Naira Life Volume 174

Good Morning, 🌞

“Only 17% of Nigerian couples split expenses equally.”

That stat tells you something: equality in relationships might be the ideal, but it’s rarely the reality.

Last year, Zikoko set out to answer one key question: How are Nigerians navigating modern relationships? The first step was deploying a survey to gather responses. Over 10,000 people responded. Then the team combed through the data to draw the most useful insights. And now, here we are.

Beyond the obvious, the report also explores how financial realities, factors and expectations shape relationships. Who wields the power? Who holds the leverage? What do financial arrangements reveal about modern love, really?

I thought it was a super revealing body of work. I think you’ll too. Check out the State of Love Report here.

In this letter:

• #NairaLife: Gambling Has Led Him to Prison Three Times. Still, He Can’t Stop
• Love Currency: “I’m a Heavy Saver, but He’s an Impulse Spender
• I Studied Computer Science to Land a Tech Job That May Never Come
• Where The Money At?!

The 28-year-old teacher in this #NairaLife has been captive to a gambling addiction for 10 years. What started as a way to make money has cost him millions of naira and led to several run-ins with the law. He’s desperately searching for a way out.

But how did he get here?

Saving doesn’t stop life from happening.

When things come up, Carbon doesn’t force you to choose between progress and survival. Your locked savings keep growing, and you can use it as collateral to access a loan at just 3% interest.

It’s saving, built different so you can move different.

Tonia* (23) and Francis* (25) have been together since July 2025. For #LoveCurrency, Tonia talks about their different money habits, how they’re navigating a long-distance relationship and their plans to bridge the distance between them.

Get the full gist here

We've been telling relatable stories about how Nigerians earn, save and spend their money for years, and now we'll have a dedicated platform for more honest and open conversations about money.

Our promise is simple: No fancy jargon, just the information and clarity you need to make confident financial decisions!

A computer science degree was supposed to be Ohunene’s (26) ticket to a tech career.

Four years after uni, she is teaching full-time, while trying to rebuild her future in a crowded job market.