Azara Tswanya, Author at 91心頭利嫋! /author/azara/ Come for the fun, stay for the culture! Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:08:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 /wp-content/uploads/zikoko/2020/04/cropped-91心頭利嫋_91心頭利嫋_Purple-Logo-1-150x150.jpg Azara Tswanya, Author at 91心頭利嫋! /author/azara/ 32 32 Nigeria has Stamped My Dreams Gen Z Nigerians Earning 100k Share What They Thought Theyd Be Able to Afford by Now油 /money/nigeria-has-stamped-my-dreams-gen-z-nigerians-earning-%e2%82%a6100k-share-what-they-thought-theyd-be-able-to-afford-by-now/ Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:07:22 +0000 /?p=385034 Everyone grows up dreaming of the life theyll have as adults. But for many Gen Z Nigerians, affording that life seems impossible now.

With 3 in 4 Gen Z earners making 100k/month or less, according to 91心頭利嫋s Income Report, things like financial independence, owning a home, or just enjoying your life feel out of reach.

We spoke to eight Gen Z Nigerians earning 100k or less about what they thought theyd be able to afford by now but cant.

Want to understand more about how Nigerians are really doing financially? Click here to download the 91心頭利嫋 State of Income Report.

I thought Id be flying internationally, but I can barely afford fuel. Deborah*, F, 23, Earns 70k – 100k. 

Ive always dreamed of flying internationally; Dubai, London, France, and other places I imagined Id be able to take my family to by now. But those things arent possible due to the country’s economic situation.

Ive been job hunting since I finished NYSC this year, and the most Ive gotten is an unpaid auditing internship. Sometimes my boss will give me 20k or 30k to treat myself, but thats about it. Im still on a 75k parental allowance, and if not for the fact that I live at home and they gave me a car, I wouldnt be able to do anything. 

Meanwhile, a litre of fuel costs about 1,415. How am I supposed to fill up my tank and get around? I feel so silly now when, at 10, I thought Id have been sipping wine in France when even interstate travel is too expensive.

I cant afford love.   Benedict*, M, 25, Earns 100k.

I always thought Id be married by now, living in a house with my wife, child, and maybe a pet, but where will I find those things on my 100k salary?

I had a girlfriend, but we broke up last year for religious reasons. However, Im glad we did because I couldnt afford the relationship. I was ashamed that I couldnt regularly take her on dates, get her nice things, or even drive her places because I dont have a car. Its so embarrassing to be sneaking my girlfriend into my parents house at the age of 25. I feel better now that I dont have that obligation to her anymore. Isnt that sad?

I dont want to work in corporate Nigeria because its horrible, so I have a lot of inconsistent work. Mostly, I do copywriting, but I usually get only one client a month, and I take home about 100k on average.

Im actively seeking better opportunities. If I take copywriting seriously, I expect to find more work, but the current situation is discouraging.

Im terrified for what comes next. Alice*, F, 21, Earns 20k.

Ive always wanted expensive gadgets, especially the entire Apple series from the Apple Watch to the latest iPhone, I want them all. I told myself that by the time I graduate, I would gift myself an iPad. I grew up wealthy, and Ive always done well in school, so a part of me had always expected that things would come easily to me.

Well, I finished university two months ago, and I havent been able to find a job. My parents have also had to tighten their belts because of the current economy, so neither of them nor I can buy that iPad.

For the most part, Ive just been sitting at home, terrified to do NYSC because why must I suffer? Any money I get now is from my elder sisters, and I dont think theyre earning enough for the work they do. Will that be me as well? I dont like thinking about it.

I cant afford to leave my abuse.   Wunmi*, F, 22, Earns 50k.

Ive always wanted a space of my own. My family is very dysfunctional, with my mum, who constantly insults me, and my alcoholic dad. Ive dreamed of living away from them my whole life, but at 22, Im still here.

I understand that Im still very young, but if I were abroad, I could have moved out at 18. I see Americans on TikTok who have similar emotionally abusive families like mine, but they moved out as young as 18 and have started their healing; thats all I want. 

Im interning at a marketing firm that pays me 50k. I will start NYSC soon, and the company will retain me, meaning my salary will increase for a while with the NYSC allowance, but it isn’t anywhere near enough to rent a space.

My friend has asked me to move into her self-con with her, but I can’t inconvenience her like that. I want my own money, and I want my own space. If I were anywhere but Nigeria, I could have had those by now.

Nigeria is not a fantasy Joy*, F, 25, Earns 75K.

What didnt I think I would be able to afford by 25? Cars, a house, clothes, and trips around Nigeria. I read a lot, and I was excited to live the many lives Ive seen in books. 

But Nigeria isnt a novel or some fantasy. I finished my youth service four months ago, and Im currently interning at a lab. Thanks to the savings I managed to put together during NYSC, and my very strict budget, Im able to get by, but barely. It feels like if I want to make more money, I need to have money already, which I dont.

I used to have so much hope, but not anymore. If I want to treat myself, I can afford at most shawarma, and even then, I have to tighten my belt afterwards. I believe things will get better, but when?

Living in my parents’ BQ is humiliating.   Fola*, M, 27, Earns 100k.

As a child, I thought once you turned 20, you had to move out of your parents house. That made me sad because I didnt want to be away from my mum and dad. Obviously, as I got older, I began to crave my own space.

Well, it looks like God answered my earlier desires, because at 27, I still live with my parents in their BQ.

Ive wanted my own space for so long, and I was sure I would have it by now. But I graduated with a third class, and as much as people say your grades dont matter, I struggled to get a job for a long time because of it.

It was only in 2024 that I started working a steady job as a virtual assistant, and I still work it today. But my salary is 100k/month; how am I supposed to afford my own place on that salary? A self-con can be 800k/year, and Ill still have to pay for other things. Its such a terrible situation, and every time I come home, Im reminded of how shameful it is that I rely on my parents this late into my twenties. The other day, my father even asked when Im leaving.

Im looking for an additional job, but its hard to find. 

I just want to afford the things I deserve. Ryder*, M, 22, Earns 50k – 75k. 

Im a journalist, and I currently earn 50k monthly. I also earn a little extra on the side, mostly from small jobs for my family members, like fixing laptops and helping cross-check information for work documents, which my family gives me about 20k – 30k per task. It isnt much, but it also counts as an allowance and helps me get by.

Ive always wanted an iPad. I had this idea that by my 22nd birthday, Id finally have enough money to buy one. But with the way this year has gone, its impossible.

Jobs are rarely willing to pay what you want or what you deserve because everyone is penny-pinching, and it’s unfair. Sometimes, I think, By 22, shouldnt things be a little better for a Nigerian?

I know Im still young, and Im grateful for where I am. I also know that this time next year, Ill probably have my iPad and more. But right now, its frustrating to keep working and still feel like I cant afford the things Ive worked for.

A keke driver called me broke. Sewa*, F, 27, Earns 75k – 90k. 

I love cars, and Ive always wanted a car. When I was in secondary school, my friends and I used to play this game about what kind of life we would have as adults, and they always said I would have a big jeep, but Nigeria has been happening to me. 

I havent had much luck with work since I graduated. For three years, I worked a draining HR job paying me 120k a month, which I finally quit last year. While Im grateful to be free, I now have a part-time job as a researcher, and I only make about 75k to 90k a month. Earning this in my late twenties makes me feel like Ive failed. I still live with my dad, and while he isn’t complaining, I want to make him proud.

Meanwhile, Ive had to put my car dream on pause. I take keke (tricycles) everywhere, and theres one particular keke driver who usually picks me up. Were friendly, so one time, he randomly asked me, Madam, you live in that nice estate, and you dont have a car? When I said no, he laughed and mumbled something about a fine girl with no money. I was so ashamed. I avoid him now. 

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]]> Na Me F Up? I Stopped Giving My Father Money. Then, He Died /money/na-me-f-up-i-stopped-giving-my-father-money-then-he-died/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:01:07 +0000 /?p=384907 Sometimes, life puts you in messy situations where youre not sure if youre doing the right thing or not. Thats what Na Me F Up? is about real Nigerians sharing the choices theyve made, while you decide if they fucked up or not.

 Teni* (25) didnt know her father, so when he came into her life as an adult, she was stunned. After an attempt to salvage their relationship, Teni realised she was giving him more than she was getting back, and she cut him off in a way that ended their relationship and his life. 

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

This is Tenis dilemma, as told to Azara.

Please dont contact me again.油

That was the last thing I said to my father. Three months later, he is dead, and everyone thinks its my fault.

But 25 years ago, long before I was blamed for ending his life, my father was nothing but a footnote in mine. 

I grew up the only child of a single mother, and even when I was young, I understood someone was missing from my life. Initially, I often asked my mum about my dad, but she never answered. Naturally, I stopped bringing him up.

But while he wasnt a topic of conversation in our home anymore, the impact of his absence was still clear as day. My mum suffered as a single parent. We grew up in my maternal grandmas house, where I shared a room with my mother. My grandma often ridiculed her for still living at home as an adult, sometimes treating her like the house help. Even though my mum often threatened to move out, I think she stayed so that I could grow up in a nice house and eat three times a day.

Our luck changed in 2016. My mums food business took off, and while I dont know exactly how much she was making or whether she was doing something else on the side, I know it was enough to improve our lifestyle. She started buying me clothes once a month, and my grandma stopped hurling insults at her. A year later, my mum and I moved out.

By 2018, my mum was earning enough to enrol me at a private university to study accounting. She also bought me my first laptop, and I used it to learn graphic design. Before I had even graduated, I had made about 400k with the skill. Now, three years later, I steadily earn $700 a month (about 927k) from an international client. I give half my income to my mum, and I still live with her because the thought of leaving her makes me miserable.

Everything was going fine, and it would have kept going fine if not for my grandma.

For my mums birthday last year, I took her to dinner and invited my grandma since I knew my mum would ask me to. In the middle of our meal, my grandma casually mentioned that my father had been asking about me.

I paused, too stunned for words. My mum, on the other hand, burst into tears. She and her mum started fighting, and to avoid public embarrassment, I had the waiter pack our food so we could leave.

At home, my mother tearfully confessed that she had been in contact with my father for a few months and didnt want me to know. That was the first time she would talk to me about my father. She explained how he had abandoned her when she got pregnant, moved to a different state and promised to send her money. He never sent any money, and they lost touch. 

However, in early 2025, he had suffered a stroke that paralysed one side of his body, and had somehow found my mum again. Thats how my mum began paying for his physiotherapy.

I was enraged. He didnt deserve my mothers money or sympathy, but she said God would not be happy with her if she let the father of her only child suffer. She never wanted me to meet him, but my grandma kept telling her I had to make amends with him, which was why she brought him up at dinner.

So that my grandma would leave my mother alone, I agreed to go to Lagos and see my father. This was in October 2025, and I visited him at the hospital with my mum. 

I thought I would be angry when I saw him, but I felt nothing. He just looked like a sick, old man in a hospital room. His first words to me were, Who is this one? because he had no idea who I was. His face dropped the second I told him I was his daughter.

At first, we talked politely about my job and life, but he soon began to cry, saying he was sorry for leaving me behind. He claimed it was the devil, and now he just wanted to know his only daughter. 

I forgave him, and we exchanged numbers. Before we left that day, I heard my mum talking to the doctor about my fathers treatments. Apparently, she had been paying a whopping 350k for him to do 12 physiotherapy sessions a month!

Theres nothing I hate more than seeing my mum get taken advantage of, so on a whim, I told her Ill start paying for the treatments. She initially resisted, but when I didnt relent, she allowed me.

For months, my dad and I followed a particular routine: I would pay for his treatment, he would call me to bless me, and then he would ask me about my day. I didnt hate it, but I regretted it. I realised I was spending a massive chunk of my salary on a man who contributed nothing to my life. 

Since I still lived with my mum, I wasnt struggling, but the fact that my runaway father was now enjoying my earnings didn’t seem fair. Slowly, my feelings of indifference bled into resentment.

It only got worse with time. Despite the physiotherapy, my fathers condition worsened, and his other child, my half-brother, would reach out to me, demanding the payments for our fathers treatment if I was even a day late. When I asked my dad why this brother I didnt know had my number, he said he gave it to him so we could be one family.

They also started demanding I pay for other things beyond his normal physiotherapy treatment: acupuncture, needling, and massages. It was like the more time passed, the more my father became terrified of passing away, so the more treatments he had. When he or his son called me, they were no longer cordial, only demanding money. In the worst month, I paid up to 750k for medical treatments.

My final straw came at the end of June. I had just paid about 500k for my fathers physiotherapy, and what my brother claimed was the other half of some treatment. A day later, my mum casually mentioned she had paid for my fathers physiotherapy that month because he told her I hadnt given him any money.

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That was when my anger broke through. Extorting me was one thing, but extorting my mother was too low a blow.

I never told my mum my father lied; I simply called him in a rage and demanded that he never contact me again, or Id tell my mum he had basically stolen from her. Then I blocked his number.

My brother tried calling, and I blocked him, too. I dont know what story they told my mum, but she never confronted me about blocking them, meaning she likely didnt know. 

The choice was freeing: I started saving more money again and going out with my friends more. I was also free of the bitterness that had weighed me down for nearly a year. 

However, a few weeks ago, things turned sour again.

My mother came crying to me, saying that my father was dead. My half-brother told her, and he also finally confessed that I had stopped paying my fathers medical bills. My mum said what I did was wickedness, and now the family was blaming me for the death of an elderly, sick man.

I didnt shed a tear for that man, and I think my remorselessness only aggravated the situation. My grandma said Im not better than my father because I abandoned him, while my brother went as far as saying I killed him. My mum is the only one on my side, even though she doesnt support what I did.

Now, everyone is trying to get me to pay for the funeral, saying itll only make things fair, but they will not see 1 from me. I handled that man’s medical bills for nearly a year, and this is the thanks I get? Since spending money is so easy, his son should pay.

My family can say whatever they want, but I dont think I have done anything wrong. If anything, I should never have paid for his medical bills to begin with.

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]]> Na Me F Up? I Advised My Brother to Leave His Job. Now I Want to Kick Him Out /money/na-me-f-up-i-advised-my-brother-to-leave-his-job-now-i-want-to-kick-him-out/ Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:01:07 +0000 /?p=384743 Sometimes, life puts you in messy situations where youre not sure if youre doing the right thing or not. Thats what Na Me F Up? is about real Nigerians sharing the choices theyve made, while you decide if they fucked up or not.

油After Ada*(30) noticed that her brother, Chinedu* (26), hated his job, she advised him to leave it. He did, even though he had nothing else lined up. Now, six months after his reckless decision, Chinedu resents Ada for his joblessness and has made her life a living hell.油

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

This is Adas dilemma, as told to Azara.

I hate living with my brother.

My parents begged me to let him move into my apartment two years ago, since he couldnt comfortably afford an apartment he liked on his 240k/month salary. I knew it was a bad idea.油

As the older daughter and only sibling, I have always had to care for him as he grew up: wash his dishes, cook some of his meals, even sweep his room. Chinedu never thanked me, a behaviour my parents (especially my mother) enabled, since he was the boy of the house. I didnt want to repeat the same toxic pattern as an adult, but I reluctantly agreed to let him move in for my parents sake, and at the end of 2024, he did.

For a while, the arrangement wasnt bad. He mostly stayed in his room, bought his own food, and even contributed to the cost of utilities such as electricity and fuel. Then, every weekend, he would go clubbing or see his girlfriend, so I had the house to myself. We really only saw each other and talked during breakfast or at night. 

During one of our breakfast talks in 2025, Chinedu revealed for the first time that he hated his job as a mechanical engineer. 

The pay is nonsense for the industry Im in, he told me, and I actually agreed with him. I thought engineers should earn big money, and I didnt understand why my 420k/month salary as a nursing officer was higher. 

To be fair, Ive been in my role for five years and have received a promotion, whereas Chinedu is still more or less at entry level. I pointed this out, but he wasnt having it, saying he was good at his job and should be making more.

I suggested job hunting, but he said his hectic work schedule didnt allow him. With no other advice for him, I told him to quit and find something else.

In my defence, I followed up by reminding him how risky joblessness would be in the current job market, but Im not sure he listened. The second I suggested he quit, his eyes lit up, and I knew my brother had taken the advice to heart.

He began bringing it up every day, to the point I started avoiding our breakfasts together. One time, I heard him on the phone with our mum, and he kept repeating, Ada begged me to leave my job, which is an exaggeration. 

As annoying as it was, I didnt take him seriously. He had said it for so long that I thought it was just talk. But on one faithful day in March this year, I saw he was still sleeping at 7 a.m. I woke him up for work, and he turned to me sleepily, mumbling, I dont have work again.

I was stunned. He actually went ahead and quit. He later told me he had an interview lined up for another job he believed would work out, which was what finally pushed him to quit. He also reminded me that I made him stop working.

It was clear he had wanted to leave the job for a while, and since my advice enabled him, he could use me as an excuse if things went wrong. 

And things went very wrong.

TechCabal is bringing 7,000 founders, investors, operators, creators, and talent from across Africa and beyond to at the National Theatre in Lagos on October 28 & 29.
This is the best opportunity to join the convergence of Africas best builders.
If you are seeking investors, enterprise partners, cofounders, or your next employer, while hearing directly from some of the continent’s boldest builders. Moonshot is the perfect place to be.

He didnt get that job, and at first, that was okay because he was still sure hed find a new job. He also had some money in his savings, so he was still paying for utilities and buying his own food. However, by May, his attitude had changed drastically. I think he had applied for over 15 jobs and had only one interview, with no acceptances.

That same month, he stopped paying his share of our light and fuel bills. I didnt fight him since he was going through a rough patch, but then he started asking me to put his mouth when I was cooking, AKA, cook for him. I swear, I got flashbacks from our childhood.

I reluctantly started cooking for him, but he would always complain about how much pepper I used. One time, before I went to work, I made bread and eggs, and he woke up late, then called me at work to say I should have woken him up to eat because now his eggs were cold.

I think he was just trying to pick a fight. He has always been like this. Something will go wrong, and hell blame me. My mum even called me and asked me why I made my brother jobless. If not for my dad, who reminded her that Chinedu is a 26-year-old man who quit by choice, my whole family would have been against me. 

Still, I could manage all of that. As badly as my brother was behaving, he was still my family. Thats what I told myself until  I reached my breaking point a few weeks ago. 

Chinedu went to get a plate so we could share the rice I cooked, and he accidentally sent a few of my glass plates crashing to the floor. It honestly wasnt a big deal, but instead of apologising or cleaning it up, he just walked away.

I followed him, shouting at him. I hadnt been that angry at him since we were children. I didnt care about the plates, but I had just finished sweating and cooking for us. Not only did he not thank me, but now I had to sweep up his mess. 

He started shouting back and, of course, blamed me for his situation, saying he would still be employed if not for me.

I called him an idiot, then he reported me to my mum. She called to lecture me, but I started shouting at her too, saying she was the one who had made him this arrogant.

The call ended with her begging me to be patient and understanding with him, but I think Ive been all those things with my little brother for too long. I told her to come and take him back to her house. 

Weve been on the matter since then, and in that time, Chinedu has stopped talking to me completely. I dont care, I just want my space back. By the end of the month, if nobody takes me seriously, Ill pack my brother out myself.

I dont regret advising him, because hes not a baby. He didnt have to listen to me, but he is using me as an excuse for his bad behaviour. Whether he’s struggling or not, if he isnt out of my house by September 30th, Ill throw everything he owns on the road. Let somebody be cooking for him there.

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]]> Love Currency: My Boyfriend Keeps Spending My Money, but I Still Want to Marry Him /money/love-currency-my-boyfriend-keeps-spending-my-money-but-i-still-want-to-marry-him/ Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:00:09 +0000 /?p=384514 The topic of how young Nigerians navigate romantic relationships with their earnings is a minefield of hot takes. In Love Currency, we get into what relationships across income brackets look like in different cities.

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

How long have you been with your partner?

Wale and I have been together since 2022. Thats like four years now. Honestly, these have been some of the best years of my life.

Love it. How did you meet? 

We met during our first year of uni in an economics class. Id seen Wale around, and I cant lie, I thought he was so fine. I initially didnt talk to him because he was very troublesome. We were about three weeks into classes, and everyone was new enough not to show their true colours yet. But Wale and some friends didnt care about that. They would laugh and make noise even when the lecturers were talking.

He was sent out of class thrice in our first month. One of those times, I was asking my classmate for something when the lecturer caught me, and sent me out a few minutes after Wale.

When Wale saw me, he immediately struck up a conversation. I remember him being very friendly, which helped because I can be shy. We became friends that day. 

When did feelings develop?

Not long after that. Wale and I started walking to our classes together. I liked going to school early, so Wale would wake up before 9 a.m. so that we could go together. I think that intentionality was the first thing that attracted me to him beyond his looks. 

I also liked his friendliness. As troublesome as he was, our lecturers really liked him, and so did our classmates. Even though he got so popular so fast, Wale always made time to be with me. We went from walking to school to sitting together in class. Then, when I returned to the hostel, I would watch a movie and call him so we could talk about it as it was showing. 

About two months into our first year, I finally told a friend I liked him. The day after that, on our walk to school, Wale casually mentioned that the friend had told him I liked him, and that he liked me back.

We were dating before our first class of the day began.

Aww. Sweet

Our classmates were overjoyed. Everyone had shipped us since we became friends, so we were sort of like a class couple. My favourite lecturer told me I made Wale serious because anytime they saw him studying, he was with me. 

I dont know if it was my influence, but Wale maintained a 4.0 CGPA throughout school, while I had a 4.4 CGPA.

Everything about our relationship was easy. I liked that Wale didnt play games or stress me, and he openly showed his love for me. The only thing I worried about was money.

Money?

Yes. Wale had a habit of borrowing. In our second year, he told me his family was having financial problems, and his dad couldnt regularly send him an allowance. At the time, my parents sent me a 90k monthly allowance, and the second I told Wale, he started asking me for money at least once a week.

He never asked for more than 5k, and since I knew he was struggling, I tried not to mind. But one time I checked his account and saw he had like 80k, even after hed asked me for 1k earlier.

It was the first time I got really angry at him. He told me he was sorry and that the 80k came after I sent him my 1k. He immediately repaid me with interest, but that was probably the only time in our four years of uni that he repaid me.

I really don’t know exactly how much he took from me over those four years, but I know it was a lot.

TechCabal is bringing 7,000 founders, investors, operators, creators, and talent from across Africa and beyond to at the National Theatre in Lagos on October 28 & 29.
This is the best opportunity to join the convergence of Africas best builders.
If you are seeking investors, enterprise partners, cofounders, or your next employer, while hearing directly from some of the continent’s boldest builders. Moonshot is the perfect place to be.

Thats interesting.

Hes a good man, I promise. I just think his family issues make him hoard money a little. Hes not an extravagant spender. Usually, whenever he buys something expensive, its a gift for his friends or me. For example, on our fourth anniversary, he bought me a huge teddy bear. It must have cost at least 10k.

That said, his habit of borrowing still makes me anxious. Even more so now that weve graduated.

Why?

We graduated at the end of 2025, and he got a job a month after as a data analyst earning 110k/month. Im very proud of him, but the borrowing hasnt stopped. Whats worse is Im taking some time to rest after school, so Im not earning anything right now. Because I now live at home, my parents have dropped my allowance from 90k to 75k. Wale knows this, but he still asks for money.

He can say he spent too much and just needs something to last him through to salary week, or that he had to buy things for the house he lives with his parents and sister. I think those are reasonable excuses, but one time he asked me for money the day after he got paid, and I refused to believe he was broke. 

We fought about it, and he told me I didnt love him, which was just insane. We took a three-week break, and it was so hard. Wale is my first boyfriend, and being away from him felt like hell. He eventually apologised, and I was so happy that I just sent him the money.

I see. How much money are we talking about?

Thats another thing. Wale no longer asks me for 5k. Now its like between 20k and 30k. I often wonder, Hes earning steadily, what does he need my money for?

What bothers me more than the fact that hes constantly borrowing and not paying back is the fact that I think hes lying. He earns 110k, and I know he saves about 20k every month just to save, but Im not clear on how he spends the other 90k.

I know he sometimes buys food for his house and hangs out with friends, but his financial situation should not be this bad.

Do you discuss these concerns with him? Or have any other money conversations?

We barely talk about money, and I see now how thats a problem. The most serious money conversation Wale and I had was at uni, when he told me about his parents’ financial struggles, and I told him how much my parents were sending me. That, plus his excuses for borrowing from me and our fight, is as far as our money conversations have gone.

I think the fact that my parents have always provided for me contributes to this. Ive never really worried about money, so I didnt think to have more serious conversations about it with Wale until this borrowing matter got out of hand. 

I also think my privilege doesnt let me fully understand Wales point of view, so I still try to give him grace. Even with our current issue, Im more worried about his intentions than the money. 

What do you suspect his intentions are?

I have no clue. Maybe buying food for his household of four costs more than I think. Maybe hes trying to build a savings account I dont know about. Ive considered that he might be cheating or going to places he isnt telling me about, but I track his location. Most of the time, hes at work, and if not at work, then at home.

I should just ask him, but the last time I dared to question Wale about money was the time we fought and were apart for three weeks. Im worried the same thing will happen again if I confront him. 

This recent borrowing of larger amounts has been going on for about 8 months. I wish Id stopped it earlier, because for the last three months Ive caught myself actually setting aside 30k for him in case he asks. I just want to keep the peace. After our fight last time, Ive been scared to bring up the topic again or to deny him the money in case it upsets him.

I understand. But is there peace?

Yes. As I said, Wale doesnt stress me outside this money issue. We still hang out with our friends, and hes still so loving. He makes me laugh more than anybody in the world, and last month he even brought up marriage. 

It was just a casual discussion about our future, but I was so excited. I think I want to spend my life with him, which is why this money issue bothers me so much. I dont know if I can marry him if hes leeching off me, but I dont know how to let him go. If he could just be upfront about his spending, everything would be okay.

Im still contemplating what to do next, but my elder sister has told me to leave him.

Why did she say that?

She has never liked Wale. She was in her third year when I was in my first, and for the two years we schooled together, she always told me he was trouble. 

This was even before she knew about this whole money thing. She only found out when I graduated and started living at home with our family again. My allowance always depleted too quickly, so I had to tell her.

She thinks Wale is a thief, and I dont see how bad the situation is because I love him. I love my sister more than anyone in the world, and I know she would never say things like that if not for my best interests, but Im still struggling to heed her plea for me to leave Wale. 

Do you think you will?

Maybe. My parents plan to fund my master’s degree in the UK next year, so maybe when I go, Wale and I will just naturally separate. However, Ill be lying if I say I have the courage to break up with him right now. In a way, I feel like hes my soulmate. No one understands me or loves me as openly as Wale. My biggest worry now is that this new talk of marriage will get to my head, and Ill struggle even more to let him go.

As of right now, I think Im going to try to have a proper conversation with him. No fighting. Just a serious discussion about what hes actually doing with his and my money. 

I hope we can move past this. Maybe it’s because hes my first love, but I really dont know if theres anyone for me other than him. 

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

*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.

NEXT READ: #NairaLife: This 26-Year-Old Once Owed Millions. Now, Shes Building a 50m Portfolio

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]]> The iPhone 18 Pro is Expensive. Here Are 10 Cheaper Phones with Similar Specs /money/the-iphone-18-pro-is-expensive-here-are-10-cheaper-phones-with-similar-specs/ Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:37:50 +0000 /?p=384491 2.3 million. Thats approximately how much Nigerians will have to pay to get the cheapest 256GB model of a brand-new iPhone 18 Pro. 

Many argue that with a 6.3-inch display, a brand-new 48MP main camera with a physical variable aperture, and the A20 Pro 2nm chip, the price is justified. But is there a way you could access some of those features for a lower cost? We think so. Here are 10 phones that do a similar job at a more pocket-friendly price.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE – 1.1 million

It wouldnt be a phone line-up without Samsung, and the Galaxy S25 FE is the perfect model for the subject. Starting at about 1.1 million for 128GB storage, the Galaxy S25 FE comes at less than half the price of the latest iPhone.

It also shares many similarities with the iPhone 18 Pro. From a bright 120Hz AMOLED, IP68 water resistance, to clean software with regular long-term updates, its a tough phone to beat.

Even with a slower chip, less space, and a less professional camera zoom, its still a premium device. 

Infinix Note 60 Ultra 1.25 million

At approximately 1.25 miliion for 256GB of storage, the Infinix Note 60 Ultra costs nearly half as much as the new iPhone 18 Pro. Features-wise, the phone is also a strong contender. With a 144 Hz AMOLED screen, a 200MP main camera plus a 50MP zoom lens, wireless charging, and 5G, it can do several things the iPhone 18 Pro can. 

Theres also the bonus of a 7,000mAh battery with 100W charging that beats the iPhone 18 Pro, so its certainly a phone to look into.

The only downsides to look out for are the lack of IOS support and a weaker chip, so managing tasks and signal will be slower.

iPhone 17 Pro – 2 million

If youre still looking for an Apple device, and you definitely want something in the Pro series, then theres nowhere better to look than at the last iPhone Pro. Starting at nearly 2 million for a 256GB model, its not the most affordable on the list, but its the closest to the iPhone 18 Pro in terms of features. 

Both phones have a 6.3-inch 120Hz screen, a strong Pro chip, a triple 48MP camera with real zoom, and the full iOS package. 

The only real differences are the iPhone 17 Pros lack of a 2nm chip (meaning it will run slower), and variable-aperture camera. The 17 Pro also comes with a slightly shorter battery life. Still, it may be worth saving the extra 300k to get this. 

Tecno Camon 50 Pro 490一

If youre looking for affordability first, try the Tecno Camon 50 Pro. At approximately 490一 for the 256GB model, it is by far the cheapest on this list. 

Despite its affordability, it shares several features with the iPhone 18 Pro. With a curved AMOLED screen, 3x optical zoom, IP68 water resistance, and a big battery, even bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro, it shouldnt be overlooked.

However, it also has the most differences from the iPhone 18 Pro. With a much weaker processor, no iOS, and only going up to 4G, its certainly isnt the strongest contender in terms of functionality.


iPhone 14 Plus 1.6 million

This one works if you still want an iPhone but dont mind which series it’s from. With a price point of about 1.6 million for the 512GB model, right off the bat, you get more storage for less money than the iPhone 18 Pro. 

As an Apple product, it shares several characteristics with the latest iPhone. They both have OLED Super Retina XDR displays, support 5G, run wireless charging, have 12MP front-facing cameras, support 4K video recording, and, of course, run the entire IOS programme. 

Even with all this, there are some differences between the two. The iPhone 14 Plus doesnt have a 120Hz screen, has a longer Dynamic Island, no Apple Intelligence, and only goes up to 512GB, while the iPhone 18 Pro can store up to 2TB. 

Google Pixel 10 Pro 1.27 million

At roughly 1.27 million for the 256GB model, the Pixel 10 Pro is a million naira cheaper than the iPhone 18 Pro. Even with that, its still pricey, but the features justify it.

With a 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED screen, a triple 50MP camera system with 5x optical zoom, IP68 water resistance, wireless charging, and full 5G support, its a near-perfect match with the iPhone. Even better, Google backs it with seven years of software updates, longer than Apple’s typical five-year update window.

However, its chip processing power is pretty slow, so heavy multitasking and gaming may cause the phone to glitch. Additionally, storage space doesnt exceed 1TB; the iPhone 18 Pro goes up to 2TB.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra 2 million

Another pricey phone, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, can be bought at about 2 million for the 512GB model, which is the same price range as the iPhone 17 Pros 256GB model. The increased storage is already a good deal, and feature-wise, it’s nearly unbeatable: a 6.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, IP68/IP69 durability, 5G, and wireless charging are all present. 

Its best feature is the camera: a 200MP periscope lens paired with a 50MP main sensor and a 50MP ultrawide, all Leica-tuned, offering a wider zoom range than the iPhone’s.

The major downside here is the lack of iOS, as well as a larger, bulkier phone compared to the iPhones sleek design. Still, it has incredible qualities, some you cant even get with the iPhone 18 Pro. 

OnePlus 13 1.3 million

At about 1.3 million for the 256GB variant, the OnePlus 13 isnt cheap, but it is significantly cheaper than the iPhone 18 Pro.  This phone doesn’t officially sell in Nigeria, so users have to purchase from import retailers.

The OnePlus 13 is a good contender for the latest iPhone. A 120Hz AMOLED display, IP68/IP69 rating, 5G, wireless charging, and a Hasselblad-tuned triple 50MP camera system all make it a great phone, especially for content creation, not to mention its 6,000mAh battery with 100W wired charging, which charges far faster than any iPhone.

Of course, its lack of iOS support is a major downside, as are its irregular system updates and the lack of local stores that sell it. Still, if you can access it, it may be a good alternative. 

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Huawei Pura 80 Pro 1.2 million

Priced at around 1.2 million for the 512GB model, the Huawei Pura 80 Pro is significantly cheaper than the iPhone 18 Pro while offering many of the same features. 

It has a 6.8-inch 120Hz OLED screen, IP68/IP69 water resistance, and wireless charging. In addition, its 1-inch variable-aperture main sensor is better than its Apple counterpart.

However, this phone runs on neither iOS nor Android, but rather HarmonyOS, which is much less known and therefore less trusted than the other two. Huawei currently only ships the 4GB models to Nigeria, which could be another turn-off for many.

Oppo Find X9 Pro 2.2 million

Last but certainly not least, the Oppo Find X9 Pro is a lesser-known but incredible device.  At approximately 2.2 million for the 512GB model, the Oppo Find X9 Pro is one of the more expensive phones on this list. But this price is nearly the same as the iPhone 18 Pros smaller 256GB model. 

While it’s cheaper than its competitor for more space, it also shares many features: a 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display, IP68/IP69 rating, 5G, and wireless charging.

Even more, its camera setup, boasting a 50MP main sensor alongside a 200MP periscope zoom, rivals the iPhone’s. Its 7,500mAh battery is also far stronger than the iPhone’s 4288 mAh battery, lasting longer after each charge.

But once again, it runs an OS, ColorOS, that isnt popular or often discussed in Nigeria. It also has a very small presence in the country, so buying it may make you an outlier. Despite these, its still one of the strongest competitors on the list.

Wait for the price of the iPhone 18 Pro to Regularise

If the iPhone 18 Pro is truly what you want, there’s nothing wrong with that. The price may be steep now, but give it a month or two, and it will stabilise and likely reduce. What matters is that you’re able to get a device that works best for you.

READ NEXT: #NairaLife: This 26-Year-Old Once Owed Millions. Now, Shes Building a 50m Portfolio

]]> 油Im Still Here Because of Family Nigerians Talk About the Mental Health Toll of Financial Hardship /money/im-still-here-because-of-family-nigerians-talk-about-the-mental-health-toll-of-financial-hardship/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:56:25 +0000 /?p=384367 Trigger warning: Suicide.

Mental health struggles are complex, and for many Nigerians, the country’s financial state worsens their mental health.Here are five Nigerians who suffered severe mental health crises due to financial pressure and the poor state of the economy, and what thankfully made them choose to stay.

Dead people dont pay bills Nafisa*, F, 26, Lagos. 

Ive always had financial anxiety. Even when I was steadily earning 200k/month, the state of the country would make me panic about how much I had and if it would be enough to keep me alive.

Then I lost my steady job earlier this year when the company I worked for pulled out of the country. So now Im a freelance makeup artist, earning 100k-200k per job. Technically, I can potentially earn more now, but my income is unstable, and I only get one or two makeup jobs a month. So, the way I see it, Im basically jobless.

I have to think about my 1.2 million/year rent, amongst other expenses. Because of this, I isolate myself, afraid that if I go out with friends, Im wasting money.

 Sometimes, my anxiety gets so bad that I have depressive episodes and nervous breakdowns. I panic, wondering when Ill next get a makeup gig. I passively consider ending my life. After all, dead people dont pay bills, right?

Im still here because of my friends. They send me money sometimes and always encourage me. Plus, when I do get a gig, my anxiety temporarily goes away. 

Being the man of the house is hard Tobi*, M, 26, Abuja.

My father died of cancer two years ago. Even though we all saw it coming, the grief was overwhelming.

At his funeral, an aunt whispered to me, You know youre now the provider of the family? It was the first time I had a panic attack.

Even though my mums business is still bringing in a good amount of money, shes getting old, and I worry every day about providing for her and my sisters. I earn well at 600k a month, and I still live at home, but the pressure to be the man of the house is crushing, especially because Im still grieving my dad.

Ive considered ending my life a few times, just in passing, so I can escape the anxiety. But the thought of my little sisters living without me is even more terrifying, and Im too scared to go through with it. 

I dont want to struggle for a life that feels pointless. Ruth*, NB, 22, Lagos.

I left my oppressive parents house in 2025. Theyve never been supportive and are the most closed-minded people Ive ever met. I was already considering suicide under their roof, so my options were either to kill myself, steal their money and leave, or run away and thug it out. I chose the last one.

I live alone now, and its difficult to provide for myself. The abuse I endured already made me suicidal, but now, I have times when I spiral really hard and get close to the act. The worst thing for me is struggling so hard for money just to live a pointless life and eventually die.

The main thing keeping me alive is spite. I want to prove to my parents that Im better off without them and prove to life that I can do this. It also helps that I have god-tier friends.

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Ending my life felt better than waiting for Nigeria to end it.   Eni*, NB, 25, Lagos.

I moved out of my house earlier this year because my father was abusing me and trying to control my finances. The switch from being taken care of materially to barely being able to eat was terrifying.

At first, I felt very useless. It was hard to feel trapped in my own life, so much so that I could barely afford a crate of eggs. I thought ending my life was better than waiting for Nigeria to end it for me, and I was stuck in this headspace for at least three months.

I never thought of giving myself grace. I was doing my best, working multiple freelance gigs and living frugally, but I blamed my money struggles on not working hard enough, rather than the insane cost of living in Nigeria.

One day, I had to decide that I would not die simply because I didnt have the financial freedom I had envisioned for myself as an adult. Also, I now know that life isnt just happening to me; I have the power to shape my story. Plus, my friends have come through for me a lot.

Seeing my husband depressed made me depressed.   Lola*, F, 30,  Ibadan.

In 2020, right after I got married, COVID made my husband lose his job. He was a businessman, but the lockdown made it difficult for him to transport goods and the like. As a teacher earning 210k/month, I wasnt making enough to sustain us. It was a major hit to our finances. It didnt help that we were in a lockdown and could do nothing but worry.

My husband became miserable. Id never seen that man cry so much. I was always the emotional one, so having my rock break down that way broke me as well.

I would wake up, and my first thought would be to end my life so that my husband could have one less expense to worry about.

I knew these were bad thoughts, so my husband and I began praying every night. It helped to know God was still on the throne.

Eventually, the lockdown lifted, and my husband could continue his business as smoothly as before. I thank God for watching over us at that time.

If you need support, someone to talk to, or immediate help, these Nigerian mental health resources may help.

Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) Youth-focused mental health support.

| Crisis support: +234 916 841 7413

Blueroomcare Affordable online therapy.

| +234 901 667 9754

SURPIN Suicide prevention & crisis intervention.

| 080 0078 7746

READ NEXT: I Wish I Had Done More: Nigerians On Losing Loved Ones To Mental Health Struggles

]]> Avoid These 5 Common Pitfalls AT ALL COST When Planning Your Child’s Education /announcements/avoid-these-5-common-pitfalls-at-all-cost-when-planning-your-childs-education/ Thu, 17 Sep 2026 17:32:47 +0000 /?p=384267 Some challenges are unavoidable, but not when it comes to a life expense as defining as your child’s learning and development. Stanbic IBTC Education Trust (SET) can help you plan for every child education milestone with confidence.

Waiting until school fees are due

Many parents manage education expenses one term at a time. While this may work in the short term, it can create financial pressure whenever fees become due.

SET encourages long-term planning by creating a dedicated education fund designed to support your child’s learning journey from one stage to the next.

Not planning for rising education costs

Education costs rarely remain the same. As children progress through school, fees and related expenses often increase.

SET is designed as a long-term education planning solution, helping parents prepare in advance rather than reacting to rising costs as they occur.

Allowing education funds to compete with other priorities

Family responsibilities, emergencies, and unexpected expenses can sometimes divert funds originally set aside for education.

SET creates a dedicated fund specifically for education, helping parents stay focused on their children’s academic goals.

Treating education planning like ordinary savings

Many parents rely solely on traditional savings accounts to fund future education expenses.

SET offers a structured and professionally managed approach designed to help parents build towards future education needs.

Leaving education planning too late

The longer parents wait to begin planning, the fewer options they may have available.

Starting early allows families more time to build an education fund and prepare for future learning milestones.

Your child’s education deserves more than last-minute planning. With , parents can take a structured, long-term approach to education funding through dedicated education planning, professionally managed funds, and direct payment to schools when required. Email trustsolution@stanbicibtc.com to start planning today and secure your childs learning milestones.

Stanbic IBTC Trustees Limited is registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria as Trustees.

]]> My Closest Friend Scammed Our Entire Friend Group油 /money/my-closest-friend-scammed-our-entire-friend-group/ Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:00:28 +0000 /?p=384276 Chioma* (23) believed her friendship with Rachel* (23) was built on love and understanding. However, after repeated inconsistencies in how Rachel spent money, Chioma slowly realised her friends intentions weren’t as pure as shed thought.

In this story, Chioma recounts how Rachel quietly scammed her over the years, how she tried to take out a loan in Chiomas name behind her back, and why despite this being the worst betrayal Chioma had ever gone through she still forgave Rachel in the end.

This is Chiomas story, as told to Azara.

In 2023, the person I considered my closest friend tried to take a loan from my account behind my back.

You cant imagine what it was like to have discovered that while studying for an important test.

An email notification popped up on my laptop mid-study, and I had to stop everything to see who had tried to steal 15k from a broke 20-year-old third-year student.

It wasnt a random thief or a stranger. It was my friend, Rachel.

I met Rachel three years before that incident, and up until then, she was one of my favourite people in the entire world.

We met the way most people in university do: in class. To be honest, thats how my main friend group formed. We all happened to sit beside each other, and we made each other laugh, Rachel more than the rest.

She was funny, and I liked funny people. But beyond that, she seemed generous. She was the only one of us living off campus at the time, and every morning she greeted us with homemade cupcakessomething we couldnt easily get in the hostel. I remember times when she offered to get me things or helped me with schoolwork, even when I didnt ask. 

We became friends quickly. She was just so friendly and fit into our group. When she finally moved on campus a few months later and joined the same hostel my friends and I stayed in, we felt complete. 

But I would be lying if I said things were perfect. 

Rachel was struggling, or at least, thats what she told us. She talked a lot about her abusive father and how part of that abuse was withholding money. She would spend days crying to us, saying he only gave her a 5k monthly allowance. She even showed me an alert that confirmed this once.

But then the story would shift depending on her mood. Sometimes, she would tell us he sent her 100k a week, or that he was a millionaire with two houses. I should have suspected something was wrong, but I brushed it off as her just getting excited and telling stories.

I also brushed off the fact that she often asked for money. It was usually small amounts;  2k to pay for snacks here, 3k to pay for her food there. She would follow anyone who was buying something, claim her card wasnt working or that she hadnt brought it, and then ask them to pay, promising to pay it back. She never did.

My bank transfers arent working. She would lie if we asked for the money she owed. I dont have network. Ill transfer later. She would promise, until later became never.

 She once said she went to the bank, where they showed her a list of all the transfers shed made that hadnt worked, so she had to approve them there.

Those approved transfers never went through.

We let it go because these weren’t big purchases, but looking back, maybe that emboldened her to do worse. 

Rachel once lied to a friend that she was selling jeans. This friend paid her 20,000, but Rachel never delivered the jeans. She borrowed 10,000 from another friend when they went to a movie and used it to pay for two tickets. Another time, she promised to get a friend a 5,000 dress for a birthday, but the day passed, and no dress arrived.

She also scammed school staff. She would buy things at our hostel shop on credit and lie to me that she had paid for them. But when I went to do my own shopping, the woman at the counter would beg me to talk to Rachel, saying she had even blocked her because she kept asking for her money.

There was always an excuse; either there was a transfer error, or her bank was terrible. It was never Rachels fault. 

Still, I believed her. She was good at using her alleged trauma to sway you, and at the time, Id believed things simply didnt work out for her. How was I supposed to keep asking for money from someone with an abusive father, or as shed once told us someone with diabetes in the red zone who needed extra money to specialise her diet? In hindsight, I never saw her take medicine or actually change her eating habits.

I must have been naive because by 2023, animosity had spread through the friend group without my knowledge, and it all came to light over a hoodie.

A friend was having a birthday, and Rachel had volunteered to have a specialised hoodie made for her. Excitedly, we all sent Rachel between 2,000 and 3,000. Altogether, we gave Rachel about 15k to pay for this hoodie.

But weeks passed, and every time someone followed up, Rachel would get sad and say that the Instagram vendor had scammed her, that she was begging the woman to return the money, and that she didnt know what to do.

Some of my friends got fed up and begged her to tell the truth, but Rachel stuck to her story.

Eventually, my friends birthday passed, and in anger, she messaged the Instagram vendor Rachel claimed had scammed her, but the confused seller said Rachel had inquired about buying a hoodie and then never followed up. She even took a screenshot of their chat, which proved shed never been sent any money.

I didnt know any of this was going on until my roommate sat me down that night and explained that Rachel was a thief and a liar.

Rachel? My Rachel? Who always seemed eager to help and opened up to everyone with so much ease? I believed my roommate, but still, still, I wanted to give grace. 

At this point, Rachel had gone home for the weekend, and the tension in our friend group had escalated to the point where people were blocking her. We needed a spokesperson to confront her, so I was assigned the duty.

At first, I tried to understand her, but Rachel maintained her innocence and claimed people were just not being nice.

Around this time, I got an email saying shed been trying to take a loan from me.

Shock does not do justice to what I felt. I had a test to think about, all my friends were mad at her, and here I was, trying to be the voice of understanding. Yet, that girl was actively trying to steal from me.

I only found out because she had logged into her email on my laptop and didnt log out. I saw that shed tried to secure the 15k loan from my bank account, but it didnt work because she didnt know my PIN. 

Numbly, I packed up my laptop, left the library and walked to my hostel.

I showed my roommate the email, and everything fell apart.

When I texted Rachel to ask her about the loan, she pretended like she didnt know what I was talking about. Only after I showed her the email did she start begging. She said she just needed money because people were angry at her for the other loans she had, and that it was the devil.

At the same time, another friend, who Rachel owed 20,000, was asking for her money. Rachel sent her a picture of an ATM stand, claiming she was trying to send the money. My friend thought the picture seemed fishy.

Sure enough, after a Google reverse image search, we discovered Rachel had gotten the picture from the internet.

Everyone was enraged. We created a group and a spreadsheet to tally up all the money she owed us. Aside from the snacks, the staff debt, and other scams we didn’t know about, Rachel owed us 65k.

Id never been so hurt in my life, and I never felt more like a fool. How could I have been the last to see this happening?

The next day the day before our test 12 of us gathered Rachel in a classroom for what was meant to be a peaceful intervention. But as we started talking, we learnt that scamming wasnt her only crime.

She lied about all of us. Sometimes, she would use one friends name to cover up a scam she committed against another.

One girl in particular, Hamzat*, wasnt even part of our group, but Rachel went to complain to her that we were ganging up on her and wanted to hurt her. On the flip side, Rachel told us this same Hamzat had sex with strangers on her prayer mat and was trying to pimp her (Rachel) out to older men. 

When Hamzat saw us that day and confronted us, the truth came flying out, shattering the idea of a peaceful intervention.

People were yelling and threatening Rachel. Hamzat nearly slapped her, and it got so bad that the school security had to separate us.

In the end, we told Rachel that she either repaid all she owed us or we would take the matter to student affairs.

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To cut a long story short, she got her aunt to settle the loans. She tried to apologise, but by this point, everyone was fed up. Not only did she refuse to take full accountability, but she also went as far as telling curious strangers that 40 of us ganged up on her and beat her up.

My response to her apology text was that she was a bitch who would burn in hell.

The story spread throughout the school, and by the end of the school year, nearly everyone was aware of it. 

It was an odd rest of the school year. Most days, I woke up enraged, thinking of how Rachel had played in my face. On other days, I felt sad for her. How could she have fallen so low?

We all graduated and left school in 2024.

Today, Im still friends with that friend group. I love them to bits, but I still felt a lot of anger toward Rachel that I needed to let go of. And so, sometime last year, I reached out to her.

I asked if she was okay, and I told her that Id let go of what happened between us. Minutes later, she responded, saying she was sorry and wished she could’ve apologised in person.

Because of this, and because so much time had passed, I let it go. I do hope shes okay and has worked through whatever issues she has.

Oh, and by the way, I did pass that test.

NEXT READ: I Was Nearly Scammed in Nigeria, but I Still Think the Country Is Extremely Efficient

]]> I Was Nearly Scammed in Nigeria, but I Still Think the Country Is Extremely Efficient /money/i-was-nearly-scammed-in-nigeria-but-i-still-think-the-country-is-extremely-efficient/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:34:49 +0000 /?p=384101 Dr Anna Bethune (37) left Jamaica for Stanford at 16, built a prolific career across the US, but eventually moved to Lagos in 2020 for a job. For her first few months, she had nowhere to live, nearly transferred her money to a thief, and considered going back home.

In this story, Dr Anna talks about her Jamaican upbringing, being paid to do a six-year PhD, the three chaotic months she spent homeless in Lagos that nearly led to her being scammed, and why, even after experiencing shege in Nigeria, she still believes it is one of the most efficient places she’s ever lived.

This is Dr Anna’s story, as told to Azara.

This place is chaotic.

That was my first thought when I arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, in September 2020.

But who can blame me? It was my first time moving to the country, and after 18 hours of travel and 10 suitcases in tow, I arrived with no visa and no clear idea where to go. After three hours spent sorting out my visa, I arrived at a hotel room that turned out to be too small for my luggage. 

How did I end up in Nigeria in the first place? For one, it wasnt for a lack of options.

I was born and raised in New Kingston, which is basically Jamaicas version of Lagoss Victoria Island. My family was comfortably middle-class. We travelled on most holidays, I went to some of the best schools, and we lived in an apartment building with a big pool in the backyard.

By 2006, at the age of 17, I had earned a scholarship to attend Stanford University. It covered my tuition, room, and board, everything I needed to complete a bachelor’s with honours in Economics in 2010. 

Fast forward to 2011, I got a job as an economics researcher under a former prime minister of Jamaica. It paid around 2.5 million Jamaican dollars a year ($30,000) and was one of the best jobs I ever had. It gave me a sense of purpose.

By 2013, I wanted to continue my education, so I opted for a fully funded PhD from Northwestern University in the United States, where I studied Learning Sciences. The stipend was about $2,000/month, but because I was a competitive student, I negotiated it up to $2,500/month. I graduated in 2019.

When the offer to run a VC-funded foundation in Nigeria came up, I took it. I was ready for a new challenge and tired of America. I knew that social impact work in Nigeria, as complex as its society and economy are, would be a great training ground for the work I wanted to do in Jamaica later on. I knew the connection I made there would be important. 

My friends have described me as crazy before. They think I do things on a whim, and I dont always have a plan. But I do. They may have some gaps, but my plans are solid. I believe the rest will figure itself out. 

Standing in the Lagos airport that day September 14, 2020 to start a job as the Director of Impact and Research at a brand-new foundation, I was sure I had made the right decision. 

I spent two weeks living out of a hotel, and then the house hunting began. 

I hopped between Airbnbs for the three months I spent house-hunting. Some of these apartments were in areas that, in hindsight, I never should have been staying in. I stayed in apartments where the tap water ran yellow. It wasnt safe at all. I think that was the first time I actually considered leaving Nigeria. 

The house-hunting was even worse. Every time I found a beautiful apartment, it would get scooped up before we could pay. And my desperation almost got me scammed. 

I wanted this beautiful, airy, open 3-bedroom apartment in a high-rise building. Come to find out, the agent recommended to me didnt have the authority to represent the landlord. In fact, he was trying to collect 10% rather than the usual 5% agent fee. That should have been a red flag, but in my desperation, I overlooked it. 

I was 30 minutes away from transferring company money when, thankfully, someone in my office pointed out the deals sketchy nature, and I reluctantly let the apartment go. 

A few weeks later, I finally found my current apartment. It was slightly over the 4 million – 4.5 million/year budget, but I was just glad to put house-hunting behind me. 

My problems didnt end with housing.

Work was another kind of adjustment. I came from professional environments where I had been rewarded for being direct, asking difficult questions, and saying exactly what I thought. In Nigeria, I quickly learned that being right was not always enough. How you communicated mattered. Relationships mattered. Respect, hierarchy, and recognition often carried meanings I did not yet understand.

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At first, I found some of this frustrating. I thought the quality of the work should speak for itself. But Nigeria taught me that work never exists outside of people, and people need to feel seen, respected, and included. I did not become less direct, but I became more discerning about when to speak, how to say what needed to be said, and what might be happening beneath the surface of a professional interaction.

By 2022, I was also becoming clearer about the kind of career and life I wanted. I did not want my future to depend entirely on one employer, one country, or one traditional career path. So I left the foundation and moved into fractional strategic consulting. I get to continue earning in USD while living in Lagos. 

Earning in a stronger currency while living in Nigeria gave me more room to save, experiment, and begin building a life with greater freedom.

And to this day, despite the mess of it all, Nigeria is still one of the most efficient places Ive ever lived. 

I know its surprising to say that, but “efficient” is really the best word to use. In Chicago, finding clothes was such a hassle, especially for thick-thighed women, but over here, I can have clothes made and sent to me in two days. Sellers follow up if I havent bought, and its all via text, from delivery to the door. The indifference from other countries is so glaring compared to Nigerian eagerness. 

And for a foreigner like me, who speaks English as I do, I get my Nigerian friends to help me negotiate costs. I have to. My accent adds another 50k in some cases.

Last year, I threw a birthday beach party in Ilashe, and the cost of renting a boat for 20 people was close to 1 million, so I went to a friend who knew people who rented boats and asked him for help. He negotiated it down to 320,000 for a 10-seater boat. And we used his boat to take the other 10 people. 

Domestic care is also incredible here. In Chicago, I cooked and cleaned for myself every day. But not here. I can afford to outsource cooking, cleaning, and walking my dog. It gives me so much more time to work. 

And then theres the food. In the States, food can be quite expensive, and in Jamaica, the prices are not that different if Im eating where I really want to eat.  Lagos is a lot more affordable. Meals that cost about 20k here could cost roughly 30k – 40k back home. 

Nigeria isnt perfect; Ive had to fire a cleaner for chronic lateness, and it’s still so jarring that a traffic light at a major intersection will sometimes just not work. Still, the speed of business and Nigerias affordability are unmatched. 

I know that earning in US dollars has made this life more accessible to me. It has allowed me to save more intentionally, invest in my ideas, and imagine possibilities that did not feel available earlier in my career.

I still want to experience more of the continent. My dream is to create satellite homes across Africa. Places with more beautiful places and people to work with. There is so much we can do as a black family, and by that I mean a Global Black family. Kingston will always be home, and Lagos has become another kind of home. I am grateful.

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]]> 6 Nollywood Characters and Their Worst Financial Decisions /money/6-nollywood-characters-and-their-worst-financial-decisions/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:53:33 +0000 /?p=383907 What hasn’t Nollywood given us? Love. Drama. Passion. Iconic TikTok sounds. And most importantly, some… questionable special effects.

But one thing we never see talked about is how terrible our Nolly leads can be at making financial choices.

Here are some of your favorite Nollywood leads and the questionable financial decisions that set their lives off course.

Eniola Salami King of Boys

Eniolas (Sola Sobowale) rags-to-riches story is one of Nollywoods greatest (ignoring her cr!minal activity, of course). But her downfall began when she used her wealth to bankroll a political ally, triggering government investigations that threatened her empire.

Efe Edewor To Kill a Monkey

At first, Efe (William Benson) joined his friends crime syndicate to pull his family out of poverty. But once the money started flowing, he didnt stop. Thanks to his greed, he eventually loses all the people he was fighting for in the first place.

Quam Omole Quams Money

Quam (Falz) is a security guard turned overnight millionaire. In a too-good-to-be-true deal, Quam invests 500 million, subsequently losing all his riches in what is, of course, a scam.

Andy Sugar Rush

When the Sugar sisters stumble upon $800,000 that isn’t theirs, Sola’s boyfriend, Andy, decides the smartest move is to quietly steal some of the cash for himself rather than stick with the plan. The cost is high: his life.

Chief Beecroft Chief Daddy

Chief Beecroft (Taiwo Obileye) was generous, but he was a terrible financial planner. Leaving behind a stupidly vague will, the chief leaves his dysfunctional family fighting over his massive wealth.

Zuri The Smart Money Woman

Zuri (Osas Ighodaro) earns 600k/month. By Nigerian metrics, she is a high earner. However, her designer lifestyle massively outpaces her income, and soon shes drowning in debt.

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