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  • Stephen’s* first brush with crypto in 2016 felt like a ticket to lasting wealth. By 2021, he was all in. But when the market crashed, it took everything with it.

    In this story, he talks about how his decisions wrecked his finances, strained his relationships and forced him to rebuild from nothing.

    As Told To Toheeb

    If you were my friend in 2016, you’d know how much I liked high-risk investments. You might even call it gambling.

    And if you’d asked me about it, I probably would have said something like, “It’s not deep. You just need money to earn more money.”

    This thinking drove many of my financial decisions, especially after I discovered Bitcoin. 

    If this had happened at any other time, I might’ve ignored this new, shiny way people made money. But I had just gotten a pharmacy degree and was open to new things. And the thing was, I didn’t want to practice unless I needed to. 

     So, when a friend’s brother invited me to join a trading group, I decided to take the plunge, even though I didn’t fully understand how cryptocurrency worked. 

    I found a quick workaround, though: I decided, very smartly, to avoid trading. Instead, I bought Bitcoin and sold it to people at a small markup. It was a functional system, but not a very profitable one. I ultimately decided to focus on my pharmacy degree and try to get a real job.

    The first act was over. 

    Three years later, in 2019, I crossed paths with crypto again. See, I needed money and a break. I spent most of my days as a medical sales rep on the road and often thought there had to be more to look forward to.

    I got my wish. 

    A friend told me about a coin called XIO, and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to invest some of the money I was earning into it. I dipped in very cautiously, putting ₦50k in the XIO token. Shortly after, it began mooning, which is crypto parlance for coins or tokens whose value consistently goes up. 

    I bought the XIO token on Uniswap — a decentralised exchange — and, as a result of this activity, Uniswap gave me 400 units of its native token, UNI. Altogether, my XIO and UNI were worth ₦500k. You have to remember that I invested  ₦50k in this.

    I loved this outcome so much that my brain lit up. It almost felt like free money. My mind worked overtime trying to figure out how I could turn this into a consistent stream of income.

    I got a break. 

    The people who developed the XIO announced an airdrop to reward users, and as a result, more people started buying the token, driving up its price.  I earned approximately ₦1.5m from this project’s sudden rise in value.

    For context, I was earning ₦100k/month from my day job. I’d made 15x my salary without doing half the work. Things like this flip something in you. The show had to go on, and I decided to go all in.

    By 2020, crypto had gone from a side hustle to an obsession. YouTube became my classroom; I spent every spare hour on tutorials, charts, and strategies. I had two trading options: spot or futures. Futures promised bigger returns but required serious technical analysis. I wasn’t there yet. 

    Spot trading was simpler: buy low, sell high, repeat. I learned three rules fast: enter wisely, exit early, and cut your losses before they cut you.

    Within months, I was hooked. I stopped bothering with my sales job. My boss thought I was out marketing; in reality, I was at home, hunched over my phone, watching charts as if my life depended on it. Eventually, it did. My day job felt like dead weight, so in April 2020, I quit.

    The wins came quickly. I built a paid Telegram group where people joined to follow my trades. My track record spoke for itself, and money flowed in. Then came investors — people who wanted the gains without the grind. I promised them 10% monthly returns. It sounded bold, but in that bull market, it felt not just possible, but easy.

    Meanwhile, my personal life shrank to the size of a trading screen. My girlfriend would come over, and I’d barely look up. In my head, she was permanent; trading windows were fleeting. That’s how you justify neglect when your brain is lit by adrenaline and profit charts.

    By May 2021, I had around $7,000 in the market, more than I’d ever managed before. My plan was neat: grow it to $10k, pay everyone back, and keep the rest rolling. To make that happen, I reinvested everything. No safety net. No exit strategy.

    And then, the market turned.

    One night in May, I woke up to a flood of notifications. Bitcoin’s value was tanking. Sometimes that happens, so I wasn’t nervous. I was sure the price would steady before morning. I was wrong. By the end of the month, it was below $30k. A month before this, one Bitcoin was worth $53k. 

    It was a disaster. Bitcoin controls the markets, so price fluctuations trickle down to other projects. My portfolio’s value decreased from $7k to $4k.  The rational part of me knew it was time to cut my losses. The gambler in me doubled down. I emptied my ₦300k savings into the market, hoping for a rebound that never came.

    The market didn’t recover. I was in a crisis and couldn’t return my investors’ money. More importantly, I had no job. More importantly, my relationship with my girlfriend, having taken a series of hits, was strained.

    For the first time in years, I felt stripped bare. No charts. Just fear. I hid indoors, terrified of running into someone I owed money. For a while, I numbed myself with alcohol. But even that couldn’t drown the reality: I’d built my life on a house of cards, and it had finally caved in.

    First, I called all my investors and asked — begged — them to give me three months to repay them. To my shock, they all agreed. 

    Between June and September 2021, I liquidated the carcass of my crypto portfolio. But it wasn’t enough, and I had to borrow money from my friends and family. Ultimately, I paid around $4k. I was in debt, but the worst was over. Once the last payment cleared, all I felt was exhaustion. I didn’t want another quick win; I wanted distance from the market, from the chaos, from the version of myself that thought every high would last forever.

    I returned to the basics and took up a new job in October 2021. But I knew I needed more than a paycheck; I needed a full reset. A Master’s abroad became my North Star. I’d already started the paperwork earlier that year, and with my family’s help, I fast-tracked the plan. In  January 2022, I relocated to a new country.

    I was now studying and working, and the bulk of my earnings went into my tuition. There was almost nothing left after all this, so I couldn’t think of putting money in crypto. It was for the best. 

    It’s been four years since that crash, and I no longer chase the thrill. And my girlfriend, who watched me ride that rollercoaster? She’s still here. We’re getting married next year. 

    I didn’t lose everything after all.

  • Felix Bissong loves recruiting. 

    In 2024 alone, he closed over 50 roles and has interviewed more than 1000 people since he began recruiting approximately seven years ago. In that time, he has handled human resources management and recruitment for companies, including CCHub.

    His work means one thing: He’s seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of job interviews — what helps or hurts applicants’ chances. What Felix finds most astonishing, though, is the misconception that companies know the people they want to hire before they promote a job opening. While he agrees that referrals and internal recruitment are crucial factors in the process, he believes that everyone has a fair chance of securing an interview and subsequently getting the job, even with no existing relationship with the hiring manager or the business. 

    “On average,  I get briefs to recruit for at least seven roles every day. I don’t personally know most of the people that eventually get these jobs,” he says. 

    An applicant’s approach to the process often determines if they are hired. More often than not, candidates who apply themselves from the beginning and back themselves and their chances have a better experience and result with job interviews. 

    “This might sound surprising, but some people go, ‘Let me just go and do my bare minimum; they will eventually not hire me anyway.’ This thinking doesn’t help anyone,” Felix says.

    Here are a few things Felix has learned in the years he has interviewed applicants. 

    An interview isn’t an interrogation. Don’t treat it like one

    Interviews can be nerve-wracking, and for good reason. The result potentially stands between you and a job, so it’s natural for nerves to kick in. 

    Felix understands this weight and its potential impact on an applicant’s psyche. However, he says it becomes potentially problematic when it affects interview performance. 

    “If you’re extremely nervous in my interview room, you won’t give me everything I need, and it’s a shame because I really want to know you.”

    Many recruiters anticipate this blocker and try to ease the applicants into the conversation. Still, it’s easier when applicants take charge and set the tone. 

    For Felix, a terrible interview experience is when an applicant appears great on paper but struggles to talk about themselves during the interview.

    “You always wonder if you missed out on someone  potentially great.”

    What you should do instead:

    • Remember that your profile stood out among multiple applications, which is why you got the call. So, treat the interview as an opportunity to showcase your excellence.
    • Go into the conversation to chat with people you may be working with soon. This framing gives you a sense of control. If it helps, treat the process like a talking stage. You want to know if they’re a good fit for you as much as they want to see if you’re right for them. 
    • Review the job description thoroughly. Pick details from your experience that align most with the JD and use them to drive the conversation. 
    • During the interview, talk as though you’re already a part of the business — it’ll help you flow better with the conversation and ask thoughtful questions. Avoid phrases like “You guys” as much as possible.

    Be intentional about how you show up, even in virtual interviews 

    “Do you know that I’ve set up a final stage interview for an applicant, and they showed up in a singlet?” Felix starts. “It was a virtual interview, but still, it’s never a good look.”

    Recruiting processes are evolving. While many businesses — depending on the industry — don’t require applicants to formally dress up for interviews, there’s an (often unspoken) expectation that applicants should show up smartly dressed, including for virtual interviews, which have also become a favoured interviewing format. 

    “Applicants think there are no rules for virtual interviews. But physical interview etiquette applies here as well. You need to look presentable,” Felix reiterates. 

    It goes without saying, but many applicants fall into this trap. The bummer is that it becomes a distraction that lasts the entire interview.

    What you should do instead:

    • Take virtual interviews seriously. Dress well and show up on time. Being on time helps you relax.
    • Always turn on your video. It shouldn’t be an afterthought.
    • Set up in a comfortable location, optimising for a clear, uncluttered background. Avoid taking interviews from a vehicle. 
    • Check your internet connectivity. Have backup internet. 

    “Applicants that do all of these often feel more confident and ready for the conversation,” Felix promises. 

    Don’t get lost in the “Tell me about yourself” question

    Many interviews begin with what should be a simple question: “Can you tell me about yourself?” 

    It’s a basic question, but it can also make or break an interview. Applicants know this, and many buckle under its weight. However, Felix thinks applicants should treat this question as what it is: a vehicle to kick off the conversation. 

    “It’s not the tricky question applicants think it is. I’m just trying to know you,” he says. 

    It’s a chance to tell your story in your own words, and you decide how you want to tell it. Felix advises applicants to think of their responses in three primary parts: the past, the present and the future.

    • The past (What you’ve done in the past relevant to the role). E.g., “I’m a human resource professional with about six years of experience specialising in recruitment and employee engagement.”
    • The present (What you currently do). E.g., “In my current role as lead consultant for GenZ HR, I have led hiring processes that have closed 15 high-quality hires in the past three months. I’ve introduced an onboarding process that has improved retention by 30%.”
    • The future: This is the “Why I’m here” question. E.g., “I’m drawn to this role because it aligns with my interest in talent development and also provides an opportunity to scale HR or recruitment strategies in a fast-growing tech business like yours.”

    Remember, you can share as much context as you want. But if you need something simple for a quick confidence boost and subsequently settle into answering the question, this may be a good format to follow.

    One key thing to note when answering this question is that it’s an opportunity to highlight your experience, skills, and achievements. On the other hand, you may be tempted to list out details in your CV, but don’t. 

    Show. Don’t just tell

    According to Felix, interview responses should be driven by a storytelling approach. This helps applicants frame their answers to reflect technical [ expertise] and soft skills [behavioural and culture fit].

     But how do you execute this without missing a beat during a potentially emotionally-charging moment? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but Felix recommends the STAR model. 

    • Situation. Share a specific problem. 
    • Task. Describe the task you needed to execute. 
    • Action. The set of activities you did. 
    • Results. The positive outcomes of your effort. 

    Similarly, applicants should back up their achievements with specific numbers. Felix adds a caveat here. 

    “Put your numbers in the context of something specific. It could be the difference between a surface response and a deeply thoughtful and moving response. 

    ‘I helped improve sales’ doesn’t say much. On the other hand, ‘I closed $30m in sales within 12 months’ does. So lean more into latter,” Felix says.

    To close, Felix shares a few rules of thumb applicants might find helpful:

    • Research the company and its structure. The more information you have, the more excited you will be about the conversation. 
    • Start with a firm, positive energy. “Thank you for having me. I’m excited to be here.” is a simple place to start.
    • Don’t interrupt or cut the interviewer short. Let them finish their thought before you jump in. 
    • Take a breather before you jump on a question.
    • Connect your skills and career goals to the company, especially when answering the “Why do you want to work here?” question.  

  • Shade’s life trajectory started to shift before she was old enough to know what it meant. One unexpected illness, a series of difficult choices, and a father’s absence set her and her mum on a path they never planned for. What followed was years of sacrifice, resilience, and the kind of love that holds everything together when the world starts to fall apart.

    This is Shade’s story, as told to Toheeb

    When I was five months old, my mum fell ill. She complained of body pains but the drugs she used didn’t work. Each day got tougher as the pain got worse. My family had never seen anything like it, so they thought it was a spiritual attack. 

    When the pain became unbearable, they took her to a local nurse who gave her an injection. It turned out my mum shouldn’t have been given that injection. Her condition worsened. Something scarier happened — her joints got swollen. According to the stories I’ve heard, you could see the bones underneath her skin.  

    When she didn’t get better, they took her to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, to see a specialist. Everyone blamed my grandmother, who had been taking care of her, for not going to the hospital sooner. What they didn’t realise was that hospitals were expensive and nobody could have imagined that whatever she was dealing with was more than body pains.

    The doctors suspected it was bone arthritis, but all the tests they ran returned negative results. The symptoms were there, but the tests didn’t confirm anything. 

    The doctors started treatment for arthritis. My mum was bedridden at the hospital for about two years. Because she was confined to a bed for a very long time, she started dealing with bedsores too. Then the joints in her hips dislocated completely. The doctors told her that there were two options: corrective surgery and physiotherapy. For the surgery, they’d implant something— I don’t remember what the implant is called— in her hips. But the catch was that it cost millions of naira. Also, she would have to do the surgery every 10 years. Someone in my mum’s family offered to pay for the surgery, but my mum was scared. What if she couldn’t afford the surgery in 10 years?

    She opted for the second option — physiotherapy. They told her that with any luck, she would walk again. If she did, she had to accept that she would walk with a limp for the rest of her life. In the meantime, she had to use crutches for support.

    You may have noticed that I haven’t talked about my dad. Where was he in all of this?

    In the about 24 months that my mum was in the hospital, my dad had started an affair.  My mum was in the dark about this until she was discharged from the hospital. She returned to meet a woman and a baby — my dad’s new family —  in her home. It finally made sense why he visited her in the hospital only once. What stung my mum the most was that she knew the woman — my mum used to buy my baby food from her shop. 

    My dad had started a new life and my mum had no place in it.

    My mum moved in with my grandmother and continued the fight to get her legs back. It took about two more years before she got rid of her first crutch. Then the second one went about a year later. She could now walk unaided by her crutches but the doctors were right — she was always going to walk with a limp.

    ***

    I started school when I was about four years old. This was also the time I saw my dad for the first time. I knew it had to be him the moment I saw him. The resemblance was uncanny. After the first visit, he started visiting occasionally. There was a day I overheard him tell my mum that he wanted to take me away. The audacity. I screamed my lungs out in defiance and ran away. I think he felt bad about it because my mum sat me down when I returned and asked me to behave myself whenever he was around. 

    Fast forward to a couple of years later. The man who offered to pay for my mum’s surgery passed. Cancer.

    Before he died, he willed some money to my grandmother. I don’t know how much money it was, but it gave my mum a lifeline — a chance to return to school. She had always wanted to study nursing, especially after what happened to her. And off she went to the school of nursing. 

    By that time, my mum and I had become inseparable. I cried my eyes out the day she left home and fell ill a few days later. She was forced to return home for a few days to calm me down. However, I entered a rebellious phase shortly after and was sent off by my grandmother to live with another member of the family.

    For a person living with a disability, going to school wasn’t going to be easy for my mum. But she hung in there for the three years she spent at the school of nursing. When she got to her final year, my grandmother ran out of money. The family member I was living with took a loan from work and paid for the year’s school fees. I had to make a little sacrifice too — I was in my last year of primary school and the family couldn’t afford my school fees, so I transferred to a public school to write my common entrance exams.

    Everything worked out. My mum’s dream was finally realised. She finished her basic nursing program and got a diploma. This was 2011, and I was 11 years old at the time. 

    I should mention, my dad was totally out of the picture for the three years my mum was at school. But that’s not important. This is not about him. 

    I was in JSS 1 when my mum finished her diploma. There was a post-basic diploma she wanted to go for — this is where they actually specialise in an aspect of nursing. Can you guess why she couldn’t? Lack of funds. The family was still trying to pay off the loan they took in her final year.

    The next best option was to look for a job, and she got right to it. But that wasn’t easy. Every place she applied to had an excuse for not hiring her. Most of them claimed that her nursing diploma wasn’t enough to get her a job, never mind that there were people who got jobs with the same qualifications or less. Some of the hospitals came clean and said they couldn’t hire her because she had a disability. 

    I remember when she got her first job in 2012. The job paid her only ₦6k, but she was happy to do it.

    She worked there for two months before she found another job at a catholic hospital. The caveat was that she could only work at the pharmacy, not the wards. The pay was about ₦20k. 

    ***

    I was getting older, and it was getting more expensive to raise me. My school fees alone was enough worry for my mum. When I was in JSS 2, my dad resurfaced again and handled some of the bills. Sometimes, he would chip in for my school fees for a term and go away for months. Still, he was trying to dictate how my life should go. One time in SS 1, he tried to withdraw me from my school and send me to a boarding school. I thought it was a ploy to take me away from my mum, so I refused. On the day he was supposed to take me to school to write the exam, I ran away from home.

    I eventually changed schools, but I made sure it wasn’t a boarding school. I was always going to return to my mum at the end of each day. He paid my school fees for the first term and paid half in the second term. Then we didn’t hear from him again for months. My school fees was about ₦42k, and my mum was earning less than half of that. She managed to pay for that term,  but I was sent away from school more times than I could count. 

    It became clear that my mum couldn’t afford to pay it anymore the following year, and I had to withdraw and return to my former school. The embarrassment I felt was palpable, but the proprietor of the school was very happy to see me return and offered me the chance to write my WAEC in SS 2. Great! Now, who was going to pay for the exam?

    My mum did, but I can’t even go into what she went through to raise the money. The form had almost closed before I registered. At some point, I wanted to tell her to forget about it. I was going to wait until the following year. Anyway, I wrote the exams and got a “C” in all the subjects. 

    ***

    My dad called me sometime in 2015 and asked me to visit him at his house. I refused. I told him he had to come to my mum’s if he really wanted to see me. For some reason, this riled him up and he started cursing me out. I didn’t react to his outburst. Then he started cursing my mum too.  I couldn’t allow that, and I cursed him back. Before the call ended, he said I was no longer his daughter. I told him it was fine. I don’t need him to be my father when I have my mother. 

    We haven’t spoken since then. 

    ***

    I applied to a polytechnic after two universities didn’t offer me admission. I still remember the day I paid my acceptance fee. Mum gave me a portion of her salary and emptied her savings. How much was my acceptance fee? ₦25k.

    The entire family chipped in something, so I could resume school. I was broke for the most part of my first year though. There’s no way to describe that kind of hunger. On a few occasions, I was tempted to call my mum to send something to me but I decided against it. She was probably hungry at home too. 

    There was another time my department said we needed laptops. I didn’t give it much thought and only told my mum in passing. But I got a call from her, asking me to come home. When I got home, I found a  laptop on the bed. She said she got it on credit but didn’t mind as long as I had everything to succeed at school. 

    The guilt I felt was a little overwhelming. It wasn’t only about the laptop but also about the other weight she was carrying. I knew how hard she was working to make sure things didn’t break. I was close to tears the day I found out that she trekked the 40-minute distance between home and work sometimes. 

    53,965 Black Mom And Daughter Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock

    Whenever I complained about how hard she was working, she would smile and say “You have to go to school, so I have to do it.”

    ***

    My mum is earning about ₦37k now, which is still considerably less than what she should be earning. When she got the job, they promised to review her salary every year. But the sister who hired her left and the new one couldn’t care less about welfare. 

    I don’t understand why people have a distaste for people living with a disability. I don’t think the hospital treats her fairly. She was passed over for a HOD position that opened up not long ago. She was qualified for the role and they actually said it was hers. But later, they went back on the promise. They repeated the same thing she had heard over the years — she was living with a disability and may not be able to do the job efficiently. 

    I really want her to leave the job, but I can’t ask her to quit while I’m still in school. I’m in the first year of my HND program now, so I haven’t figured it out yet. 

    My mum is the strongest woman I know and she deserves better. I’m going to make it happen for her. I could never repay her for everything she has done for me. But a good place to start is setting up a large soft drink depot for her soon and getting her all the support staff she needs. In another version of the future, I see myself relocating to another country and taking her with me. 

    As for my dad, I’ll admit that things would be relatively easier if he was in my life. But he didn’t stick with me or my mum when it mattered the most. He chose his family, and it wasn’t us. It’s fine. I can live with that. 

    Editor’s note: This story was originally published on June 24, 2021.

  • Volume 139

    In partnership with

    Ask Aunty M with Reni

    I’m a student and fashion designer. I’m married with two kids and currently have no source of income. My husband provides, but I need more. I pity him, so I tend to manage my resources, but I need more and want more for my kids. I’m tired, confused, and don’t know what to do with my life. – Bisi, 23

    Hi Bisi. Understandably, you feel a little overwhelmed as you’re balancing a lot. It’s great that you want to have your own money and contribute to the household — I’m a big advocate for that. Here are some steps I would follow:

    First, look into your strengths and opportunities to make money in your field. I know you’re a student, and a full-time job may only be feasible after you graduate, but you are also a fashion designer. Can you monetise this passion by doing freelance work or selling your designs online? You must set clear goals for yourself and your business if you want to start making extra money.

    Second, speak to your husband about how you are feeling. You never know…he could think that the amount he is giving you is sufficient because you are managing it and not voicing how you feel. You are married, and communication is key. Try to have an open discussion about your financial needs and whether he can provide more support or support you in taking steps to increase your own income.

    Third, seek counsel. You mentioned that you don’t know what to do with your life. Is this from the fatigue of managing school, work, home and children? Or is there simply nothing you’re interested in pursuing? Motherhood is hard, and sometimes, being able to take a break, rest, and talk to a third party will leave you feeling recharged and energised to start again. You’ve got this.

    Xoxo,

    Reni

    Where The Money At?!

    We can’t say we’re about the money and not actually help you find the money.

    So we’ve compiled a list of job opportunities for you. Make sure you share this with anyone who might need it because in this community, we look out for each other.

    Again, don’t mention. We gatchu.

    Share this newsletter

    All good things must come to an end. But not this good thing. We’ll be back next week.

    In the
    meantime, keep reading Zikoko’s articles and be sure to share the love.

    See you next week…

    Yours cashly,

    Toheeb,

    Zikoko’s “OG” Mr. Money

    Did someone awesome send this to you?

    Subscribe to this Newsletter

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  • Volume 138

    In partnership with

    Ask Aunty M with Reni

    Hi Reni. I just started earning way better than I did, not very much but it’s good (₦270k). I stay in Benin, I don’t make a lot of expenses except food and clearing debts which hopefully I’ll finish this month. It’s almost year end, and I need to start saving/investing and I plan to invest a huge chunk of it. But the thing is, I want to invest for the short term because of my rent due at the start of 2025. Plus, I’ll be moving to Lagos soon. I don’t know how to go about such deals. Most times investments are long term, which isn’t a priority right now. But I also don’t want to let my money sit idle in naira. What do you advise? – Hadassah, 26

    Hi Hadassah, congratulations on earning more! It’s a great start. Thankfully your expenses are low so now you can put a large portion of your income towards debt and become debt free. This will free up a lot of your income towards your short and long term goals.

    You need to get clear on your goals. Rent is a short term goal that you need to achieve – how much is rent going to be and how much do you currently have? Put away a set amount of money in a US domiciled savings account until you reach your goal. I would suggest that you focus on saving for the short term rather than investing for the short term. You can put it in a high interest account.

    More importantly, your expenses will rise when you move from Benin to Lagos. Account for this and don’t choose your rental home based on what you can currently afford, base it on what your overall expenses will look like when you’ve moved to a higher cost of living city.

    I hope this helps.

    Xoxo,

    Reni

    Where The Money At?!

    We can’t say we’re about the money and not actually help you find the money.

    So we’ve compiled a list of job opportunities for you. Make sure you share this with anyone who might need it because in this community, we look out for each other.

    Again, don’t mention. We gatchu.

    Share this newsletter

    All good things must come to an end. But not this good thing. We’ll be back next week.

    In the
    meantime, keep reading Zikoko’s articles and be sure to share the love.

    See you next week…

    Yours cashly,

    Toheeb,

    Zikoko’s “OG” Mr. Money

    Did someone awesome send this to you?

    Subscribe to this Newsletter

    <

  • Volume 137

    In partnership with

    Where The Money At?!

    We can’t say we’re about the money and not actually help you find the money.

    So we’ve compiled a list of job opportunities for you. Make sure you share this with anyone who might need it because in this community, we look out for each other.

    Again, don’t mention. We gatchu.

    Share this newsletter

    All good things must come to an end. But not this good thing. We’ll be back next week.

    In the
    meantime, keep reading Zikoko’s articles and be sure to share the love.

    See you next week…

    Yours cashly,

    Toheeb,

    Zikoko’s “OG” Mr. Money

    Did someone awesome send this to you?

    Subscribe to this Newsletter

    <

  • Volume 136

    In partnership with

    Share this newsletter

    All good things must come to an end. But not this good thing. We’ll be back next week.

    In the
    meantime, keep reading Zikoko’s articles and be sure to share the love.

    See you next week…

    Yours cashly,

    Toheeb,

    Zikoko’s “OG” Mr. Money

    Did someone awesome send this to you?

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  • Volume 135

    In partnership with

    Where The Money At?!

    We can’t say we’re about the money and not actually help you find the money.

    So we’ve compiled a list of job opportunities for you. Make sure you share this with anyone who might need it because in this community, we look out for each other.

    Again, don’t mention. We gatchu.

    Share this newsletter

    All good things must come to an end. But not this good thing. We’ll be back next week.

    In the
    meantime, keep reading Zikoko’s articles and be sure to share the love.

    See you next week…

    Yours cashly,

    Toheeb,

    Zikoko’s “OG” Mr. Money

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    Subscribe to this Newsletter

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  • The first Naira Life episode dropped in February 2019, and since then, we’ve published a new story every Monday, giving you an unfiltered peek into how Nigerians truly move money. Through these stories, we’ve sparked honest, critical conversations and helped countless people get a better grip on their finances.

    Now, we have some exciting news for you. Zikoko is bringing you more of Naira Life in a way we’ve never done before. 

    These stories are powerful, so what if we gathered everyone who, in different ways, knows a thing or two about money — from everyday Nigerians to experts — to share their stories and insights and teach you how to unlock your own “unbelievable liquidity”?

    That’s exactly what we’re doing this August! 

    We’re calling it “The Naira Life Conference” — a financial event for everyone keen on optimising their wealth-building knowledge and sharpening their strategies.

    The Naira Life Conference will bring together wealth builders, entrepreneurs, financial leaders, and everyday Nigerians to share their experiences with earning, managing, and spending money. You’ll hear from career experts, tech founders, CEOs, investors, and more — people who have truly mastered their Naira Life.

    What to Expect at The Naira Life Conference

    You think about money a lot. Maybe you even worry about it sometimes. This event will give you a front-row seat to how people like you (and those you aspire to be) think about money.

    The Naira Life Conference will feature four dynamic content tracks that cover all of these elements:

    • Personal Finance: Dive into honest conversations about budgeting, saving, and making daily money decisions, anchored by real-life experiences and practical solutions.
    • Balance Sheet: Unpack the realities of running a business in Nigeria, from navigating funding to mastering cash flow, with insights from entrepreneurs who have thrown their hats in the ring.
    • Building Wealth: Demystify investments across stocks, real estate, crypto, and more, offering actionable strategies to grow your Naira sustainably.
    • Career Growth: Master the essentials for playing in today’s job market, with insights on skill development, job search strategies, and career advancement.

    You should also expect:

    • Conversations and immersive workshops that hand you a playbook for building real wealth.
    • Agony aunt sessions to answer your anonymous money questions and career dilemmas.
    • Business and career growth workshops and panel discussions.
    • Network with fellow attendees, experts, and even representatives from your favourite companies.

    Ultimately, you’ll leave The Naira Life Conference with:

    • Personal clarity about your financial challenges and exact steps to overcome them.
    • A strong sense of community, knowing you’re connected to a tribe that’s navigating similar financial paths.
    • Actionable insights that you can implement as soon as you get home.

    What Happens Now?

    The Naira Life Conference will be held in Lagos on August 8, 2025. Mark your calendars!

    And here’s the best part: early bird tickets are available for a limited time right now, with 30% off during salary week!

    Get your tickets now at 30% off

    Let everyone know that Naira Life is coming! Spread the word using #TheNairaLifeCon. We can’t wait to see you there!

    Stay updated by following us on social media, and share this link with your network: The Naira Life Conference.

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  • Volume 134

    Happy Salary Week 🤑

    I come bearing some exciting news. You stick with us every week, so we wanted you to be among the first to know about something huge we’ve been cooking up.

    For six years, Naira Life has been your window into how Nigerians earn, spend, and manage their money. We’ve sparked crucial conversations and helped countless people understand their finances. Now, we’re taking things up a notch.

    Introducing The Naira Life Con: Zikoko’s First Personal Finance and Wealth Building Event!

    We’re bringing together the most interesting voices — from wealth builders and financial experts to entrepreneurs — for rich stories and insights about personal finance, building lasting wealth, and supercharging your career growth.

    Expect bold conversations, immersive workshops, and content tracks that hand you a playbook for building real wealth. You’ll leave with clarity on your finances, a strong sense of belonging to a tribe that “gets it,” and a renewed sense of confidence about your financial future.

    The Naira Life Con will be held in Lagos on August 8, 2025. And because you’re here: early bird tickets are available right now, exclusively for salary week at a 30% discount!

    *This offer is only for a limited time.

    Get your early bird tickets here

    Spread the word and share this link with your network: The Naira Life Con

    In this letter:

    #NairaLife: This Social Media Hustler Went From ₦100k/Month to $3k in 5 Years. How?

    The 31-year-old in this #NairaLife lasted two years in the corporate life before he decided it wasn’t for him. His decision worked out.

    Freelancing has helped him increase his income by over 400% in five years. Now, he wants to increase his risk appetite.

    This is his #NairaLife

    Obiex is built for people who move fast. Buy, sell, or swap BTC, USDT, and NGNX instantly. No waiting for confirmation. No fees. Just tap, swap, done.

     

    Click here to get started!

    This Tech Sis Earns ₦750k/Month, but Her Partner Will Never Know

    *Laura (31) and *Darryl’s (33) whirlwind romance started unexpectedly, but Laura has always kept a clear head regarding money in the relationship.

    For #LoveCurrency, she shares why she’ll never tell Darryl how much she earns and why she isn’t bothered about their future.

    Read the full story here

    Who says premium phones are for big spenders only?

    Subscribe to a plan and spread payment across 24 months with Altmobile today.

     

    Explore plans here

    “I Hit $80k, Crashed Below Zero, Then Built My Way Back” — An Artist’s Wild Ride Through Digital Art, NFTs and Sculpture

    In 2022, Anthony Azekwoh had made over $80k selling digital art at the peak of the NFT boom. Then one day, he crashed below zero.

    Here’s how he rebuilt from scratch, creating a thriving, sustainable art business in a fast-changing creative economy.

    Read the full story

    You’ve figured out survival—now it’s time to unlock growth. Join 1,000+ Nigerians at The Naira Life Con by Zikoko for a day of real, raw conversations. Are you scaling your hustle, building a business, or chasing financial freedom? This is where stories meet strategy.

    Expect powerful panels, top-tier speakers, and the community support you need to stack, scale and sustain wealth.

    Get a ticket now at 30% off!

    Ask Aunty M with Reni

    I’m a lawyer and work as a legal and compliance officer for a finance company. My monthly income is ₦640,000. I have side incomes from CAC, legal consulting and the like that bring about ₦100-₦150k monthly, but this is not steady. While I have a good savings culture, I’m afraid I don’t have emergency funds, and I also don’t know if my savings are commensurate with what I earn. Mind you, I have spent the past two years preparing for grad school in the US, and I honestly believe that is the next step forward for my career. In 2022, I saved about ₦4 million, which is down about ₦2.5 million. The rest went into paying for transcripts, LSAC, my parents’ hospital bills, etc. However, I’m sure that that amount should triple between now and next year’s fall. I save ₦300k monthly from my earnings, and I don’t know if that amount should double. I also have some investments here and there in the money market, commercial paper, real estate, shares, and dollar fixed deposits — this should be about half a million. I also want to improve oan this. I used to have self-sponsored health insurance but stopped when they failed to pay for my new glasses. It felt like I was dashing money to people who didn’t care about me. How do I have emergency savings separate from my regular savings? Also, do I need to do better with my savings? I’m the first child; although the black tax is there, it is not a must. I give what I can when I can. – Sugar, 28

    Hi Sugar, thanks for writing in. Congrats on your job and your great salary + side hustles. You are very thoughtful about your finances and your life, so kudos.

    The first step would be to house your emergency savings separately from all your other money. You already know how to save; you just need to have all your savings goals in separate accounts to track how much you have to reach your goal accurately. I gather that your priorities are an emergency fund, a black tax fund, and a grad school/japa fund. I suggest opening a high-interest account for each of these and contributing to them monthly. This way, if hospital bills pop up, you won’t be taking from your grad school funds to help out. You may want to consider saving in dollars for things like your grad school fund because of the devaluation of the Naira.

    You also asked if ₦300k is enough to save. Only you can answer that because it depends on your goals and the timeframe they need to be achieved. ₦300k is an amazing amount if you want to save ₦3.6m in a year, but if you need to save ₦5m in a year, it’s not.

    So, I want you to work backwards…what are your financial goals? How long do you have to save up for them? Once you know that, you can calculate how much you need to save toward each goal to reach your goals. Also, remember to account for your expenses.

    I hope this helps.

    Xoxo,

    Reni

    Where The Money At?!

    We can’t say we’re about the money and not actually help you find the money.

    So we’ve compiled a list of job opportunities for you. Make sure you share this with anyone who might need it because in this community, we look out for each other.

    Again, don’t mention. We gatchu.

    Share this newsletter

    All good things must come to an end. But not this good thing. We’ll be back next week.

    In the
    meantime, keep reading Zikoko’s articles and be sure to share the love.

    See you next week…

    Yours cashly,

    Toheeb,

    Zikoko’s “OG” Mr. Money

    Did someone awesome send this to you?

    Subscribe to this Newsletter

    <