According to the World Economic Forum鈥檚 , around 170 million new jobs are expected to be created globally by 2030, while 92 million existing roles will disappear. Entire clusters of roles are shrinking, while others are expanding across industries, countries, and income levels.

The areas of work below sit within the fastest-growing careers identified by the World Economic Forum (WEF), and companies are already hiring for them, but early movers still have an edge.

Data, AI, and Analytical Roles

One of the fastest-growing job families globally

1. Big Data Specialists

As companies digitise their operations, from payments to logistics, data has become a core business asset. Big Data Specialists work at scale, analysing massive datasets to uncover patterns, forecast demand, and guide strategy.

How to break in:
Start with foundational tools like Excel, SQL, and Google Analytics. Platforms like Coursera and DataCamp offer beginner paths. You don鈥檛 need a computer science degree; you need analytical thinking and evidence of problem-solving.

2. Data Analysts

While Big Data Specialists often work at the infrastructure or strategy level, Data Analysts translate raw data into insights decision-makers can use. The WEF considers analytical thinking as one of the most valuable skills across all roles, not just technical ones.

How to break in:
Master Excel, then move into Power BI or Tableau. Build case studies around real datasets. Nigerian companies hire data analysts across telecoms, retail, finance, and healthcare.

3. AI and Machine Learning Specialists

AI adoption is no longer experimental. From customer support to fraud detection, machine learning systems are being embedded into everyday operations. The WEF ranks AI-related roles among the fastest-growing worldwide.

How to break in:
Learn Python, then explore machine learning fundamentals through courses like or Start with small projects that show practical understanding.

Software, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure

Technology roles now account for over half of the fastest-growing jobs

4. Software and Application Developers

Every industry now runs on software. Developers build the apps, platforms, and systems that power modern business, making this one of the most consistently in-demand roles globally.

How to break in:
Choose a focus 鈥� web or mobile development. Use free platforms like freeCodeCamp or . Build a small but solid portfolio and showcase your work on GitHub.

5. FinTech Engineers

The WEF highlights fintech engineering as a key growth area, particularly in emerging markets. In Nigeria, digital payments, lending, and banking infrastructure continue to scale rapidly.

How to break in:
Start with general software development, then specialise in payment APIs, financial systems, or blockchain. Internships and entry-level roles at fintech startups offer strong entry points.

6. Cybersecurity Specialists

As digital systems expand, so do vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity has shifted from a support function to a strategic priority, with demand driven by regulation, data protection, and rising cybercrime.

How to break in:
Begin with certifications like or free courses. Learn network fundamentals and ethical hacking. Certifications can compensate for non-traditional backgrounds.

Green Economy and Sustainability

Climate transition is now a major driver of job creation

7. Renewable Energy Engineers

The WEF identifies the green transition as one of the most significant employment drivers this decade. In Nigeria, unreliable power supply makes renewable energy skills especially valuable, making this one of the fastest-growing careers that’ll dominate by 2030.

How to break in:
Engineers can upskill through courses in solar PV systems, battery storage, or wind power. Organisations like offer local training programmes.

8. Environmental Engineers

These roles focus on managing waste, pollution, water systems, and environmental compliance 鈥� areas that are becoming increasingly regulated globally.

How to break in:
Engineering degrees are common, but environmental science graduates can enter through certifications like (EIA) or .

9. Sustainability Specialists

Beyond engineering, companies need professionals who can translate environmental goals into operational strategy, from carbon accounting to ESG reporting.

How to break in:
Pair any degree with sustainability certifications. Experience with NGOs or environmental projects helps build credibility.

Care Economy and Social Infrastructure

Demand driven by demographics, not trends

10. Nursing Professionals

The WEF notes rising global demand for healthcare workers due to ageing populations and expanded access to care. Nigerian nurses are already benefiting from international demand, while local private healthcare continues to grow.

How to break in:
Accredited nursing programmes are essential. Specialisations like geriatric care, critical care, or mental health nursing are particularly in demand.

11. Social Workers and Counsellors

Mental health and social care roles are expanding as awareness grows and institutions respond. These roles are increasingly embedded in schools, workplaces, and NGOs.

How to break in:
Degrees in psychology, social work, or counselling are common entry points. Specialised certifications and volunteer experience strengthen applications.

Education and Knowledge Work

Human expertise remains irreplaceable

12. University and Higher Education Teachers

Despite automation, the WEF emphasises continued demand for educators, especially in youth-heavy countries like Nigeria and in online learning ecosystems.

How to break in:
Traditional universities require advanced degrees, but vocational and online education reward deep expertise and teaching ability.

Automation, Robotics, and Mobility

Technology replaces tasks, not entire professions

13. Robotics and Automation Engineers

Automation is reshaping manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture. The WEF states that automation is transforming tasks within jobs, rather than eliminating entire professions. 

How to break in:
Engineers can take short courses in robotics, automation, and control systems. Building small, demonstrable projects is key.

14. Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Specialists

Electrification and automation are transforming transport globally. While adoption varies by region, early expertise positions professionals for long-term demand.

How to break in:
Focus on electrical, mechanical, or electronics engineering, or hands-on EV maintenance and diagnostics as the ecosystem develops.

Product and Experience Design

As technology spreads, usability becomes critical

15. UX and Product Designers

The WEF highlights creative and human-centred roles as increasingly valuable alongside technical ones. Every digital product needs a great user experience to succeed. Products that fail to serve users don鈥檛 scale, making this one of the fastest-growing careers of the next decade.

How to break in:

Learn tools like Figma or Adobe XD. Build a portfolio through personal or speculative projects and freelance work.

The Skills You’ll Need to Thrive

The World Economic Forum identified the top 10 skills that will separate winners from losers in the next five years:

1. AI and Big Data Literacy: You don’t need to code AI, but you must understand how to use AI tools. Learn to work with ChatGPT, Claude, or industry-specific AI tools in your field.

2. Cybersecurity Awareness: Even if you’re not a cybersecurity specialist, basic knowledge of passwords, phishing, and data protection is now essential for every professional.

3. Creative Thinking: AI can’t replicate human creativity 鈥� yet. Learn to think differently, solve problems uniquely, and innovate. This skill is moving up the ranks fast.

4. Resilience and Adaptability: The only constant is change. Employers value people who can pivot when things don’t go as planned.

5. Curiosity and Lifelong Learning: 39% of your current skills will become outdated by 2030. Commit to learning continuously, whether through online courses, books, or mentors.

6. Leadership and Communication: As automation handles routine tasks, human skills like leadership, persuasion, and collaboration become more valuable.

7. Technological Literacy: Basic comfort with technology is non-negotiable. Learn productivity tools (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace), project management software (Trello, Asana), and communication platforms (Slack, Zoom).

8. Environmental Awareness: Understanding sustainability isn’t just for green jobs. Every company now considers its environmental impact, so knowing basic ESG principles helps.

9. Analytical Thinking: Data is everywhere. Being able to interpret information, spot trends, and make logical decisions based on evidence is gold.

10. Talent Management: If you want to move into management, learn how to coach, develop, and retain talent. People skills beat technical skills at senior levels.

How to Future-Proof Your Career Right Now

1. Identify Your Skills Gap

Look at the 15 fast-growing careers above. Which ones match your interests? Now look at the skills list. Where are you strong? Where are you weak? Be honest.

2. Invest in One High-Impact Skill This Quarter

Don’t try to learn everything at once. Pick one skill from the list above and commit to three months of focused learning. If you’re non-technical, start with data analysis or AI literacy. If you’re technical, add a human skill, such as leadership or creative thinking.

3. Leverage Free and Low-Cost Training

The report shows that 85% of employers are prioritising workforce training. Take advantage of that.

Many Nigerian companies also offer in-house training鈥攁sk your employer about upskilling programs.

4. Build Evidence of Your Skills

Degrees matter less than proof. Create a portfolio:

• Developers: GitHub profile with projects
• Designers: Behance or Dribbble portfolio
• Data Analysts: Case studies showing how you solved real problems
• Writers/Marketers: Published work or campaign results

5. Network in Growing Industries

Join professional groups on LinkedIn, attend industry meetups (virtual or physical), and follow Nigerian companies in these sectors. Many jobs are filled through referrals before they’re even posted.

6. Consider Adjacent Moves

You don’t have to switch careers entirely. Look for adjacent opportunities. If you’re in customer service, move into customer data analysis. If you’re in finance, explore fintech. Use your current skills as a bridge.

7. Stay Informed

Follow Nigerian tech and business news. Companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, Andela, and traditional giants like Dangote, MTN, and Access Bank are constantly hiring for these roles. Know who’s growing and where the opportunities are.

8. Don’t Wait for Permission

The report is clear: 11 out of every 100 workers won’t get the training they need from their employers. Don’t be one of them. Take charge of your own development.

The Bottom Line

These aren’t jobs that’ll materialise in 2030. They’re hiring now, and demand is accelerating through the next five to ten years. The question isn’t whether these fastest-growing careers will dominate; the data makes that clear, but whether you’ll position yourself to seize the opportunity.

The Nigerian job market is transforming. International companies are expanding here, local startups are scaling, and remote work means you can compete for global roles without leaving Nigeria. But only if you’re prepared.

The future of work isn’t coming. It’s here.

Also Read: This Consultant Went from Earning 鈧�183k/Month to 鈧�2.6m/Month in 5 years听

Today, Ayo runs a Canada-based photography brand specialising in portraits, family moments, and weddings, with gigs ranging from 700 to 1,500 CAD. He spoke with 91大神 about how he turned his passion project into a business.

How did you get into photography?

I moved to Canada in 2021 to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in healthcare administration. My study permit allowed me to work up to 20 hours per week off campus during term time. If I managed to work at least 15 hours, I earned around 300鈥�450 CAD weekly as a graduate research assistant.

I started photography to keep myself sane. Back in Nigeria, I was a traditional sketch artist and mobile photographer. Sketching takes a lot of time, so I couldn鈥檛 continue consistently in Canada. I turned to photography instead, taking random shots of landscapes and scenery with my phone just because it made me happy.

During the holidays after my first year, I decided to get into street photography. In the summer of 2022, I used my savings from my Research Assistant job鈥� about 1000 CAD 鈥� to buy a Sony A73 camera and a 50mm lens for about 1,000 CAD. It was all the money I had, and I wasn鈥檛 expecting it to turn into a business. But the interest and demand were there, so I ran with it.

By my second year, I was already making money from photography.

What were the early days like?

Social media gave me the visibility I needed, and I started posting my work on Instagram.. Initially, I focused on street photography and took online courses to enhance my editing skills. I didn鈥檛 even charge for the first shoots; I just wanted to get better. But the more I put my work out, the more people noticed, and my name began to spread.听

I bought the basics: batteries, lights, SD cards, a hard drive, a laptop, and editing software. In total, I spent a little over 2,000 CAD to get a more robust gear in the initial stages. 

When did it move from being 鈥渏ust pictures鈥� to something people wanted to pay you for?

It was about consistency and how seriously I took myself. I didn鈥檛 brand myself like I was听 鈥渏ust starting out.鈥� I put myself out there with conviction, and the quality of my work spoke for itself.

Do you remember the first time you got paid for a job?

It was a family shoot that I got through a referral in 2022. I charged 500 CAD. By the time I graduated in 2023, I was already known on campus as the 鈥減hotography guy鈥�. During my graduation, I shot about 10 other students and their families, each paying 300 CAD. That was when I realised this was bigger than a hobby.

How have you expanded since then?

I鈥檝e gone from shooting free street content to focusing on families, weddings, graduations, and maternity shoots. At first, I did a bit of everything, but I鈥檝e niched down to 鈥渉appy moments.鈥�

I鈥檝e grown my Instagram following to over 5,000 people. I charge about 1,500 CAD for weddings and around 700 CAD for birthdays, professional portraits, family, kids, and maternity shoots. I鈥檝e also added videography to my packages.

As the business grew, I reinvested in gear upgrades: a second camera, additional lighting equipment, tripods, camera bags, and even a drone. 

Can you walk us through your monthly income 鈥� a busy month versus a quiet one?

The income isn鈥檛 fixed. On a good month, I make up to 6,000 CAD. In slower months, the number drops to 2,500 to 3,000 CAD.听

The biggest factor is the number of clients I book and the type of shoots they need. Weddings, for example, pay more than portraits or birthdays, so the mix of jobs matters a lot. Although it fluctuates, it鈥檚 still a decent income overall, and it provides me with enough flexibility to balance it with my healthcare job.

Have you ever considered giving it up?

No. Photography keeps me sane. It makes me happy and helps me connect with people.

For someone who wants to turn photography into a business, what鈥檚 your money advice?

Photography is a huge investment. Be ready for your money to go straight back into gear and growth, especially at the beginning. My advice is: don鈥檛 rely on photography alone when you鈥檙e starting out. Have other sources of income.

The quality of your work, your consistency, and how you present yourself determine your success. It鈥檚 not easy, and you may or may not thrive immediately, but keep putting yourself out there. The payoff is worth it.

How does the business look for you now?

I鈥檓 still a one-man team. I鈥檓 in my second year of a three-year postgraduate work permit. In addition to photography, I work as a healthcare administrator, earning approximately 3,500 CAD per month. That salary can cover my bills, but photography is what fuels me.

One day, when the business grows enough, I may quit healthcare to do this full-time. For now, I balance both, but it鈥檚 the camera that genuinely makes me feel alive.

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As told to Aisha Bello

I remember the day in October 2020. I was hunched over a desk in Abuja, scrolling through my feed like everybody else. 

The Fintech had just been bought for $200 million. 

That figure glowed back at me, and my chest tightened.

At the time, I was earning 鈧�120k as a contract engineer at a smaller fintech, with only a Facebook Messenger bot I鈥檇 built to my name. About thirty people, mostly friends, used it to buy airtime or data.

But in that moment, I couldn鈥檛 stop thinking: If Paystack could make it, why can鈥檛 I?
The next morning, I typed my resignation letter, handed it in and walked away.

I was barely 21.

Early Ambitions & First Pivot

In 2016, I thought I鈥檇 be an electrical engineer. A few years later, I entered a polytechnic to study computer engineering, but I felt disconnected from the courses. I was restless, and by 2019, I dropped out.

My real education happened in a caf茅 where I worked as an operator and was paid 鈧�15k. With constant internet access, I taught myself HTML and CSS and contributed to open-source projects. By early 2020, the effort paid off, and I landed a 鈧�120k contract role through a partner company with Paga Technologies. It was my first real step into software engineering.

Then October 2020 happened. Stripe acquired Paystack for $200 million.

Something in me shifted that day, fueling a restless urge to build. After serving out my three weeks鈥� notice, I left the job and went all in on my little Messenger bot. I didn鈥檛 overthink it. All I knew was that I wanted to build something of my own.

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From Bot to Startup

After staying up late for months, iterating and tweaking features, I converted the bot into a web app called Gistabyte. 

Then I got the first win. In early 2021, I stumbled on an ad for Union Bank鈥檚 accelerator programme on Facebook. Out of curiosity, I applied.

This was my first taste of validation.

Around the same time, a mutual friend introduced me to someone who eventually became my co-founder. He鈥檇 seen what I was building and believed in it enough to join forces. By the end of the accelerator, Gistabyte, our scrappy little product, won 鈧�1.5 million in funding.

That money was everything.

Before then, I was running on fumes: vibes, my mum鈥檚 support, and stubborn faith. But with the grant, we could finally hire people, keep the lights on, and think beyond survival. It gave us hope and the courage to take the startup to the next level, and imagine it as more than a side project 鈥� the seed of what would eventually become

The Big Breakthrough

With that small financial cushion, I could travel to pitch and network. Many investors said no, and honestly, half the time we didn鈥檛 fully know what we were doing. However, one of our employees鈥� brothers believed in us enough to invest $10,000. A founder-friend added $5,000; later, an accelerator invested $50,000. Bit by bit, we raised around $300,000 by 2023. This runway helped us stay alive and scale.

The product itself went through several iterations. We started out as an airtime app. Then we tried to replicate everything was doing 鈥� free and peer-to-peer transfers using just an email, phone number, and password, along with other features that had proven successful. 

We made all transactions free and generated profit through airtime sales. We grew to about 5,000 users in no time, but the model proved unsustainable. On a good month, we made 鈧�1.5 million, but spent nearly 鈧�3 million just to stay afloat. We were growing, but bleeding cash.

The turning point happened in 2023, when we pivoted to . I realised how difficult it was for Nigerian entrepreneurs to open business accounts or collect payments, especially without CAC registration. Traditional banks made the process hell with endless documentation, references, and delays. But we figured out a faster way: by integrating with partner banks, we could open a business account in five minutes, not two days.

This pivot changed everything. Byte grew to over 20 employees, serving more than 20,000 businesses. Beyond accounts, we rolled out POS terminals, tools to help businesses scale, and access to loans. For the first time, we were building something that could last.

Most of our clients were Nigerian businesses transacting in naira, but because Byte was a Delaware-registered company, we reported in dollars for investors. At our peak, the platform handled transaction volumes worth millions of dollars monthly, while actual revenue hovered around $10k.

The Collapse

The model didn鈥檛 survive. Everything started to unravel in the last quarter of 2024.

On the surface, demand was strong; clients wanted what we had built. But scale came with compliance challenges and fraud. We were growing fast, burning through money, and attracting bad actors.

Some misrepresented themselves as legitimate businesses and used our platform to defraud others. For example, a fraudster might set up a fake company profile, process large transactions to appear credible, and then disappear with the customer’s funds. Others went further, registering with us using counterfeit documents and polished websites that appeared entirely legitimate, only to exploit our system for fake trades or payments that never reached consumers.

Whichever form it took, the fallout was the same: the responsibility and the financial hit came back to us. It became a crushing burden for a young company still trying to grow.

Fraud mitigation and compliance became our Achilles鈥� heel. And once it caught up with us, it was too late. By late 2024, we had no choice but to shut down the company鈥檚 operations.

All we could do was help the team we鈥檇 built find opportunities elsewhere, while I tried to figure out what came next.

I stepped back and went into a state of hibernation.

Nothing could mask how tough that season was. I鈥檇 poured everything into the startup, and when it collapsed, I was back at zero. As a founder, you mostly don鈥檛 have a salary to fall back on; your bet is the company itself.

The Bounce Back

After the shutdown, I needed space to breathe and search for clarity. I wasn鈥檛 sure what came next, so I leaned on my network. Friends who knew my skills in building technology pulled me into small consulting gigs. One opportunity led to another, and within a few months, I was already consulting for several tech companies.

I can鈥檛 put an exact figure on it, but my monthly income from consulting has ranged between 鈧�1.5m and 鈧�3m over time. I鈥檓 not yet where I want to be, but the progress is clear. 

From that period of consulting emerged a new idea. If I were to build again, I wouldn鈥檛 want to repeat old mistakes or put all my eggs in one basket. So, in August, I started a with some friends. It鈥檚 a service-led agency on the surface, helping founders with technology and product development. But underneath, the real goal is experimentation. We build and test different product ideas together as a team. Not all of them will succeed, but it only takes one winner to cover the rest.

For now, the agency funds the lab. However, in the next year or two, we expect some of these products to gain traction. My vision is that we鈥檒l grow into one of the biggest product labs, known for consistently creating solutions that scale.

To me, success won鈥檛 just be measured in money. Finance will come naturally if the product is strong. What will truly make me feel accomplished is seeing something we built reach millions, maybe even hundreds of millions of people. That kind of impact is what drives me.

If there鈥檚 one lesson I鈥檝e taken from this journey, it鈥檚 the importance of pausing. It鈥檚 easy to get caught up in competing with others, trying to build just to outpace someone else. But sometimes, the best move is to stop, reflect, and reset. Taking a pause gave me clarity, and it鈥檚 a discipline I carry with me into every new chapter.

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As told to Aisha Bello

I still remember my phone ringing relentlessly that day, and, of course, it was *Eke again.

I had just sent him 鈧�300k to pay the labourers cultivating the farm. But he wasn鈥檛 calling to confirm that the work was done; he wanted to let me know his sister had given birth, and he had to use the money to 鈥渟upport her.鈥� 

I froze. On the one hand, a new baby is good news. On the other hand, this was my friends鈥� money 鈥� not just mine. Still, I swallowed my anger and sent him another 鈧�300k from my own pocket. I thought of him like a brother.

That was only the beginning.

I grew up in Ebonyi, where farming was my family鈥檚 way of life. Every year, we cultivated and harvested together, so soil and sweat were familiar to me long before I became a lawyer. Even after I moved to Abuja, farming felt like something I鈥檇 eventually circle back to.

By 2024, I decided to try it independently. It was nothing serious, just a side project I could manage from a distance. I had already registered a company in 2022, but hadn鈥檛 done anything with it.

Then, one day, two friends saw me making moves on the project and said, 鈥淕uy, you always have something running, bro. Let鈥檚 join you, put money together and see where it goes.鈥�

That鈥檚 how it became a collective venture. Three of us pooled around 鈧�700,000 to start a cassava farm. In Ebonyi, leasing land is easy. At 鈧�12,500 a plot, we secured 19 and a half plots for a year. The plan looked straightforward: lease the land, get a manager, hire labourers, cultivate cassava and cocoyam, and harvest within a year.

The emotional part was bringing *Eke on board as project manager. I鈥檝e known him since 2019. He was always around my family home, helping with small tasks. We ate from the same pot. He called my father 鈥淒addy.鈥� My dad even introduced him to visitors as his adopted son. There was a brotherhood. I trusted him.

So I told him, 鈥淐ome manage this project. You鈥檒l get the harvests from one and a half plots as your settlement for managing the farm, in addition to feeding and transportation on farm days.鈥� I didn鈥檛 think twice.

Farm operations kicked off in April 2024. *Eke was supposed to hire labourers, supervise the cultivation, and send me the bills. I鈥檇 pay him, he鈥檇 pay them. Simple.

But within two weeks, cracks started showing.

First, it was the labourers鈥� fees 鈥� the first 鈧�300k disappeared into his sister鈥檚 childbirth expenses. Then another 鈧�300k for cassava stems and cocoyam 鈥� extras that never even made it to the soil. After that, I sent him 鈧�180k for maize he claimed he鈥檇 buy, but never did.

I鈥檇 call and send messages. Nothing. 

Sometimes I鈥檇 hear from people at home that he was just walking around, doing nothing, and nowhere near the farm.

That was when it hit me: he had no intention of making this work.

I had lost about 鈧�780k to his mismanagement and negligence.

The worst part was the time I had invested. From April to June, we managed to cultivate 11 plots out of 19 and a half. Then everything stalled. By July, it was just radio silence. 

He鈥檇 bought some cassava stems, but since he never planted them, they were left to dry up and rot.

The farm just sat there. Eleven plots had been cultivated, but planting had stalled.

By August 2024, I was done with the entire mess. I transferred control to my grandmother. She became the new project manager.

She completed the cultivation, planted fresh cassava stems, and kept things moving. With her, there was discipline: farm visits on weekends, labourers supervised properly, no stories. 

The project was back on track. 

I haven鈥檛 calculated the overall expenses since I handed the project over to my grandmother. We only send money when it鈥檚 needed 鈥� for maintenance, pest control, fertilisation, labourer fees, and so on.

She has been at it for almost a year, and now it鈥檚 harvesting season. We processed 12 basins of garri on the first harvest; the second time, we processed 14 basins. If the estimates are correct, by the time all 11 cultivated plots are harvested, we might have over 80 basins 鈥� about 40 bags of 50kg garri.

At current market prices, that could translate to real money. But until everything is harvested and sold, the balance sheet is still blurry.

I鈥檓 still waiting to see the final numbers before I can call it a win. For now, the project drags on. We are still spending money on harvesting and processing, but everything goes through my grandma now.

Looking back, the betrayal stings more than the financial hit. It鈥檚 always the people you bring close, the ones you call brother, who hurt you the most.

I learned the hard way not to give second chances when money is involved, at least not until someone has proven themselves.

I tell myself I don鈥檛 mind losing money; I can always make it back. But the wasted time? That鈥檚 gone forever.

Still, I know one day I鈥檒l return to Ebonyi, maybe retire into farming for the love of it. Whether this venture pays off or not, the soil is still home. As for Eke, I deleted his contact and cut him off completely. He鈥檚 been blowing up my phone for a while now, begging for forgiveness, but I haven鈥檛 blinked in his direction. In my heart, I鈥檝e forgiven him. But trust? That door is shut forever. If I hadn鈥檛 walked away when I did, the farm would鈥檝e collapsed entirely, and that would鈥檝e been the end of everything we tried to build.

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MONDAY

My 鈥渕ain鈥� job is with a government health organisation where I work for the first three days of the week. My duties today are the usual: filling and labelling prescriptions, keeping patient records tidy, juggling inventory, and helping the pharmacist on duty keep the whole thing running smoothly. It sounds simple until you realise just how many patients walk through the doors of a public health organisation daily, each with their own stories, ailments, and demands.

The job pays 鈧�200,000 a month, which is decent on paper, compared to the average 鈧�130k 鈥� 鈧�150k that entry-level pharmacy techs earn. Senior pharm techs might push up to 鈧�180k, while licensed pharmacists typically earn at least twice as much. 

I actually wanted to study pharmacy, but missed the university cut-off, so I went for a three-year pharmacy technician diploma instead. Licensed pharmacists spend six years in school and still sit licensing exams, which explains why they earn far more. Sometimes I think about how different things might be if I鈥檇 made it, but this is the path that opened up for me.

I鈥檝e been in the profession for almost five years and now earn slightly above the average pharmacy tech salary. But the truth? If I relied only on my 鈧�200k salary, I鈥檇 be drowning in bills before the second week of the month.

That鈥檚 why my real hustle comes from locum jobs. A locum, in plain terms, is someone who stands in temporarily for another professional. For pharmacy work in Nigeria, it means covering shifts for pharmacists on leave, burnt out, or just needing a day off. I work locums from Thursdays through Sundays, with one HMO pharmacy, one specialist hospital, and two retail pharmacies.

Locum rates aren鈥檛 fixed. They float between 鈧�10,000 and 鈧�20,000 a day, depending on the organisation and how desperate they are for cover. I usually earn 鈧�10k per shift. Three to four locum days a week easily adds up to 鈧�120k 鈥� 鈧�150k extra per month. That鈥檚 almost as much as my main salary.

But the catch is the exhaustion. I only truly rest one day a week. The rest of the time, I鈥檓 either in Ikeja, Ikorodu, Lekki, or somewhere in between, making sure another pharmacist鈥檚 absence doesn鈥檛 leave a pharmacy stranded.

TUESDAY

Today I鈥檓 at the government office. It鈥檚 a routine day where everything blurs into files, drug labels, and patients who don鈥檛 always understand why the doctor prescribes one thing and not another.

A big part of my job is being the invisible glue. The pharmacist is the decision-maker, but I make sure the prescriptions are correct, the drugs are dispensed safely, and patients don鈥檛 get stuck in endless queues over minor errors. Patients rarely know what a pharmacy technician does, but the system clogs up quickly if I disappear.

When drugs go out of stock, I have to flag it, find an alternative that matches the prescription, and make sure the pharmacist approves it. If not, patients would leave without treatment.

Today, I clock out around 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. Lagos traffic doesn鈥檛 respect job descriptions. I tag along with a colleague who drives, and she drops me at a bus stop along my route to Ikorodu. That little time saved makes the difference between getting home sane and arriving completely drained.

By the time I get home, I鈥檓 already thinking about Thursday鈥檚 locum. That鈥檚 the thing about this lifestyle: you鈥檙e always mentally calculating the next shift, the next call, the next 鈧�10k.

WEDNESDAY

Today is my last official day at the government office this week. Our work is rotational, so I’m free to focus on the side hustle once I finish my allocated batch of tasks for the week. I prefer cramming the work into fewer days; it frees up the rest of the week for locum jobs.

The upside of batching is flexibility. The downside is the burnout. My head is buzzing by evening, but I can鈥檛 afford to slack off. My locum shifts kick off tomorrow.

THURSDAY

With locum work, I don鈥檛 control when the calls come in. To get shifts, I registered at pharmacies as a locum staff. They call to check my availability when they need me, and I slot them in around my week. 

The locum gig I have today is at a retail pharmacy near my house in Ikorodu. They鈥檇 called me on Tuesday because their pharmacist was off sick, and I agreed to come in today. I鈥檓 there by 7:30 a.m. to be ready for the 8:00 a.m. shift. Retail pharmacies are intense in a different way 鈥� endless queues, customers arguing about prices, and the constant dance of keeping stock accurate while attending to impatient people.

There鈥檚 also the part no one talks about: retail pharmacies are where you see the real gaps in Nigeria鈥檚 healthcare system. Patients who can鈥檛 afford full prescriptions beg for half doses. Others try to self-medicate, swearing paracetamol cures everything.

A few demand antibiotics without prescriptions, like the man who insisted I give him Augmentin because he had used it before. And while I can鈥檛 advise them medically, I still have to absorb their frustration, explain the process, and play mediator until a pharmacist on duty steps in.

I leave at 6 p.m. Even though my house isn鈥檛 far from the pharmacy, by the time I get in around 7, I鈥檓 already drained and half-asleep, bracing myself for another 12-hour shift tomorrow.

FRIDAY

Today鈥檚 locum shift is with one of the HMOs in Ogudu. Unlike hospitals or retail pharmacies, HMOs run on tech-driven systems. My job here is mostly behind a computer: managing drug inventories, dispatching medication packages to enrollees, and documenting everything in their software.

It sounds easier, but staring at a screen for 12 hours straight is its own kind of exhaustion. Call time is 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but I leave home at 6 a.m. to beat the worst of traffic. At the end of the day, I spend almost two hours just trying to get back, plus 鈧�3,000 on transport.

Still, I can鈥檛 complain too much. It鈥檚 extra money, and I know the rhythm now: survive the hours, collect the pay, and remind myself what I鈥檓 saving for.

SATURDAY

Another retail pharmacy, this time in Ikeja. It鈥檚 the usual chaos: patients hovering over the counter, parents dragging restless kids, and the occasional 鈥渁unty, please help me with this鈥� request for everything from cough syrup to controlled drugs they know I have no business dispensing.

By the end of the day, I鈥檝e made 鈧�30k extra this week from locums. After deducting transport, I鈥檓 left with about 鈧�24k. That鈥檚 still a full second salary if I stack up enough shifts. My plan has always been to save everything I make from locum work, plus a little chunk from my main salary. I live on about 鈧�150k a month.

The ultimate dream is to japa. I鈥檝e been saving consistently for two years, hoping to hit at least 鈧�5 million before I make the leap. In theory, I should already have up to 鈧�3 million stacked, but life keeps interfering. Between paying black tax as the firstborn of five siblings, constant family emergencies, and random expenses, my money never really stretches beyond the basics.

Right now, I have just over 鈧�1 million in savings. It feels slow, but I keep reminding myself it鈥檚 still progress.

SUNDAY

Today, I actually take the day off. My body is begging for rest, but I can鈥檛 help thinking about my specialist hospital shift in Lekki next week. Those ones are stressful because of the commute. I take the ferry from Ikorodu to VI to save costs. The fare is 鈧�500, which is reasonable, compared to the thousands a road trip would swallow. From VI, I catch a bus to Lekki. The whole thing still costs about 鈧�2,000 daily. I must be at the ferry terminal by 6 a.m. to make the morning shift and back there before 5 p.m. to catch the evening departure.

Specialist hospitals are a different beast. The caseload is heavier, the pace faster, and the responsibilities broader. I like the challenge, but I always come home wiped out, feeling like my body clock ran a marathon. I keep going because it鈥檚 the life I鈥檝e built: a life of chasing shifts, surviving traffic, and stacking savings one 鈧�10k note at a time.

But I鈥檒l worry about that next week. Today, I鈥檒l rest. 

I dream of a calmer future, maybe somewhere abroad, where I won鈥檛 have to juggle five organisations just to feel financially stable. Until then, it鈥檚 back to the grind. Because in Lagos, the bills will outrun your bank account if you blink.

Also Read: A Week In The Life: The Medical Doctor Curing Programming Bugs

Here鈥檚 how he turned curiosity into a million-dollar company, reshaping space policy across the continent.

As told to Aisha Bello

I run a market intelligence and consulting firm called . We help African governments design policies and strategies for their national space programs and work with commercial aerospace companies exploring or expanding into Africa鈥檚 satellite and space industry.

I wear other hats: research affiliate at , non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, and founder of a few early-stage companies currently in

I鈥檓 30 now. But this version of my life 鈥� the big clients, the global networks, the financial success started from one unexpected detour: an ASUU strike.

The Strike That Shifted Everything

In 2011, I was in my second year studying meteorology at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). ASUU went on strike that December, and I returned home with no plan.

One week turned into months. I needed something to fill the time, so I visited a friend from secondary school who was studying computer science, but was also home due to the strike. I watched him code, got curious, and asked him to teach me. That week, he walked me through the basics of HTML and CSS, and just like that, I was hooked.

I wasn鈥檛 a natural, but I quickly realised people were willing to pay for websites, and I could figure out the business along the way. I created a business name 鈥� Solutions Oriented 鈥� and started pitching myself as a web developer, even though I was still learning.

At first, I worked with churches and student fellowships, then small businesses in Akure. Once I discovered WordPress, I ditched heavy coding and built faster. I wasn鈥檛 the best developer, but I was resourceful.

First 鈧�1 Million

By my final year in 2016, I was juggling school and client work. That year, I landed my biggest gig: setting up a website and online infrastructure for a

But it wasn鈥檛 until NYSC in 2017 that I earned my first 鈧�1 million. I was 23. 

It happened in decent streaks. Each project brought in between 鈧�100k and 鈧�300k, and eventually, I crossed seven figures for the first time. I鈥檇 never seen that kind of money in my account.

Even then, I knew I didn鈥檛 want to build websites forever. I wanted more.

I Didn鈥檛 Find Space 鈥� It Found Me

My interest in the skies, stars and everything above us started long before university. I grew up fascinated by space.  But meteorology 鈥� the study of the atmosphere, weather, and climate 鈥� was the closest thing to space science that FUTA offered. Still, I leaned into it.

In 2015, I led my school鈥檚 space club to launch a balloon into near space. A year later,. It鈥檚 a global recognition awarded to just 30 outstanding young professionals each year for their impact and leadership in the Space Industry. 

During my NYSC year in 2017, I began phasing out my software company and brainstorming ideas for something bigger.

Luckily, I got a $2,000 grant to attend. It鈥檚 the largest annual aerospace conference in the world, and the grant covered my registration fees, accommodation, and travel expenses.

That trip changed everything. For the first time, I saw how global the space ecosystem was and how underreported Africa鈥檚 role in it had been. I returned to Nigeria with one idea: build a company, the go-to source for data, reporting, and analysis in Africa鈥檚 emerging space sector.

From Side Hustle to Strategy

After NYSC in 2018, I moved to Lagos to pursue the idea. But I had no significant funding, just a concept and some savings from my software gigs. So, I took a web development job at a gaming company for 鈧�185k/month to cover bills and build industry contacts. I stayed six months, then left to go all in.

I launched as a niche media company, publishing news and analysis about satellite launches, space tech, government policy 鈥� the things no one else on the continent covered with depth or consistency.

People kept commending our work; by 2019, we had built a solid reputation. But it became clear we hadn鈥檛 figured out how to turn the momentum into real revenue. We earned some money from in-house reports and premium subscriptions, but it wasn鈥檛 sustainable. I started burning through my savings. In some months, I wasn鈥檛 sure we鈥檇 survive. The pandemic hit, and things became even more uncertain.

Breakthrough: We Hit $1 Million in Revenue

The real turning point came in 2021, when we doubled down on consulting. We鈥檇 been tracking the African space industry for years; we had data no one else had, and that鈥檚 what became valuable. We had deep insight into the ecosystem: the players, the gaps, and where the money was. We built a chain of services that allowed us to move fast and smart. 

Most of our clients in the space sector were American and European companies. , Richard Branson鈥檚 company, was a long-term customer before it shut down. We operated on a typical B2B sales model.

That year, we crossed $100,000 in revenue for the first time since launch鈥� a signal that we were onto something real. I was just 27. 

Subsequently, we helped governments design their national space strategies, supported private companies trying to enter African markets, and began hosting closed-door events that brought stakeholders together. One of our major projects was conducting the baseline study for establishing and operationalising the

One year later, we crossed the $1 million revenue mark. I had set up another business vertical focused on technical consulting 鈥� building, testing, and procuring systems for clients in the space industry. That became our most significant revenue stream with low overhead costs. 

Personally, I made my first $1 million in 2023, at age 29, after accounting for salaries and operations.

Now in 2025, we鈥檝e grown far beyond those early days. Our largest singular consulting contract this year is valued at $3 million. One of our flagship space industry events pulled in over 鈧�1 billion in revenue alone.

I鈥檓 Still Learning How to Spend Money

When I first made serious money, I did what many young Nigerians do 鈥� I invested in early-stage startups. Some bets paid off, and most didn鈥檛, but I was buying an education.

Now I鈥檓 more deliberate. I鈥檝e learned that making money is just one part of the journey. The real challenge is figuring out how to keep it, grow it, and put it to good use. 

I鈥檓 currently developing a new on the continent 鈥� it鈥檚 still in stealth mode. It builds on my work at , the hardware subsidiary of Space in Africa.

I’m also investing in real estate as a long-term play. I鈥檝e never been drawn to passive money markets or places where money grows on its own; I prefer to invest in ventures that create real value, or in people I trust to build. 

There鈥檚 No Typical Day

Most weeks, I鈥檓 on the move 鈥� Nairobi, Cairo, Miami, Lagos. Some days I鈥檓 in client meetings. Others, I鈥檓 mentoring new founders, hosting events, or just taking time to rest. I now have a strong team of 17, which allows me to focus on the bigger picture. When I鈥檓 not travelling, I spend time with my family or on vacation with my wife.

One thing hasn鈥檛 changed: my drive to build. That鈥檚 always been the throughline, from weather charts in school to web development during strikes to space policy today.

What Made The Difference

Looking back, what helped me most was my willingness to bet on the road less travelled. I could have stayed comfortable as a freelance developer. The money was decent, and the path predictable. But I wanted to build real impact while unlocking wealth that most people only dream about.

Everyone around me was chasing software. I chose space because it was uncharted territory in Africa. I wanted to do the complex and rare thing no one else was thinking about. I wanted to stand out. 

That decision to go where few others had gone is definitely what made me the most money and the most impact. 

Don’t copy the market if you want to build something truly valuable and become wealthy. Study, understand, then spot what鈥檚 missing and build around that gap. You’ll get the same results if you follow the same path as everyone else. Extraordinary outcomes require standing out.

Next Read: I Retired at 53 With Over 鈧�1 Billion in Assets 鈥� Here鈥檚 How I Did It

Join 1,000+ Nigerians, finance experts and industry leaders at for a day of real, raw conversations about money and financial freedom. and secure your spot at the money event of the year, where you’ll get the practical tools to 10x your income, network with the biggest players in your industry, and level up in your career and business.

So, we asked one affected business owner to talk about what it’s like to lose their business to an event they couldn’t control.

As told to .

Destruction is easy. 

I saw this first-hand when the bulldozers came on Tuesday. I watched them tear down the businesses I had seen people build for years, including the business I had built for over three years. It took an hour, and none of these existed anymore. It was a cruel sight 鈥� the hardest thing I鈥檝e watched in my adult life.听

See, I鈥檝e done businesses in the past that didn鈥檛 work out, but none took this kind of hit. I started as an architect and worked in construction for a decade before my interests tilted more towards hospitality. I also had a food business 鈥� a grill service 鈥� on the side, and in 2021, I brought my industry knowledge to Landmark. Before that time, I operated at the University of Lagos and had a brief spell in Ikeja.

Landmark was different from the other locations where I set up a business. For starters, I didn鈥檛 have to pay a year upfront. For most businesses in the Landmark ecosystem, it was not the typical rental system; the arrangement was a partnership where Landmark provided the infrastructure, while the business provided a service, and both parties split the revenue. The ecosystem allowed and encouraged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)  to grow at an unbelievable rate. 

Add that to the guaranteed footfall. When you have a business outside the ecosystem, you鈥檙e thinking about how to get people to your spot. At Landmark, however, the only thing you鈥檇 worry about was how to cater to the people there. The market 鈥� your customers 鈥� were already there, and you just needed to plug in. It was a win-win situation.

Besides the chances of building a profitable business within the ecosystem, Landmark also felt like home; a safe space. I don鈥檛 know how best to say this, but being by the water for most of the day was therapeutic. And it went both ways for the business owners and the customers.I was running a business  in a place that calmed me and where people were happy to be. The energy was always electric.

But you can鈥檛 have everything for long.

In March 2024, the first sets of whispers started. The government had issued a demolition order. Then, the whispers began to spread. I鈥檒l be honest: I鈥檝e known about the since late 2021. And I thought  鈥� and still think 鈥� it鈥檚 a wonderful idea. But like everyone else, I thought the road would pass through Water Corporation Road as we had  been informed.

 We were excited about the additional foot traffic it could mean for Landmark. Until the government decided to change the course for reasons best known to them. 

I鈥檝e looked at the path on Google Earth repeatedly in the past few weeks, and I can鈥檛 explain why the road had to pass through Landmark Beach. I hope I鈥檓 able to figure it out one day.

Times like this test you as a business owner. When the whispers reached my staff, I reassured them that their jobs were safe. Honestly, I believed it at the time. I felt very strongly that logic would prevail. Besides, everything moves slowly in this country. I thought the government and Landmark stakeholders would resolve the situation before any irreversible damage was done. 

But the days passed, and the government鈥檚 resolve became stronger. The tension within the business was palpable, so I had to talk to my staff again. This time, I asked them about their subsequent plans if, by chance, we lost the beach. This was when we began to face the harsh reality.

I realised the fight was over on April 27, so I called them again to let them know we might be shutting down. Though I fit those I could in other businesses, I had to let over 90% of my staff 鈥� many of whom had been with me for three years 鈥� go, promising to find them if something new came up. 

I make it a duty to employ people between 18 and 28 who are relatively disadvantaged. The goal is to get them off the streets and give them a purpose. In Nigeria, it鈥檚 difficult to turn things around when you hit a certain age 鈥� I find them before they get to that age and absorb them into my businesses. These were lives I watched change for good before my eyes; it was hard to watch them go back to the unemployment pool.

One of my staff joined as a weekend staff member in 2021. He was one of the most hardworking people I鈥檇 met. One day, during a conversation, I asked him what he did from Monday to Friday. 

鈥淚 work as a bus conductor,鈥� he told me.

鈥淚s that safe?鈥� I asked him. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 not that bad. I make more from it than I do here,鈥� he replied. 

It sounded wild to me. I didn鈥檛 consider it a safe way to live, so I asked him to join the business full-time. I paid his salary out of pocket for the first month, and he showed me he was 100% in. The following month, we absorbed him as a full staff member. Here鈥檚 why this is interesting: This young guy moved from a weekend staff to a kitchen assistant, becoming a griller and eventually a head griller. His salary over the past three years grew by over 300%. And that鈥檚 only one of the turnaround stories I witnessed firsthand.

Another member of my staff produced a movie from her income and leverage working at the business. These are the real lives behind these 鈥溾�� as some people would like to call them. 

The business started with nine staff. Until a few days ago, we鈥檇 grown the number to 19 on and off the location. Now, most of them are unemployed. 

This was a business we built from scratch. Sure, Landmark gave us the space we needed. But we erected a structure and built the operations from the ground. Many things represented this business and its identity. My favourites were two I planted. I named them Anabelle and Felicia. I didn鈥檛 joke with tending to them; by extension, my staff took care of them too. I watched the flowers grow with the business and watched them give us an identity. It was almost poetic to walk away from them for the last time.

Thankfully, at a time like this, I have excellent memories of the past three years to hold on to. Most of them were with my staff. We had lots of good memories together. The top three of those were watching the AFCON semi-finals together. The whole Landmark ecosystem came together for that one. And when we won, we celebrated together, and it was beautiful. The sense of community is a memory I鈥檒l always hold close. Landmark was a safe space for my business and other businesses on the beach. That feeling of safety was violated, and it still makes me sick.

Interestingly, when the businesses were buried beneath rubble on Tuesday, I heaved a sigh of relief. The worst had finally happened. I had the best sleep I鈥檝e had in the six weeks leading to the demolition. When I woke up the following morning, I said, 鈥淲e go again.鈥�

And yes, I find strength in the faith that we will rebuild.

So Zainab, how you do am?

The story is long.

I never had one dream. At some point, I loved mathematics and wanted to study that, but by the time I finished secondary school, I wanted to study chemical engineering 鈥� it was the most interesting option for a science student who didn鈥檛 want to go for medicine 鈥� but I didn’t get in. West African Examinations Council (WAEC) did me dirty.

What happened?

My Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) results were delayed. I had to use my General Certificate Examination (GCE) instead. But who really aces GCE? Of all the subjects, biology was the one that messed me up. Without it, I couldn’t apply to the chemical engineering department at the University of Ilorin.   

By the time WAEC decided to release our SSCE results, the department was full. I wasn’t ready to stay home for a year. And that’s pretty much how I ended up in Agricultural and Biometrics engineering. I had no clue what it was about.

I relate to the madness of WAEC, but this interview isn’t about me

Studying agricultural engineering wasn鈥檛 a horrible experience though. I took some helpful courses from other engineering departments and there was some programming involved. In 200 level, I took a programming class called Visual Basic, which was a third-generation and old programming language. Nevertheless, it sparked an interest because I was super interested in programming in general.

The issue was what job I鈥檇 be able to get in Nigeria. When I got to 400 level, that question became even more difficult to answer. While my guys in other engineering departments were able to get internships in big oil companies,  I was stuck working at a government ministry in Ilorin. No shade to government workers, but I knew I wasn鈥檛 interested in working there.

So you didn鈥檛 know where you would work after school?

Not exactly. But like my mates in other engineering departments, I wanted the flexibility of choosing big organisations in the private sector. I didn鈥檛 want to be stuck at a job because I didn鈥檛 have any other choice. 

After my internship, I was sure I’d transition into another field of engineering. I considered mechanical engineering because I took a lot of courses with the mechanical engineering department, and I could relate more with that. It also seemed interesting, and that鈥檚 how my transition began.

And to the meat of our gist

After my NYSC in 2016, I applied for a master’s degree in advanced mechanical engineering with management at the University of Leicester, UK. I ended up deferring my admission because my visa was delayed.

I just took the delay as a gap year and used the free time to learn coding. I couldn鈥檛 take the programming classes in uni as seriously as I鈥檇 wanted because there was no time. Now, I had all the time in the world.

I started with coding courses online, but I wanted to try out for an internship. So I searched for internships and found a tweet from Hotels.ng calling out for interns.

I got in, but the it was too fast paced for me as a complete beginner.

 Nevertheless, I’m grateful for the community the program gave me. I had the opportunity to meet and connect with people of different level of technical skills both online and offline, some of who I’m still connected with today.

A few weeks after the internship, I applied for the first sponsored by Google at the time. The program鈥檚 structure was hybrid, so I had more access to people in the tech community in Ilorin. That was a plus to the Twitter community I discovered from my Hotels.ng internship.

At this point, what tech skill were you focused on building?

Android development. It made me consider switching my master鈥檚 degree to computer science. But I didn鈥檛 want to flop. 

When I finally went for my master鈥檚 in 2017, my interest switched to artificial intelligence. We were taking a modelling and statistics course that covered how algorithms make it easy for computers to classify and recognise objects. I was curious.

I read more about artificial intelligence on my own, and that鈥檚 how I stumbled on data science. It seemed like the perfect mix of my interests. The programming aspect I鈥檇 learnt before my master鈥檚 degree and the data part covered statistics and mathematics.听

So the best of both worlds?

Exactly. It only made sense to branch out into data science and start taking courses online.

Sweet. When did you land your first role?

Towards the end of my master鈥檚 degree in 2018. At first, I was applying for any kind of job. Whether it was consulting or banking, I applied because I didn鈥檛 want to leave the UK after school. But I wasn鈥檛 getting feedback. Eventually, I realised I had to stay focused on my initial goal to work as a data scientist. 

I started applying for analytics roles aggressively. I must have sent at least 300 applications before I got my first interview invite. The initial chit-chat with the team went great, but the technical assessment made me nervous 鈥� it was my first job, and I didn鈥檛 know what to expect. I hadn鈥檛 worked on a real-life data set. Essentially, I wasn鈥檛 very confident in my skills for these reasons.

The whole room started spinning in my head. And I flunked the test.

But you still got the job?

Yeah. On my trip back home, I sent an email to the team and thanked them for the opportunity. But I also added in an apology for messing up my test.  I explained how nervous I felt, and the pressure from writing my dissertation while preparing for the test. I guess they understood.

Surprisingly, the team asked me to take the test again. This time I had two weeks to submit the test like a take-home assignment. I still didn鈥檛 ace it though.

And you still got the job, Zainab?

LMAO. Yes. They felt the email demonstrated my willingness to learn. At least that鈥檚 what their email said. My job at the company was assisting the team with analysing market research surveys. 

This was my first taste of the corporate world was great. At least for the four months, it lasted.

What happened?

I couldn’t sort out the extension on my UK visa, so I moved back to Nigeria. 

The company allowed me to work remotely, but between the horrible internet and frustrating generator noises at many meetings, keeping up was impossible. I decided to leave.

I鈥檓 sorry. How did the Nigerian job market compare to the opportunities in the UK?

It was next to zero. I searched for data analyst roles on LinkedIn and there was nothing available. I reached out to my friends in tech for help. I remember one texting me about my salary expectations for a particular role. I said 鈧�500k. I鈥檓 sure the guy laughed because, thinking about it now, I had barely a year of experience to offer. But still, how was I to know? I didn鈥檛 understand the jobscape in Nigeria.

A month later, I got a job with an energy company. I was doing everything data and engineering-related at the company. I鈥檇 go to sites to set up energy metres and still spend time analysing the energy consumption of all our clients. The workload was a lot. I needed something else. 

Fascinating

But while I was still at the energy company, a friend started a data visualisation community. The goal was to connect and learn how to present information visually with graphs. But I didn鈥檛 have time to dedicate to learning and practising this until the lockdown.

During the pandemic, it was easier to attend classes. was one software people in the data industry talked about, so I dedicated more time to practicing. Every project I did went up on Twitter, and I started gaining traction. I was just everywhere at the time plugging my work.

Nine months into my job at the energy company, a friend directed me to a fintech company searching for product analysts. I applied, got the job and spent the next year there.

The next stop was Spotify.

How did the Spotify offer happen?

The weekly Twitter posts became my portfolio online. I didn鈥檛 know it at the time, but people were watching. In 2021, a senior data scientist at Spotify sent me a DM on Linkedin. He was recruiting for his team and asked me to apply for the job. I went through a five-stage process, and that was it. 

I got the job and relocated to Sweden in April 2021. It鈥檚 been a year since I joined the Sweden team. Now, I鈥檓 looking forward to a new experience at the London office in May. 

Nice. How has the experience been so far?

Spotify is a cool company. At first, working in a big company was overwhelming, especially after coming from a startup but I鈥檝e eased into it. There鈥檚 more structure than I was used to, and everyone鈥檚 role is defined and clear. 

Speaking of roles, what exactly do you do at Spotify?

I help product teams make informed decisions with data. One aspect is through visualisation. For instance, if there is a goal to reach x billion user streams, I build dashboards where people can go to monitor the progress. I also do exploratory deep dives into certain trends and patterns observed and test different hypotheses based on data observations. These analysis are presented to products teams and other stakeholders who then make decisions based on them.”

That鈥檚 huge. What鈥檚 one thing you think has prepared you for this role?

I鈥檇 say consistently learning and moving forward. My career journey never looked put together to me. I went from engineering to programming to data science and now, data visualisation. I think by now you should know I work with vibes. 

The funny thing is, when I went to the UK for my master’s, Spotify was one of the first apps I downloaded. I鈥檇 never experienced anything as good as their recommendation engine. The algorithm knew the exact songs I鈥檇 want in a playlist. As a tech enthusiast, that was insane. I wanted to understand how it worked.  

At that point, I couldn鈥檛 have believed I鈥檇 end up working at Spotify. Every decision I made about my career was vibes, a little bit of strategy and a lot of luck.

What do you think is next for your career?

Right now, I want stability. I鈥檝e spent the last two years moving companies, so I鈥檓 focused on building at Spotify. At least for another year or two.

We recently shared Jemima Osunde鈥檚 hustle story 鈥� how she broke into acting while in medical school and what it鈥檚 like as a newbie in Nollywood. Now that you know how she did it, this guide will take you step-by-step on how you can become an actor in Nigeria.

Image source: Pexels

And no, it鈥檚 not superficial. The movie industry thrives on the 鈥渂elieve-ability鈥� of the actors. Would you pass for a hustling mechanic? Do you give off the bad bitch vibes required for the role you鈥檙e auditioning for? These are the questions that need to be answered. 

Gain experience:
The more people see you, the better it is for your acting career. Your performance after landing your first role, and the strength of your network will contribute to your landing more roles and gaining experience.

You may just be starting out, but it鈥檚 not every role you鈥檙e offered you should take, please. Focusing on quality may just be what sets you apart from the hundred other actors out there and set you up nicely for your big break.

PS: We also broke down everything you just read in this .

*A-list/A-lister: This describes a group of people considered to be the most famous or successful at their crafts. You could say 91大神 is an A-lister.

*B-list/B-lister: This describes a group of people who are also successful at their crafts, but not as famous as the A-listers.

to get more guides and stories about how money moves in Nigeria.

I didn鈥檛 think it鈥檇 be an issue really, until my bank started acting like the weapons fashioned against me, and I couldn鈥檛 even go cashless in peace.听
So, I tried to survive on only 鈧�500 cash at hand for two weeks, and I鈥檓 still alive. It鈥檚 very likely you don鈥檛 have cash too 鈥� or you don鈥檛 have enough for the necessary small transactions 鈥� so let me teach you how to survive this period.

Stay at home

Whoever invented introverts knows ball. I鈥檓 not much of an outside person, but this period has further taught me the wisdom of sitting at home and eating whatever I have in my kitchen. If work makes you leave your house every day, I sympathise with you.

Do online transfers for EVERYTHING

When they work, at least. A friend told me how she transferred 鈧�300 to a pepper seller. Thing is, you won鈥檛 know who accepts transfers unless you ask. Ask that okada man for a transfer option today.

Become interested in fitfam

Do you really need to take a bus when you can walk? Do you actually crave shawarma, or are your village people just working overtime? You can always tell yourself you鈥檙e pursuing your fitness goals.

Sleep

You can鈥檛 spend money while you sleep.

Shop at supermarkets

Since the major problem is cash, do your shopping at places where POS transactions are readily available. Of course, your bank can still disgrace you, but what鈥檚 life without a little risk?

Date a POS attendant 

Who knows, you might get free new notes as a relationship privilege. Plus, imagine dating one of the hottest set of people in Nigeria right now.

Just give up

Even if you survive the two-week mark, what鈥檚 the assurance that the cash situation would鈥檝e improved by then? God, actually abeg.

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