Everyone grows up dreaming of the life they’ll 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 Zikoko’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 they’d be able to afford by now but can’t.

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

“I thought I’d be flying internationally, but I can barely afford fuel.” — Deborah*, F, 23, Earns ₦70k – ₦100k. 

I’ve always dreamed of flying internationally; Dubai, London, France, and other places I imagined I’d be able to take my family to by now. But those things aren’t possible due to the country’s economic situation.

I’ve been job hunting since I finished NYSC this year, and the most I’ve gotten is an unpaid auditing internship. Sometimes my boss will give me ₦20k or ₦30k to treat myself, but that’s about it. I’m still on a ₦75k parental allowance, and if not for the fact that I live at home and they gave me a car, I wouldn’t 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 I’d have been sipping wine in France when even interstate travel is too expensive.

“I can’t afford love.” —  Benedict*, M, 25, Earns ₦100k.

I always thought I’d 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, I’m glad we did because I couldn’t afford the relationship. I was ashamed that I couldn’t regularly take her on dates, get her nice things, or even drive her places because I don’t have a car. It’s so embarrassing to be sneaking my girlfriend into my parents’ house at the age of 25. I feel better now that I don’t have that obligation to her anymore. Isn’t that sad?

I don’t want to work in corporate Nigeria because it’s 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.

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

“I’m terrified for what comes next.” — Alice*, F, 21, Earns ₦20k.

I’ve 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 I’ve 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 haven’t 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, I’ve 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 don’t think they’re earning enough for the work they do. Will that be me as well? I don’t like thinking about it.

I can’t afford to leave my abuse.” —  Wunmi*, F, 22, Earns ₦50k.

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

I understand that I’m 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; that’s all I want. 

I’m 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 didn’t 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 I’ve seen in books. 

But Nigeria isn’t a novel or some fantasy. I finished my youth service four months ago, and I’m currently interning at a lab. Thanks to the savings I managed to put together during NYSC, and my very strict budget, I’m able to get by, but barely. It feels like if I want to make more money, I need to have money already, which I don’t.

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 didn’t 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.

I’ve 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 don’t 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 I’ll still have to pay for other things. It’s such a terrible situation, and every time I come home, I’m 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 I’m leaving.

I’m looking for an additional job, but it’s hard to find. 

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

I’m 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 isn’t much, but it also counts as an allowance and helps me get by.

I’ve always wanted an iPad. I had this idea that by my 22nd birthday, I’d finally have enough money to buy one. But with the way this year has gone, it’s 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, shouldn’t things be a little better for a Nigerian?”

I know I’m still young, and I’m grateful for where I am. I also know that this time next year, I’ll probably have my iPad and more. But right now, it’s frustrating to keep working and still feel like I can’t afford the things I’ve worked for.

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

I love cars, and I’ve 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 haven’t 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 I’m 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 I’ve failed. I still live with my dad, and while he isn’t complaining, I want to make him proud.

Meanwhile, I’ve had to put my car dream on pause. I take keke (tricycles) everywhere, and there’s one particular keke driver who usually picks me up. We’re friendly, so one time, he randomly asked me, “Madam, you live in that nice estate, and you don’t 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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