According to 糖心原创 State of Income Report, only 1 in 4 Nigerians earn enough to cover their expenses. With the rising cost of living, having a partner who helps shoulder some financial responsibilities makes a big difference.
For these five Nigerians, their relationships have opened doors, eased financial pressures and helped them pursue lifestyles they might not have been able to afford alone. They share what it鈥檚 like to have a partner who makes life a little easier.
鈥淚鈥檝e been able to afford things I couldn鈥檛 before鈥 鈥 Hannah* 29
I live with my boyfriend, and being with him has made managing my finances much easier. He owns his apartment, so I don鈥檛 have to worry about rent. He also handles most of the household utilities, while I mostly contribute towards food and other smaller expenses.
I have a pretty comfortable job, so having that financial cushion means I can save more and spend on things I probably couldn鈥檛 have afforded before. This year, for example, I bought a luxury bag that would have been out of my budget two years ago. For my mum鈥檚 60th birthday, I also threw her a lavish surprise party, and my boyfriend helped with some of the expenses. It鈥檚 the most financially secure I’ve ever felt in a relationship.
鈥淗e gave me the financial freedom to pursue my passion鈥 鈥 Wasilat* 46
I was in an abusive relationship for almost 10 years, but I couldn鈥檛 leave because I was afraid of the financial uncertainty. My job didn鈥檛 pay much, and I had two kids to think about.
Eventually, my ex abandoned us, and I had to start over. I never expected to find love again, but in 2017, I met a businessman who didn鈥檛 mind my past. After we got married, he took us in and completely changed our lives.
At the time, my children were teenagers, and he enrolled them in British secondary schools in Nigeria. They鈥檙e both in universities abroad now, and he鈥檚 still funding their education.
I鈥檇 always been passionate about fashion design, but my responsibilities had made it difficult to pursue. When I finally decided to quit my job and focus on my business full-time, he supported me. It鈥檚 been almost nine years since I last had to worry about money.
鈥淗er inheritance changed my life鈥 鈥 Tayo* 41
When I married my wife, I knew her family was well-off, but I didn鈥檛 think it would have much of an impact on my life. That changed when her father died in 2023 and left her a significant inheritance.
She has two siblings, so everything was shared among them, but we still received millions of naira, excluding the landed properties and other assets she inherited. I鈥檇 never laid my eyes on so much money in one account before.
At the time, we were renting an apartment. The inheritance allowed us to buy a home in the heart of Abuja, and it cost more than I ever imagined spending on a house. We鈥檝e also invested in stocks and started building a trust fund for our children.
For the first year after she received the money, we hardly touched our salaries. I was able to save a lot more and even went to Kigali with my friends last year. I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to afford that trip, or the life we have now, on my own.
鈥淗aving a generous partner will always be my priority鈥 鈥 Alice* 27
I鈥檝e always been practical about dating. For me, it鈥檚 not just about having someone who buys things for you. I also believe that having a financially successful partner can change your life.
My first relationship was while I was still in school, and my boyfriend helped me land a good job immediately after graduation. That exposed me to many opportunities and made it easier for me to support my siblings.
My current boyfriend travels a lot for work, and he takes me along. During those trips, I鈥檝e grown my YouTube channel by creating aesthetic UGC. I鈥檝e gained followers and even started getting brand deals. That鈥檚 why having a generous and financially stable partner will always be a priority for me.
鈥淪he helped me turn photography into a full-time career鈥 鈥 Ebuka* 34
My fianc茅e works with international organisations and has connections with senior officials and executives. Whenever any of them needed a photographer for an event, she鈥檇 recommend me. Those opportunities became a major source of income for me, to the point where I left my 9-5 and started freelancing full-time.
Being with her has also made me more financially responsible. We have a joint savings plan and save together, and her financial discipline has rubbed off on me. We鈥檙e currently saving because she dreams of having a destination wedding.
Even though we鈥檙e quite strict with our finances, we still try to travel every year and go on dates.
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