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A few years ago, TikTok was primarily used for dancing, trends, and lip-syncing. Now, it鈥檚 one of the biggest money-making platforms in the world. Creators are cashing out from brand deals, affiliate sales, and even gifts from live streams, and you don鈥檛 need millions of followers to join them.

If you鈥檝e ever wondered how people make money on TikTok, this 2025 guide breaks it down with tips you can start using today.

5 Legit Ways to Make Money on TikTok in Nigeria

in multiple ways: through live gifts, affiliate links, brand partnerships, and more. The best part? You don鈥檛 need millions of followers to earn. What really matters is engagement 鈥� how many people genuinely interact with your content. A micro-creator with 10,000 loyal followers who trust their product reviews can earn more than a big creator with 200,000 ghost followers.

TikTok鈥檚 algorithm also gives new creators a fair shot at visibility, so even if you鈥檙e just starting, one well-crafted post can reach thousands of people. With the right niche, consistency, and a smart strategy, you can absolutely make money on TikTok in 2025.

Whether you鈥檙e a content creator, business owner, or just someone looking for a side hustle, here are five proven ways to make money on TikTok in 2025.

1. Use TikTok to Promote and Grow Your Business

TikTok can be your biggest free marketing tool. Whether you鈥檙e selling thrift fashion, food, skincare products, or digital services, TikTok gives you a stage to showcase your work and reach new customers without paying for ads.

It鈥檚 one of the fastest ways to build visibility. Think of it as your digital shopfront: every video is a chance to pull someone new into your business.

鈥淭ikTok is the new storefront,鈥� says digital marketer and creator, Ifeanyi*. 鈥淚 get 80% of my clients from the platform.鈥�

When Ifeanyi* first joined TikTok in 2022, he posted short videos explaining simple marketing hacks and ad strategies for small businesses. Within a few years, his follower count grew from 300 to 15,000, and those views began to translate into paying consultations. 鈥淧eople would comment, 鈥楥an you help me set this up?鈥� or click the link in my bio to book sessions,鈥� he says.

For , TikTok became her biggest sales channel. She started by posting behind-the-scenes videos of her crafting and packaging processes. One video showing how she customises wired necklaces hit 15,000 views, and she sold out her stock that week. 鈥淏efore TikTok, I only sold through WhatsApp,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ow, most of my customers come straight from the app.鈥�

鈥淚f you know how to teach or share value, TikTok will find your audience,鈥� adds freelance designer Zainab. 鈥淚 post design tutorials and freelancing tips, and I鈥檝e landed client projects through my work on TikTok.鈥�

The strategy is simple: Let people see the value. Show what you do and how you do it. TikTok rewards transparency and personality. People love to see authenticity, and that鈥檚 what drives real engagement and sales on TikTok.  Your content can double as your marketing funnel. Every post is an opportunity to turn views into clients.

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2. Partner with Brands and Create Sponsored Content

One of the most common ways people make money on TikTok is through brand partnerships. Companies pay creators to promote their products or services.

If your TikTok content consistently focuses on one niche, say fashion, food, tech, or lifestyle. Brands that serve that audience may want to collaborate with you. For example, a skincare creator might partner with a beauty brand, or a finance creator might get sponsored by a digital bank.

Partnerships can come in different forms. Sometimes, a brand sends you free products to review or feature in a video. Other times, they pay for a dedicated post or a short series of videos. The bigger and more engaged your audience, the higher your potential earnings will be.

You don鈥檛 always have to wait for brands to find you. Many Nigerian creators start by reaching out to brands they already use, pitching collaboration ideas, or creating unpaid content that naturally attracts attention from brands.

For instance, Kamsi*, a Nigerian lifestyle creator, earns most of her income through sponsorships. Travel and leisure brands began reaching out for collaborations once she reached 15,000 followers and started posting travel content consistently.

Remember: TikTok requires you to turn on the 鈥淏randed Content鈥� disclosure setting if you’re creating sponsored content. This setting is crucial for transparency and helps you establish trust with your audience, which, in the long run, fosters a steady stream of revenue.

3. Go Live and Earn Through Gifts

If you love connecting with your audience in real time, . No brand deals or big following are required.

Here鈥檚 how it works: viewers send virtual gifts during your livestreams or even in the comments of your short videos. These gifts appear as fun stickers or animations, but behind the scenes, they translate to something called Diamonds. Each Diamond has a real-world cash value that you can redeem once you鈥檝e accumulated enough.

, 鈥淥nce you collect Diamonds, you may obtain a reward payment from us, such as money or virtual items.”

Think of it as a virtual tip jar: people send gifts when they enjoy your content or simply want to support your creativity.

To start receiving gifts, you must be at least 18 years old and have a TikTok account in good standing. While there鈥檚 no strict follower threshold, TikTok usually requires you to have at least 1,000 followers to go live.

Creators in Nigeria have increasingly used this feature to earn extra income, especially those who create lifestyle chats, beauty tutorials, or gaming content. 

In recent years, many creators have discovered just how rewarding live streams can be. For example, when Nigerian social media personality Peller told Ebuka that it highlighted the real earning potential that comes with a loyal, engaged audience. While not everyone will hit that kind of number, it shows what鈥檚 possible with consistent engagement.

For instance, some Nigerian streamers host live Q&A sessions, cooking demonstrations, or storytelling nights. They engage their audience, keep the energy high, and sometimes walk away with enough gifts to cash out a few thousand naira after a good session.

The more engaging your live content, the more likely people are to send gifts. And if you鈥檙e not ready to go live yet, TikTok now allows viewers to send video gifts on regular posts: a feature that鈥檚 opened up another small but growing income stream for creators.

It may not make you rich overnight, but if you build a loyal audience, those virtual gifts can quickly add up.

4. Become an Affiliate Marketer

Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to earn money on TikTok, and it doesn鈥檛 require brand deals or a massive following.

You promote other people鈥檚 products and earn a commission whenever someone buys through your unique link or referral code.

Here鈥檚 how it works:

1. You join an affiliate programme, such as Jumia, Konga, Selar, or international ones like Amazon Associates or ClickBank.
   
2. You get a unique tracking link or discount code.
   
3. You create TikTok videos that demonstrate how the product works or explain its usefulness.
   
4. When someone makes a purchase using your link, you earn a percentage of the sale.

Commissions vary depending on the brand, typically ranging from 5% to 25% per sale.

Unlike brand sponsorships, where a company pays you upfront to promote a product, affiliate marketing rewards you based on the results you achieve. So even smaller creators with under 10,000 followers can still make money if their content converts viewers.

You can鈥檛 currently post clickable links directly in TikTok captions. Still, you can add affiliate links in your bio once you switch to a business account (which usually requires at least 1,000 followers) or use link-in-bio tools like , , or .

Many Nigerian creators already do this: tech reviewers, skincare influencers, and lifestyle creators share honest product recommendations and drop affiliate links in their bios or pinned comments.

If you don鈥檛 want to wait for brands to find you, pitch yourself. Reach out directly to local businesses or join affiliate networks that allow Nigerian creators. The key is to choose products your audience actually needs or trusts; that way, your content feels helpful, not pushy.

With consistency, good storytelling, and the right partnerships, affiliate marketing can quietly become one of the most profitable ways to earn from TikTok in Nigeria.

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5. Drive Traffic to Other Platforms 

TikTok doesn鈥檛 always have to be the final destination; it can be your traffic engine. Many Nigerian creators use TikTok as the top of their funnel, driving followers to other platforms where they can monetise more directly.

If you have a YouTube channel, Instagram page, or WhatsApp business, TikTok can help you grow it faster than any other app. Short, engaging videos can attract a new audience, while your bio or pinned comment directs them to where the real conversions occur: your online store, newsletter, course, or booking link.

For example, a Nigerian food creator might share 30-second recipe clips on TikTok and tell followers to 鈥渨atch the full recipe on YouTube.鈥� A fitness coach can post short workout tips and drop their WhatsApp link for paid one-on-one training. A skincare influencer might do before-and-after videos and guide followers to Instagram for product details.

This cross-platform strategy works exceptionally well in Nigeria because it doesn鈥檛 rely on TikTok鈥檚 limited monetisation tools. Instead, you鈥檙e using TikTok鈥檚 massive reach to build visibility and trust, then converting that attention into real sales or income elsewhere.

To make this work:

• Add your other platforms to your TikTok bio.
  
• Include clear CTAs (calls to action) in your videos,  e.g., 鈥渃heck my YouTube for the full video,鈥� or 鈥淒M me on WhatsApp to order.鈥�
  
• Keep your branding consistent across all your pages so followers can easily recognise you.
  

In short, think of TikTok as the spark and your other platforms as the fire. Use it to attract people, then nurture and monetise them where you have full control.

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TikTok Monetising Features Not Available in Nigeria

Sadly, many of TikTok鈥檚 built-in monetisation features aren鈥檛 available to creators in Nigeria. Here are some of the biggest ones missing:

1. Creator Rewards Program (formerly Creator Fund)

pays users based on the performance, engagement, and originality of their videos. In eligible countries like the US and UK, creators earn between $0.40 and $1.00 per 1,000 views, meaning a viral video with 1 million views could bring in $400 to $1,000 directly from TikTok. Unfortunately, Nigeria isn鈥檛 yet part of this program, so local creators with similar reach earn zero from the same engagement.

2. Creator Marketplace

This is TikTok鈥檚 official platform that Creators can showcase their audience insights, demographics, and performance metrics, making it easier for brands to find influencers that fit their campaigns. Without access to this feature, Nigerian creators often have to pitch brands manually or rely on third-party influencer agencies, missing out on streamlined opportunities for global partnerships.

3. TikTok Shop

allows creators to sell products directly through their videos and live streams. Users can tag products in their videos, and followers can make instant purchases without leaving the app. For Nigerian creators, this feature would be a game-changer, especially for small business owners and lifestyle influencers. But since it鈥檚 not yet available in Nigeria, they have to redirect followers to external websites or DMs, which reduces conversion rates.

4. TikTok Influencer Affiliate Program

Through the creators in supported regions can earn commissions by promoting products from TikTok Shop, similar to Amazon鈥檚 affiliate program. They don鈥檛 need direct brand deals; they simply post content featuring shop products, earning every time someone buys through their links. Nigerian creators currently can鈥檛 access this, meaning they miss out on passive income opportunities tied to the TikTok ecosystem.

5. Monetise with the Series Feature

The enables creators to put premium content behind a paywall, such as tutorials, mini-courses, or exclusive storytime videos and charge viewers to access it. It鈥檚 a way for creators to monetise their expertise directly, but it鈥檚 currently unavailable in Nigeria.

6. Collect Tips from Viewers (Tipping)

allows fans to directly send money to creators as a token of appreciation for their content. It鈥檚 particularly useful for small creators building a loyal audience. Sadly, this feature hasn鈥檛 rolled out in Nigeria either, leaving creators dependent on third-party payment links or platforms like

Top TikTok Tips to Make Money in 2025

Making money on TikTok goes beyond just posting videos; it鈥檚 about strategy, consistency, and building a brand people trust. Here are the top ways to stand out and monetise smarter in 2025:

1. Focus on a Niche and Build a Loyal Audience

Random posts don鈥檛 cut it anymore. Stick to a niche that reflects your personality and attracts a specific audience. TikTok鈥檚 algorithm rewards creators who post consistently within a theme. A loyal community is what makes brands pay attention, not just follower count.

2. Diversify Your Income Streams

Don鈥檛 rely on one method. Combine sponsorships, affiliate links, cross-platform promotions, and live gifts. Many successful Nigerian creators build parallel income streams by running a YouTube channel, selling merch, or offering paid tutorials outside TikTok.

3. Engage Consistently 

The algorithm loves engagement: reply to comments, ask questions, and join trending challenges in your own style. The more you engage, the higher your chances of appearing on the 鈥淔or You鈥� page, which directly impacts visibility and brand opportunities.

4. Keep Up With Global Trends and Updates

Since some monetisation tools are not yet available in Nigeria, stay ahead by following global creator updates. Use VPNs (ethically and safely) only for research to see how international creators structure partnerships, ad integrations, and shop links. This helps you pitch more effectively when opportunities open up locally.

5. Pitch to Brands 鈥� Don鈥檛 Wait to Be Discovered

You don鈥檛 need to wait for the Creator Marketplace. Reach out to Nigerian brands whose values align with your content. Send them a short pitch deck with your audience demographics, engagement rate, and video examples. Brands love creators who understand their own worth.

6. Track Your Analytics

TikTok鈥檚 analytics dashboard provides insights into your reach, engagement, and audience demographics. Use this data to refine your content strategy and justify your rates to brands. Numbers speak louder than follower counts when negotiating deals.

7. Stay Consistent and Experiment

TikTok changes fast 鈥� trends, formats, and features evolve constantly. Test new content styles, post consistently, and learn what resonates with your audience. Growth is slow at first, but the creators who adapt quickly are the ones who turn views into money.

8. Be Authentic 鈥� It鈥檚 Your Real Currency

Audiences can sense when you鈥檙e forcing a trend or selling something you don鈥檛 believe in. The more genuine you are, in your tone, humour, and storytelling, the more trust (and eventually sales or collaborations) you鈥檒l earn.

Being authentic doesn鈥檛 mean oversharing; it means being real enough that people believe you, like you, and want to support what you do.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid to Make Money on TikTok

Even the most creative TikTokers can lose money or opportunities if they don鈥檛 play it smart. Here are the pitfalls to watch out for:

1. Chasing Virality Over Value

Not every viral video leads to income. Going viral for a random skit doesn鈥檛 guarantee brand deals or loyal followers. Focus on creating content that aligns with your niche and potential partners鈥� audiences, not just what鈥檚 trending.

2. Ignoring Your Analytics

If you鈥檙e not tracking what works, you鈥檙e shooting in the dark. Many creators post blindly without checking which videos drive engagement or conversions. Analytics help you spot patterns, refine your content, and prove your value to brands.

3. Overpricing or Undervaluing Yourself

New creators often accept low deals just to get brand experience 鈥� or quote unrealistic prices that scare clients away. Research what similar creators charge and negotiate based on engagement, not follower count.

4. Failing to Disclose Paid Partnerships

Transparency builds trust. Always tag your branded content as 鈥渟ponsored鈥� or 鈥減aid partnership.鈥� It鈥檚 not only ethical but also prevents brands from blacklisting you for non-disclosure.

5. Copying Instead of Creating

It鈥檚 tempting to mimic trending creators, but originality is what keeps people watching. Adapt trends to your own personality and voice. TikTok鈥檚 algorithm also rewards originality and penalises reposted or recycled content.

6. Falling for Scams

Fake brand emails and DMs are everywhere, especially ones asking you to download files or pay for 鈥渧erification.鈥� Only collaborate through verified company emails or official brand websites. No legit brand will ask you to pay to work with them.

The Bottom Line

TikTok may not have all its monetisation tools available in Nigeria yet, but this doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 cash out. Creators who understand their audience, post with intention, and build strong personal brands are already making real income through sponsorships, affiliate links, and cross-platform growth.

The key is to treat your content like a business, not a pastime. Be strategic, stay consistent, and build relationships that extend beyond likes and follows.

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Born in Anambra and raised in Abuja, he was a student and a dancer with dreams of becoming a star. But life, as he quickly learned, isn鈥檛 as easy to choreograph. While his passion for dance propelled him to viral fame, it also plunged him into a whirlwind of overnight celebrity, financial exploitation, and hard-earned lessons in trust and resilience.

This is the story of 鈥檚 evolution 鈥� from a shy, aspiring student to a digital superstar with over 7.3 million followers 鈥� and his fight to keep his voice and credibility intact.

This is Rodney’s story as told to Marv.

The first time I realised my life was changing was back in 2021. I was walking through my neighbourhood on my way to buy bread for my family when, out of nowhere, a group of children recognised me. 

鈥淩odney! Rodney! Ehh. He鈥檚 the one! Rodney!鈥� they shouted. I froze, caught off guard, as their voices echoed down the street.

I was in old, faded clothes and slippers, completely unprepared for that kind of attention. They wanted pictures, and I had no choice but to pose. That moment, as overwhelming as it was, planted a seed: people were noticing me, not just online, but in real life. It was exhilarating, but it also made me start paying attention to how I looked when going out, even if it was just to school.

Before TikTok, my life had been… just there. I was studying International Relations, coasting through classes I didn鈥檛 fully understand. Dance was mostly a hobby. I started back in secondary school and eventually joined a group called Dark Illusion, which, looking back, is a crazy name, but I thought it was cool at the time.

My friends always hailed me as a good dancer, and while I didn鈥檛 overthink it, I did have this Step Up-inspired fantasy where I鈥檇 show up at university, show off my dance skills, and somehow become famous. 

But when I got to uni, I quickly realised how delusional I鈥檇 been. Adulthood hit me hard, and I had to hustle just to survive.

I kept dancing, but mostly as a way to pay small bills. I鈥檇 earn maybe 鈧�3,000 for a performance at a departmental pageant, a fresher鈥檚 party or some faculty event 鈥� just enough to cover some basic expenses. 

I danced through 100 and 200 level, until COVID hit in the second semester of my 200 level, bringing everything to a standstill.

During the lockdown, I was stuck at my parents鈥� house on the outskirts of Abuja. With no events or parties happening, my focus shifted. Instead of performing live, I started pouring my energy into social media, posting more dance videos on Instagram and TikTok.

By the time I was returning to school, I already had some online recognition 鈥� around 300 thousand followers on Instagram and TikTok, though the latter had the biggest following. Back then, TikTok was still new, creators were few, and having a following made people assume you were a big deal.

But for me, it still felt small. I was posting out of boredom, mostly repurposing the same dance content I鈥檇 been sharing on Instagram. The growth was slow at first. My TikTok views were low compared to my following, and that鈥檚 when I realised that being on the app wasn鈥檛 enough. I needed to hop on trends and make quality content.

Then one skit changed everything. It was a funny take on African parents who don鈥檛 show romance despite having up to 10 children. It exploded to around 100,000 views. I was shocked and excited.

Before TikTok, I didn鈥檛 see myself as a funny person beyond my friend group. We鈥檇 troll and joke about situations, but it was all casual. TikTok gave me the confidence to really try comedy. 

So, I started mixing in skits with my dance videos, and the audience responded more to the skits. So, I let my dance evolve and mix with comedy. I was still dancing, just in a goofy, funny way that fit my audience and even allowed me to reach more people.

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But shooting videos back then was rough for a while. We didn鈥檛 have Jamboxes, so the sound came straight from the phone as we recorded. I even had to borrow a friend鈥檚 phone just to make content.

Data was another struggle. I relied on night plans to upload videos and check engagement. Slowly, the effort started to pay off 鈥� I was gaining traction, making a bit of money online, and settling bills myself.

Still, growth was slower than I would have liked, mostly due to my camera quality. It matters more than people think. So, I saved up from the content and brand advertising gigs I got and borrowed a little from friends to get an iPhone 6. 

The difference was almost immediate.

The first month using it, one of my videos blew up, hitting a million views in a week. Followers started growing exponentially, sometimes 100k a week, other times 100k in a day. 

That鈥檚 when I knew this was not just fun anymore. This was now a business.

My popularity in school also exploded. Soon, I couldn鈥檛 walk around campus without someone secretly recording me to post on TikTok or freshers going crazy. 

So, I started showing up only when I had strict lectures or exams. Thankfully, my classmates already knew me, so I could navigate without too much fuss. My friend group remained small and loyal, unaffected by my growing popularity. Others became acquaintances, riding the wave of my fame, but willing to help when needed.

Despite all that, I started questioning if I still needed school at all. But I had to push through. My parents never allowed me to rest, and that constant pressure, combined with my own determination, meant I couldn鈥檛 stop. I didn鈥檛 take breaks in the traditional sense, though I wasn鈥檛 present for all my lectures, especially in 400 level, where it was mostly project work.

The thought of quitting school never left my head, but I chose to see it through to the end. I got my degree. 

Around this time, I began charging more for gigs. I furnished my space, bought better equipment and improved my content quality. My parents, especially my dad, were sceptical at first. But over time, he saw the money coming in, heard people talking about me, and even started watching my videos.

He eventually gave me his blessing, with one condition: that I chase my dream without compromising my morals. That blessing lit a fire in me. I went harder with my content, posting more, taking on bigger opportunities and getting recognition. 

That was when I met my supposed manager. At first, he was just a loyal client who brought multiple gigs. Eventually, he positioned himself as someone who could help me grow. 

When we met for the first time in Lagos in 2021, the only time we ever met, he claimed to have industry connections. At first, he seemed helpful. He secured a couple of gigs, and I thought, maybe this will be my big break.

But soon, the red flags emerged.

He was a free agent with no structure, so he started manipulating payments. If a brand paid him 鈧�2,000 naira for my service, he would tell me I only earned 鈧�100. And it was from that same 鈧�100, he would collect his 30% manager fee.

He was a manipulative gaslighter who pretended to care about my career while exploiting me. He presented himself almost as a big brother, giving me a false sense of security. There was one brand that supposedly hadn鈥檛 paid, yet I found out months later that they had. I had to reach out to them directly, only to be shown receipts. Over time, I realised I鈥檇 lost tens of millions of naira to his schemes.

During this period, I tried to branch into music. My first song, 鈥�,鈥� started as a parody video, but fans loved it, so I put it on streaming platforms. In early 2023, I considered releasing another track. My manager convinced me to host a listening party, promising it would boost streams.

I was hesitant about the cost, but he assured me it would be worth it. I ended up spending nearly ten million naira on the event. People showed up, but the experience exposed how disorganised everything was, and how badly I needed a proper team.

By first the quarter of 2023, I was broke, struggling to survive on the little I had left. I even had to reach out to brands myself, realising that he had been sabotaging my career. The revelation was devastating, but it pushed me to reclaim control. I confronted him, threatened to call him out publicly, and the next day, he blocked me. When I tried to travel to Lagos to see him, I found out that he had even left the country, leaving me completely on my own. Last time I heard about him, he was in China.

His actions didn鈥檛 just rob me financially, they threatened my credibility. Brands began reaching out with legal threats, and his explanations were vague, often non-existent. I had no choice but to clean up the mess he created. It was exhausting and infuriating. Yet, it also forced me to recognise my value and the importance of taking control of my career.

Recovering from that betrayal meant starting fresh. I posted online to declare that I was no longer affiliated with him. Transparency became my guiding principle. I joined a new team that was honest, professional, and structured, giving me the support I needed to rebuild. That fresh start helped me regain credibility, attract brands again, and focus on my craft without interference.

Looking back, the journey taught me resilience. It taught me to trust my instincts, to value my work, and to understand that even in moments of overwhelming visibility, control over your own career is paramount.

By the time I had my father鈥檚 blessing and started creating with confidence, I realised something crucial: the money, the followers, and the fame were just tools. The real victory was taking charge, refusing to be manipulated, and ensuring my creativity and hustle were respected and protected.

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鈥淧eople come to TikTok to learn, share their experiences, and connect with communities around the world. That is why we work collaboratively with our partners to build a digital space that reflects our collective commitment to safety, innovation, and positive social impact,” says Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, TikTok.

TikTok also came prepared with some major updates and features aimed at helping Africans manage their digital lives better. From mental health support to meditation features, here鈥檚 everything they鈥檙e rolling out:

1. Meditation Is Now Built Into TikTok

TikTok is now offering a guided meditation feature within the app. It’s part of a tool called Sleep Hours, which automatically kicks in at 10pm for users under 18 (older users can opt in too). The idea? Help people, especially teens, wind down, breathe easier, and stop scrolling endlessly when they should be getting some rest.

Mindful meditation is proven to help with sleep and emotional balance, and TikTok wants to help young users develop healthier nighttime habits without shaming them for being online.

2. A $2.3 Million Mental Health Fund鈥擭ow Open to African Organisations

TikTok鈥檚 Mental Health Education Fund, which launched in 2023, just expanded to include Sub-Saharan Africa. For the first time, African mental health organisations will get funding and support to create content that tackles stigma and spreads mental health awareness.

The first three African partners are:

• South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
• Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI)
• Kenya鈥檚 Mental360

Expect to see more local, relatable, and culturally relevant mental health content from these organisations, with the help of TikTok鈥檚 ad power and platform reach.

3. In-App Helplines for When You Need Real Support

In the coming weeks, African users will start seeing local mental health helplines directly inside the TikTok app, especially when they鈥檙e reporting content related to suicide, self-harm, bullying, hate, or harassment.

It鈥檚 like TikTok saying, 鈥淗ey, we鈥檙e taking this seriously,鈥� and offering real-time access to counselling and mental health resources, not just content removals. These helplines have already been tested in Europe and are now making their way to the continent.

“TikTok is committed to user safety and community well-being and provides tools and protections to help our community enjoy their experience on the platform. But to achieve this, we all need to play a very vital role in fostering a secure and respectful environment,” says Mercy Kimaku, Regional Risk Prevention Lead (Sub-Saharan Africa).

4. Mental Health Ambassadors Are Here to Talk You Through the Tough Stuff

TikTok is also teaming up with the World Health Organization to introduce its first-ever Mental Health Ambassadors from across Africa. These are verified medical professionals who鈥檒l be sharing expert advice and relatable content on mental health, emotional well-being, and how to deal with online stress.

Meet the first African ambassadors:

• Sanam Naran (South Africa)
• Dr Claire Kinuthia (Kenya)
• Doctor Wales (Nigeria)
• Doctor Siya (South Africa)

They鈥檒l be popping up more in your feed. Think of them as your TikTok-friendly therapists in your pocket.

5. #MentalHealthMatters Is Getting Bigger

If you鈥檝e seen the hashtag #MentalHealthMatters around TikTok, you鈥檙e not alone. TikTok says it鈥檚 doubling down on this campaign to keep pushing conversations about self-care, therapy, anxiety, and mental health into the mainstream.

So next time you see a TikTok reminding you to take a break or breathe, don鈥檛 scroll past too quickly.

Why This Matters

TikTok knows it鈥檚 a huge part of many people鈥檚 daily lives, especially young Africans. These updates show that the platform is paying attention to how being online affects mental health, and it鈥檚 trying to create tools that actually help, not just keep people scrolling.

It鈥檚 not perfect, but it鈥檚 a step forward. And with African organisations now getting direct support, the conversation around mental health is finally becoming a lot more local, and a lot more real.

To do that, you need a track that makes people stop scrolling and say, 鈥淲ait鈥擨 need this sound.鈥�

Whether you鈥檙e soft-launching your boo, serving face and outfit, or just dancing in your room like nobody鈥檚 watching, the right song is the cheat code. Lucky for you, I鈥檝e gathered and ranked 15 of the best Nigerian songs that鈥檒l make your content slap. Thank me later.

15. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Famous Pluto

鈥淣a Scra鈥� is a street anthem that captures the chaotic lifestyle of the young and reckless鈥攆rom having multiple women on speed dial to wild sexcapades. On his debut single, Famous Pluto glorifies crime, fast money, and unfiltered youthful energy.

He鈥檚 not just any new artist鈥攈e鈥檚 the younger brother of street-pop stars Shallipopi and Zerry DL.

If you鈥檙e looking for a fresh street-pop banger for your next Reel, this is it.

14. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Haystixx feat. Portable & Haytee

Producer Haystixx teams up with Portable and Haytee on the remix of 鈥淐ana,鈥� a vibey track that pays homage to Canadian Loud鈥攁 popular and pricey cannabis strain in Nigeria.

You don鈥檛 have to be a stoner to vibe to this one. It鈥檚 a cruise-heavy, catchy track that鈥檚 perfect for fun, carefree Reels and TikToks.

13. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Danny S

In English, 鈥淥mo Lile鈥� loosely translates to a stubborn or rebellious child. But in Nigerian pop culture, the phrase has taken on a more empowering meaning鈥攕omeone who鈥檚 determined, persistent, and unstoppable.

With its addictive beat and repetitive chorus, this track sticks instantly. And it鈥檚 not just for the streets鈥攊f you鈥檙e someone who pushes through adversity and refuses to back down, this song will hit home.

12. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Segun Johnson

Popular Owambe performer Segun Johnson went viral after performing what appears to be a new composition titled 鈥淢a Fi Sia Pa Won鈥� at a wedding four months ago. The title roughly translates to 鈥淚鈥檒l kill them with show-off.鈥�

It鈥檚 a high-energy, danceable track for enjoyment seekers鈥攐r anyone with a message for their haters and gossipers. Instead of killing them with kindness, why not kill them with confidence?

If that鈥檚 your vibe, this is the soundtrack your video needs.

11. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Chella

Chella blends Afrobeats with Amapiano to pour his heart out in this love-soaked anthem. With soft falsettos and irresistible melodies, he sings about being under the spell of his lover鈥檚 charm鈥攁nd he鈥檚 not even mad about it.

Whether you鈥檙e soft-launching your boo or showing off your dance moves, this track sets the perfect romantic vibe.

10. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Pocolee, Shoday & Rahman Jago

In the spirit of street-pop anthems like 9ice鈥檚 鈥淟iving Things鈥�, 鈥淗ey Jago鈥� is part eulogy, part motivation. It celebrates Rahman Jago鈥攁 Nigerian fashion and lifestyle influencer known for his High Fashion brand鈥攁nd uses him as a symbol of ghetto-to-glam success.

Shoday鈥檚 vocals carry aspirations of rising above struggle, with Jago as the blueprint. If you鈥檙e looking for a track that motivates, energises, or just makes your legwork hit harder, this is it.

9. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Pasuma

Fuji legend Wasiu Alabi Pasuma taps into the timeless narrative of rest after labour with his latest release, 鈥淔uji Flavour.鈥� In true weekend spirit, he delivers a 30-minute sonic celebration of enjoyment and well-earned relaxation.

If you鈥檙e a Fuji lover鈥攐r you proudly identify as a Minister of Enjoyment鈥攖his one belongs in your Reels rotation.

8. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Barry Jhay

The ninth track on Barrystar Vol. 1, 鈥淪MSG鈥� deepens Barry Jhay鈥檚 signature Afro-Adura sound鈥攁 blend of spiritual praise, self-affirmation, and street-rooted motivation. The song opens with a sample from one of his father, Sikiru 鈥淏arrister鈥� Ayinde鈥檚 early tracks, adding a nostalgic layer to the emotion.

Whether you鈥檙e in a gratitude mood or need a reminder that you鈥檙e on the right path, this track delivers the motivation and melody.

7. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Niniola

Niniola continues her streak of bold, sensual storytelling on 鈥淕inger Me (Alum).鈥� The song dives into themes of sexual appetite, consent, and education. She candidly recounts a partner suggesting a threesome and uses the track to encourage safe sex鈥攔eminding listeners not to skip those STI checkups.

But the track takes a controversial turn when she references alum as a method for vaginal tightening鈥攁 harmful and outdated myth rooted in patriarchal standards of sexual pleasure. While that line deserves criticism, the rest of the song stands strong as a vibrant, catchy jam.

If you want a beat that鈥檚 provocative and percussive, this is it.

6. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Faceless feat. Ser酶tonin

If you鈥檝e spent any time on TikTok recently, chances are you鈥檝e heard this song at least once. 鈥淰enus鈥� by producer Faceless and vocalist Ser酶tonin has been everywhere, and for good reason.

Built around themes of love and emotional reassurance, the track features a soothing falsetto and dreamy production that鈥檚 perfect for slow-motion edits, lip-syncs, or soft-launch moments. It鈥檚 the kind of sound that calms the heart and gets the fingers tapping 鈥渦se this audio.鈥�

5. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Rema

Rema reimagines Sade Adu鈥檚 iconic 1986 R&B ballad 鈥淚s It a Crime鈥� as a smooth Afrobeats track, flipping its soulful longing into a tale of unrequited love鈥擱ema style. While Sade sings about loving someone more than they love her, Rema comes with confidence (and a little pressure), reminding his love interest of his money, fame, swag, and aura.

He鈥檚 persistent, but makes it clear: 鈥淚 no dey for too much whining.鈥� It鈥檚 flirtation with a hint of ego鈥攁nd it works. Whether you鈥檙e in your feelings, flirting in your captions, or just feeling yourself, this one sets the mood.

4. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Niniola

If you know Niniola, you know she never holds back. Her 2018 Afro-house hit 鈥淏ana鈥� is a bold, sensual anthem that delivers unfiltered feminine expression around sex, desire, and pleasure. In it, she paints a vivid, almost celebratory picture of male sexual appeal鈥攜es, 鈥淏ana鈥� is essentially a love letter to the schlong, and we鈥檙e not mad at it.

Seven years after its release, the song is enjoying a second life on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat Reels鈥攑roof that good music (and good vibes) are timeless. If you鈥檙e a certified freak or just in your 鈥淚DGAF鈥� era, this one鈥檚 for you.

READ NEXT: The 40 Greatest Davido Songs of All Time, Ranked by Fans

3. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Asake & Wizkid

鈥淢MS,鈥� short for 鈥淢r. Money Sound,鈥� goes deeper than its flashy title suggests. At its core, the song is a reflection on the vanity of life and the reality that, no matter our status, we all return to dust. Featured on Asake鈥檚 Lungu Boy album, the track sees him revisit his humble beginnings with a battle-hardened, almost militant perspective.

Wizkid brings a meditative tone, opening up about loss, purpose, and the passing of his mother. Together, they deliver a soul-stirring anthem that has also given birth to a new social lingo鈥斺�淢MS,鈥� now shorthand for God knows best on Nigerian internet.

If you鈥檙e in your feelings鈥攁bout life, money, love, or the weight of adulthood鈥攖his is the track that says it all for you.

2. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Gaise Baba feat. Lawrence Oyor

Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor breathe new life into the classic 19th-century hymn 鈥淚 Have Decided to Follow Jesus鈥� with an infectious blend of Afro-gospel and Amapiano. The result? A danceable declaration of faith that鈥檚 already making waves on TikTok and Instagram.

Lawrence Oyor鈥檚 standout line鈥斺�淚 can never turn back o / It鈥檚 already too late o / It won鈥檛 make sense o鈥濃�攊s quickly becoming a viral sound. If you want a track that celebrates your devotion to Jesus while still letting you move your body, this is the one to add to your Reels.

1. 鈥溾�� 鈥� Davido feat. Omah Lay

Davido teams up with Omah Lay for 鈥淲ith You鈥�, a sensual, melodic banger that oozes obsession and desire. This marks Davido鈥檚 first-ever collaboration with Omah Lay and the chemistry is undeniable.

The track closes Davido鈥檚 5IVE album and blends nostalgia with innovation. It samples Skinny Fabulous鈥� 鈥淲atch Thing鈥� (2016) and nods to Bright Chimezie鈥檚 鈥淏ecause of English鈥濃�攃reating a rich sonic throwback that still feels fresh in 2025.

Whether you鈥檙e showing off your soft life, boo鈥檇 up moments, or just vibing in the glow of good love, 鈥淲ith You鈥� is the perfect soundtrack.

ALSO READ: 15 of the Funniest Nigerians to Follow on TikTok Right Now

How did he pull it off? And more importantly, how can you do the same?

This is his story, As Told To Dennis

2025: Working from Japan

I nestled into my room in Japan in a breeze. It was my first time in the country. By now, I was no stranger to settling in quickly in strange new lands. I had done it before.

In the past year and ten months, working as a Cyber Security Engineer at TikTok, I have done it five times 鈥� in Dublin, London, the US, Singapore, China, and Japan. This was the sixth time, and it would also be my last, that is, as a work trip for TikTok.

You see, I have resigned from TikTok. In May, I started a new role at Amazon Web Services as a Senior Security Engineer. So, I decided I will not be leaving Japan immediately after my work for TikTok is complete in the country. I will stay a bit longer and call it a vacation. I am so blessed. God has been good. Life has been good.

2000s: Growing up in Kaduna

I have been a nomad all my life. I was born in northern Kaduna, the youngest of three siblings, and lived my formative years in the state. But when the Sharia riots started, my family moved to southern Kaduna, where more Christians lived. Later, my father was transferred to Lagos, and we moved with him. 

We attended the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. I went to Babcock High School. My siblings all went to university. 

When it came time for me to go to Babcock University, I told my father I wanted to go to aviation school. I passed the exam, but I was not yet eighteen, so I couldn鈥檛 resume. Later, he asked me to consider Valley View University in Ghana, where I studied Computer Science. I knew nobody in the country, but I knew my fate was sealed. I would be a computer scientist. After I graduated, I got a job as an engineer in Ghana and started life.

ALSO READ: How Anchi Vibes Grew From 15k to 780k Followers on TikTok

2017: NYSC in Abuja

Later, my father said I should return to Nigeria for NYSC. Returning to Lagos felt like returning to the nest. So I went to Abuja and served at the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI). After four years, I started thinking about my life. Nigeria wouldn鈥檛 give me what I wanted, what I deserved.

So I saved up, sold my car, and told my parents I had decided to leave the country. 

Two days to Christmas in 2021, I wore a shirt and jeans, threw my laptop in a tote bag, wore a face cap, got on a plane and moved to Dublin for a Master鈥檚 in Cybersecurity at the National College of Ireland. I just wanted to leave that country and start to live my dream. I took nothing from my life in Nigeria with me.

2022: Life in Dublin

Failure was not an option. I knew I had to get a job before graduating. I took tons of courses online. I did a 100 Days of Hacking challenge. I tried really hard to upscale myself. Even though I was in a senior role at CCSI in Nigeria, I applied for internships in cybersecurity in Dublin.

When I saw that the Central Bank of Ireland was looking for two interns in the whole of the EU, I sent a cold email to the hiring manager and made my case. They hired me. After I graduated, they offered me a full-time position as an information security analyst.

2023: Starting at TikTok

I had applied to TikTok multiple times but didn鈥檛 hear back from them. But on a random day, I got a message from a headhunter who worked at TikTok on LinkedIn asking if I was interested in a role that had opened up. I thought it was a spam message. I was a cybersecurity expert 鈥� why wouldn鈥檛 I think that? I was wrong. I did six interviews. Only one was about culture fit. The rest were on coding. In August 2023, I joined them as a Security Analyst. I worked on Project Clover, a 鈧�12 billion data security initiative. In March 2024, I became a Security Engineer.

At TikTok, I enrolled in Stanford for an advanced cybersecurity degree, and later at University College Dublin for an advanced Artificial Intelligence program. Both were one-year programs. I completed both in nine months while working full-time at TikTok.

Life at TikTok

When you work at a place like TikTok, there are only a few Nigerians there, which can be daunting. But I never felt alienated; I never allowed myself to. I always focused on the work.

My approach to working in big tech is that I am solely responsible for blending in. My colleagues are also trying to fit in and do their jobs. They don鈥檛 have the time to make me feel as welcome as I might like. I just focus on my work.

Sometimes, people feel that speaking at meetings is work because they will be seen. But what I found is that work is work. Getting things done is work. Your output will speak for you, not how well you ride on other people鈥檚 waves. Just do things in a timely manner, aligned with the company鈥檚 goals. Document everything you do and make sure it鈥檚 available for appraisal.

Travelling for TikTok

TikTok is a global company with teams around the world. The cybersecurity team is also global, and we need to meet from time to time to sync on work. So, the company takes us to different outposts, where we spend weeks, sometimes months, working on projects as a team.

At first, they took me to London, which is close to Dublin. Later the US, then Singapore, China, and finally Japan. These were work trips, and they felt just the way you might imagine a work trip would feel. This is one of the perks that comes with working for a tech giant.

In the past year and ten months that I worked at TikTok, when these work trips ended, I returned to Dublin, where I worked from. But things were changing for me. I was heading to Amazon Web Services, so after my last work trip, I decided to stay a bit longer. It was a much-needed vacation after years of working hard.

Leaving TikTok for Amazon Web Services (AWS)

I didn鈥檛 know that AWS was hiring. I am not even sure they posted the role. But someone reached out to me again on LinkedIn and asked if I was interested in a role at Amazon. I work as a Senior Security Engineer there now. I started in May. This is also a security role, but it is different from what I was doing at TikTok. I am working with a Shield Infrastructure/Response team. 

My next five years

I am also so grateful that I get to send my parents money. Who wouldn鈥檛 want to flex their parents when life has been so good to them? They鈥檝e also been dropping subtle hints about marriage. They haven鈥檛 been very vocal, but they鈥檝e been making comments about women. I鈥檓 not interested in a relationship right now. I just want to focus on my work and life. One of my siblings is married and has children, so they can play with them.

In five years, I see myself in 2030. I find that projections can be limiting. So let鈥檚 leave it at this: in 2030, I’ll still be learning new skills. In January, I started a Certificate Program in Digital Transformation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I want to spend my life learning new things. It has helped me come this far, and I never want to stop.

I want to make interview guides available for people like me who want to pursue careers in cybersecurity. So this year, I am trying to write a book. I know I鈥檓 a very resilient person. If I say I will do a thing, unless Jesus comes to stop me, I will. I started an academy for people looking to learn tech skills: Shefs Labs Cybersecurity Academy. That is my focus right now.

ALSO READ: Remember This Meme? The Man Behind It Became a Pastor and Moved to Ghana

That鈥檚 where we come in. On this list, we鈥檝e curated the funniest Nigerian TikTokers you should be following right now. We tried to make the list as varied as possible, to match any sense of humour. Not to brag, but our picks can stand toe to toe with your favourite comedians.聽

Here are the 15 funniest Nigerian TikTokers you should follow now.

1.

Gilmore tells wild and ridiculous stories about everyday life as an adult living in Lagos. Watching Gilmore鈥檚 videos is like experiencing an unending POV video of your reactions to life. Everything from life in boarding school to buying bread on credit has been the subject of his videos.

2.

Zic Aloma finds his humour in archetypes of African parents, which he uses to create full-fletched skits that would not have been out of place in an early-aught Nollywood flick. His story of life in a 鈥渇ace me I face you鈥� compound, which the actress Patience Ozokwor features in, has been viewed over 7.5 million times. If you love old Nollywood, you will love his content.

3.

Hauwa Lawal has perfected the act of making social commentary in a way that cracks you up while also forcing you to think. The fall of the naira, life as a single woman in Nigeria, and the pressures young people face to get married have all been subjects of her content. If you鈥檙e looking for someone to help make sense of the world in the most ridiculous way, then she鈥檚 your girl.

4.

With his content, Two Glazzes asks the public a simple question: what does it mean to be delulu all the time? He has the answers. If you want to know the POV of men who think they鈥檙e overly attractive or how low-budget tech bros see themselves, Two Glazzes鈥檚 TikTok is the account for you.

5.

r0dn3y_ makes POV videos imagining what ordinary scenarios would look like from another perspective. A video where he reimagines what the tongue and teeth might be going through while chewing has been viewed 3.3 million times. He has made similar videos on being a primary school pupil, the feeling when a barber gets to the itchy spots on your head, and what secondary school students do during free periods. His content cleverly flips everyday moments into laugh-out-loud experiences.

6.

Meshkieyy鈥檚 hard-to-watch TikToks are currently all the rage online. Although he has been making content for a while, in the last few months, his videos have been blowing up on TikTok 鈥� and for good reason. He makes hilariously cringe videos about life as a young man trying to survive in Lagos. His skits blend awkward everyday encounters with a sharp sense of observational humour that鈥檚 fast becoming his signature.

ALSO READ: 10 Nigerian Creators To Look Out for in 2025

7.

The law. Layi Wasabi has maintained relevance as one of the funniest Nigerians on TikTok. One of his signature characters is a charge-and-bail lawyer who has no idea, most times, what he鈥檚 talking about, but delivers it with so much impunity that it cracks people up. What鈥檚 funnier is how he continues to find new victims. He has already introduced other characters, including the Prof, the Coach, and the Gym Bro. His content leans into satirical legalese and exaggerated professionalism, giving courtroom chaos a whole new meaning.

8.

Take Simply Sayo seriously at your own risk. When she鈥檚 not reading the news or making confessionals on TikTok, she鈥檚 delivering what she calls kpoems 鈥� spoken word-style takes on wild experiences 鈥� as a means to tackle everything from toxic masculinity to 50/50 bill splits among couples. Her content feels like a chaotic TED Talk wrapped in vibes and delivered with a side of dry humour.

9.

Beverly makes viral 鈥淴 be like鈥� videos on TikTok. She has made videos about Black people hiking, gynaecologists at work, and what comes to mind when she sees a video of a person with long hair (how much it would cost as extensions). Her content is a running commentary on the random, hilarious thoughts that live rent-free in her head 鈥� and if you follow her, in yours too.

10.

Chisom has takes for days. How does one have beef with people that don鈥檛 know they exist? She has the answers. Her takedown of men who say they鈥檇 rather marry a man than a woman who doesn鈥檛 know how to cook is particularly epic. If you love sharp, sarcastic takes on gender discourse, this is where you鈥檒l find them.

11.

Ini Cash makes POV videos on what it means to live on your phone. In his videos, he recreates the reactions of people who go online and realise that life has continued without them. He has made videos on everything from checking if the couples you stalk on social media are still together to reacting to comments after your partner posts cute pictures of you. His content taps into the paranoia, obsession, and the comedy of online relationships.

12.

What if you could say what you feel about people to their faces? On Kenzy鈥檚 TikTok, you can live that 鈥� and also see their reactions. In a video he made about people who do 鈥渘ew year, new me,鈥� he blasted what he perceived to be hypocrisy in the comments. As he calls it, 鈥淭he only new thing about the new year is that you鈥檙e getting older.鈥�

13.

Sharon doesn鈥檛 shy away from criticising other creators on TikTok with her skits. In particular, a series she does called 鈥淓gungun and His Baddies鈥� has been very popular on the platform. With the series, she makes a caricature of the content creator known as Egungun asking women weird questions about their sex lives. It鈥檚 fun to watch.

14.

There are very few people as funny as Neekahs on TikTok these days. Her recreation of viral audio is a must-watch for anyone looking for a good laugh. What makes her videos stand out, and very hilarious, is how perfectly she captions what might very well be the facial expressions of the people speaking in the audio. Even though we can鈥檛 see them, we trust Neekahs will always bring them to life.

15.

You only need to watch the video of Imogen trying to pronounce Mo毛t Chandon to understand why he鈥檚 on this list 鈥� and why you should follow him ASAP on TikTok. In his videos, he makes funny reactions from the neighbour鈥檚 POV to everything from someone trying to charge their phone at the next house, to his savage response to people acting like Priscilla Ojo and her husband鈥檚 wedding wasn鈥檛 their cup of tea.

ALSO READ: How Anchi Vibes Grew From 15k to 780k Followers on TikTok

She went viral in 2022 with a slow-motion running video set to the “Kumama Yoruba Version” song, and has since grown her TikTok following from 15,000 to over 780,000. 

Here鈥檚 how AnChi Vibes did it, as told to Dennis.

The beginning: Starting during the pandemic

Like many people, I started making videos during the 2020 lockdown. The first video I posted was a lip sync video. That was what was trending at the time, so I made a lot. Later, I started making dance videos, even though I was not a very good dancer. I have since made all those videos private on TikTok.

I was working in a bank at the time, but I resigned in 2022 to focus on TikTok. Honestly, working in a bank was the ghetto. I was working as a customer care representative, and it was not allowing me to utilise my creativity. I felt stuck, and that鈥檚 why I quit. 

During that time, I focused on making content, but the growth was slow. The engagement was low, and my follower count was not growing. Eventually, I got a job at Pulse Nigeria as a TikTok manager. It aligned perfectly with what I loved: making content. All the stars had aligned in my favour. So I focused on that.

Hitting 15k followers: My first breakthrough

was me dueting with a man who was twerking 鈥� it was during COVID, and everyone just wanted to be entertained. I wasn鈥檛 even good at twerking, but I tried to mimic him, and people loved it. At the time, I had under 5,000 followers. This grew my followers to around 10,000.

I jumped into other challenges that came. There was a challenge that Don Jazzy started when Simi鈥檚 鈥淒uduke鈥� dropped. I jumped on that, and it gave me lots of engagement as well. This took me to over 15,000 followers.

I started doing a lot of dancing, slow-mo, and lip sync videos. That鈥檚 when I started focusing on what worked.

From 15k to 200k followers: Going Viral with Kumama

was the Kumama Yoruba Version trend. I became the face of that trend. I wore a pink sweater and ran in slow motion 鈥� people felt the spirit! It got over a million views in a few days. Funke Akindele even reposted me.

People started watching my old videos, too 鈥� some crossed a million views. I tried other things like interviews and hosting, but they didn鈥檛 take off at the time. People wanted slow-motion, makeup, dance, and fashion transition videos, so I made those videos, which got me to 200k followers.

Hitting 700k followers: Finding my Niche

When I joined Pulse, I was creating entertainment news content, which helped me understand the category better. I refined my approach to content on my page. I covered celebrity news, TikTok updates, and even birthday vlogs of other influencers. Whenever influencers on TikTok were celebrating their birthdays, I made vlogs of the parties, and people enjoyed them. When there was drama between influencers, I made videos about that too.

I also posted 鈥済et ready with me鈥� clips and behind-the-scenes content, and it worked 鈥� TikTok started pushing my videos to the For You Page (FYP).

Later, I pivoted to recaps of Big Brother Naija and The Real Housewives of Lagos, and eventually, to . That鈥檚 what really defined my niche on the platform.

ALSO READ: 10 Nigerian Creators To Look Out for in 2025

The content tools I use as a TikTok Creator

TikTok likes high-quality content 鈥� both in video and substance. I started with an Android, but when I got an iPhone, the growth was immediate. My videos looked better.

Lighting mattered too. At first, I shot under a tree, far from home. I鈥檇 take an okada there just to catch good sunlight. Later, I bought an LED light and a colour light. I bought the coloured light not because I needed it, but to stand out visually.

The tools I use to make my content are:

• CapCut to edit. I use the free version and don鈥檛 pay 
• Canva occasionally for visuals, which costs me 鈧�2,700 per month
• LensGo wireless mic. This cost me 鈧�30,000
• iPhone 12 Pro Max (This costs 鈧�880,000 on Jumia)

I also wear makeup sometimes because brands like that clean aesthetic, but I still post barefaced when I have to catch a trend early. TikTok prioritises speed. Time to market is very important.

How I make money as a Creator

The story of how I first made money on TikTok is complicated because I didn鈥檛 negotiate a fee and didn鈥檛 expect to be paid. This was before the Kumama video went viral. Someone I knew asked if I could host a live stream of a football match on TikTok. I wasn鈥檛 even into football, but I did it. Then he gave me 鈧�30,000 after. That was the first time I was paid for my content.

Later, I got 鈧�50k to promote a song. When I started doing film content, I got paid 鈧�50k 鈥� 鈧�100k to promote the movie, depending on the project and how I negotiated. Now, I mostly promote movies.

How long does it take me to make a TikTok video?

Green screen videos take about 2 hours 鈥� scriptwriting, filming, and editing. No effects or captions. In green screen videos, it鈥檚 just my head people see.

Full-body videos take 5 hours. I have to get dressed, wear makeup, set up lights and my tripod, shoot multiple takes, add subtitles, and edit down to under 3 minutes. Just setting up alone can take up to 45 minutes.

Event coverage is different. I go with someone to help me film. Like at the Headies 鈥� from the venue. A vlog I did of Priscilla Ojo and Juma Jux wedding did over 2 million views.

What I spend money on

I don鈥檛 spend much. Uber, data, Netflix, Showmax. But generator costs 鈥� repairs and fuel 鈥� take the most. My biggest investment is learning: watching TikTok tutorials. I don鈥檛 use YouTube. TikTok is my school.

How I manage burnout

Right now, I haven鈥檛 posted in four days 鈥� partly because I鈥檓 house hunting. Creating content is exhausting. Sometimes I make multiple posts in one day, so I can take like three days to rest. Rest for me is sleep, movies, and anything offline.

My regrets as a TikTok creator

I don鈥檛 have many regrets. But I will say this: content creation in Nigeria is about networking. You need a clique. You need to show up at people鈥檚 houses, host people at yours, and be in the right spaces.

I didn鈥檛 do that. And sometimes, it stings 鈥� seeing others get opportunities just because they belong to the right circle. But I am happy with how I chose to live my life.

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Jadrolita goes on spy missions and does security work for high-network individuals. She for itel鈥檚 Play Station copy RS4.

As many TikTokers do, Jarvis also posts other kinds of content: dance videos with her friends, come-with-me videos, day-in-the-life videos, skits, collaborations. When she posts as Jadrolita, her followers call it AI content.

A few months ago, she started collaborating with another TikTok user, Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller. She joined one of his live streams, and they started talking.

His content is sharply different from hers. In his videos, his braggadocio is palpable. Many times, he is dancing shirtless, starstruck by famous musicians who join his streams: , Kizz Daniel, . When , he threw himself on the floor from excitement. When he hit 5 million followers, he wore a dress, lit a massive candle on baked garri and celebrated with his friends. He posted seeking a first-class graduate to be his personal assistant, partly trolling the idea that doing well at school guarantees success. That was his brand.

In the videos Jarvis made with Peller, they remake love scenes from classic Nollywood movies. In some, Peller hypes her as he teaches her to dance. There are videos of him hugging her tight, holding her, trolling her, begging her to date him, trying to kiss her.

How old is Peller and Jarvis?

Jarvis, born June 15, 2002, is 22. Peller, born 10 May 2005, is slightly younger, at 19.

In August, after he had started calling her baby and the internet had decided they were dating, of him dancing with another girl while she looked at her phone went viral. When he was done, he snatched her phone from her hand and asked her if she was crazy. 鈥淎m I your slave? Am I complaining?鈥� she said, snatching her phone back from him.

But as all of this happened, Jadrolita took a back seat. Critics have argued that Jarvis lost her way when she started hanging out with Peller. 鈥淥ne day, we will discuss how this lady reduced herself from a viral content creator who broke through a completely new and unique niche to a mere toy paraded by Peller up and down,鈥� a user on X.

鈥淲hile their love story is complex, they are still young and figuring things out together, and that mutual understanding and happiness is what truly matters,鈥� Chioma Anyanwu, the content creator AnChi Vibes, who is also Senior TikTok manager of the news aggregator Pulse, said. This year, and spoke to him about their relationship.

As Peller and Jarvis have become an item, brands have rushed to them. Peller has promoted the new Alakada film coming out in December and many songs from upcoming musicians who he tagged. On TikTok, it is harder to know which content is sponsored or not, as the platform doesn’t incentivise creators to reveal this. But many TikTokers are paid to promote songs they use in dance videos. Both Peller and Jarvis posted about the new Kizz Daniel song 鈥淢arhaba,鈥� but only Peller posted about the Alakada movie. Peller has 5.5 million followers. Jarvis has 3.4 million.

It is not uncommon for couples who are TikTokers to create content together. But Yinka Owate, who used to be very active on the platform but now works as a journalist with Okay Africa, said that for sustainable growth to happen, the content has to be the reason for engagement and not the relationship.

鈥淩ight now, people are engaging with them, and brands are chasing them because they are the hot cake on TikTok at the moment,鈥� Owate said. 鈥淚 don’t know how long that will last. It is a 鈥榗ouple thing鈥� at the moment. It’s not a 鈥榗ontent thing.鈥欌��

Her observation is also similar to Anyanwu鈥檚 of the reason for their engagement. She said that the person who suffers if the relationship ends, many times is the one with the weaker individual brand. 鈦犫�滻 have seen couples come together to build relationships and grow, especially on TikTok. This fosters growth, mutual learning, and support but poses risks if the relationship falters, leaving the person without the stronger individual brand vulnerable,鈥� she said.

But Anyanwu added that reviving Jadrolita is a decision only Jarvis will make for herself. 鈥淚f Jarvis feels the need to focus more on her personal brand, she should consider feedback, as she knows what鈥檚 best for her. Ultimately, other people鈥檚 opinions shouldn鈥檛 dictate her choices,鈥� she said.

In Peller responded to backlash that Jarvis鈥檚 branding has changed since she started hanging out with him, saying that he is not 鈥渦sing Jarvis. We are not using each other.鈥�

Jarvis recently said that she stopped posting AI content because she has a tumour growing on her jawline.

But in October, she made a video as Jadrolita. 鈥淚t has come to my notice that you all are looking for me,鈥� she said in the video. 鈥淚鈥檓 here. I鈥檝e always been here. Just that my human self has been exploring so wild she forgot about me鈥 will be activating from now on. Are you ready for me? Because I am coming for all of you.鈥�

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Their 鈥� surviving armed robbers, escaping kidnappers, resurrecting from the dead twice, flying on lion鈥檚 back 鈥� of 鈥淭he God of my Pastor Power鈥� coming to the rescue after they declared 鈥淚 am a chosen. Who are you?鈥� have been a source of public fascination.

For those with faith, they are perfect examples that God is real and capable of unthinkable miracles. For those without any faith, they are emblematic of the foolery that is modern Nigerian Pentecostalism, the bellwether of even more doom to come.

But in the past few weeks, it is these paraphernalia that have made the church the trendiest soundtrack for everything, from , , and a myriad of skits from creators on TikTok. In one video, creator , 鈥淵ou fit be chosen make your babe still choose me.鈥�

According to data from the Pew Research Centre in 2015, 50% of Nigerians claim to be Muslims, and 48.1% Christian. Only approximately 2% belong to other or no religious groups. How then did this ultra-religious society trade their reverence for God for laughs and giggles on TikTok in less than a decade?

鈥淭here is something called viral marketing. Anything you post right now using 鈥業 am a Chosen,鈥� especially if you have the original audio in your content will trend,鈥� Prince Abubakar, a digital marketing manager who works with brands looking to go global said. 鈥淚f you want your content to go viral, part of the techniques available now is to key into the trend. On average, the result could be as high as a 50% increase in reach. People are desperate these days and anything that works, works.鈥�

Solape Adegbie, the head of social media at the content aggregator Pulse attributes the rise of the trend to the offline activities of members of the church for years. So when the videos began to trickle on social media, they were familiar.

鈥淐hosen as a religious body has created a lot of attention for itself, especially with the way they say 鈥業 am a chosen,鈥� three times. They are preaching when you take public transportation. They stop you on the road and their testimonies are always out of this world,鈥� she said.

She added that the nature of the production also plays a huge role in its virality. 鈥淭he videos are short in a very natural way. They are not overly produced, and it鈥檚 almost as if the people recording them are sneaking to do it, which makes them more authentic,鈥� she said.

The days when Nigerians gathered to watch famous televangelists perform outlandish miracles on TV 鈥� an era when many of the creators who have jumped on the trend are too young to remember 鈥� are gone. In those days miracles were entertainment. Now a new generation unfamiliar with this scoff at the ridiculousness of the claims.

鈥淚f you look at the demographic on TikTok, they are mostly young people. A lot of them are born in the 2000s and are not in tune with the time when miracles used to be a crazy thing,鈥� Adegbie said.

Coupled with documentaries and reports that expose corruption by religious leaders, the testimonies of these miracles could not stand a chance at a time of great distrust for the clergy. There has also been a recent debate on social media over defending God. This, Adegbie said, is one of the reasons Christians have not united against the creators who have jumped on the trend. 鈥淭here is this whole thing of 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 need to defend God,鈥� happening on social media. But also the Chosens are doing it in a questionable way. Sometimes people exaggerate testimonies. Unfortunately, people lie,鈥� she said.

But it’s also, she added because clergies that have peaked on social media are not focused on performing miracles as the televangelists of the early aughts. 鈥淭he kind of posts they make are centered on people, prosperity, and how to develop yourself. Many pastors are now being compared with motivational speakers.鈥�

Many brands move away from religion in their marketing strategies as it can be a divisive and controversial subject.  But in this case, Abubakar said that the debate around the chosen trend exists in safe waters, less about Christianity and more about individual belief in miracles. 鈥淭he pushback has been more of people not taking their spiritual life seriously. It doesn’t trash the religion itself. Working with an influencer on the trend now, especially if they will make a collaborative post will be very good,鈥� he said.

For members of the church, the videos have not been received as the caricature that many of the influencers have intended. Lazarus Muoka the leader of the church has described them as the promise of God coming to pass.

鈥淓verywhere is chosen, chosen, chosen. I am so grateful that what I have been looking for, God gave it to us in a platter of gold,鈥� . 鈥淕od is doing the publicity and we must give him the glory. They will know that we serve a living God.鈥�

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The video went viral on Nigerian social media as many people found it funny. What I didn鈥檛 see coming was a challenge that has now seen more than a thousand entries from Nigerian TikTok users.

I鈥檝e taken the pleasure to compile 17 of the most ridiculously hilarious 鈥淚鈥檓 not the bride鈥� videos.

I鈥檓 not the boyfriend

Bombastic side-eye

Not a dog bride

Layi gagged that man so bad

Yahoo boys made an entry

So where’s the bride?

Granny found love

They let Yaba Left people participate?

Justice for Android users

鈥淣a me be the thief鈥�

So many questions

Awwwww (I guess)

When you actually deep it鈥�

This is cute

Who gave them the gowns?

Delulu

Is this the winner of this challenge?

Burning Ram tickets are now available. Get your personal meat and many more at 91大神鈥檚 meat festival coming up on November 11th. Tickets are available .