91大神! / Come for the fun, stay for the culture! Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:48:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 /wp-content/uploads/zikoko/2020/04/cropped-91大神_91大神_Purple-Logo-1-150x150.jpg 91大神! / 32 32 I Was Still in Uni, but My GF Expected Me to Support Her Family /ships/supported-gf-family/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:48:27 +0000 /?p=385400 On the Streets is a 91大神 weekly series about the chaos of modern dating: from situationships and endless talking stages to heartbreak and everything it means to be single in today鈥檚 world.

Isaac* (26) is learning to slow down after a series of relationships taught him some hard lessons about love. In this episode of On the Streets, he opens up about what his experiences have taught him and the balance he hopes to find in the future. 

What鈥檚 your current relationship status, and how do you feel about it?

I enjoy being single, but I miss having someone who holds me accountable. I tend to work harder and be more productive when I鈥檓 dating. Hopefully, I鈥檒l find someone who balances me out.

What was your first relationship like? Walk me through your dating history

It was in 2018, during my first year in university. I was meeting a lot of new people, but a girl called Amina* caught my attention. Someone posted her picture on WhatsApp, so I asked for her number.

We realised we were in the same school, met the next day and spent hours walking around campus. We could only afford one drink between us, but I liked how easy it was for us to have a good time together.

I told her I liked her after a couple of days, and we started dating.

That was quick. How did the relationship go?

For the first time, I experienced true love. She was always on my mind, and I wanted to do everything I could to make her happy. It was the first time I鈥檇 ever had such deep feelings for someone.

But over time, the relationship became suffocating. Amina depended on me for almost everything. Beyond material things, she needed a lot of my attention and expected me to always be available. I鈥檇 even help her with assignments for courses I knew little about.

I tried to endure it at first. But it became a problem when her needs began to affect my other relationships. Once, my friends and I planned a staycation, but I had to leave early because she wouldn鈥檛 stop calling. Even ordering food could turn into a long phone call because she wanted me to help her decide what to eat. I was frustrated, but I really liked her, so I kept trying to make it work.

Our personalities eventually became another source of tension. I鈥檓 very jovial and have a lot of friends, while she was more reserved. She became uncomfortable with some of my friendships and accused me of being romantically involved with one of my female friends. 

We had a heated argument about it, and she admitted she鈥檇 grown tired of the relationship. After a year and a half together, she broke up with me. I was shocked because I didn鈥檛 expect her to follow through.

Get More 91大神 Goodness in Your Mail

Subscribe to our newsletters and never miss any of the action

How did you deal with the heartbreak?

It changed me a lot. I couldn鈥檛 understand how suspicion alone could be enough reason to end a relationship, so I convinced myself that I wasn鈥檛 good enough for her. 

I also decided to forget about relationships until I had my life together. I wanted to make more money and focus on getting into tech and crypto.

As time went on and I started making money, I became more casual about dating. For almost two years, I got into casual situationships and spent a lot of time partying. Towards the end of 2022,  I met Elizabeth*.

Tell me about Elizabeth. How did you meet?

We met at a club and really vibed that night. She had told a friend that she liked me, so I got her number and we started talking.

She was very clear that she wanted a relationship, and I felt ready to try again. We met on a Sunday evening. Exactly a week later, I took her out and asked her to be my girlfriend.

After only seven days?

I was focused on securing her. Elizabeth was a baddie, and I didn鈥檛 want to lose her to someone else. I figured we鈥檇 have enough time to get to know each other better during the course of the relationship.

But it didn鈥檛 take long for me to notice the red flags.

She made me her money bank. I funded her lifestyle and even had to get her an apartment. Then her requests extended to her family. Whenever her parents needed money, she鈥檇 ask me to help.

Hmm

I didn鈥檛 mind supporting her, but I started feeling like the arrangement only went one way. I helped her learn tech skills and even helped her land a contract. When she got paid, I watched her spend the money with her friends without thinking of doing anything for me. I started  wondering if she was with me because of what I could give her.

She was also very sneaky. She鈥檇 lie about where she was and tell me half-truths. I hated feeling like I had to police her, and we argued about it constantly.

Then she started talking about marriage after university. Instead of feeling excited, I started dreading what a future with her would look like. I was scared that supporting her would eventually mean supporting her entire family, too.  I tried to end the relationship several times, but she wouldn鈥檛 let go. In 2024, I started hooking up with someone else.

Oh. How did that happen?

It wasn鈥檛 planned. I was out drinking with friends, and I ended up hooking up with an acquaintance. I felt bad, but I didn鈥檛 regret it. What happened also made me realise that my feelings for Elizabeth were gone. I didn鈥檛 want to continue the relationship.

I broke up with her shortly afterwards.

Did you move on with the acquaintance?

No. For one, we鈥檇 agreed to keep things private, but she went about telling people we were together. I also wasn鈥檛 in a good place to start another relationship. 

I was between jobs and didn鈥檛 feel mentally or financially secure enough to commit to another woman. Eventually, I ghosted her.

Sounds like you put a lot of pressure on yourself to provide in relationships. Where does that come from?

It鈥檚 subconscious. As a man, I鈥檝e always been taught that I need to be a provider. For a long time, I believed that if I couldn鈥檛 fully support my partner, I had no business being in a relationship. 

But my last relationship changed that perspective. She showed me that the full responsibility of a relationship doesn鈥檛 always have to fall on me. 

We surveyed 5,000 workers across Nigeria鈥檚 formal and informal sectors to examine what Nigerians earn, where the money goes, and whether hard work actually translates to financial security. This is what we found. Download the 91大神 State of Income Report

I see. And who was this woman? Tell me about her

Her name is Faith*. We met earlier this year on Instagram. We were mutuals who had never interacted until she posted something that sparked a conversation.

Faith was different from the people I鈥檇 dated before. She was thoughtful without being asked. In March, I was travelling for work and kept complaining about back pain. Even though she was in a different city, she somehow arranged a massage session for me. 

I felt so giddy because I鈥檇 never experienced someone doing those kinds of things for me. They were little gestures, but they meant the whole world to me.

She also pushed me to grow. She was ambitious, and she encouraged me to work harder and take on more projects. There was one project I鈥檇 been avoiding because I was scared of taking such a big step, but she motivated me to go for it. 

That sounds like the perfect relationship

It was. But despite everything I admired about her, I wasn鈥檛 physically attracted to her. I tried to make myself feel differently because she treated me well, but I just couldn鈥檛.

Whenever she talked about the future, I felt tense and guilty. Eventually, I became restless and started looking out. I ended the relationship after I came close to cheating. It wouldn鈥檛 have been fair to hurt her just because of how I felt. I鈥檝e been winging it ever since.

So, how have these experiences shaped your idea of love and relationships?

I need to stop jumping into serious commitments. I鈥檝e often rushed into relationships before really getting to know my partners or understanding our compatibility because I was afraid of losing the opportunity. I would鈥檝e saved myself a lot of heartbreak if I鈥檇 understood that earlier.

Most importantly, I鈥檝e learnt that a relationship should have a meaningful impact on your life. It should help you grow and become a better person. Now, I鈥檓 hoping to find someone I can grow with.

Finally, how are the streets treating you these days? Rate it on a scale of 1 to 10

5/10. It鈥檚 half and half. On one hand, I miss being in a relationship that made me a better person. On the other hand, I enjoy my freedom and having more time to spend with my friends.

For now, I鈥檝e decided to focus on enjoying what鈥檚 left of my 20s. Hopefully, the right relationship will find me along the way.

3 in 4 salary earners make less than 鈧200,000.

Want to understand what Nigeria鈥檚 income landscape really looks like? Download the full 91大神 State of Income Report to see the data and what it means for Nigerians.

Read Next: Na Me F鈥 Up? I Fought My Mum鈥檚 Boyfriend and Refused to Apologise

]]> 9 Fully Funded Scholarships Nigerians Can Apply For This October /citizen/fully-funded-scholarships-nigerians/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:33:37 +0000 /?p=385369 It is that time of the year again. Your Twitter and LinkedIn timelines are about to split into two distinct factions: people posting selfies with two oversized coats at Heathrow or Schiphol Airport, and everyone else in the comment section typing “I receive my own testimony.”

If you have been nursing the dream of leaving the country for a master鈥檚 or PhD but can鈥檛 because it’s so expensive, let us be the ones to tell you that getting a world-class degree abroad isn’t reserved for politicians’ children or tech bros earning six figures in dollars. 

Every single year, thousands of young Nigerians leave the country on fully or partially funded scholarships. 

To save you from scam scholarship agents, we compiled a high-value guide to the top global scholarships opening this season; what they pay, who can apply, and how to position yourself to win them.

1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master鈥檚 (EMJM) Scholarship

Why settle for studying in one European country when you can study in three or even four? The , funded directly by the European Union (EU), is easily one of the most generous and exciting study packages in the world.

Instead of staying at a single university, an Erasmus Mundus program is run by a consortium of top European universities. You spend your degree studying across at least two (sometimes three or four) different countries and graduate with a joint or double degree.

What the funding covers

Erasmus Mundus is a full-ride. It covers 100% of your tuition fees, provides a monthly living stipend of 鈧1,400 for up to 24 months, offers up to 鈧4,000 annually in travel and installation grants, and includes comprehensive medical insurance across all host EU countries.

Who can apply?

Anyone holding a recognised Bachelor鈥檚 degree (or students currently in the final year of their undergraduate program). There is no strict age limit, and the program spans more than 200 master’s consortia, covering everything from Data Science, Renewable Energy, and Public Policy to Food Innovation and Marine Biology.

Details you need to know

  • Application Window: Varies by program track; always check the track website.
  • Language Requirements: Many programs accept an official English Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter from English-speaking African universities, though some specific tracks may require an IELTS/TOEFL certificate.
  • Pro Tip: You can apply to multiple Erasmus Mundus programs in a single application cycle.
  • Official Portal:

2. United Kingdom (UK) Chevening Scholarship

If your ideal study-abroad dream involves walking the streets of London in a trench coat while the British government bankrolls your life and study, Chevening is your best bet!. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Chevening looks specifically for future leaders, decision-makers, and opinion-shapers.

Unlike scholarships that strictly evaluate academic transcripts, Chevening focuses on your leadership potential and networking skills. They want to know what you have built, led, or transformed in your home country, and how a UK master鈥檚 degree will help you scale that impact when you return.

What the funding covers

Full tuition fee coverage (with no cap for most courses), a monthly living allowance (拢1,300鈥撀1,600 depending on whether you study inside or outside London), return economy flights to the UK, visa fees, and an arrival allowance.

Who can apply?

Applicants with a recognised undergraduate degree (equivalent to a UK 2:1 or First Class), at least two years (2,800 hours) of demonstrable work, volunteer, or internship experience, and a commitment to return to their home country for at least two years post-graduation.

Details you need to know

  • Application Window: August to November.
  • Eligible Programs: Any eligible 1-year taught Master鈥檚 degree at any university across the UK.
  • Key Requirement: Four mandatory 500-word essays covering Leadership, Networking, UK Study Choices, and Career Goals.
  • Official Portal:

3. Wageningen University, Africa Scholarship Programme (Netherlands)

If your academic background or career passion touches on Agriculture, Food Technology, Environmental Science, Biotechnology or Climate Change, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands is regularly ranked #1 in the world for agricultural and environmental studies.

More importantly, Wageningen runs a dedicated scholarship bag built specifically for talented African students: the Africa Scholarship Programme (ASP), streamlining the pool of applicants.

What the funding covers

Full tuition fee coverage for the full 24-month Master鈥檚 duration, a monthly living allowance, round-trip flight tickets between your home country and the Netherlands, visa costs, and comprehensive Dutch health insurance.

Who can apply?

Citizens of an African country holding a First-Class Honours degree (or a GPA equivalent to 80% and above) who have secured unconditional admission to an eligible on-campus MSc program at Wageningen.

Details you need to know

  • Application Deadline: December 1. (You must submit your full MSc application along with all degree certificates and English proficiency proofs before this date.
  • Selection Style: Eligible candidates who secure unconditional admission before December 1 are shortlisted by the university committee, and final scholarship recipients are chosen via a competitive lottery.
  • Official Portal:

4. Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP)

Sweden is not just famous for Spotify and high living standards; it is one of the world’s highest-ranked destinations for innovation, sustainability, and gender equality. The Swedish Institute (SI) Scholarship is designed for ambitious professionals who want to pursue a master’s degree while connecting with a global network of sustainable development leaders.

What the funding covers

100% tuition coverage paid directly to the Swedish university, a monthly living stipend of 12,000 SEK (approximately 鈧1,050), a one-time travel grant of 15,000 SEK, and mandatory membership in the SI Network for Future Global Professionals (NFGP).

Who can apply?

Citizens of eligible countries (including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa) who have accumulated a minimum of 3,000 hours of demonstrated work experience, leadership engagement, or civil society involvement.

Details you need to know

  • The Two-Step Process:
    1. Apply for up to four eligible Master’s programs via Sweden鈥檚 central application portal () between mid-October and mid-January.
    2. Apply separately for the SI Scholarship via the SI portal during a tight 14-day window in February.
  • Strict Documentation: SI provides very specific, standardised templates for CVs, proof of work experience, and reference letters. Using a generic CV format will lead to immediate disqualification.
  • Official Portal:

Get More 91大神 Goodness in Your Mail

Subscribe to our newsletters and never miss any of the action

5. DAAD EPOS Scholarship (Germany)

Germany is already legendary for charging zero tuition fees at public universities, but the DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) scholarship takes things further: they pay you to earn your degree.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), EPOS targets young professionals from developing nations focused on local structural growth, governance, engineering, and healthcare.

What the funding covers

A monthly stipend of 鈧934 for Master鈥檚 candidates (and 鈧1,200 for PhD scholars), international travel grants, medical/accident insurance, research allowances, and mandatory, fully paid German language training prior to your academic program.

Who can apply?

Candidates holding a recognised Bachelor鈥檚 degree (earned within the last six years) and at least two years of relevant post-graduation professional experience in a ministry, Non-Governmental Organisation\(NGO), state agency, or private enterprise related to development.

Details you need to know

  • Application Deadlines: August to November (deadlines vary by specific master’s course).
  • Language Requirements: Courses are taught in English or German. English-taught programs require IELTS/TOEFL scores or official university proof of English-medium instruction, depending on the host institution.
  • Official Portal:

6. Commonwealth Master鈥檚 & PhD Scholarships (UK)

If you are a citizen of a Commonwealth nation (like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, or Uganda), the UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) offers one of the most reliable routes to postgraduate study in Britain.

This scholarship places heavy emphasis on developmental impact: how will your chosen degree help solve challenges like poverty, public health crises, or infrastructure deficits in your home country?

What the funding covers

Full tuition, monthly living allowance (拢1,347 per month, or 拢1,652 for universities in the London area), return economy airfare, thesis grants, study travel allowances, and a specialised warm clothing allowance for winter.

Who can apply?

Citizens or permanent residents of Commonwealth countries holding a First Class or Second Class Upper (2:1) undergraduate degree who cannot afford to study in the UK without scholarship assistance.

Details you need to know

  • Application Window: September to December.
  • Application Routes: You can apply directly through the CSC portal or through designated “Nominating Agencies” (such as national ministries of education or approved non-governmental organisations).
  • Development Themes: Your program must align with one of six primary themes, including Science and technology for development, Improving population health, health systems and capacity, Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, Strengthening peace, security and governance, Strengthening resilience and response to crises and Access, inclusion & opportunity
  • Official Portal:

7. Gates Cambridge & Rhodes Scholarships (Oxford & Cambridge)

For candidates with stellar undergraduate records, deep intellectual curiosity, and exceptional leadership portfolios, the two most prestigious individual university awards in the world open their portals this period.

  • Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Founded by a $210 million donation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge.
  • Rhodes Scholarship: The world鈥檚 oldest international scholarship, bringing outstanding postgraduate scholars to the University of Oxford.

What the funding covers

Both scholarships cover 100% of Oxford or Cambridge composition fees, provide an annual personal living allowance (~拢19,000鈥撀20,000), cover visa and health surcharge costs, and fund round-trip travel.

Who can apply?

Graduates with an exceptional academic record (typically First Class or top-of-the-class standing) alongside proven civic engagement, moral character, and strong leadership instincts.

Details you need to know?

  • Application Window: September to October/early November.
  • Selection Process: Requires rigorous academic proposals, multiple essays, and intensive panel interview rounds for shortlisted candidates.
  • Official Portals: |

The Big Daily is your weekday shortcut to the biggest news shaping Nigeria. We cut through the noise, connect the dots, and explain why the news actually matters, all in one quick read.

8. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is explicitly engineered to train next-generation African leaders. Rather than operating from a single centralised site, the Foundation partners with elite global and continental universities, including the University of Edinburgh, McGill University, Sciences Po, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford.

What the funding covers

End-to-end funding including full tuition fees, student housing, monthly living allowances, learning materials, comprehensive health insurance, round-trip international flights, and structured leadership and career transition mentoring.

Who can apply

Young African nationals with proven academic capability who face significant socio-economic barriers or financial need, and who demonstrate a commitment to community upliftment and returning to work in Africa.

What You Need to Know

  • Application Window: October to January (varies by partner university).
  • How to Apply: Apply directly through the partner university’s dedicated Mastercard Foundation scholarship portal during its graduate admissions cycle.
  • Official Portal:

9. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

If your goal is to pursue advanced scientific research, a PhD, or a post-doctoral fellowship in Europe, Switzerland hosts some of the world’s most elite research hubs (such as ETH Zurich and EPFL). The Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships annually to foster international scientific exchange.

What the funding covers

Full tuition fee exemption, a monthly scholarship grant (CHF 1,920 for PhD candidates), housing allowances, mandatory Swiss health insurance, and return flight support.

Who can apply?

Postgraduate researchers and Master鈥檚 degree holders under the age of 35 who hold a recognised Master鈥檚 degree, a strong academic standing, and a detailed research proposal.

Details you need to know

  • Key Requirement: You must secure a formal letter of acceptance from a host professor at an eligible Swiss public university before submitting your scholarship package.
  • Application Window: September to November (submitted through Swiss embassies in home countries).
  • Official Portal:

How to get your application ready before the portals close 

Knowing which scholarships are open is only 20% of the battle. The remaining 80% comes down to execution. Here is how to ensure your application does not get thrown into the rejection bin:

1. Get all your documents in order now

Do not wait for portals to open before requesting official academic transcripts from your undergraduate institution. If your university takes three weeks to process transcript requests, start today. Gather your degree certificates, statement of results, birth certificates, and passport copies in a single, well-organised, easily accessible folder.

2. Address English proficiency early

While many European and UK institutions accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter confirming that your undergraduate degree was taught in English, major programs such as Wageningen, the Swedish Institute, or Oxford/Cambridge have strict IELTS/TOEFL requirements. Check the official requirements for your target course immediately so you are not caught off guard.

3. Inform your referees in advance

Your lecturers, professors and former line managers are busy human beings. Reach out to them early with your CV, academic summary, and a quick outline of the scholarships you are applying for. Giving your referees a clear 3-week window to submit recommendation letters prevents missed deadlines.

4. Use AI wisely

Selection committees read tens of thousands of essays every single cycle. If your Statement of Purpose sounds like generic AI filler (“I have always been passionate about leveraging technology to synergise global frameworks…“), your application will be dismissed. Tell a clear, grounded story: What problem did you see? What did you do about it? Why this specific program? And what will you build when you finish?

The application window may seem short, but the payoff can alter the trajectory of your life. Pick your target programs, organise your documents, and get your applications in early; your future self will thank you for taking the leap today. We鈥檙e rooting for you. 

]]> 聽7 Nigerians Share the Funniest Ways People Tried to Scam Them /money/7-nigerians-share-the-funniest-ways-people-tried-to-scam-them/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:00:18 +0000 /?p=385363 False bank transfers, fake investment schemes, the Nigerian prince who has asked every foreigner for money. What trickery haven鈥檛 Nigerians been involved in?

While pulling off a scam is terrible, it requires intelligence, and the unsuspecting Nigerians in this article met scammers who lacked the smarts to see their scheme through.

From hiking the price of an item in a young girl鈥檚 presence to inflating public school fees, they shared the most foolish scams they almost fell victim to, and how they felt about them.

鈥淭he market woman took it too far.鈥 鈥 Amara*, 30, F.

I wanted to make coconut rice, and the seller initially told me one coconut cost 鈧2k. Then, she must have heard my voice clearly and suddenly changed the price to 鈧15k.

For context, I schooled in the UK, and I still have a bit of an accent. That apparently gave her the guts to raise the price. When I complained, she started the worst fake accent I鈥檝e ever heard and claimed it cost that much because she shipped it in from 鈥渙verseas.鈥 I was so angry and shouted so much that a small crowd formed.

The woman fought back, saying if I can鈥檛 afford an ordinary coconut, I should go. But it wasn鈥檛 about the cost; it was about the thievery. It wasn鈥檛 until I started speaking Yoruba that she knew she鈥檇 messed up.

She started begging me, but I waited until her boss arrived. When I told her boss what happened, she slapped the girl, apologised profusely, and offered me two coconuts for free. I still gave the boss 鈧4k, the normal price for the items. I walked around the market to get more things, and by the time I was leaving, the girl鈥檚 boss was still yelling at her.

鈥淪he hiked the price because I smiled.鈥 鈥 Amina*, 21, F.

Last week, my contact lens solution ran out, so I went to the mall with my sisters to buy more. Typically, I spend about 鈧5k on the solution, so when the woman at the counter said the price was 鈧4,200, I got excited and smiled at my sisters. The woman smiled along with us, but little did I know it was for a more sinister reason.

She started joking that if I was relieved, then that could not actually be the price. It was all fun and games until she started insisting we pay more. Our smiles dropped as she reiterated that my smiling was too suspicious, and now she had to get 鈥渢he real price.鈥

When she couldn鈥檛 find a different price on her laptop (because why would she?), she looked me dead in the eye with that same foolish grin and said, 鈥淚 have to call my madam.鈥

In shock, I stood with my sisters for another five minutes as she dialled her boss’s unreachable number. I鈥檓 sure that if her boss had picked up, they would have inflated the price no matter the cost of the lens solution.

The woman said we should wait for her boss to answer. Me?  Wait? I took that as a sign from God and fled. She called after us, but she can keep her solution. Even if the cost had risen by 鈧1, I would never have paid.

鈥淭he scam email was so funny that I had to reply.鈥 鈥 Dalu*, 26, M.

I like to think that if you stress your scammer, then you鈥檙e setting the universe in balance. That鈥檚 why last year, when I received a spam email claiming I had won a Lexus, I had to engage. 

It turns out not only had I 鈥渨on鈥 a Lexus, but I鈥檇 earned 鈧5m simply by being picked from a ballot I never entered. When I clicked the link to 鈥渞etrieve鈥 my gifts, it insisted I had to set up an account with 鈧10k. 

Because I鈥檓 not okay, I emailed them asking different questions, from the colour of the Lexus to how I was going to receive the money. They answered each one, and I could tell by their emails that they were getting increasingly frustrated. After about 30 minutes of back-and-forth, I asked the scammer to keep the car because I already had one, but he could send the money to my uncle in EFCC. The scammer called me an idiot and cursed my generation. It was worth it.

鈥淢y daughter tried to make me pay triple her school fees.鈥 鈥 Folarin*, 54, M.

Two years ago, when my daughter was in her second year of university, I decided to teach her some responsibility by having her pay her own school fees. I would hand her all the money she needed, then step back until required.

When I asked my daughter how much her tuition was, she boldly stated that it was 鈧950k per session. I knew it was a lie, especially because the last time it hadn鈥檛 even cost more than 鈧250k, but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I sent her 鈧600k, and a day later, she told me I needed to send the rest, or they鈥檇 increase her fees. 

Calmly, I told her it wasn鈥檛 a problem, and I would call the admin officer to figure something out. Not even two seconds after those words left my mouth, she started fumbling and telling me not to worry, but I insisted. The matter dragged on until she broke down and confessed she had lied. The tuition was actually 鈧300k per session.

She鈥檚 too old to be beaten, so I could only take her phone and yell at her. But if I鈥檓 being honest, it broke my heart that she would lie like that. 

Get More 91大神 Goodness in Your Mail

Subscribe to our newsletters and never miss any of the action

鈥淪he tried to pull a fake alert scam on my girlfriend, then started crying.鈥 鈥 Ebube*, 27, F.

My girlfriend and I went to a small shop in my estate to restock on household items. While paying for her purchases, my girlfriend was overly friendly with the shopkeeper, which I鈥檝e told her to stop because the woman has always been sketchy.

Turns out I was right. On our way home, we realised the shopkeeper had charged my girlfriend 鈧20k instead of 鈧2k. My girlfriend insisted it was a mistake, but I marched right back to the shop and demanded a refund.

My girlfriend isn鈥檛 good at confrontation, so the shopkeeper claimed it had been a mistake and that they couldn鈥檛 refund her. Instead, she had to pick up more things in the shop.

I pushed in front of my babe and gave that girl the lecture of her life. I cursed her and her family, then said, “I鈥檒l take this matter to my uncle, who is a policeman.” (I don鈥檛 even have any uncles left).

I think that did it for her, because she burst into crocodile tears and started begging my girlfriend, saying she鈥檇 done it because her daughter needed some money for school.

My girlfriend sympathised and told the woman not to worry. I was so angry. This was five months ago, but I still get heated when I think about it. I can swear on my life that that shopkeeper doesn鈥檛 even have a daughter.

鈥淪he said she鈥檇 been in an accident, then posted on Facebook.鈥 鈥 Toni*, 32, M.

I鈥檝e done a lot of stupid things for love. The worst one I can remember was three years ago with my ex. She was always in one issue or another that required me to send her money. One time, she claimed an agbero (thug) beat her up, and she needed 鈧6k to go home, but when I went to see her, she looked perfectly fine. Another time, she told me her brother was sick and needed 鈧50k, only for me to learn later that she only had sisters, so she quickly changed it to her male cousin.

However, my final straw was when she lied that she鈥檇 been in a car crash. She called me crying after work, claiming a trailer had hit her while she was walking down the Third Mainland Bridge. Please, for the love of God, who casually walks down the Third Mainland Bridge?

Incidentally, I opened Facebook, and her mother鈥檚 post was the first one I saw. In the picture, she and my girlfriend were having dinner. I鈥檒l never forget that the caption was something along the lines of 鈥渕y greatest blessing,鈥 because all I could think was that surely this girlfriend of mine was a curse.

I screenshotted it and sent it to my girlfriend. She never responded, so I blocked her. This year, she reached out from an unknown number to apologise, saying she had given her life to Christ and had repented. I didn鈥檛 answer. She should repent far away from me.

鈥淪he was selling kilishi, but her profile was dresses.鈥 鈥 Rachel*, 25, F.

About a year ago, I was looking for a dress for my friend’s birthday dinner. I found an Instagram page with pretty dresses, but I was immediately thrown off. Firstly, all the women were white; secondly, she had only 50 followers. Still, I was desperate, so I messaged her.

When I asked about the price of things, she told me her kilishi cost 鈧5k for the smallest one. Kilishi from where? I told her that鈥檚 not what she鈥檚 selling on her page, and she immediately got defensive, saying her page is authentic and anyone who says otherwise is lying. Then, she blocked me.

A few days later, her page was taken down, and I鈥檓 sure it鈥檚 for scamming. Until today, I don鈥檛 understand where kilishi came from. My best guess is she had a scam page for kilishi as well and mixed them up.

READ NEXT: #NairaLife: He Lost a 鈧20m Windfall to His Wife鈥檚 Betrayal. Now He鈥檚 Chasing Luck

]]> Na Me F鈥 Up? I Fought My Mum鈥檚 Boyfriend and Refused to Apologise /ships/fought-boyfriends-mum-refused-apologise/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:57:29 +0000 /?p=385337 David*, 20, has always been extremely close to his mum. She had him when she was just 18, so people sometimes mistake them for siblings. But since David got into a physical altercation with his mum鈥檚 boyfriend and refused to apologise, things between him and his mum haven鈥檛 been the same. 

At the end of this story, you鈥檒l get to decide if David fucked up or not. 

This is David鈥檚 dilemma, as shared with Adeyinka

My mum and I have always had a very unusual relationship. She had me when she was 18, so we鈥檝e never really had that typical mother-and-son dynamic. Sometimes people see us outside and assume she鈥檚 my older sister, especially because she鈥檚 quite small. When I tell them she鈥檚 my mum, they鈥檙e usually shocked.

But beyond how young she looks, we鈥檙e genuinely very close. She鈥檚 probably my best friend. We speak pidgin to each other, and I sometimes call her by her name. It has never been disrespectful because that鈥檚 just how we relate. We can go out together, gist for hours or just spend the day doing random things. There are things I tell her that I probably wouldn鈥檛 tell anyone else.

That was why leaving for university last year was difficult for me. I was supposed to stay in UNILAG, which would have meant I could still come home regularly, but that didn鈥檛 work out. I ended up schooling in Osun State, and it became the longest period I鈥檇 ever spent away from her.

Before then, I didn鈥檛 really know anything about her love life. I knew she occasionally saw men, but she never brought anyone home or made it seem like she was seriously dating anyone. So when I came home for the holidays earlier this year and saw a strange man in the house, I was surprised.

Get More 91大神 Goodness in Your Mail

Subscribe to our newsletters and never miss any of the action

He looked quite young too, maybe in his early 30s. The first thing that happened between us didn鈥檛 exactly help. I stretched out my hand to greet him, but he turned it down and jokingly told me to prostrate. Maybe he was trying to be funny, but I didn鈥檛 find it funny. I immediately decided I didn鈥檛 like him.

My mum wasn鈥檛 home when I arrived, so I had to wait until she came back before she properly introduced us. She could also tell that something was wrong with me because she knows me too well.

She explained that he was her boyfriend and that they鈥檇 been seeing each other quietly for a while. She also told me that she鈥檇 been feeling lonely since I left for school. I understood where she was coming from. I didn鈥檛 expect her to stop living her life because I went to university, and I knew she had every right to date.

So I accepted it. The problem was that accepting him and actually being comfortable around him were two different things.

He was around almost all the time I was home. Before he came into the picture, I could spend time with my mum however I wanted. We could gist, go out or just sit together without thinking about anybody else. Now, whenever I wanted to spend time with her, he was there.

I started feeling like I had to compete for my own mother鈥檚 attention. I also didn鈥檛 like the way he sometimes spoke to me. I tried to ignore it because I didn鈥檛 want to create problems for my mum, but there was already tension between us.

The final incident happened during the week I was supposed to return to school. He asked me to run an errand for him, but I told him I was busy with schoolwork. I wasn鈥檛 trying to be rude. I genuinely had things to do.

He then pushed my head and told me I was being rude. I reacted immediately and hit his hand away. Before I knew what was happening, we were pulling and pushing each other. It wasn鈥檛 some serious fight where we were trying to kill each other, but it became physical enough that my mum heard the noise and came to separate us.

I expected her to at least ask what happened before deciding who was wrong. Instead, she was extremely angry with me. She told me off and made me go do the errand he had asked me to. That hurt me so much.

I kept thinking, 鈥淪o this is how it is now?鈥

This was my mother, the person I鈥檝e always felt closest to, and suddenly I felt like she was more concerned about keeping her boyfriend happy than understanding why I reacted the way I did. She also asked me to apologise to him, but I refused.

Maybe that was where I really messed up. But at the time, I couldn鈥檛 bring myself to do it. I felt like I was being asked to apologise for defending myself, while nobody was asking him to apologise for putting his hands on me first.

I went back to school that week, and I haven鈥檛 been home since March. Normally, during breaks, my mum would call to ask when I was coming home. This time, she hasn鈥檛 pushed me to come back. I鈥檝e also avoided going because I don鈥檛 know what the atmosphere will be like.

We still talk, but it isn鈥檛 the same. I can tell she鈥檚 still angry that I refused to apologise, and I鈥檓 also still hurt by how she handled the situation. The annoying thing is that I actually miss her.

I miss our random conversations. I miss being able to come home and just sit with her. I even miss the way we can speak to each other in Pidgin and laugh about things nobody else would understand.

Part of me wants to go home and pretend nothing happened, but another part of me is still angry. I keep wondering whether she genuinely chose her boyfriend over me, or if I鈥檓 letting my hurt blow things out of proportion.

My cousins think I should apologise just to make peace with my mum, even if I still believe her boyfriend was wrong. They say refusing to apologise is only making things worse and that, at the end of the day, I鈥檓 the one losing time with my mum.

Maybe they鈥檙e right. But I also don鈥檛 want to apologise just because I鈥檓 scared of losing my relationship with her. I want her to understand why I was hurt and why I reacted the way I did.

I love my mum, and I know she loves me. That鈥檚 what makes this whole thing more painful. Now I鈥檓 wondering if I fucked up by refusing to apologise, or if I鈥檓 allowed to be angry that she didn鈥檛 take my side when I needed her to.

Did David F*uck up or not? Take the poll .

 *Names have been changed to protect the identity of the subjects.

]]> Her Ex Threatened to Leak Her Nudes. Here鈥檚 What She Did /citizen/sextortion-nigeria-how-to-get-help/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:19:02 +0000 /?p=385334 Written by Tezor Dedam

After what seemed like the longest breakup, Efe could not shake off her ex. He was adamant: waiting for her outside the gym, calling her mother, and sending her voice notes that could pass for audiobooks. She was gentle and graceful; it was a rough time for both of them. But then things got incredibly worse when he started sending her intimate photos and videos of herself, material she had shared with him months prior when they were actively dating. 

Every Snapchat notification with his name attached to it started to feel weirder and weirder. She confronted him about these pictures and videos, and he claimed she was the one who sent them to him in the first place. Weeks later, these messages came with subtle threats, 

“If I was a bad person now, I would have sent these pictures to people from our church youth group鈥澛

Then it spiralled from there into months of abuse, blackmail, and gaslighting. It was a long, draining, and systematic game of chess that she is still traumatised by.

According to the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), 54,000 Nigerians have been caught in with reported cases spiking 30% between October 2024 and March 2025. There鈥檚 no threshold for trust, and if it can鈥檛 happen to you, then it can happen to your friend, cousin, brother, colleague, or niece.

Here鈥檚 where to get help if you are being sextorted.

Don鈥檛 pay, don鈥檛 panic-delete, and don鈥檛 ignore

Sextortion can be for money, favours, more pictures/videos or just outright abuse.

If money is the case, . So paying will probably be a bad idea. They will probably ask for more after you pay the first time, and you鈥檒l just be digging yourself further into a ditch.

You should also screenshot everything. If you鈥檙e tempted to wipe everything as a way to make it all go away, you are better off documenting all of it – their messages, profile pictures/details, phone numbers, emails, payment details, everything.

StopNCII

You can actually have your pictures removed from the internet. is the single most useful tool in this regard, and so many people might not know it exists. To use this platform, you upload the image on your own device and convert it into a digital fingerprint, known as a hash. 

This image will not be uploaded to StopNCII or anywhere on the web. The platform uses digital fingerprinting technology and shares this digital fingerprint (the hash) across social media platforms such as Meta/Instagram/Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Bumble, Pornhub, OnlyFans, Threads, etc. 

So basically, you can automatically block it from ever being posted or reposted on these sites. This can be done before the images are shared, and can even block the images after they have been shared. The platform will continue to scrub the internet for these images/videos moving forward, and you can choose to withdraw your case at any time.

The Big Daily is your weekday shortcut to the biggest news shaping Nigeria. We cut through the noise, connect the dots, and explain why the news actually matters, all in one quick read.

Report to Nigerian Law Enforcement

Your first choice here would be the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) is the designated party for this. The NPF-NCCC have an e-reporting portal for filing complaints without having to visit the station: . You can email them at nationalcybercrimecenter@nccc.npf.gov.ng, and call them via +2349168343711 and +2349168343710.

However, some discretion should be exercised in this regard. has associated victim-blaming, dismissive treatment, financial extortion, gender stereotyping and lack of empathy with the Nigerian police in cases like this.

You can also thread the path of NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons), which now has a dedicated Cybersecurity Response Team handling sextortion and online exploitation specifically. You can reach them on these hotlines: 07030000203 or the shortcode 627.

If you have paid any money, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) can be contacted as well.

Social and legal support

If you want to get a sense of what is going on, how to navigate it, and what support is available, there are a group of organisations that pair legal support with trauma support. 

Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), Mirable Centre, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Lagos State, and Cece Yara Foundation (for minors) are just some of the organisations you can get in contact with.

They not only provide legal advice, emotional support, and trauma care; they can also help you with a better understanding of your own peculiar situation and the right steps to take.

Sextortion is usually intended to make you feel like you have no options. It leverages shame and thrives on silence. So the moment you act in the right way, you take power back from the blackmailer, and you just might be saving the next person as well. So act fast, document everything, and remind yourself that help is always available.

]]> GridLocked: Can You Guess The Actor? (5 October 2026) /games/gridlocked/gridlocked-5-10-2026/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:20:27 +0000 /?p=385330 GridLocked is a daily pop culture guessing game built for Nigerians. Every weekday by 9am, you’ll get six clues, sixty seconds, and an answer only a Nigerian would know.

Today’s GridLocked is an actor.

How many clues do you need to get it right? 馃憖

Share your result when done, but don鈥檛 spoil the answer for others. (Missed the last GridLocked? Play it here.)

5 October 2026

Come back every weekday by 9am for a new grid or , 91大神鈥檚 daily newsletter, to get new GridLocked puzzles, real Nigerian stories and other fun content in your inbox.

How to Play GridLocked

  • The Goal: Guess the answer for the day before time runs out. (The answer could be a Nigerian person, place, song, movie, or even slang.)
  • The Lock: You cannot type a guess until you have revealed at least one tile (clue).
  • The Reveal: Tap any tile to reveal a clue. Every clue describes the answer for the day. The fewer tiles you flip, the better.
  • The Clock: You have 60 seconds to guess right. The timer starts the moment you flip your first tile. (You get multiple guesses.)

The GridLocked Squares: What Do They Mean?

When the game ends, you see your guess count, total time spent, and the number of tiles flipped. The tiles are shown as white and purple squares.

  • 猬 (White) = A tile you flipped
  • (Purple) = A tile you left closed

The fewer white tiles you have, the better your result.

  • Best Result = 猬馃煪 | Guesses: 1 (Only needed one clue and one guess to get it right)

]]> #NairaLife: He Lost a 鈧20m Windfall to His Wife鈥檚 Betrayal. Now He鈥檚 Chasing Luck /money/nairalife-he-lost-a-20m-windfall-to-his-wifes-betrayal/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:30:00 +0000 /?p=385322 Every week,聽91大神 seeks to understand how people move the Naira in and out of their lives. Some stories will be struggle-ish, others will be bougie. All the time, it鈥檒l be revealing.

Panic doesn’t come from borrowing; it comes from being locked into repayments you can’t manage. Carbon does things differently. We skip the hidden fees and surprise charges to give you transparent rates and terms that fit your budget. Emergency? Business growth? Unexpected bill? Get the support you need without losing your peace of mind. Borrow smart, breathe easy, and keep moving forward.
.

Nairalife 393 bio

What鈥檚 your earliest memory of money?

I remember being around seven or eight years old, watching my mother meticulously count naira notes into small nylon bags. She ran a small bukka, and my elder sister and I would go straight there after school to help her. 

Then, after closing up for the day, we would sit with her on a wooden bench to sort the cash. Sometimes, my mum gave us 鈧20 or 鈧50 each as a reward for working hard.

What was money like at home?

Money wasn’t abundant in our house, but we always had food because of my mum鈥檚 business. My father was a bricklayer who worked on building sites. He didn鈥檛 make much money, but he tried his best. While we didn鈥檛 get things like new clothes or shoes, I don鈥檛 think my sister and I were ever sent out of school for non-payment of fees. 

My dad strongly believed in not doing more than his ability. If he knew he couldn鈥檛 comfortably pay for something, he wouldn鈥檛 even start it. I remember wanting to go to a private secondary school that my neighbourhood friend attended. My dad said, 鈥淚f I pay for this term, where will I see money for next term?鈥

Also, my dad was proud in that he never begged for financial assistance or expected others to help him. He always said, 鈥淚f you don’t sweat for your money, it won’t last.鈥 

I used to think that didn鈥檛 make sense. Why not take free money if you can? Must you suffer for money? Now that I think about it, considering how my life has gone, he was probably right.

Let鈥檚 start from the beginning. When was the first time you worked to earn your own money?

That was in 2013, right after I finished my OND in Hospitality Management. I got a job as a waiter/receptionist at a hotel in Ibadan, earning 鈧18,000 a month. 

I used my first salary to buy my friend鈥檚 old Tecno phone. I was supposed to pay him 鈧25,000, but I never paid him the balance. I spent three years at that hotel, and my salary only increased once, to 鈧22,000. In 2017, I decided to relocate to Lagos to look for bigger opportunities.

Did you find these opportunities?

Yes. I moved in with a friend in Ikorodu, and with his contacts, I got a job as a front desk officer at a hotel in Ikeja. I initially thought my new salary of 鈧45,000/month was an upgrade. But after paying transport costs, contributing to household expenses, and buying a few clothes to look presentable, I was living from hand to mouth.

By 2019, I had moved up to supervisor, and my salary had risen to 鈧65,000. That was also around the time I discovered sports betting.

How did you get into gambling?

It started as normal gisting during weekend football matches. The other guys I worked with at the hotel would always talk about codes and sure odds. It never really interested me until one night when one guy won 鈧75,000 on a 鈧500 stake. I thought, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 the harm in trying?鈥

I started playing with 鈧200 or 鈧500 here and there. I mostly lost, but I won between 鈧5,000 and 鈧15,000 a few times, and it felt like free money. Slowly, it became a regular habit. My 鈧65k salary wasn鈥檛 big money, and I was spending almost everything trying to survive. Betting gave me hope that I could win extra cash someday and make my life easier for a while.

Did this hope ever come true?

The life of a gambler is funny because I never really made any significant money from that 2019 to 2024, but I kept gambling almost every week. It was just loss upon loss, with small wins of about 鈧15,000, or at most 鈧40,000, here and there.聽

Anytime I wanted to stop, I would think, 鈥淲hat if today is the day I win big?鈥 If I calculate it, I was spending at least 鈧15,000 on sports betting every month. Of course, that meant my already small salary was no longer enough to manage, and around 2021, I started regularly taking loans to supplement it.

Loan apps?

It was a mix of loan apps and small small loans from work colleagues. I always tried to avoid loan apps as much as possible because of the interest rates. 

I promptly repaid the loans I took from colleagues because they saw me every day, and I couldn鈥檛 escape them. The apps were a different matter. I hardly paid them back. At one point, I was changing SIM cards every two months because loan apps kept disturbing me with calls. 

In 2023, I moved to another hotel as a manager, and my salary increased to 鈧80,000. The new job came with accommodation, so the money I spent on transportation reduced. I also started seriously dating a colleague. She was one of the kitchen staff, and I really liked her. This decision would come back to bite me later.

In mid-2024, gambling finally paid me big.

Tell me about it

It was a huge stroke of luck. I got very sure odds from a punter and bet 鈧20,000 on a multiple-game ticket of about 20 games with crazy odds. I had played similar multiple bets like that before, even with 鈥渧ery sure odds鈥, but one or two games always cut the ticket. 

But that day, I just had a feeling something good would happen. And I was right. By the end of the night, I had won a little over 鈧20 million.

What goes through a man’s mind when he wins 鈧20 million just like that?

Omo. I think I ran mad for a minute. I screamed so loud that some hotel guests on the floor above my room woke up. I couldn’t breathe. I checked the screen like ten times. I withdrew 鈧500k first just to test if it was real. When the bank alert dropped, I just started crying. I felt like God had finally answered my prayers.

We surveyed 5,000 workers across Nigeria鈥檚 formal and informal sectors to examine what Nigerians earn, where the money goes, and whether hard work actually translates to financial security. This is what we found. Download the 91大神 State of Income Report.

What did you do with the money?

The very next morning, I called my girlfriend. She was about three months pregnant at the time, and that period had been really tough for us. Her family was putting pressure on us to marry, saying it was against their tradition to have a child outside wedlock. 

I had been trying to push back and get her to abort since I didn鈥檛 have money, but once I won that money, I decided our story had changed. I told her God had blessed us and that our wedding was finally happening. She was happy too, and we started planning immediately.

To show how stupid I was, I didn鈥檛 think of a business I could do with the money, or even investments. Instead, my priorities were: the wedding, securing a house, and settling down.

How much went into the wedding?

In total, I spent about 鈧3 million on the traditional and white wedding. I wanted to impress her family and show them that their daughter was marrying a real man. I also bought a used Toyota car for 鈧3.3 million and rented a one-room apartment for 鈧800k.

During the wedding preparations, my wife introduced me to a man who looked to be in his early 40s. She called him 鈥渟mall daddy,鈥 and said he was her cousin from her mother’s side. Apparently, he had been the one taking care of her since her dad lost his job.

Small Daddy was a real estate developer and seemed extremely knowledgeable about property. Remember, one of my plans for the money I won was to secure a house. He convinced me to buy a plot of land and build a house in Ogun State. 

He sha packaged it and said 鈧12 million would get me the land, secure all the documents and complete like 40% of the building. Then I could give him money in instalments over the next couple of months to complete the building.

Did you agree to this?

Yes. My wife strongly vouched for him, and I felt it was better to work with a relative. At least, if anything went wrong, I could get the family involved.

So, towards the end of 2024, I gave him 鈧12 million in three instalments to buy the land and start building. In January 2025, I started asking to visit the site. Up until then, Small Daddy had been sending pictures and videos of the supposed construction. Every time I tried to visit the site, my wife would give an excuse. It was either that he was out of town inspecting another project, or someone was sick.

One Saturday morning, I told my wife I was going to the site, whether Small Daddy was around or not. I traced the site address he had written on the receipts he gave me. You won鈥檛 believe what I saw when I got there.

What did you see?

Absolutely nothing. Just bush and some farm land where the villagers were farming cassava. By now, neither my wife nor Small Daddy was picking up my calls. Confused, I showed the villagers the land receipts, but they said the names on them were unfamiliar and that they didn鈥檛 know of any land that had been recently sold.

To cut a long story short, I returned home and didn鈥檛 meet my wife and our one-month-old child. She had packed every single thing in the house, down to the last spoon. I had only left the house for like four hours o.

Ah. Do you know where she went?

Till today, I haven鈥檛 used my eyes to see her. She just dropped the child off with her parents and disappeared. Our neighbour said he saw her packing that day and that Small Daddy had come to pick her up with a truck. When the neighbour asked what was happening, she said we were moving to our new house.

Her family still claims they don鈥檛 know where she is, but I think they鈥檙e lying. It was also from making enquiries about her whereabouts that I learned Small Daddy wasn鈥檛 even her relative. He was her long-time boyfriend from her university days. They must have planned the entire thing together the moment she told him I won 鈧20 million. That鈥檚 how they ran away with my money.

Damn. How did you process that level of betrayal?

I fell sick and couldn鈥檛 sleep for days. I would just sit on the floor of my room staring at the ceiling. I鈥檓 not sure how I managed to go to work during that period. Anytime I thought about the fact that I won 鈧20 million and lost it all within seven months, my head would just start paining me. It鈥檚 by God鈥檚 grace that I didn鈥檛 run mad. It still feels like a dream.

Some people suggested using the police to track them, but I had already spent the whole 鈧20 million and didn鈥檛 want to waste money I didn鈥檛 have on police. I believe I鈥檒l catch her one day, sha. Our child is still with my wife鈥檚 family, and I have people who will notify me if they see my wife around the area.

Get More 91大神 Goodness in Your Mail

Subscribe to our newsletters and never miss any of the action

What鈥檚 your income like these days?

I鈥檓 still working as a hotel manager, earning 鈧85,000/month. I had to return to living in the hotel sometime last year because I couldn鈥檛 afford rent again. 

My car has been at a mechanic鈥檚 garage for months. The engine has problems, and I鈥檝e been constantly fixing it. The only solution now is to buy another one, and that will cost about 鈧800k – 鈧1.2 million, which I don鈥檛 have. I鈥檓 not sure why I bought a car in the first place. Maybe I felt every millionaire needed to have a car. Plus, the money felt like it would never finish then. See me now, I鈥檓 worse off than when I won it. There鈥檚 absolutely nothing to prove that kind of money passed through my account. 

Funny enough, I didn鈥檛 even tell my parents about it. They know I won some money, but I didn鈥檛 tell them the full amount. They assumed that was what I used to fund my wedding. They know my wife left me for another man, but don鈥檛 know she took my money. Imagine if my dad knew how much was involved. He would insult me so much.

But I still believe I can make it again. I鈥檓 still betting, and I just need another big win.

You鈥檙e still gambling?

I don鈥檛 have a choice. The hope that things can change any day is what is keeping me going. I haven鈥檛 won anything since I started betting again, but it can happen. If I make another big win, I won鈥檛 tell anybody. I鈥檒l just make my moves in silence.

I鈥檓 also trying to be reasonable. I try to bet only 鈧10,000 a month, so it won鈥檛 pain me too much if I don鈥檛 win anything. I also started a 鈧10,000 monthly ajo contribution this year. I鈥檒l collect mine in December and think of a business I can start.

Let鈥檚 break down your typical monthly expenses

Nairalife 393 expenses

I get small tips occasionally from guests checking in, which adds maybe 鈧10,000 to 鈧15,000 extra to my pocket monthly.

I still take loans from colleagues and loan apps from time to time, so that鈥檚 what the loan repayments are for. Currently, I owe about 鈧55k in total: 鈧10k to a colleague and the remaining from a loan app.

Is there an ideal amount of money you think you should be earning?

I believe I could do a lot if I were earning 鈧200k/month. I would be able to save and think about what I can do with my life to earn extra money. Right now, it just feels like I鈥檓 stuck with no clear direction. 

I still believe very much that my luck can shine and I can win big again, but I don鈥檛 know exactly when that will happen. So, for the meantime, I鈥檓 just waiting and hoping.

Do you ever feel like the gambling itself is keeping you trapped?

Sometimes, when I lose a ticket, I blame myself and wish I had never even started betting in the first place. Maybe if I had not won that 鈧20 million, I鈥檇 have abandoned betting at some point since I wasn鈥檛 getting anything from it. But that money showed me what was possible. I鈥檓 not sure I can just stop totally. I鈥檒l just be thinking, 鈥淲hat if?鈥 

Hmmm. How would you rate your financial happiness on a scale of 1-10?

2. That鈥檚 because I鈥檓 alive and still have a job that provides me with accommodation. But I鈥檓 nowhere near happy with where I am in life right now.

If you’re interested in talking about your Naira Life story, this is a good place to start.

Find all the past Naira Life stories聽here.

Subscribe to the newsletter here.

]]> Sunken Ships: My Ex Wanted a Favour聽Two Weeks After Dumping Me. I Blocked Her /ships/ex-wanted-a-favour-after-dumping-me/ Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 /?p=385318 Sunken Ships is a 91大神 weekly series that explores the how and why of the end of all relationships 鈥 familial, romantic or just good old friendships.

When Philip* (26) met Tooni*(24) at a mutual friend鈥檚 birthday party, they clicked almost immediately. Two months later, they were dating, and he thought they were building something strong.

Then Tooni moved in with new roommates, and their relationship changed.

For Sunken Ships, Philip talks about watching their relationship fall apart, the post-breakup request that made him block her number, and how this has affected the way he views love.

How did you and Tooni meet?

We met at a mutual friend鈥檚 birthday party in December 2024. We got paired up for the night鈥檚 games, and I felt a strong connection to her. She seemed to feel it too, because when I asked for her number afterwards, she gave it to me and told me to text her.

That鈥檚 so cute. How did things progress from there?

We talked for over a month. Then, in February 2025,  I asked her to be my Valentine and my girlfriend. She said yes, and that was the start of our journey. It was beautiful in those early days. 

She鈥檇 cook during her meal prep and send food to me. When we hung out, she鈥檇 make cute videos of us and send them to me while I was at work to lift my mood. She was also a great listener, and I loved talking to her about anything and everything. 

She was a hard worker too, so I tried to support her ambitions. When she asked me to help build a website for her shoe retail business, I was happy to do it.

Were there parts of your relationship that didn鈥檛 feel so perfect?

Not really. It felt like our problems appeared all at once.  We went from being two people in love to constantly arguing over little things.
In April, she had to move because of some issues with her previous roommate. Her new roommates were old friends, but I think living with them changed her.

She started picking fights and comparing our relationship to her friends鈥. She complained that I didn鈥檛 spend enough time with her and that I couldn鈥檛 afford some of the expensive experiences she wanted us to have, like high-end dinner dates. 

I tried to make more time for her, but I work a nine-to-five, so there was only so much free time I had. I also promised to be more intentional about taking her on a proper date at least once every quarter.

Get More 91大神 Goodness in Your Mail

Subscribe to our newsletters and never miss any of the action

Did that help?

At first, it seemed like it did. A few weeks later, though, we were back to the same arguments.

I was also under a lot of pressure at work, so I know I wasn鈥檛 always as patient as I could have been. But I felt like Tooni cared a lot about how our relationship looked to other people. I didn鈥檛.

As long as we were happy, I didn鈥檛 care what anyone thought about us. But it mattered to her that people saw us in a particular way.

I didn鈥檛 like it, but I was willing to compromise if it would help us stay together. Then everything changed in November 2025.

What happened?

She finished her service year, and her roommates took her out with some other friends to celebrate. I don鈥檛 have all the details, but I suspect she met someone else that night.

After that outing, she became cold and hard to reach. We went from fighting a few times a month to barely speaking. I was worried we were drifting apart, so I tried even harder to get her to engage with me. But in early December, she broke up with me.

She said we didn鈥檛 have enough shared ambition and that she wanted someone more driven. Apparently, she didn鈥檛 think I was driven enough for her.

Wow. How did you take that?

It hurt because I genuinely enjoyed our relationship when things were good. I missed the connection we had, but I tried to move on quickly. Checking her social media helped me do that, strangely enough. She seemed happy and was already posting with a new man.

What surprised me was how much it hurt to see her post him more than she ever posted me when we were together. Eventually, I had to stop thinking about it and move on.

Have you spoken to her since the breakup?

Yes, she reached out about two weeks later. 

I thought she wanted to see how I was doing or explain why she moved on so quickly. Instead, she asked if I鈥檇 be willing to update and maintain her shoe website for free in the future, for 鈥榦ld times’ sake.

I was so annoyed that I hung up and blocked her number. I wouldn鈥檛 have minded if she had asked for a discount or some other arrangement. But after breaking up with me, she still expected me to maintain her website for free. It felt like she was trying to use the soft spot I still had for her to get unpaid work from me.

Would you ever consider getting back together?

No, losing her hurt me a lot at first, but I think enough time has passed. Maybe the truth is that we weren鈥檛 right for each other. I just know that right now, I want something different in my next partner.

Has this affected the way you view romantic relationships?

Not really.  I see it as one of those things you experience on the streets. 

I still believe in love, and it may take a while, but I鈥檒l find my better half eventually.

]]> 聽鈥淗e Was Embarrassing, But I Took His Millions鈥 鈥 6 Nigerian Women on Taking Money From Men They Disliked /money/he-was-embarrassing-but-i-took-his-millions-6-nigerian-women-on-taking-money-from-men-they-disliked/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 09:41:19 +0000 /?p=385306 Money and expensive gifts are often more meaningful when gifted by a lover or dear friend.

However, for the Nigerian women in this article, money and gifts came from suitors who made them shudder, yet they continued accepting the generosity. 

Whether the men were too old, disloyal, or simply annoying, here are six Nigerian women who hated these men but accepted their money and gifts anyway.

鈥淢y father鈥檚 best friend gave me money, then died.鈥 鈥 Nkechi*, 22.

My father鈥檚 best friend would always come to our house to hang out with my dad on the weekends. However, two years ago, he turned his attention to me. He told me he liked me, but as a lesbian and someone several years younger than him, I wasn鈥檛 interested.

That all changed when he started giving me money. He would hand me 鈧50k here, 鈧100k there, and sometimes I would flirt back just to keep the money rolling. Once, he gave me 鈧300k at a go. In my defence, I was an unemployed youth; where else was I going to see that kind of money?

Anyway, this went on for months, and even though I felt trapped, I continued taking his money.

Luckily for me, he died last year, so now I鈥檓 a free woman.

鈥淗e gave me everything I asked for, but I was ashamed of him.鈥 鈥 Bisola*, 24.

I dated this man a few months ago. He gave me everything I wanted and, on average, spent between 鈧700k and 鈧1 million on anything I asked for.

While he isn鈥檛 a bad person, he just wasn鈥檛 the man for me. I thought he was unattractive and completely out of my league. I鈥檓 sure my friends would have laughed at me if they saw us together. Look, I know it sounds harsh, but it鈥檚 the truth.

There鈥檚 this particular thing he did that I couldn鈥檛 get past. He would take a swig of water and then slosh it around in his mouth three times before swallowing. What sort of strange habit is that?

Anyway, I decided it wasn鈥檛 worth the shame to put myself through that, so I stopped talking to him. He begged me to come back, but enough was enough.

鈥淚 indulged a food seller until he treated me like a dog.鈥 鈥 Lola*, 24.

Most women put up with annoying men for money. I did it for food.

When I was in university about two years ago, I ran into this man who sold food at one of the hostels. He collected my number, and at first I didn鈥檛 think that meant anything, but then he called me a few days later to tell me he loved me.

As bizarre as that call was, it changed my life for a year. Every time I went to that hostel, he would give me any food I wanted for free, and I don鈥檛 mean the cheap food. This man would give me shawarma, ice cream, and jollof rice with the biggest chicken or turkey available. To explain how insane this situation was, I ate lunch every day during my third year of university, but I didn鈥檛 pay a kobo for any of it. He gave me food every single day.

I would have continued eating my free meals if the man hadn鈥檛 spoiled things. One day, I was walking back from class with a friend when I saw the seller. I鈥檇 never seen him outside his hostel before, so I could never have anticipated what he did next.

He whistled at me like I was a random woman he was catcalling on the street. I ignored him and walked away faster. From that day, I never set foot in his hostel again.

He left a while after that, though I don鈥檛 know when. Then, a year later, he called me to tell me I had used him, and I was stupid. I blocked his number. Thank God I escaped him, but every time I have to pay for food now, I think of him.

鈥淚t was fine until he got controlling.鈥 鈥 Amaka*, 26.

Boredom drove me into the arms of a man I didn鈥檛 really care for. I didn鈥檛 hate him, but I wasn’t obsessed with him either. What I was obsessed with was his willingness to spend on me.

He would pay for my hair, my nails, get me clothes, or just give me money, usually about 鈧40k at a time. In six months, he spent about 鈧750k on me. While I appreciated the gifts, I hated the control that came with them. If he gave me money, he鈥檇 demand to know what I was spending it on or who I was spending it with. I started to feel suffocated in a prison of my own making.

Thank God for free will, because I used mine and left him. Rather than accept this, he got really angry and told me I had used him. He demanded I pay him back every dime he ever spent on me, and when I ignored that absurd request, he started harassing my friends and me with phone calls.

I鈥檓 very lucky he eventually got over it, because who knows where I would be today if he hadn鈥檛?

Get More 91大神 Goodness in Your Mail

Subscribe to our newsletters and never miss any of the action

鈥淗e sent me 鈧2m while he had a gf, so I told her and gave her 鈧650k.鈥 鈥 Chigozie*, 24.

My brother met this boy at a wedding and started bringing him to our apartment. That boy ended up being one of the most attractive men I鈥檝e ever seen. When he started flirting with me, I was open to it like mad. We might have even become something serious if I hadn鈥檛 found out he had a girlfriend.

She was on all his socials: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook (mind you, he didn’t even use Facebook). When I confronted him in a rage, he laughed it off, saying he could have two girlfriends, couldn鈥檛 he? Maybe he could, but definitely not with me.

Since he was my brother鈥檚 friend, he kept coming over, so there was no escaping him. So, instead of letting him play me for a fool, I got two steps ahead.

He started trying to give me money to sleep with him, and I would take the money, promise sex, and bail at the last minute. When I was satisfied with how much money he had given me, which was 鈧2m in total, I located his girlfriend and told her everything he was doing. Then, because I鈥檓 a girl鈥檚 girl, I gave her 鈧650k of the money I鈥檇 saved.

She thanked me, broke up with him, and I blocked him. The boy no longer comes to my apartment, and my brother is still salty about it, but that鈥檚 not my business. Next time, he should pick better friends. I can buy him an apology gift with the millions his friend left me.

鈥淢y bully tried to become my lover.鈥 鈥 Bisola*, 23.

When I was in secondary school, there was a boy who was horrible to me. He would bully me until I cried, and naturally, I hated him. Fast forward to us being adults, and his feelings toward me had drastically changed because, out of the blue, he told me he liked me.

He backed up this talk with money, about 鈧150k鈥撯偊200k a week for six months. In my defence, I did try to like him back. I would tell myself he had changed, and people can change, but the trauma he put me through as a child was far stronger than reason.

He also tried to have sex with people when we stopped talking for a bit. That was the nail in the coffin, and it made me ask myself what the point of being with him was. I was suffering trying to make sense of him, so I stopped trying.

I left him, and he begged me in tears to take him back, but I was too mentally checked out to try.

READ NEXT: 鈥淚 Spent Over 鈧3m on a Wedding and Entered Debt鈥 鈥 10 Nigerians on How They Fumbled Their First Big Payout

]]> 1,000 HIFU Treatments in Nigeria: What This Milestone Means for Women鈥檚 Health /announcements/hifu-treatments-in-nigeria-what-this-milestone-means/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:33:40 +0000 /?p=385289 If you鈥檙e a woman living with or , you are already aware that choosing a treatment isn鈥檛 just about getting rid of a problem. You鈥檙e also thinking about fertility, recovery time, work, family life and how much the treatment might disrupt your everyday life.

It鈥檚 exactly this reason why having more treatment options matters a lot. In Nigeria, HIFU is one of those options.聽 introduced ultrasound-guided HIFU in Nigeria in 2021 and has now completed 1,000 HIFU treatments for fibroids and adenomyosis.聽

So, what does this milestone mean for women?

1. Let鈥檚 Get Into It: What Even is HIFU?聽

If you鈥檝e been hearing about HIFU but still have zero idea about what it actually means, don鈥檛 worry. We鈥檙e here to make things a little easier for you.聽

HIFU stands for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound. It uses concentrated ultrasound energy to heat and remove targeted tissue. In fibroid treatment, the treated tissue is slowly broken down and absorbed by the body, allowing the fibroid to shrink over time. 

2. So, Why Does HIFU Matter?聽

Fibroids can affect women in many ways. Some women have no symptoms, while others experience heavy or prolonged periods, pelvic pain, pressure, urinary symptoms or pain during sex. 

For Nigerian women who have needed treatment, having access to a treatment like HIFU means having another option to consider, and that鈥檚 a great thing. 

3. Is HIFU Suitable for Everyone?聽

Not necessarily. 

Fibroids often differ in size, number and location, so HIFU should not be presented as a one-size-fits-all solution. Your symptoms, reproductive plans, and even the characteristics of your fibroid all matter when it comes to deciding if HIFU is the right treatment option for you. A specialist can assess your condition and talk you through available treatment options. 

4. Okay, But Does it Actually Work?

Research has found that HIFU can significantly improve fibroid symptoms and the patient鈥檚 quality of life while also reducing fibroid size. However, it is not a permanent fix, even though we wish it were. Just like treating with surgery, fibroids can recur or develop again, and some women may eventually need another intervention. The goal is therefore to treat the condition in a way that is appropriate for the individual patient, rather than to promise that a single procedure ends the story.

5. What About Adenomyosis?

Good question. Adenomyosis is different from fibroids, even though they can cause similar symptoms, such as heavy bleeding and painful periods. It happens when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows into the muscle of the uterus.

HIFU can target the affected tissue without removing the uterus, making it an option for some women. However, it isn鈥檛 a guaranteed fertility treatment, and outcomes can vary.

6. If Having Children is a Part of the Plan

It is easy to see why fertility becomes part of the HIFU conversation. Since the treatment does not involve the removal of the uterus, it may be attractive to women who want to preserve the possibility of future pregnancy. However, keeping the uterus and proving that a treatment improves fertility are not the same thing. Your chances of getting pregnant can depend on your fibroids, your overall fertility and other individual factors. 

If you want children in the future, do make sure to have an extensive conversation with your gynea about how each treatment may affect your fertility before deciding.

7. Nigeria鈥檚 Role Goes Beyond Having the Technology

The development of HIFU at Fibroid Care Centre @ Nordica also creates opportunities for Nigerian clinicians to build expertise through training and ongoing work with the technology.

The wider significance is that healthcare innovation is not only about bringing equipment into the country. It is about developing the people, systems and expertise needed to use that technology properly and sustainably. For Nigerian women, that can mean greater access to advanced treatment without automatically having to seek care abroad.

8. Local Access Could Also Help Reduce Medical Tourism

For women who would spend millions to travel abroad so they can access HIFU, having the treatment available in Nigeria means they can explore an option closer to their home soil. It also gives Nigerians living abroad the opportunity to return home for care.聽

Fibroid Care Centre @ Nordica says it also receives patients from other African countries, including Ghana and Senegal, creating the potential for Nigeria to serve women across the region seeking HIFU. 

9. The Bigger Milestone Here? More Appropriate Choices for Women

The most important takeaway here is not that HIFU should replace other treatments. It is that women鈥檚 reproductive healthcare works better when treatment can be tailored to the person rather than reduced to one standard solution. 

Ultimately, innovation should offer women more options rather than present a single treatment as the answer for everyone. The 1,000-treatment milestone means HIFU is now one of those options for women in Nigeria. 

]]>