It’s called a dividend. 

The rule is simple: own the company’s stock before a deadline, known as the qualification date, and you’re entitled to a payout.

You don’t need to trade the market or track daily price swings. If your name is on the company’s shareholder register by that date, the dividend lands in your account when payments begin.

Several Nigerian companies have already announced their 2025 dividends, with qualification deadlines running from April to June 2026. Here’s a breakdown of some of the companies paying shareholders this year.

1. MTN Nigeria (MTNN)

where foreign-exchange losses wiped out profits, MTN Nigeria bounced back strongly in 2025. The recovery is now translating into a healthy payout for shareholders.

• Dividend per share: ₦15 final dividend (₦20 total for the year, including ₦5 interim already paid in November 2025)
  
  
• Qualification date: April 8, 2026
  
  
• Payment date: May 5, 2026
  
  
• Registrar: Coronation Registrars Limited
  

2. NGX Group (NGXGROUP)

The company that owns and operates Nigeria’s stock exchange is also listed on it. Nin 2025, and shareholders are getting both cash and extra shares.

• Dividend per share: ₦2 final dividend (₦3 total for the year, including ₦1 interim already paid)
  
  
• Qualification date: April 10, 2026
  
  
• Payment date: April 29, 2026
  
  
• Bonus issue: 1 new share for every 3 shares held
  

3. BUA Cement (BUACEMENT)

BUA Cement had one of the most dramatic earnings surges of 2025. Profit jumped , and the dividend reflects the scale of that growth.

• Dividend per share: ₦10
  
  
• Qualification date: May 8, 2026
  
  
• Payment date: May 21, 2026
  
  
• Registrar: Africa Prudential Plc
  

4. Dangote Cement (DANGCEM)

Dangote Cement reported , and its dividend increase mirrors that performance.

• Dividend per share: ₦45
  
  
• Qualification date: June 17, 2026
  
  
• Payment date: July 2, 2026
  
  
• Registrar: Coronation Registrars Limited
  

 The ₦45 payout per share, , ranks among the largest cash distributions in NGX history.

5. United Capital (UCAP)

United Capital doesn’t always dominate headlines, but it has built one of the most consistent dividend records on the NGX, and its 2025 results came with and a higher total dividend payout.

• Dividend per share: ₦0.70 final dividend (₦1.00 total for the year, including ₦0.30 interim already paid)
  
  
• Qualification date: April 7, 2026
  
  
• Payment date: April 24, 2026
  
  
• Registrar: Africa Prudential Plc
  

6. NASCON Allied Industries (NASCON)

NASCON — part of the Dangote Group — produces many everyday staples for Nigerian kitchens, including salt, seasonings, and tomato paste. Its 2025 dividend marks a sharp jump from recent payouts.

• Dividend per share: ₦6
  
  
• Qualification date: April 1, 2026
  
  
• Payment date: April 28, 2026
  
  
• Registrar: Meristem Registrars Limited
  

7. Mecure Industries (MECURE)

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Mecure posted strong growth in 2025, with . Its dividend more than doubled compared to the previous year.

• Dividend per share: ₦0.32
  
  
• Qualification date: April 23, 2026
  
  
• Payment date: To be communicated
  
  
• Registrar: Cordros Registrars Limited
  

Before You Do Anything, Check Your E-Dividend Mandate

One detail that often catches investors off guard: qualifying for a dividend doesn’t automatically mean you’ll receive it.

To get paid, your bank account must be registered with the company’s registrar through . If that mandate isn’t active, the dividend may end up sitting in an unclaimed pool, and recovering it later can be a long process.

Here’s how to register your e-dividend mandate:

1. Download the e-Dividend Mandate Form from your registrar’s website or the website of the, Nigeria.
   
   
2. Fill in your details, including:
   
   • Your full name (as it appears on your share certificate or (CSCS) account)
     
     
   • Your bank account number
     
     
   • Your Bank Verification Number (BVN)
     
     
   • Your CSCS account number (if available)
     
     
3. Submit the completed form to the company’s registrar, either directly or through your stockbroker. Some banks can also process the mandate on your behalf.
   
   
4. The registrar will verify your shareholder details, while your bank confirms your account information and BVN through the e-Dividend Mandate Management System.
   

Once the mandate is approved, future dividends from companies you own shares in will be paid directly into your bank account.

Before any qualification date passes, confirm with your stockbroker or registrar that your e-dividend mandate is active.

Note: Dividend figures and dates sourced from NGX corporate action filings and company announcements. The final dividends for the Financial Year 2025 are scheduled for 2026. All dividends are subject to a 10% withholding tax. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

Also Read: 10 Nigerian Stocks the Market is Watching for 2026

As told to Aisha Bello

I make more money than my husband. Our situation is growing less unique by the day, especially in a city like Lagos, where ambition is the default currency and the cost of living forces everyone to grind relentlessly just to maintain a decent life.Ěý

Because of the pay disparity between us, I’m frequently faced with adjusting my goals or finding a way to negotiate our feelings. Communicating our needs early and often is a great way to minimise frustration, hurt feelings, and hurt pride.

But sometimes, no amount of communication can dismantle the conditioning in a society that teaches men their worth is directly tied to their wallet.

When Jide and I started dating in 2021, we were in the financial trenches together. We were both 26, navigating the relentless hustle of the Lagos 9-to-5 life. He was an HR generalist at a mid-tier logistics firm, earning ₦250,000 per month. I was an account manager at a boutique advertising agency, taking home roughly ₦200,000 per month. We were financial equals. We took turns paying for dates at casual spots in Ikeja, split the cost of Valentine’s Day getaways, and pooled our December bonuses to survive the January drought.

When we got married at 28, our financial architecture was still perfectly symmetrical. I had moved to an in-house marketing role earning ₦400,000, and he had been promoted to an HR specialist role earning ₦450,000. He made slightly more, but we were fundamentally peers. We split the rent on our modest two-bedroom flat in Surulere down the middle. We were a team, building a life brick by brick.

The shift didn’t happen overnight, but when it did, it was seismic.

Shortly after our first anniversary, I realised that my trajectory in corporate marketing wouldn’t give me the kind of financial freedom I craved. I wanted more. I spent my weekends and evenings aggressively preparing for case interviews, leveraging every connection I had until I landed an associate role at a global management consulting firm.

My starting salary jumped to ₦1.5 million a month.

I remember our excitement the day I got the offer letter. Jide lifted me off the ground. We popped a bottle of wine, ordered expensive takeout, and spent the night dreaming about the future. The money felt like a collective victory. We could comfortably upgrade our car, start saving for a property, and eventually give our future children a head start. 

Or so I thought.

If you work in management consulting,  they pay you for your blood. The hours were brutal. I was frequently on flights to Abuja or Accra, working on strategy decks late into the night and surviving on black coffee and adrenaline. But the financial rewards were undeniable. Consulting rewards performance. You perform, you rise fast.

Fast forward to today. I am now 31 years old and an Engagement Manager. My base salary is now ₦4 million a month, supplemented by quarterly performance bonuses that could comfortably purchase a fairly used sedan outright.

Jide’s income hasn’t stagnated either. He is a hardworking, intelligent man. He recently became HR Manager at a tech firm, and his take-home pay is now ₦800,000 a month. Objectively speaking, ₦800k is a fantastic salary in Nigeria. It places him in the top percentile of earners in the country. But in the private math of our household, his income is completely dwarfed by mine. I now earn five times what he makes.

As my income grew, so did our lifestyle. We moved from Surulere to a serviced duplex in Lekki, which costs ₦9 million a year in rent and service charges. We installed a robust solar and inverter system to bypass the national grid. We now have a daughter, whom we enrolled in a premium crèche.

The financial reality of our new life doesn’t accommodate a 50/50 split. If Jide were to pay half of our ₦9 million rent, it would consume nearly half of his annual income. So, naturally, I took over. I pay the rent. I bought the solar panels. I pay our daughter’s school fees. Jide handles the estate dues, the internet, his car maintenance, and groceries.

Logically, this arrangement makes the most sense. Emotionally, it has become a battleground.

At first, the tension was subtle. It started with passive-aggressive comments about my hours

. “Some of us actually have time for our families,” Jide would mutter when I had to take a client call at 8:00 PM. 

Then, it bled into our financial decisions. Because he couldn’t contribute equally to the big-ticket items, he began to fiercely, almost desperately, guard his authority over how the money was spent.

Last year, when we were discussing changing his car — a 2010 Honda that was spending more time at the mechanic workshop than on the road — I offered to buy him a newer SUV. It wasn’t a loan; it was a gift to my husband. 

He was furious. He accused me of trying to emasculate him, of trying to turn him into my “dependent.” He ended up taking a high-interest cooperative loan from his office to buy a smaller car, just to prove he could do it himself. I watched him take on unnecessary debt out of pure pride, and it broke my heart.

The arguments have only escalated since then. The core issue is never really about the money; it’s about power, respect, and the Nigerian patriarchal dividend that he feels he has lost. Because I foot the largest bills, he insists on having the “final say” on every domestic decision, just to overcompensate. If I suggest we vacation in Cape Town, he will find a reason to insist we go to Zanzibar instead. If I want to hire a live-in nanny, he will argue for a day worker. It feels as though he disagrees with me simply to remind me that my money does not buy me compliance.

During our worst argument, after I had calmly pointed out that I was funding a particular home renovation and should therefore have a say in the contractor, he looked at me with a coldness I had never seen before.

“You think because you make money, you are the man of this house now?” he snapped. “You think you can talk to me anyhow?”

I wasn’t “talking to him anyhow”. I was talking to him the way I always had. But his ears had changed. Everything I say now is filtered through his insecurity. My confidence is read as arrogance. My exhaustion from a 70-hour workweek is read as neglect. My financial independence is a threat.

It is a profoundly lonely place to be. You work twice as hard to shatter the glass ceiling, only to realise the shards are falling directly onto your marriage. I find myself downplaying my achievements at home. When my bonuses drop, I don’t celebrate; I quietly move the money into my investment accounts so it doesn’t trigger his resentment. I make myself smaller so he can feel bigger.

We were partners when he earned more. We stood shoulder to shoulder and faced the world together. Now that I earn more, he treats me like competition — a competition he is losing. He is fighting a war I never declared, defending a title I never tried to strip from him.

I love my husband. I don’t want a divorce. I want the man who lifted me off the floor when I got my first big break. But as I sit here, looking at an Excel spreadsheet that holds the truth of our lives, I wonder how much longer we can pretend that my success isn’t the very thing tearing us apart.

Also Read: What’s The State of Love?

The rally cut across sectors, including insurance, fertiliser, mortgage banking, infrastructure, logistics and financial services. Here’s a breakdown of the best-performing Nigerian stocks that moved the market in February 2026, with verified rankings from

1. FTG Insurance PLC (FTGINSURE)

FTG Insurance opened in February at ₦0.20 and closed at ₦0.90, a 350% gain that put it at the top of the month’s best performers by a wide margin.

FTG Insurance operates in Nigeria’s insurance sector, providing life and non-life insurance products to individuals and businesses.

• February opening price: ₦0.20
  
  
• February closing price: ₦0.90
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 350.00%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦450,000 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦350,000&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;

2. Notore Chemical Industries PLC (ZICHIS)

Notore Chemical opened at ₦4.19 and surged to ₦17.36 by month-end,Ěý a 314.32% return that made it the second-biggest mover in February.

Notore Chemicals produces fertilisers and industrial chemicals, serving Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

• February opening price: ₦4.19
  
  
• February closing price: ₦17.36
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 314.32%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦414,320 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦314,320

3. Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank PLC (INFINITY)

Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank’s stock price recorded a 111.11% gain in February, rising from ₦9.00 to ₦19.00. 

Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank provides mortgage financing and real estate-backed lending solutions to individuals and businesses across Nigeria.

• February opening price: ₦9.00
  
  
• February closing price: ₦19.00
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 111.11%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦211,111 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦111,111

4. Union Dicon Salt PLC (UNIONDICON)

Union Dicon Salt climbed from ₦8.75 to ₦16.60 in February, delivering an 89.71% return for investors who held the stock through the month.

Union Dicon Salt produces, processes, and distributes salt and related industrial minerals across Nigeria.

• February opening price: ₦8.75
  
  
• February closing price: ₦16.60
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 89.71%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦189,714 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦89,714

5. RT Briscoe Nigeria PLC (RTBRISCOE)

RT Briscoe moved from ₦7.86 to ₦12.51 in February, posting a 59.16% gain and securing a place in this month’s top five.

RT Briscoe operates in automotive sales, fleet management, and industrial equipment leasing.

• February opening price: ₦7.86
  
  
• February closing price: ₦12.51
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 59.16%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦159,160 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦59,160

6. Julius Berger Nigeria PLC (JBERGER)

Julius Berger opened at ₦182.00 and closed at ₦288.00 in February, recording a 58.24% gain, a strong showing from one of the NGX’s more established names.

Julius Berger is one of Nigeria’s leading construction and infrastructure companies, with a long track record of delivering major road, bridge, and building projects.

• February opening price: ₦182.00
  
  
• February closing price: ₦288.00
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 58.24%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦158,242 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦58,242

7. JP Gold PLC (JPAULGOLD) (JPAULGOLD)

JPAULGOLD rose from ₦2.44 to ₦3.86 during the month, a 58.20% increase that placed it just a fraction behind Julius Berger in the performance rankings.

JPAULGOLD trades precious metals and distributes investment-grade gold products to retail and institutional markets in Nigeria.

• February opening price: ₦2.44
  
  
• February closing price: ₦3.86
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 58.20%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦158,197 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦58,197

8. Jaiz Bank PLC (JAIZBANK)

Jaiz Bank gained 57.88% in February, rising from ₦8.00 to ₦12.63, and continued to draw investor interest in the non-interest banking segment, making it one of the best-performing Nigerian stocks in February.

Jaiz Bank is Nigeria’s first fully non-interest bank, offering Shariah-compliant financial products and services to retail and corporate customers.

• February opening price: ₦8.00
  
  
• February closing price: ₦12.63
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 57.88%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦157,875 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦57,875

9. Custodian Investment PLC (CUSTODIAN)

Custodian Investment closed February at ₦68.00, up from an opening of ₦44.00, a 54.55% gain across the month.

Custodian Investment is a financial services holding company with subsidiaries spanning life insurance, general insurance, and pension fund management.

• February opening price: ₦44.00
  
  
• February closing price: ₦68.00
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 54.55%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦154,545 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦54,545

10. Red Star Express PLC (REDSTAREX)

Red Star Express rounded out the top 10 with a 53.61% gain, rising from ₦20.80 to ₦31.95 by the end of the month.

Red Star Express provides logistics, courier, and haulage services across Nigeria and West Africa.

• February opening price: ₦20.80
  
  
• February closing price: ₦31.95
  
  
• Month-to-date increase: 53.61%
  
  
• ₦100k in February = ₦153,606 at month-end
  
  
• Capital gain: ₦53,606
  

Bottom Line

These 10 stocks delivered significant returns in just 28 days, rewarding investors who stayed alert and moved decisively. Whether this momentum carries into March remains to be seen, but for now, these stocks have set the bar for February 2026.

Also Read: 10 Nigerian Stocks the Market is Watching for 2026

As told to Aisha Bello

I didn’t set out to be a freelance content partner for global enterprise.

I didn’t even know what freelancing łľ±đ˛ą˛ÔłŮ.Ěý

Before 2020, I was just a teenager studying mathematics. I’d entered university at 14 and struggled, and the experience was far more overwhelming than I had envisioned. The pressure mounted quickly, and I struggled to keep up with the academic demands.

By my final semester in 2019, I hit a wall: two carry-overs. My plan to graduate at 18 had vanished. 2020 came and brought the world to a standstill.

While waiting to rewrite my exams, I took a job at a cosmetic factory for ₦20,000 a month. At the time, I had a work-your-way-up mindset; I figured I’d stay at the factory for 10 years, grinding until I reached the top of the 9-to-5 ladder. 

Then, one day, in January 2020, management told all staff members to go home due to the pandemic and imminent lockdown. They never called me back.

It felt like rejection at first. But now I know it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

Desperate for a path forward, I pivoted to a data science internship with . The six-month programme was highly competitive — 2,000 people vied for only 10 spots. The internship itself did not pay a monthly stipend during the training phase, but those who ranked among the top 30 at the end of the programme were eligible for entry-level roles paying around ₦150,000 a month.

That kind of money felt like a fortune to me, considering I was making ₦20,000 at the factory. However, I didn’t make the top 10. I was somewhere around the 28th position. Something else happened during those six months, and changed my life: I started writing. 

By the time the internship ended in September 2020, I had documented my learning journey on Medium.

I had also built a WordPress site, where I wrote about chess. I wasn’t planning to be a writer.b I just loved chess, and I wanted to prove I could build things online.

My First Paid Gig

My first real gig came from a random Google search in December 2020. I found a Spanish client who needed an article about chess. When he asked for my rate, I panicked. I had no idea what to charge.

So I Googled: “How much should I charge for an article?”

The search results suggested ÂŁ21. I converted it and asked for $25 (₦8,000 at the time). He agreed instantly. 

I finished the work in one day. Then the realisation hit: I had just earned in 24 hours what had taken me nearly two weeks to earn at the factory.

That was the first crack in my old mindset.

I Asked For More, and I Hit $1,000

Soon after, in February 2021, I used my data science internship articles as leverage and applied for an opening at a US-based agency I found on LinkedIn. They were looking for a data science content writer.

This time, I decided to be bold. Maybe even greedy.

I asked for $35 per 1,000 words and felt guilty, fearing I was overcharging. But they countered with an offer that stunned me. 

They were going to pay me $200 per 1,000 words. I was eventually paid $300 per 1,500-word article. Within my first three months of freelancing, I had hit $1,000.

I couldn’t believe anyone would pay that much for words. That was the moment my mindset shifted from “making do” to “going wild.”

I realised the only thing keeping me small was my perception of what I was allowed to earn.

I Was Locked in For Good

I finally sat for my final exams in May 2021 and graduated with a second-class lower degree. But I refused to let the result define my future.

By the end of 2021, I had made about $7,000 from freelance writing, with all my clients coming through LinkedIn, either through direct outreach or opportunities I applied for. That was when I knew I was fully committed.

In 2022, I was running my National Youth Service in a remote village in Kogi State — teaching during the day and freelancing for four to five hours every night. I became more intentional about positioning myself on LinkedIn, speaking openly about my journey, and using my portfolio to move into new niches.

My income began to rise steadily. By 2022, I was peaking at about $3,000 in monthly earnings and ended the year with roughly $15,000.

In 2023, I secured a contributor role with Forbes Advisor. The credibility associated with the name was a turning point for me. With that leverage, I stopped accepting anything below $500 per article. I ended 2023 with about $35,000 in total earnings.

The Explosion

In 2024, I set a goal: make at least $10,000 in the year to fund my travel goals that year. 

In May 2024, I didn’t just hit it, I doubled it, earning $28,000 in a single month.

By the end of the year, my total earnings had hit $167,000.

I was managing 7 to 8 clients at once and working with US-based SaaS companies valued at billions of dollars. These brands have the budget to pay monthly retainers without blinking, but only if you can prove you’re worth it.

I also used AI tools to scale my workflow, but the strategy and execution were still largely me. The combination only allowed me to move faster than I ever had.

The UK and What It Meant

One of my biggest goals was to self-sponsor a Master’s degree in the UK. In 2024, I paid the £18,000 tuition in full.

I moved in September 2024, completed my Master’s with distinction, and I’m now on a graduate visa that extends my stay in the country for another 2 years.

Freelancing didn’t just increase my income. It expanded my options.

My income has remained stable and upwardly mobile. My ambition now is to be one of the top ten names in content marketing — the person who gives talks, travels the world, and helps brands tell stories that drive growth.

My Advice: Do Something Crazy

If you are starting out and want to change your life, my advice is simple: do something crazy. The world does not favour people who try to fit the mould or stay silent about their ambitions.

Doing something bold means being audacious enough to show your work, raise your rates before you feel fully ready. Do your work outside social media, and then use the platform to amplify it. I got to this point because I refused to believe that my background or my degree was my ceiling.

I plan to continue doing this for another ten years, earn enough to retire comfortably, and then spend my days playing chess and travelling the world. Even as artificial intelligence evolves, the demand for human stories will never be obsolete. It will only become more valuable.

Also Read: I Went From Earning ₦160k/Month to $7.8k Working Remotely. Here’s How I Flipped My Career and Income

Here are the 10 highest-paying skills to learn in Nigeria in 2026, and how you can start monetising them.

1. AI Automation & Workflow Systems Design

This involves using and to eliminate repetitive manual work. You are building digital robots that connect different apps to make businesses run on autopilot.

Why It Pays in 2026: Companies are desperately trying to cut operational costs. An expert who can replace a bloated 10-person manual process with a smooth AI-driven workflow is invaluable.

How to Get Started: Learn the basics of logic through free platforms like Zapier Academy and Make.com. Master prompting for LLMs (like Gemini or ChatGPT), and offer to automate one small process for a local business for free to build your portfolio.

2. Data Analysis & Visualisation

In this role, you’ll be turning boring, overwhelming spreadsheets into beautiful, easy-to-understand dashboards that tell CEOs exactly what to do next.

Why It Pays in 2026:  Raw data is useless. Businesses pay top dollar for people who can spot trends, predict customer behaviour, and help them avoid expensive blind guesses.

How to Get Started: Take the on Coursera. Learn SQL for pulling data, and master Power BI or Tableau for visualisation. Start by analysing free datasets on Kaggle.

3. Performance Marketing

Unlike traditional marketing that focuses on brand awareness, performance marketing is strictly about Return on Investment (ROI).  If you spend ₦100k on ads, how much measurable profit did it bring back? That’s performance marketing. 

Why It Pays in 2026: As , businesses need mathematically sound media buyers who can guarantee a return on their ad spend across Meta, Google, and TikTok, making it a high-paying skill in Nigeria.

How to Get Started: Take the and . Start by running small ₦5,000/day test campaigns for an e-commerce vendor to learn how to track conversions and optimise cost-per-acquisition (CPA).

4. Product Management

Here, you’re acting as the CEO of a specific app, software, or digital product. You sit between software engineers, designers, and business owners to ensure the final product solves users’ problems, making this a high-paying skill in Nigeria.

Why It Pays in 2026: The Nigerian tech ecosystem is maturing. Startups no longer just need coders; they need strategists who can figure out what to build so they don’t waste millions developing features nobody wants.

How to Get Started: Read . Learn familiarise yourself with Jira, and participate in hackathons. Build a case study redesigning a feature on an app you use daily.

5. Cybersecurity

This involves protecting computer systems, networks, and data from digital attacks, theft, and unauthorised access. You are the digital bouncer for a company’s most sensitive information.

Why It Pays in 2026: With the rise of AI-powered hacking and strict a single data breach can bankrupt a company. Cyber experts are essentially an insurance policy.

How to Get Started: Start with IT basics, then study for the Use platforms like or to practice defending systems in safe, simulated environments.

6. B2B Tech Sales & Solutions Consulting

This requires selling complex software to other businesses (B2B). Unlike retail sales, this involves deeply understanding a client’s business bottlenecks and proving how your software solves them.

Why It Pays in 2026: Software companies have high profit margins but fierce competition. The people who actually close the deals and bring cash into the business are compensated aggressively through base salaries and massive commissions.

How to Get Started: Complete the free . Improve your cold emailing and LinkedIn networking skills. Apply for entry-level Business Development Representative (BDR) roles.

7. UX Research & Design

User Experience (UX) is the process of studying how real people interact with an app or website and designing the flow to be frictionless, intuitive, and visually pleasing.

Why It Pays in 2026: A confusing app loses customers in seconds. Companies pay UX professionals to ensure their digital storefronts are easy to use, incentivising customers to stay, subscribe, and spend money.

How to Get Started: Take the. Master Figma. Don’t just make things pretty; learn how to conduct user interviews and build wireframes that solve actual user frustrations.

8. Financial Modelling & Business Forecasting

At its core, this is about building complex Excel or software models that predict a company’s future financial performance based on its current data. It is the art of telling the future using numbers.

Why It Pays in 2026: Startups seeking venture capital and established firms navigating inflation absolutely need financial models to survive, secure funding, and allocate budgets without going bankrupt.

How to Get Started: Master Advanced Microsoft Excel. Take courses by the particularly the Financial Modelling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) track.

9. Risk & Compliance Management

This centres on ensuring that a company (especially in Fintech, crypto, or banking) operates strictly in accordance with local and international laws, preventing it from being fined or shut down by regulators.

Why It Pays in 2026: With regulatory bodies tightening their grip on the Nigerian financial and tech sectors, compliance officers are the gatekeepers who keep businesses open and CEOS out of jail.

How to Get Started: Study the Nigerian regulatory framework (CBN guidelines, SEC rules). Earning the credential will instantly elevate your value.

10. Revenue-Driven Content Strategy

This isn’t just writing blogs or posting on social media. It involves engineering a content funnel, including SEO, email newsletters, and social copy, specifically designed to capture leads and turn readers into paying customers, making it a high-paying skill in Nigeria.

Why It Pays in 2026: The internet is flooded with AI-generated fluff. Writers who can create compelling, human-led content that actually ranks on Google and drives sales are more valuable than ever.

How to Get Started: Learn the basics of search engine optimisation (SEO) and . Study direct-response copywriting. Build a Substack or a blog, prove you can grow an audience, and use those metrics to pitch clients.

The Bottom Line: Execution is the New Currency

In 2026,  high income will go to people who solve expensive problems. The skills above position you to be one of them, and that’s how you build real leverage.

But let’s be completely candid, earning a high income in Nigeria requires gruelling hours, frustration, and the discipline to keep practising when you feel like quitting. 

The good news? The barrier to entry has never been lower. You don’t need a fancy degree to get started; you just need an internet connection and ruthless focus.

Here is your formula for the next six months:

1. Pick just one: Do not try to learn AI automation and cybersecurity at the same time. Choose the single skill that best aligns with your natural strengths.
   
   
2. Build in public: Don’t wait for permission. Build a portfolio by solving real problems for local businesses, even if you have to do the first few for free.
   
   
3. Sell your results, not your time: When you pitch clients or employers, don’t tell them how many hours you worked. Tell them how much money you made or saved for them.

The knowledge is out there. The only thing left is for you to execute.

Also Read: 10 Businesses to Start in Nigeria 2026

Four years after graduation, she is not working in tech. Instead, she teaches full-time, runs a few side gigs, and watches as the global tech entry-level opportunities while former classmates earn foreign salaries.

 She often wonders if it is too late to start all over.

As told to Aisha Bello

Since I was about 8 years old, everyone around me had been calling me Doctor Ohunene. It was collective gaslighting, and I actively participated. 

But the illusion collapsed the moment I entered senior secondary school and joined the science class. I had to be honest with myself: I hated the sight of blood. The thought of holding someone’s flesh, or someone’s life, of fighting to revive a dying patient felt overwhelming. It was a burden I simply wasn’t built for.

On the flip side, I excelled in mathematics. An all-around A-student. So when it was finally time to choose a university programme, I boldly selected Computer Science. Everyone was shocked.

I wasn’t blind to the economy. I knew doctors made money, at least that was my notion at the time, but I wanted a successful career without the clinical trauma.

 It was 2017. My older brother was in his final year studying Computer Science, and he constantly reassured me that the future was digital. Following in his footsteps made sense. He understood how the world worked better than I did. Besides, I was good at math. I figured coding was numbers and logic. How hard could it be?

I smashed my O-levels, scored 265/400 in JAMB, cleared every admission screening, and got offered Computer Science on my first try.

At the time, in 2017, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem was still finding its feet. It was not yet the booming sector it is today. I didn’t have grand foresight, but it felt good to be standing on what looked like solid ground.

Coding on Paper and the Reality of Uni

When I got into University, there was no specialisation — no distinct Software Engineering, Data Science or Cybersecurity track. Everything was lumped under Computer Science, and we were expected to learn it all.

I started strong, hitting a 3.9 CGPA in my first year. But sustaining that momentum required endless nights, brutal reading sessions, and sheer willpower. And here’s the craziest part: I didn’t own a laptop until my final year.

How do you study Computer Science without a computer? You memorise frameworks. You write lines of code on plain paper. Because of this, I never developed real, practical tech skills. What I had was a deep theoretical understanding of how everything worked, and I knew how to pass exams.

In 2022, I graduated with a 3.65 CGPA, narrowly avoiding a second-class lower. The degree was in my hands. The practical skills were not.

Entering a Broken Job Market

By the time I was ready to enter the workforce in 2023, the , and for juniors, it had

My NYSC year was a slow-burning anxiety. I looked at every domain I had theoretically studied and couldn’t find one that wasn’t already saturated. I understood basic coding concepts, but that was nowhere near enough to pass a technical interview or break into the industry. Sitting at home waiting for a tech job that may never come wasn’t an option.

I was posted to a private school for my Place of Primary Assignment (PPA). The government paid ₦33,000; the school added ₦80,000. Earning over ₦110,000 as a corper was decent, and, as it turned out, I got along well with the students. So when my service year ended in June 2024, the school offered to keep me as full-time staff and bumped my salary to ₦150,000. I took it.

Living with my parents shielded me from rent and major household expenses, but personal bills, transportation, and daily costs bled into that ₦150k, leaving very little room to save.

The Cost of Waiting

Early in 2025, the school raised my salary to ₦180,000. For the most part, I’d made my peace with where my job was. It was honest work, and I was good at it.

Then I’d open LinkedIn, and the peace would shatter.

Classmates I shared lecture halls with were working for world-class brands in Dubai, the UK, and the US — some fully remote, earning thousands of dollars and sharing big wins. It stung because I could now see clearly what they had been doing while I was just trying to pass exams: they were setting themselves up. Specialising. Taking online courses. Picking up freelance gigs.

I’ll be honest, I blame myself. I watched my mates grind and hustle. I saw them making money. But I naively assumed I’d figure it out after graduation. Instead, I got swept into the great unknown. Time moved violently fast, and I never had the luxury of pausing to recalibrate. 

Searching for a Way Out

I am actively trying to pivot. At the start of 2025, I completed a Virtual Assistant course, hoping to leverage my natural flair for organisation and admin work. It landed me one client — a three-month contract at ₦120,000 per month. When it ended, it wasn’t renewed.

Now I’m constantly hunting for remote gigs I can stack alongside my teaching job. I run a small thrift business on the side that brings in a little extra. I’m decent at data entry and admin, and I want to upskill further. But I’m stuck between two walls: no time, and fear of the unknown.

Is it worth sinking months into learning a new tech stack when the market is this saturated? At 26, does it even make sense to chase entry-level internships? That’s the question I ask daily

My older brother, the one who nudged me in the first place, now works in a bank, boxed into corporate life. I look at him and know that’s not what I want.Ěý

But if I’m being real? I’m still figuring out what I do want. For now, I’m just trying to make sure the market doesn’t eat me alive before I find my footing. Somewhere out there is the right ladder. I just have to find it before it’s too late.

Also Read: I Moved to Lagos to Chase a Dream. Two Years Later, I’m Back Home With Nothing to Show For It

As told to Aisha Bello

I’ve been investing for over 8 years.

My first investment was in Treasury bills (T-Bills), which is a safe way to lend money to the government and earn guaranteed interest after a few months. I bought them directly from Nigerian banks.

At the time, I was earning about ₦100k/month, so I’d save for a few months and roll that money into a 6-month T-bill cycle.

After three years, I stopped actively investing outside my pension, which was held with a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA). But about four years ago, I returned to investing outside my PFA. 

My investment decisions have also been shaped by my family’s financial prudence, alongside my growing comfort with money as my income increased. The more I made, the more comfortable I felt making money decisions.

How my portfolio is structured

I split my investments into two buckets: 70% are self-directed, where I make investment decisions myself, and 30% are professionally managed. 

My Self-Directed Portfolio (70%)

This is the portion I actively control. Here’s how I’ve allocated the 70%:

• 52% in fixed deposits: It’s low risk and generates steady returns. Think of this as a high-interest savings account.
  
• 48% in individual stocks & Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): These offer higher potential returns, but more risk.
  

Breaking Down My Stocks & ETFs:

Stocks

I currently hold 9 individual stocks diversified across three sectors:

• Finance (4)
  
• Energy (2)
  
• Retail/Consumer Goods (3)

ETFs

I invest in 3 ETFs that track major indexes, such as the S&P 500. 

• These are like buying a basket of many stocks at once

I add money to these investments monthly through a wealth management app.

My Professionally Managed Portfolio (30%)

A closer look at the 30% handled by professionals:

• 80% with my PFA: This is my retirement savings.
  
• 20% managed through a wealth app. This slice is skewed toward technology stocks to further diversify my overall portfolio.
  

Why I chose this allocation

I have a moderate risk appetite. I prefer steady, predictable growth over chasing fast, high-risk returns; losing what I’ve built throughout my career would hurt. However, I’m gradually looking into higher-growth assets.

Compounding is central to my strategy. I believe small, consistent contributions over time add up more than trying to time the market. 

Barriers are lower now. You can invest in fractional stocks, essentially buying pieces of expensive stocks through apps, making it easier to start small.

How my portfolio has evolved

ETFs used to be the core of my self-directed portfolio because of their lower risk. But I started picking individual stocks about 1.5 years ago.

Biggest lesson:
Figure out why you’re investing and what type of investor you want to be. This guides your asset selection and helps you decide if your focus is on capital preservation or growth.

Advice for beginners in their 20s and 30s

1. Build an emergency fund first
   Before you start investing, save 3–6 months of living expenses. Life happens, and you don’t want to liquidate investments in a pinch.
   
2. Think long-term
   Investing is for your future self, not quick money. Day trading isn’t for the faint-hearted.
   
3. Start simple
   Fixed deposits and ETFs are easier entry points. Don’t jump straight into individual stock picking.
   
4. Do your research
   If you venture into stocks, learn from trusted resources, trading platforms, YouTube, or professional wealth managers. Avoid random advice or hype.
   
5. Prioritise stability over excitement
   I prefer boring companies that have weathered time and economic cycles rather than chasing trendy, hot, overly exciting stocks.
   
6. Avoid hype-based decisions
   Market speculation can be volatile. Buying at the peak of hype often leads to losses. A stock’s price doesn’t always reflect its true value.
   
7. Be patient
   Stocks will fluctuate. Don’t obsess over daily price changes. Base your decisions on fundamentals, not emotions or market noise.Ěý

Bottom Line

Investing isn’t about how fast you make money. It’s about building wealth with a strategy that aligns with your risk tolerance and goals.

Also Read: I Moved to Lagos to Chase a Dream. Two Years Later, I’m Back Home With Nothing to Show For It

As told to Aisha Bello

The eviction notice landed on December 17, 2025. My landlord had given me exactly one week to pack up my life.

Standing in my room-and-parlour apartment in Berger — the same one I had paid ₦1 million for just a year prior — I realised I didn’t have a choice. I had to leave. 

I had ₦500,000 in savings, which wasn’t enough to renew my rent, let alone feed myself. I had spent two years chasing the Lagos Dream, an aspiration centred on achieving rapid personal success, financial prosperity, and social mobility within the city’s relentless hustle culture.

But Lagos chewed me up and spat me out.

Two weeks later, I moved back home to my parents in Ile Ife, Osun State. I was broken, broke, and physically drained

The High Cost of “Making It”

In December 2024, I moved to my apartment in Lagos. 

I was fresh off NYSC, desperate to avoid returning to my hometown, and determined to remain part of the city’s energy.

Staying with my extended family, who had housed me for my service year, felt like an impossible option. Service was over, and I didn’t want to overstay my welcome. Besides, I wanted the independence of living on my own.

I was a content creator and occasional model, and I believed proximity was everything. If I lived in Lagos, I could make it.

But the math never added up.

My income was a rollercoaster. In good months, I pulled in ₦500,000 from gigs. On average, ₦200,000; in bad months, I earned zero, and I’d have to rely on the previous month’s funds while hustling for the next gig. I was always playing financial catch-up.

The glamour of social media is a lie. While my followers saw polished shoots, I was drowning. By July 2025, the instability forced me to take a full-time role with a local brand. The salary? ₦150,000. It was peanuts, but it was consistent peanuts.

The Berger to Lekki Trap

This income stability came at a brutal price. Living in Berger and working in Lekki is a logistical nightmare.

I had to commute at least three times a week. Between transportation, food on the go, and data, I was burning ₦50,000 a month to show up to work. That left me with ₦100,000 to cover bills, savings, and survival.

I barely spent time in the expensive apartment I was working so hard to pay for. I was always out: on sets, at friends’ houses, or stuck in traffic. The stress of the full-time job also made it impossible to consistently take on other gigs. Occasionally, I’d land one-off gigs, but I was too exhausted to chase the high-paying opportunities that had originally drawn me to the city.

The Physical Toll

My body kept the score before my bank account did. I stopped eating properly. I became a shadow of myself — leaner, darker, and perpetually exhausted.

I hid my suffering from my parents. They had visited once to pray over my new apartment, but I kept them away after that. I didn’t want them to see me failing.

The facade crumbled in October 2025. My mother came to visit and broke down in tears the moment she saw me. 

She begged me to come home.

She said she couldn’t leave me in Lagos in my state. 

I stubbornly convinced her to let me stay until my rent expired, secretly hoping for a miracle or a big break that would justify the suffering.

That break never came. The eviction notice did.

Starting Over in Ife

I’ve been in a slump since I moved back home to Ile Ife in January. It’s humbling to be 23, ambitious, and back under your parents’ roof with nothing to show for two years of grinding.

My family has been supportive, though. My parents suggested I start a master’s programme, offering me a soft landing and space to recalibrate. I still take the occasional video editing gig, but I’ve stopped chasing the wind.

I’m currently recovering from the bulldozer that is Lagos. Looking back, I realise the experience didn’t break me, though it left me raw. I learned that ambition is expensive and lonely, but it teaches you resilience. I may be back in my childhood bedroom, but I’m tougher than the girl who left it two years ago.

Also Read: Is Moving From Lagos to a Cheaper City Worth It? We Asked Nigerians Who Have Done It

1. A Perfume-Making Date

Why buy a generic bottle off the shelf when you can bottle a specific memory? Perfume-making is the ultimate main-character energy date. It is intimate and sensory, leaving you with a souvenir that smells like love.

• The Vibe: You aren’t just mixing chemicals; you are discovering your partner’s scent personality. It is a calm, guided session where you blend notes to create a custom fragrance.
• Where to go:, or .
• The Cost: Between ₦15,000 – ₦25,000 per person.

2. Coffee & Bookstores

For the introverts and the sapiosexuals, nothing beats the smell of old books and fresh coffee. This date is low-pressure, affordable, and incredibly romantic in a cosy way.

• The Vibe: A cosy, intellectually stimulating, and low-pressure vibe. It is a perfect date for bibliophiles, blending the relaxing aroma of coffee with the quiet, explorative ambience of a bookstore. 
• Where to go: , Jazzhole, Ouida Lagos
• The Cost: ₦5,000 – ₦15,000. This covers speciality coffee, pastries, and maybe buying a book for each other to read later.

3. Sip and Paint

This is a low-pressure, creative activity where partners follow an instructor to create a painting while enjoying wine, cocktails, or mocktails. It is ideal for first dates or long-term couples looking for a unique, memorable experience. 

Where to go: Art Cafe, , or look out for pop-up events in VI/Lekki.

The Vibe: It offers a relaxed, creative, and playfully romantic vibe. You take your masterpiece home to hang on the wall. Or hide in the closet.

The Cost: ₦8,000 – ₦25,000 depending on the venue and package.

4. The Skate Date

Want to break the ice? Try breaking a sweat. Skating is high-energy, nostalgic, and gives you a perfect excuse to hold hands to keep from falling.

• The Vibe: A perfectly balanced day of activity and relaxation that fits snugly within your budget.
• Where to go: Ěý
• The Cost: A 30-minute session is roughly ₦6,000 per person.

5. The Museum Date

If you want a date that screams intellectual and artsy, Nike Art Gallery in Lekki is the place to be. It is a four-story labyrinth of Nigerian heritage that feels more like a palace than a museum.

• The Vibe: Wander through thousands of artworks, watch artisans weave Adire, and get lost in the immersive rooms. It is quiet, allowing for deep conversation.
• The Cost: Entry is often free, but guided tours may attract a fee.
• Make it a Date: Pair the visit with lunch nearby. Since the gallery is easy on the pocket, you can splurge ₦20,000 – ₦25,000 on a great meal afterwards.

6. The Group Boat Cruise

Who says Valentine’s is just for duos? If you want the luxury yacht life on a budget, the secret is crowdfunding. Gather your favourite couple friends and hit the water.

• The Vibe: Sunset views, cool breeze, afrobeats, and drinks on deck.
• The Cost: A private boat can run ₦75,000 toĚý ₦200,000+ per hour. However, if you split this among 3 or 4 couples, your contribution drops comfortably below ₦50k.
• Where to go: Cruise toward Takwa Bay or just enjoy the Lagos skyline from the lagoon.

7. Kayaking

Test your teamwork on the water. Kayaking is the perfect blend of serenity and workout. It is peaceful, private, and distinctively different once you paddle away from the dock.

• The Vibe: It refreshingly blends adventure with intimacy and relaxation, characterised by a “we survived this together” feeling, allowing for both playful competition and, if in a tandem boat, teamwork and coordination. 
• Where to go: The calm waters around Lekki Phase 1 and Victoria Island.
• The Cost: Approximately ₦10,000 per person.

8. Pottery Workshop

Pottery is messy in the best way possible. It forces you to slow down, focus, and create something from scratch together.

The Cost: Starts around ₦10,000–₦15,000.

The Vibe: Therapeutic and playful. You walk away with a ceramic piece you made with your partner, creating a shared accomplishment.

Where to go: Cera Cerni (Lekki), Clay Therapy or ArtForFun (Surulere).

9. Train Ride to Abeokuta

This scenic rail journey is for the adventurous couple who wants a mini-vacation without worrying about a plane ticket.

• The Vibe: Adventurous and adrenaline-pumped date with your partner.Ěý
• The Cost: First Class train ride to Abeokuta costs ₦6,000; Business is ₦4,500. Lunch at a local spot will cost roughly ₦5,000. You’ll be back in Lagos by evening.
• Where to go: Olumo Rock for breathtaking views.

10. The Old Reliable Movie Date

Sometimes, you just want to relax. The classic cinema date is a cliché for a reason. It’s comfortable, entertaining, and guarantees a shared topic of conversation on the ride home.

• The Vibe: Casual, cosy, and comfortable, designed to build intimacy without the pressure of constant conversation.
• Where to go: Filmhouse, Genesis, EbonyLife or OzoneĚý
• The Cost: Tickets average ₦5,000–₦10,000, with the rest of your budget for popcorn, drinks, and a quick stop for wings or ice cream afterwards. Total spend is easily under ₦15,000 – ₦20,000 for a stress-free, feel-good evening,Ěý

Also Read: “He Confronted My Parents” — Nigerians on Their Most Romantic Valentine’s Day Experiences

Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 stocks that moved the market in January 2026, with verified rankings from  

1. Deapcap PLC (DEAPCAP)

Deapcap opened in January at ₦1.90 and closed at ₦9.30 — a 389% surge that left even seasoned traders checking their screens twice. 

What it does: Deapcap operates in investment and asset management, focusing on capital market services.

• January opening price: ₦1.90
• January closing price: ₦9.30
• Month-to-date increase: 389.47%
• ₦100k in January = ₦489,474 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦389,474

2. SCOA Nigeria PLC (SCOA)

SCOA opened the month at ₦7.10 and closed at ₦31.60, delivering a 345% return. 

What it does: SCOA is a diversified conglomerate with interests in automotive assembly, lubricants, and industrial equipment distribution.

• January opening price: ₦7.10
• January closing price: ₦31.60
• Month-to-date increase: 345.07%
• ₦100k in January = ₦445,070 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦345,070

3. NCR Nigeria PLC (NCR)

NCR kicked off strongly in  2026 and didn’t slow down. From ₦72.70 in early January to ₦199.00 by month-end, the stock posted a 173.73% gain. 

What it does: NCR provides IT infrastructure and payment solutions to banks and enterprises across Nigeria.

• January opening price: ₦72.70
• January closing price: ₦199.00
• Month-to-date increase: 173.73%
• ₦100k in January = ₦273,730 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦173,730

4. Omatek Ventures PLC (OMATEK)

Omatek surged from ₦1.13 to ₦3.00 in January, delivering a 165.49% return.

What it does: Omatek specialises in the assembly and distribution of computers, IT accessories, and educational technology solutions.

• January opening price: ₦1.13
• January closing price: ₦3.00
• Month-to-date increase: 165.49%
• ₦100k in January = ₦265,487 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦165,487

5. Red Star Express PLC (REDSTAREK)

Red Star Express opened at ₦8.70 and closed at ₦20.80, posting a 139.08% gain.

What it does: Red Star Express provides logistics, courier, and haulage services across Nigeria and West Africa.

• January opening price: ₦8.70
• ĚýJanuary closing price: ₦20.80
• Month-to-date increase: 139.08%
• ₦100k in January = ₦239,080 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦139,080

6. RT Briscoe Nigeria PLC (RTBRISCOE)

RT Briscoe climbed from ₦3.50 to ₦7.86 in January, a 124.57% increase that’d return ₦224,571 on a ₦100,000 investment.

What it does: RT Briscoe operates in automotive sales, fleet management, and industrial equipment leasing.

• January opening price: ₦3.50
• January closing price: ₦7.86
• Month-to-date increase: 124.57%
• ₦100k in January = ₦224,571 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦124,571

7. Multiverse Mining and Exploration PLC (MULTIVERSE)

Multiverse started January at ₦13.35 and ended at ₦28.25, delivering a 111.61% return.

What it does: Multiverse is involved in mining, mineral exploration, and trading of solid minerals across Nigeria.

• January opening price: ₦13.35
• January closing price: ₦28.25
• Month-to-date increase: 111.61%
• ₦100k in January = ₦211,610 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦111,610

8. Notore Chemical Industries PLC (ZICHIS)

Notore Chemical (trading as ZICHIS) rose from ₦1.99 to ₦4.19 in January, recording a 110.55% gain at the end of the month.  

What it does: Notore Chemical produces fertilisers and industrial chemicals, serving Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

• January opening price: ₦1.99
• January closing price: ₦4.19
• Month-to-date increase: 110.55%
• ₦100k in January = ₦210,553 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦110,553

9. McNichols PLC (MCNICHOLS)

McNichols’ share price climbed from ₦3.27 to ₦6.35 in January, a 94.19% increase.

What it does: McNichols operates in consumer goods manufacturing, focusing on hygiene and personal care products.

• January opening price: ₦3.27
• January closing price: ₦6.35
• Month-to-date increase: 94.19%
• ₦100k in January = ₦194,190 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦94,190

10. Morison Industries PLC (MORISON)

Rounding out the top 10, Morison Industries rose from ₦5.15 to ₦9.99, delivering a 93.98% return.

What it does: Morison manufactures household and industrial plastic products, including containers, furniture, and packaging materials.

• January opening price: ₦5.15
• January closing price: ₦9.99
• Month-to-date increase: 93.98%
• ₦100k in January = ₦193,981 at month-end
• Capital gain: ₦93,981

Bottom Line

These 10 stocks delivered significant returns in just 31 days, rewarding those who stayed alert, moved decisively, and understood that risk and reward often travel together. Whether this momentum carries into February remains to be seen, but for now, these 10 stocks have set the bar for 2026.

Also Read: 10 Nigerian Stocks the Market is Watching for 2026