INSIDE STORY: Young Nigerian women juggle multiple ventures to stay afloat

For many young Nigerians, one job is no longer enough to survive the rising cost of living and unstable economy. To stay afloat, they are turning to multiple ventures, mixing traditional work with side hustles in tech, fashion, and content creation.

Mary Adedeji and Kehinde Junaid share how they balance different income streams while building their dreams.

FROM TEACHING TO TECH AND BUSINESS REGISTRATION

Mary Adedeji, an economics graduate of Tai Solarin University of Education, a certified teacher, a CAC-accredited agent, and a certified virtual assistant, said her journey began after she realised the pay from teaching was not enough.

“When I finished school, I got certified, got my TRCN, and all of that. I started teaching, doing a 9 to 5, but the pay I was getting was not encouraging,” she said.

She later moved into home lessons before switching to online teaching and, eventually, tech.

“I learned virtual assistance and got certified. At some point, I started my ICAN, and through that, I also learned how to register businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). I am now a virtual assistant, a social media manager, and an accredited CAC agent,” she said.

Adedeji, who is married with a child, said balancing her work and family has been possible with careful planning.

“One thing I have learnt is balancing. It is not about doing everything; it’s about doing the right thing at the right time. That has helped me to stay on top of my tasks,” she said.

“Since I started my virtual assistant journey, I have not been working with Nigerian clients. I have worked with both foreigners and Nigerians in the diaspora, and when I charge, it is in dollars,” Adedeji noted.

“However, I realised that Nigerians often underpay and also stress you out. So, I decided I would no longer work for Nigerians in the diaspora. That decision has helped me.”

Still, Mary’s bigger dream goes beyond freelancing. She said one of her biggest goals is to have a school for the less privileged, where they can learn and live their dreams without financial constraints.

To grow as a young Nigerian in tech, she said, one needs more digital training, access to funding, and support to thrive.

COMBINING NYSC, FASHION, MODELLING AND REMOTE JOBS

Combining her service as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member with her entrepreneurial spirit, Kehinde Junaid, a sociology education graduate, built a business around her love for fashion.

Junaid further diversified her income by working as a model and virtual assistant.

“What inspired me was love. I’m also a model, so I enjoy dressing well. I love looking good, and it makes me happy. It boosts my confidence. I decided to start selling clothes to share my fashion lifestyle with others,” she said.

Selling a range of items, including clothes, shoes, and jewellery, she said social media has been her key to success.

According to Junaid, platforms like Facebook Marketplace and TikTok have helped her reach more customers, as she integrates her fashion brand directly into her modelling work.

“Whenever I’m booked for a shoot, I promote my brand within the concept. If they ask me to bring an outfit, I take something from my store. When I post, or they post and tag me, I ask them to add the outfit’s name. From there, I get messages like, ‘I love this dress; I’d like to wear it’,” she said.

While also working as a virtual assistant with international clients, she takes her NYSC duties seriously.

“I currently serve in a school and go four times a week. When I’m back on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, I work remotely, either on my phone or laptop. Sometimes, during the week, I stay up all night responding to foreign clients. It’s stressful,” she said.

Her goal, she added, is to grow her brand into a fashion house, stating, “I don’t want to keep buying and reselling clothes; I want to start producing my own, with my logo and designs. I also want to collaborate with modelling agencies, get models to represent my brand, and showcase it locally and internationally.”

Both Adedeji and Junaid show how young Nigerian women are finding ways to combine multiple ventures to stay afloat in the country’s difficult economy while chasing bigger dreams.