In this special edition, we ask professionals about the common stereotypes around their jobs and celebrate the hard work they put in to win their daily bread. #AWeekInTheLife
“A Week in the Life” is a weekly Zikoko series that explores the working-class struggles of Nigerians. It captures the very spirit of what it means to hustle in Nigeria and puts you in the shoes of the subject for a week.
When Renike Olusanya got her first commission to paint a portrait for ₦25k, she didn’t realise her life was about to change. Now, she looks back at her journey as an artist and tells Zikoko about her work-life balance and how she deals with troublesome clients. #AWeekInTheLife
For this #AweekInTheLife, @jobosonchisa tells Zikoko about his design process, how he got his first million as a brand designer, his frustrations negotiating with clients and why he’s no longer choosing “vawulence” on design Twitter.
18-year-old Susan* is learning to sew to keep herself busy during the ASUU strike. But in Nigeria, apprentices are at the mercy of their bosses. Find out why tailors lie and how she’s making the best of the ASUU strike in this week in her life.
9 hours every day, Uche Uka* sells food from behind a counter, while evading stern managers. At the fast food restaurant she works, resting is against the rules. But after 2 years of thankless service for ₦40k a month, she wants better from life
For nine hours every day, 26-year-old Daisy* calls 180 loan defaulters to get them to pay up their debts. But when she’s overlooked for a promotion after two years, she starts doing the bare minimum while she figures out her next career move.
After failing to get a job with his pharmacy degree, Nicholas* switched to content writing. Now on a ₦135k monthly salary, he’s tired of doing the same things every day. What’s an ideal future for him? To get crypto writing gigs that’ll make him a millionaire.
A woman who sells loans to Nigerian police officers walks us through the chaos of dealing with aggressive officers on a daily basis, why she dislikes the job and her plans for the future.
Today’s #AWeekInTheLife subject is a female painter thriving in a male-dominated industry. This means dealing with gender stereotypes and misbehaviour from male clients. One thing keeps her going though: her ambition to own a home in Lagos.
What’s it like to be a receptionist in Lagos? It involves a lot of patience. And in this week’s #AWeekInTheLife, a receptionist tells us about reporting co-workers who come late to work, dealing with snobbish callers and why she’s grateful for her job.
What’s it like to be a skincare formulator in Nigeria? For Happylyte, it means fighting with logistics drivers and dealing with dishonest suppliers. But she’s not taking her eyes off her ambition — to become a medical aesthetician someday.
The subject of this week’s #AWeekInTheLife is Hero Lewis, a maths teacher based in Port Harcourt. He talks about learning patience on the job, why he misses flogging students and the aspect of his job that brings him the most joy.
The subject of this week’s #AWeekInTheLife is a fitness coach. He tells us about his training regime, rigid personal diet and the fitness myths that make him scratch his head the most.
The subject of this week’s #AWeekInTheLife is Lola Salehu, a product designer. She tells us how she switched from coding to design, the intentional way she sees the world and the most important thing on her bucket list — to change her passport.
The subject of this week’s “A Week in the Life” sells gadgets at Computer Village. He tells us about the chaos of the Village and how he manages to stay faithful in a market infamous for dishonesty.
In 2014, this ghostwriter’s rate was ₦1 per word. 8 years later, she’s making 7 figures per project. Maybe one day she’ll release a book with her name but right now, she doesn’t care about recognition — as long as the pay is good. This is #AWeekInTheLife
In today’s #AWeekInTheLife we feature Samiat Salami, a textile designer who makes prints for ready-to-wear clothes and home decor. She explains her design process, the pains of running a global business in Nigeria & how hard it is to find plus-size models.
The subject of today’s #AWeekInTheLife is a massage therapist. He tells us about the stereotypes that plague his hustle, how he deals with sexual harassment but why he continues to love what he does anyway.
On today’s #AWeekInTheLife, we feature Efe Edosio, a video producer. He talks about dealing with difficult clients who keep changing their minds, why he has no side hustle and what it’ll take to get him to 10/10 in career satisfaction.
Chidera Nwagu is a content creator for three Abuja nightclubs. What’s it like to meet Abuja “big boys”, fend off creepy men and deal with sexism in the nation’s capital? Find out in this week’s #AWeekInTheLife
The subject of today’s #AWeekInThe Life is an Abuja-based IELTS tutor. She talks about her struggles with teaching proud adults, Nigerians who think they shouldn’t write IELTS and why she loves her job so much regardless.
Today’s #AWeekInTheLife subject is a computer technician in Uyo who sells Ewa Agoyin as a side hustle. He discusses his struggles as a technician who studied computer science, how he started a side business cooking beans and why his Ewa Agoyin always bangs.
The subject of today’s #AWeekInTheLife is a medical doctor, but she quit her job to sell perfumes and scented candles. Today, she explains how she makes her fragrances, why she quit her job and the beauty of being in control of her time.
The subject of today’s #AWeekintheLife is the caretaker of a hostel close to a university which houses 45 self-con rooms. He talks about managing difficult tenants, why he prefers this job over his last, and his dream to japa one day.
The subject of today’s “A Week in the Life” studied animal science in university but now plans weddings for a living in South East Nigeria. She explores the challenges of dealing with Nigerians who love to party and why she loves her job so much.
Ajumoke Nwaeze won Star Quest in 2008 and got into the Nigerian Idol finals in 2011. Then she dropped out of the competition. In today’s #AWITL, she reflects on the burden of popularity, writing JAMB 6 times & her switch from singing to a writing career.
Today, on A Week in the Life, 23-year-old Uchenna Nnabuguwu tells us about reading 100 books a year, finding a community of booklovers on Instagram and how he makes money from sharing his love for books on #bookstagram.
The subject of today’s “A Week in the Life” got his first Nollywood screenwriting gig on the same day he quit his old job. Now, he juggles multiple writing projects at once and argues and why Nigerians need to calm down when criticising Nollywood.
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