning.

I told her as much, but she called me stingy and claimed I was always opting out of responsibility. She also leveraged her 鈥渇irstborn trauma鈥�, insisting that I was trying to put the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Afraid of her judgment, or maybe because she had guilted me so well, I agreed to share our bills equally. Modupe quickly made this decision hell on earth for me.

鈥淭he internet is 鈧�50k, so you鈥檙e paying 鈧�25k,鈥� she would tell me out of the blue. There鈥檇 be no time to plan or put together a budget. At any given moment, my sister could demand that I cough up the cost for something, and I had to. 

Paying for food should have been easy because my mum still bought the bulk of our foodstuff, but at times my sister would insist at the checkout counter that we pay for half the bill, and I鈥檇 have to scramble to get the money.

The worst of this came last year, a day after I鈥檇 been paid. My mum had already pulled out her debit card to foot a 鈧�180k grocery bill when my sister said we would pay for everything. I had to spend 鈧�90k in one sitting, and I struggled to provide for my own needs for the rest of the month.

If it were just the internet and food, I may not have minded as much, but Modupe would also spring 鈥渟elf-care things鈥� on me and force me to participate. There was a time she barged into my room and said I should get ready. When I asked her why, she said we were going to do our nails because she had an event.

I told her I couldn鈥檛 afford to get my nails done, and if she wanted them so badly, she could do them alone. Apparently, this was enough to make her crash out.

She bitterly reminded me that my mum would nag her if only one of us did our nails. I tried to stand my ground, but she called me selfish once again. In the end, I paid about 鈧�15k to do acrylic nails.

By 2026, my income had grown to 鈧�250k per month. But that was not the only thing rising. My resentment toward Modupe had slowly taken hold, and for a while, I couldn鈥檛 look at my sister without anger.

She claimed her own salary was still 鈧�300k a month, so she no longer cared to hear my excuses for not wanting to pay for things. As if she had cared before.

It seems silly now that I didn鈥檛 put my foot down after all that time, but my sister can be incredibly persuasive. Plus, she鈥檚 the only sibling I have, and it鈥檚 difficult to stand up for yourself against someone older who always wins.

However, last month, her winning streak came to an abrupt halt.

She had gone to the gym, and I was in her room looking for one of my shirts. Her laptop was open, and an email came in.

I never snoop around, especially not on my sister鈥檚 devices, but something just told me to look.

It was a credit alert from her company, and when I saw the figure, I froze.

It wasn鈥檛 鈧�300k.

It was $600.

I knew there was no way in hell that could be 鈧�300k, so I shakily punched the figure into a converter, and the amount I saw there blew my mind.

鈧�797办.

My sister was earning nearly 鈧�1m per month.

Betrayed does not even begin to describe what I felt in that moment. If she had lied just a little, I might have forgiven it, but she was practically a millionaire, and I wasn鈥檛 even earning enough to buy myself data steadily.

The resentment I had been storing bubbled over. Quietly, I left her room. But I refused to let that be the end of it.

Some time passed, and if she noticed the change in my behaviour, she didn鈥檛 show it. In fact, two days after I found out my sister had been lying, she asked me to send my half for a snack we had been wanting to try. My share was just about 鈧�2,500, but I don鈥檛 think I had ever been angrier sending her money. What was 鈧�2,500 to someone earning over 鈧�700k?

I didn鈥檛 have a plan for what to do with my anger, but two weeks ago, an opportunity presented itself.

I saw her phone sitting in the kitchen while she was in our mum鈥檚 room, helping her with something.

It was as if the devil took over, because I reached for her phone, opened her banking app, and transferred 鈧�150k to myself. Did I have a plan? No. All I had was my fury. 

She found out about an hour later, and the biggest fight of our lives went down.

She called me a bitch and told me I must send her that money back, but I told her no, finally revealing that I knew how much she was earning. I argued that she didn鈥檛 need the 鈧�150k, and I was taking it as compensation for what she had done.

She didn鈥檛 show any guilt. She self-righteously told me she had to lie because if any of us knew how much she was really earning, we would make her the family cash cow. She said as the oldest, the pressure would have been too much on her, but that excuse simply doesn鈥檛 sit right with me.

I鈥檓 not assertive, but I told my sister she could take this up with our mum if it bothers her so much, knowing she would not do that if she didn鈥檛 want our mum to find out her real salary.

She called me a terrible sister, amongst other horrible things, and that is the last time we鈥檝e spoken.

I want to say I don鈥檛 feel bad, but the truth is her silence has always hurt me. I could give the money back, but for once, I want to stand up for myself. 

 If this is how, then so be it.

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