Ten years ago, if you asked a Nigerian undergraduate about their financial plans, the response was usually; graduate, get a job, and start earning. Today, that narrative has changed.
Now, youths in their twenties are running e-commerce stores on Instagram, coding apps from their hostel rooms, and trading U.S. stocks from their dormitories. It is no longer about waiting for a job after NYSC, the game has changed and young Nigerians are actively taking control of their financial future.
What was once considered a side hustle has become the main hustle. From selling thrift clothes to offering digital design services and copywriting gigs, these activities are no longer just extras, they are the sources of livelihood of Nigerian youths in this era.
What is driving this changes?
Platforms like OPay, Bamboo, Flutterwave, and Paystack are revolutionizing the way money moves. They make it easier than ever to save, invest, and receive payments swiftly. With fintech, Nigerian youths now have tools that give them direct access to global markets and financial opportunities.
Content creation, cryptocurrency, and access to global assets have also reshaped financial mindsets. The wealthiest young Nigerians in the coming decades may not be those with the highest salaries, but those who create multiple and sustainable streams of income.
Why does this Matters?
If you are between 18 and 35, you have likely felt the pressure of rising living costs, an unstable job market, and a fluctuating currency. The need to earn and to earn from multiple sources has never been greater. Salaries alone are often just for survival, not for building wealth.
How to Take Advantage of This Era
1. Start Early: Begin as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the more room you have to make mistakes, learn, and grow. Success is often built on lessons from early experiments.
2. Invest Consistently and Diversify: Multiple income sources are key. If you earn from copywriting, you can channel part of it into real estate, mutual funds, or cryptocurrency. Reinvest wisely and spread your risks to build long-term wealth.
3. Understand Risk: Every investment carries risk. The goal is not to avoid risk entirely, but to calculate it, manage it, and invest wisely.
4. Control Lifestyle Inflation: Many youths fall into the trap of spending more as they earn more. Discipline is essential. From your income, create a balance: spend, save, invest, and keep researching better opportunities.
The financial narratives of Nigerian youths is no more waiting for opportunities, rather, it is about creating them. From side hustles to smart investments, this generation is rewriting what success looks like. The challenge now is yours; will you stand back and watch, or will you take the bold step to build, invest, and secure a future that reflects your own dreams?
The time to start is today, and the power to shape tomorrow is in your hands.
Written by,
Al-Ameen Adediran
Intern, OHR Publishing Comms. Unit
