#MoneyvsMe 21; A 30-Year-Old Nigerian Mom’s Journey
Every week, TNT wants to know how people move money in and out of their lives. Certain stories will be challenging,while others will be extravagant. It will always show something new to learn.
At 28, I found myself juggling the whirlwind of motherhood while trying to make a living in Nigeria’s unpredictable economy. Having a three-year-old son who relied on me for everything, along with a household that needed my constant attention, often left me feeling overwhelmed. What really added to the struggle was the burden of my various skills—talents I used to think would lead me to financial freedom, but now felt like a tangled web of confusing options. I’ve always considered myself a creative person. I picked up textile art from my mom, getting the hang of the intricate techniques of Adire, tie-dye, and Ankara designs.
This has been my pride for years, a true reflection of my culture and creativity. I spent so much time weaving patterns and making beautiful fabrics that my friends just loved. But when I began to sell them, I soon found out that the market wasn’t quite what I had pictured. It seems like the local economy has really tightened up, and folks just aren’t as keen to spend on handmade crafts anymore. Materials prices shot up, and buyers were always trying to negotiate, which meant I was left with just enough profit to stay afloat.
I switched things up and decided to dive into video editing. I picked up new skills during the pandemic since I had a bit more time on my hands. I’ve done some freelance video editing for a handful of YouTubers and small businesses. It offered a better pay cheque than textile art, but there was a lot of competition. Freelance platforms got really crowded, and clients usually leaned towards hiring more affordable editors from different countries. I put in so much time editing a video, and it’s frustrating to get paid way less than what my effort deserves. I was getting more and more frustrated.
Then there was my skill as a graphic designer, which is another talent of mine. I gathered some things during my journey. I’ve always had a knack for design, whipping up logos, banners, and social media posts for local businesses. It was definitely a competitive space, just like video editing. I had a tough time finding clients who were ready to pay more than just a small fee for my designs. Lots of people were looking for designs for free or just for “exposure,” but that never really helped with the bills. So, in the middle of all that, I thought I’d give YouTube a shot. “Why not give it a shot?” I’m excited to share my skills with everyone and maybe even teach a thing or two about what I know!
I started a channel where I’ve spent countless hours filming, editing, and sharing tutorials on textile art and design. I really enjoyed the process—it was a great way to bring all my skills together into one creative outlet. Growing a YouTube channel definitely had its challenges. Even though I was really into it, the algorithm just wasn’t on my side, and the views came in super slowly. I saw other creators shoot up to success while I was just trying to hit my first 1,000 subscribers.
Monetisation seemed like something far off. With the economy in Nigeria taking a turn for the worse, I found myself feeling even more confused. I knew I had the skills, no question there, but the real challenge was figuring out how to make those skills bring in a regular pay cheque. It always seemed like just when I was getting somewhere, another challenge popped up. The cost of living just kept going up. Power outages kept messing with my work, especially when I was trying to edit videos or tackle design projects.
There were days when I had to choose between getting food and buying data to upload my YouTube videos. It felt like the financial pressure was always there. My son is getting older, and I really want to give him a better life. My husband works as a civil servant, and his salary is pretty modest, just enough to get by on our expenses. I’ve been thinking about how I can pitch in more, but I’m not quite sure how to go about it.
So, one evening, after a long day of managing all my different hustles, I finally took a moment to sit down and write a list. I went ahead and listed all my skills—textile art, video editing, graphic design, YouTube—and next to each one, I jotted down some ideas on how I could make money from them. As I glanced at the list, it suddenly struck me: I really needed to focus. I was really stretching myself too thin, trying to cash in on all my skills at the same time without really nailing down one of them. I just can’t be everything for everyone. I made the choice to simplify things. I got in touch with a few successful YouTubers to pick their brains and found out a lot about niche marketing and why it’s crucial to identify a target audience. I gave my channel a fresh new look, focussing just on teaching textile art and sharing DIY tutorials.
I began posting more regularly and tapped into my graphic design skills to create some really eye-catching thumbnails and social media posts. I also looked for textile exhibitions and markets to sell my fabrics, meeting buyers who really valued handmade art. I figured out how to price my work more effectively and discovered customers who truly appreciate my craftsmanship. Even though it was still challenging, I started noticing some little victories. I decided to focus my marketing efforts on offering my video editing and graphic design services specifically to Nigerian small business owners. I focused on local clients looking for affordable but professional content, which helped me build a more dependable client base.
I tweaked my rates and put together some package deals, which really made my services stand out and helped me earn more from each project. It didn’t happen all at once. There were still days when I found myself wondering if I’d ever earn enough to live comfortably. But over time, my income started to increase. My YouTube channel really took off, and I began making money from ads. Some influencers have taken notice of my textile art, and I’ve landed collaborations that really helped me connect with a bigger audience.
I’ve noticed that my video editing and graphic design services are getting more popular, and I’m starting to get referrals from satisfied clients. The journey wasn’t a walk in the park, but I discovered that thriving in Nigeria’s tough economy isn’t just about having a tonne of skills. It really came down to staying focused, being persistent, and figuring out the right time to change direction. Ultimately, it was all about sticking with it, even when things got a bit tricky or tough.
Every day is a new chapter in my story, filled with fresh challenges and exciting opportunities. But now, I see them more clearly, realising that my skills, even though they’re diverse, are my biggest strengths. I’m really set on using them to create the future I envision for myself, my husband, and her son.
