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<\/p>\nIt\u2019s hard to tell someone \u201cno\u201d when you might need to ask them for transport money tomorrow. When someone else is financially responsible for you, falling out with them can cost more than the relationship. Whether it\u2019s a parent, partner or friend, you might find yourself agreeing to things you don\u2019t want, keeping quiet when you\u2019re upset or trying to remain in their good graces, because you still need their help.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nigerian women are getting their money up and questioning the idea that dependence should be their default. When a woman starts earning her own money, the change isn\u2019t only in what she can buy. It can affect her relationship with her family, the work she chooses, what she\u2019s willing to put up with and the everyday decisions she can finally make without permission.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We spoke to Nigerian women about what financial independence actually changed about their lives, and their answers went well beyond being able to pay their own bills.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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1. \u201cIt Has Given Me The Freedom of Choice\u201d \u2014 Hope*, 32, Editor\u00a0<\/p>\n
I work as an editor, and I earn $3,800 a month. Financial independence has changed a lot of things for me. When I was younger, I needed to ask my parents for money to do the things I wanted. Having my own money has made it possible for me to handle those things myself. It has also given me the freedom of choice. I can wake up and decide to travel to a certain place, pierce my ears or get a tattoo without asking anyone for permission. I can also afford to pay for help with things I\u2019d rather not do myself.<\/p>\n
2. \u201cI Went From 10k to 600 \u2013 1.8M\u201d \u2014 Chi*, 29, Media and Communications\u00a0<\/p>\n
I went from earning 10k a month to somewhere between 600 and 1.8m. I\u2019ve always strived towards financial independence because I realised from an early age that it is important for women to have their own money. This was evident in the films that I watched growing up and within my socioeconomic group. I also like the good things in life, and whenever I saw music videos where women danced, and men sprayed money on them, I wanted to be the one throwing money around.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Financial independence has ensured my agency. I do not have to depend on people or wait for their permission to do certain things. When I wanted to move cities, informing my parents was more like a formality because I didn\u2019t expect anything from them. Having my own money made the move possible. It also gave me more self-trust and made it easier to cut people out of my life when they become a nuisance.<\/p>\n
3. \u201cI Averaged $4k Monthly From My Job And Business\u201d \u2014 Chinasa*, 31, Enugu, Narrative and Communications Strategist<\/p>\n
Previously, I earned an average of $4,000 a month from my full-time job and my business combined. I now run my consultancy full-time, and my earnings are project-based, so there isn\u2019t a fixed monthly figure.<\/p>\n
For me, financial independence means being able to care for myself and the people I love. I used to depend on my parents financially. Having my own money has made it easier to make decisions without relying on someone else\u2019s support or approval.<\/p>\n
Getting my first apartment was a big part of that. I did it against my parents\u2019 wishes, and being able to sustain that independence over the years has meant a lot to me. I\u2019ve also been able to move cities on my own terms.<\/p>\n
A new pressure I\u2019m trying to navigate is asking for help when I actually need it. It\u2019s hard for me because I\u2019m used to handling things myself. Also, people overlook that I do need help sometimes. Still, having my own money meant I could finally have my own room.<\/p>\n
4. \u201cI Can Meet My Needs And Do Impactful Work\u201d \u2014 Ediomo*, 25, Freelancer<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a freelancer earning between \u20a6500,000 and \u20a6750,000. I\u2019ve worked across non-profit projects, graphic design and real estate. Having my own money means I can afford everything I need and choose work I care about, rather than making career decisions out of survival. It\u2019s also changed my relationship with my dad.<\/p>\n
I grew up in a middle-class family where my dad was the primary breadwinner. We were comfortable, but he was financially abusive. We had to ask for basics like food and toiletries, and he\u2019d make us write lists to defend what we needed. He scrutinised everything, gave us about a third of the money and constantly reminded us how much we depended on him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I moved out and started supporting myself, I stopped calling. I no longer needed his money,\u00a0 so I didn\u2019t have to put up with him. He eventually started making an effort to be in my life. I was distant at first, but over time, I noticed he was trying and acknowledging his mistakes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having my own money also helped me understand his fear that we wouldn\u2019t have enough, though his approach made us feel that way anyway. Our relationship is still strained, and there\u2019s hurt I haven\u2019t let go of, but I love and respect him now. Financial independence gave me the freedom to step away, and eventually, the choice to let him back into my life.<\/p>\n
5. \u201cIt Has Made Me More Confident In Myself\u201d \u2014 Joy*, F, 30, Operations<\/p>\n
I work in operations and earn \u20a6300,000 monthly. For me, financial independence means paying all my bills and making decisions without asking anyone for money.<\/p>\n
Having my own money has made me less anxious. I used to depend on my dad financially, but not anymore. I\u2019m more confident in myself, and that scares him because he\u2019s no longer in control of my decisions.<\/p>\n
The biggest change was being able to quit a job I\u2019d been at for three months without a backup plan, and I didn\u2019t care what my parents would say. I also have my own apartment, so I can come and go as I please without answering to anyone, like I\u2019m a child.<\/p>\n
Financial independence has brought some new pressures, though. There\u2019s a black tax, though I\u2019ve managed to reduce it significantly in the past year. I also have to manage unexpected expenses in this economy, and I feel like I always have to have everything figured out. Still, I\u2019m glad I no longer have to depend on other people or please them at my expense.<\/p>\n
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Next Read: I Slept on My Couch for Eight Years Because My Aunt Took Over My Room<\/a><\/p>\n 6. \u201cIt Gave Me The Confidence To Start My Business\u201d \u2014 Amara*, 30, Social Media Associate<\/p>\n I earn \u20a6385,000 a month as a social media associate. For me, financial independence means having my own money and being able to call the shots on how I use it.<\/p>\n I have never really depended on anyone financially because I\u2019ve always had myself. The biggest change having my own money has brought is the confidence it has given me to start my own business. I have a lot of trust in my own decisions now.<\/p>\n 7. \u201cI No Longer Rely On My Parents For Things I Want\u201d \u2014 Dara*, 22, Journalist & Writer\u00a0<\/p>\n I work as a journalist and writer, earning between \u20a6150,000 and \u20a6200,000 a month. For me, financial independence means being able to make decisions about my life without another person\u2019s permission.<\/p>\n I used to rely on my parents. Sometimes, the things I wanted could be used to punish me. Other times, I\u2019d have to give them up because my younger siblings wanted something. Now I can buy things I like without having to explain why I need them. I\u2019m also firmer with my boundaries.\u00a0<\/p>\n I was able to fix my phone without asking them for help. If I waited for them, I might have gone a week or more without a phone. I\u2019m not making a lot, but knowing I can take care of myself has given me a sense of freedom.<\/p>\n Having my own money has also brought some black tax. My siblings expect me to help them, especially when they can\u2019t ask my parents. When I\u2019m at home, certain responsibilities also automatically fall to me, and I hate that.<\/p>\n Still, I can finally do things on my own without waiting for permission.<\/p>\n 8. \u201cI Can Live A Truly Unconventional Life\u201d \u2014 Lade*, 34, Aesthetician and Operations<\/p>\n I earn $40k CAD annually. Personally, financial independence means I have enough to cover unforeseen expenses after paying my bills, without worrying.<\/p>\n I used to rely on my dad financially. Our relationship has always been distant, and that hasn\u2019t really changed. What\u2019s different now is that I control when I talk to him. I don\u2019t feel obligated to call because I need something from him or worry that he might weaponise my silence or distance against me.<\/p>\n Having my own money has given me the freedom to live the truly unconventional life I know I\u2019m meant to have. It means my life doesn\u2019t stop because I\u2019m not dependent on someone else in big, impactful ways. I have the final say on my decisions, and I can make choices that honour who I am without relying on anyone else to make them possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019m also moving apartments, which is a big deal for me. The last time I moved, my dad handled the expenses. Two years later, I\u2019m doing it myself, and I feel very proud.<\/p>\n There\u2019s still some pressure to make more money and take better charge of my life, but having my own money has made it possible to live on my own terms.\u00a0<\/p>\n 9. \u201cI No Longer Make Decisions Out Of Desperation\u201d \u2014 Oyin* 32, Lagos, Artist and Media practitioner<\/p>\n I am an artist and media practitioner, and I earn around 2m monthly. For me, financial independence means being able to afford my needs and my wants without relying on anyone. The biggest change is that I can make decisions without desperation. I noticed this when I left a job that almost took my life. I knew my savings could tide me over until I got back on my feet.<\/p>\n Before now, I used to rely on my parents. They always came through for me, even when they were struggling themselves. Now, I take care of them. It has also made travelling possible for me, and my living conditions have improved significantly.<\/p>\n Having my own money isn\u2019t without its own pressure, though. I have to deal with the black tax. I love taking care of my parents, but I know how to enforce boundaries when I need to. There\u2019s also the pressure I put on myself to keep making more money. That said, having my own money means I can finally breathe well.<\/p>\n 10. \u201cI Earn \u20a6900,000\/ Month. I Can Buy Whatever I Want\u201d \u2014 Tee*, 27, Banker<\/p>\n I earn about \u20a6900,000 a month. For me, financial independence means being able to buy what I want without consulting anyone or waiting for someone to give me the money.<\/p>\n My parents supported me through university, but that stopped after I graduated. Some friends helped, and I picked up a side hustle while waiting for NYSC. I got my current job after service, and I\u2019ve been taking care of myself since.<\/p>\n The biggest change is being able to say no to people I don\u2019t want in my life because I know I can take care of myself. While I was house-hunting, I met an \u201cabroad\u201d uncle who got involved in the search, and I expected him to contribute to my rent. A few weeks later, he reacted irrationally to a photo I shared because I\u2019d blurred out my b**bs. I couldn\u2019t understand why he felt entitled to my body, so I blocked him without worrying about the money he hadn\u2019t sent.<\/p>\n It has also made things I once struggled with easier. I can afford data subscriptions, which were a problem when I was unemployed. I can also travel by air, and that has been a highlight of my financial independence.<\/p>\n A new pressure I\u2019m navigating is black tax from extended family. My immediate family doesn\u2019t pressure me for money, but the requests from extended family stress me out. I\u2019ve learnt to ignore some messages because sometimes I\u2019m already having a bad day, then I come online to meet billing.<\/p>\n Still, I\u2019m grateful. Having my own money has made it possible to be my true self without having to kiss anyone\u2019s ass.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll Love: Why Can\u2019t A Woman Just Be Good At What She Does?<\/a><\/p>\n We surveyed 5,000 workers across Nigeria\u2019s 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 Zikoko State of Income Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s hard to tell someone \u201cno\u201d when you might need to ask them for transport money tomorrow. 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