Money by Zikoko
Posts
Naira Life Vol 157

Naira Life Vol 157

Also: This #NairaLife of a shoemaker

Toheeb Lanlehin
November 03, 2025

Volume 157

In partnership with

Happy New Month🌞

Not everyone starts from the same place. For some, ambition has a cushion. For others, it’s just a fragile thing they hold on to, waiting for something — or someone — to make it real. A lot of times, this shift is random.

In 2021, one of the subjects in this dispatch was cleaning offices and saving every naira to chase a university dream that felt out of reach. Four years later, she’s graduating with a first-class in Mathematics because she kept showing up, and strangers on the internet showed up for her, too.

It’s an incredibly heartwarming story. Let’s jump in.

Random, a quick PSA: did you know Zikoko also covers events and brand activations? We bring your brand moments to life with our signature storytelling voice and cultural credibility, capturing the vibe, amplifying your story, and connecting it with the audience that cares.

Want to work with us? Fill out this form to explore Zikoko’s event coverage or other advertorial options.

In this letter:

The #NairaLife of a Shoemaker Trying to Survive on ₦30k/Month
I Tweeted About My Cleaning Job. The Internet Sent Me to University.
How to Ask for a Raise in Nigeria, According to HR Professionals
Ask Aunty M
Where The Money At?!

The #NairaLife of a Shoemaker Trying to Survive on ₦30k/Month

The 24-year-old in this #NairaLife learned shoemaking to pass the time during an ASUU strike. While it’s now his primary source of income, it doesn’t exactly pay the bills yet.

For that to happen, he must figure out how to scale his business and decide what he wants to do with life.

Read his #NairaLife

Join hundreds of winners for a chance to win millions of Naira in prizes in our ReferIN and Win Promo, running until Nov 1, 2025. Refer 2+ people to sign up on InvestNaija using your referral code for a chance to qualify for the draw

Join now!

I Tweeted About My Cleaning Job. The Internet Sent Me to University.

In 2021, Adun was a cleaner saving every naira to chase her dream of attending university.

Four years later, she’s walking out with a first-class in Mathematics and an uplifting story of how strangers on the internet became her biggest cheerleaders. Read how she did it here

How to Ask for a Raise in Nigeria, According to HR Professionals

If you’ve ever hesitated to ask for a raise because you fear rejection or labels like “greedy,” this one’s for you.

Two Nigerian HR professionals share the real-world strategies that can make your next salary raise conversation successful. Read here.

Ask Aunty M with Reni

I'm really tired of adulthood; it's like I am not getting it right. I'm tired of earning a really low salary. I currently work as a Sales Executive and my basic salary is not up to ₦200k. I earn more with commissions, but they aren’t constant. I've tried several things, and it just seems like I'm not getting it right. Please kindly assist, I just want to earn a huge amount and be able to afford the necessary things. Thank you.- Eden, 28

Hi Eden. Sorry to hear this. I understand, adulting can be the ghetto. The good thing is that you have a skill in high demand and one that many people struggle with (me included). If you’re tired of the status quo, your earning power needs to increase, and you have to take steps to make this happen, not just hope and pray it will.

The first thing you can do is to upskill and job-hop into a new industry. You can do sales across several industries, and tech is one of the ones where people can make big money. Take time to get technical knowledge and then update your resume to reflect that you are knowledgeable in both sales and data analytics, for example. This is where a salary climb is easy. I like this option because it doesn’t require you to completely retrain in order to make more money. Also, remember that Nigeria is not your only market. You can work for a firm abroad and earn a substantial income.

Another suggestion is to transition into a completely different role. Often, I see salespeople who have 2-3 years of experience transitioning out of this field and moving into account management, business development, or corporate sales. Salaries can be much higher here.

Also, I believe you will benefit from mentorship. Find a sales executive (or past sales executive) you respect and learn about their career path. Ask them questions, and they will offer guidance to help your dilemma. They have walked in your shoes before and can offer a roadmap to get out.

I'm really rooting for you.

Xoxo, Reni

If you're here, you probably have a money or work dilemma. Ask your question and we'll figure out an actionable solution for you.

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.