11/03/2025
Chidinma and Tunde were childhood friends. They finished school almost the same year, hustled to get good jobs, and dreamed of a better future. But life took them on very different paths — all because of what they knew (or didn’t know) about managing money.
When Tunde landed his first job in Lekki, he felt like he’d made it. The first salary hit his account, and he immediately bought the latest iPhone. Every weekend, he was out with friends, spending big at lounges and parties. He thought he deserved to enjoy life — after all, he worked hard and school showed him pepper. So why not, he forgot money has wings, so say the Africa proverb.
When he ran low on cash, he borrowed from loan apps. The interest rates were high, but he told himself he’d "sort it out next month." Except "next month" never came. His debt grew, and by the end of the year, his account balance barely made it past the first week of each month.
Chidinma’s Journey:
Chidinma also wanted to enjoy her life, but she had overheard her uncle talking about the power of saving, living a modest life and investing. Curious, she started researching. She learned about budgeting, setting financial goals, and even started a small savings plan through a mobile app.
When her friends invited her out, she set limits on her spending. She started using an automated saving app to save part of her income and used her savings to buy shares in a Nigerian company.
One day, Tunde’s landlord increased his rent. He panicked — he had no savings and couldn’t borrow more. A week later, he received a phone call from his aged mum that he needed to deposit #500,000 for a surgery. He immediately broke into tears knowing he has squandered all his income and he could not help his mum.
So, ask yourself:
Are you living like Tunde or planning like Chidinma? And what one step can you take today to become more financially literate?
