Every week, Zikoko seeks to understand how people move the Naira in and out of their lives. Some stories will be struggle-ish, others will be bougie. All the time, it’ll be revealing.

Since 2019, we’ve been telling important stories about how Nigerians navigate money: how they earn, spend and save the naira. 2025 was just as revealing. 

This year, we spoke to people across different income levels, backgrounds and careers, offering new insights and sparking vital conversations that drove millions of Nigerians to take a closer look at their finances and potential income opportunities.

As the year comes to an end, let’s take a look back at the 10 #NairaLife stories our audience loved the most and just couldn’t get enough of.

1. #NairaLife: She’s 22, and Cybersecurity Pays Her Over ₦5m/Month

This 22-year-old’s #NairaLife started with a desire to earn enough money to put herself in a school abroad. Seven years later, her priorities have changed. Now, she’s a uni dropout turned cybersecurity engineer making ₦5m+ monthly. Her new mantra? “I’ll never be poor.”

Read her story here.

2. #NairaLife: This 28-Year-Old Earns ₦9m/Month but Doesn’t Feel Financially Secure

In less than three years, this 28-year-old’s earning power has increased from ₦125k to over ₦9m/month. However, she struggles with financial management and hasn’t built systems to protect her money. She hopes that changes soon. 

Read this Naira Life story here.

3. #NairaLife: This Sugar Baby Is on a Mission to Making Better Financial Decisions

In 2019, this 22-year-old student was knee-deep in financial uncertainty. Six years later, she lacks nothing, courtesy of an older lover. Now, she’s ready for another change, starting with her spending habits and taking an intentional go at financial independence.

Read her Naira Life story here.

4. #NairaLife: How Did This 23-Year-Old 5x Her Income in One Year? Writing

This writer started chasing gigs in 2019. Five years later, she discovered writing platforms and turned her finances around. These days, her sights are set on three things: Making more from her books, exploring other income opportunities and providing for her family without buckling under the pressure of black tax.

Read her story here.

5. The #NairaLife of a Finance Manager Who’s Chasing a $2M Net Worth

The 33-year-old in this #NairaLife had a rocky start building his savings and investment muscle. But he’s finally gotten the hang of it, thanks to a crazy income jump from ₦600k to $5k. Now, he’s pursuing a $2m net worth. Tough? Yes, but he might know how to get there.

Read his Naira Life story here.

6. #NairaLife: Her Salary Went From ₦350k to $4k in One Year. Then, She Took a Sabbatical

The 28-year-old in this #NairaLife has mastered multiplying her income and living below her means. Between 2021 and 2022, she increased her income by over 1000% and has built a ₦50m+ net worth. Now, she’s on a sabbatical, hoping to master another skill: cutting down her expenses even more.

Read her Naira Life story here.

7. #NairaLife: This Product Manager Makes 3x His Salary From Side Gigs

This 28-year-old’s #NairaLife took a 180-degree turn after he found freelance work in 2021. In four years, he’s gone from earning ₦150k to ₦7m/month. His side gigs pay him far more than his full-time job, but he’s sticking with the 9-5 life for the long term. Why?

Read his story here.

8. #NairaLife: The 22-Year-Old Who Went From ₦300k/Month to ₦2m in One Move

In 2024, the 22-year-old in this #NairaLife left a promising income potential in social media influencing to focus on other career opportunities. A year later, her bet is paying off, and she now earns ₦2m from working two jobs. Her next goal? $100k in savings and investments by 2030.

Read this Naira Life story here.

9. The #NairaLife of a Marine Engineer Who Doesn’t Know How to Spend Money

The 31-year-old in this #NairaLife has lived the perfect example of a grass-to-grace story. She’s overcome environmental limitations through sheer grit and a bit of luck. However, her improved financial standing hasn’t been as transformative as she’d like, and she wants to fix that—by spending more.

Read this Naira Life story here.

10. #NairaLife: The Digital Marketer Obsessed With Building Wealth for Her Child

The 30-year-old in this #NairaLife struck gold with digital marketing in 2019 and began making significant money in 2022. It’s 2025, and she’s at her most liquid yet with a $7k/month income and a $30k portfolio. But she won’t rest until she can provide everything her child needs.

Read this Naira Life story here.

Find all the past Naira Life stories here.