Naira Life Vol 187

Good Morning, 🌞

The Naira Life Conference is less than two months away. ⏳

The best time to secure a seat was yesterday. The second best time to do so is right now.

On 22 August, 2026 at the Jewel Aeida, Lagos, we're gathering the country’s sharpest finance experts, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and audacious thinkers for a full day of honest conversations around this year's conference theme: #AllAboutWealth.

Instead of trying to figure out how to build real, sustainable wealth on your own, you’ll get to sit in the room, connect with experts, and get practical, real-life insights on how to diversify your income streams and build real financial security.

Early-bird tickets are still available: use code 20NAIRA at checkout for an extra 10% off. N.B: This offer is only available for a limited number of tickets!

Get your ticket here and stay up to date with event information.

In this letter:

• #NairaLife: He Dropped Out of Uni at 17 to Code. Now He Makes $10k/Month
• A Week in the Life of a Locum Pharmacy Technician
• I Went From ₦80k to a £65k UK Job, but I’m Still Battling Black Tax
• Ask Aunty M: I’m Hardworking, but My Efforts Don’t Match the Reward
• Where The Money At?!

At 17, today’s #NairaLife subject faked a university semester result to convince his parents to get on board with his plan to drop out. At 22, he is a Chief Product Officer earning $10k/month.

Despite his success, his relationship with money is completely defined by intense anxiety. How’s he dealing with this?

There is a window of time between seeing a massive opportunity and watching it pass you by. Usually, it’s not because you weren't ready. It’s just that the timing didn't cooperate with your cash flow.

But life moves too fast to wait for perfect alignment.

Carbon gives you up to ₦2 million instantly, with no paperwork parades or long talk. Because the only thing worse than a missed opportunity is knowing you had the play right, but let money get in the way.

Grace*, 31, is a pharmacy technician in Lagos who works a government job while picking up shifts across hospitals and pharmacies.

She talks to us about the financial realities of locum work, how much she earns, how she balances exhaustion with survival, and her dream of saving enough to japa. This is her life in one week

The Naira Life Conference is returning on August 22, 2026, in Lagos! Show up ready to learn from finance experts, business owners and industry leaders, and partake in unfiltered conversations about building wealth sustainably.

Real stories, expert advice you can actually use, and a community ready to build wealth together.

Use code 20NAIRA at checkout for an extra 10% off early-bird tickets.

Six years ago, Ima* (27) earned ₦80k/month. Today, she’s a product manager in the UK earning £65k/year. Despite earning more than ever, her relocation has triggered an era of strict budgeting and radical money boundaries.

In this story, she shares her income growth trajectory, how she’s navigating corporate UK as an immigrant, and why she is aggressively cutting down her black tax to protect her financial future.

Hi. Money has been a constant weight on my mind. I’m a shoemaker and a master’s graduate trying to build something meaningful from the ground up, but it’s been hard. My craft depends on pre-orders, so when customers are few, there’s basically no income. It’s frustrating because I know I’m talented and hardworking, but it often feels like effort doesn’t match reward.
Financially, I’m at a point where even small needs feel heavy; things like fixing my phone or buying materials can throw my whole week off balance. Living with my parents helps in some ways, but it also comes with pressure and guilt, especially when I can’t contribute the way I’d like to. Money has affected my confidence, too. I avoid outings or opportunities that cost, and sometimes I just withdraw because I don’t want to explain why I can’t afford things. It hasn’t killed my dreams, but it’s tested my hope more times than I can count. Still, I’m holding on and trying to believe this phase won’t last forever. - Praise, 24

Hi Praise. Thank you for being so open with me. I’m truly sorry you’re feeling this way, but please don’t give up. This is a season, not a final destination.

Here is how we can tackle this:

Business side:

Your priority right now is visibility. Since the pre-order model depends on an audience, you need to own your story loudly.

- Document the Craft: Show the leather, the stitching, and the transformation. Also, include sharing your previous customers' stories. A master’s graduate who handcrafts shoes is a powerful identity. Lean into that on TikTok and Instagram.

- Adjacent Income: Explore high-traffic, low-barrier services like a "Shoe & Bag Repair" stall at weddings. It’s a genius way to get eyes on your brand, fix immediate mishaps, and take pre-orders on the spot.

- Monetize Knowledge: Consider teaching your craft to fill financial gaps between production cycles.

On the emotional side, know this: You are not your bank account. Don’t let what is happening financially shrink you and your confidence. Still go out, be with friends (the good kind), engage in conversations, that’s how you get into rooms, ideas, get into rooms and also feel better. Living with your parents while building isn’t failure; it’s a strategic first chapter that has been used by some of the world’s best founders.

Keep going. Tighten the model, build the crowd, and protect your confidence fiercely. I’m rooting for you.

Xoxo, Mo

• 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.