Two years ago, I moved to Lagos. On the 5th of August 2023, I made one… | by Godsdelight Agu | Sep, 2025
On the 5th of August 2023, two years ago, I made one of the scariest decisions of my life by relocating to Lagos.
A Little Backstory…
I moved to Port Harcourt in 2019 because I gained admission to study Pharmacy.
But after dropping out of Uni for 2 years, living in Port Harcourt gradually started becoming uncomfortable.
People I started my academic journey with were now in 400L (which was the final year for most).
I also knew I didn’t want to go back to Pharmacy School, after my temporary withdrawal was over.
Thanks to the nature of my parent’s work, we’ve travelled quite a bit.
I was born in Makurdi, and after that, we’ve lived in Abeokuta, Kaduna, Okigwe and Aba for most of my pre-teen and teen years.
I wanted to leave Port Harcourt, but I knew I couldn’t go back to Aba. So, if not Aba, where else? Lagos was the answer!
Before 2023, I had visited Lagos twice.
The first time was in December 2018 before I gained admission. The second time was in 2020, when I spent 6 months living with my relatives.
For both times I was in Lagos, I loved it. It was different from every other place I’ve ever lived in.
And if you’ve lived in any rural or semiurban town/city in Nigeria, you’ll always hear people talk about “Lagos” and how it’s big, better and different.
So, when the idea of moving to Lagos came, I didn’t overthink it, I acted almost immediately.
I told my boyfriend (now ex) and close friends that I was leaving. I gave out most of my things and sold a few of them.
The day I left Port Harcourt, I visited a motherless-babies home with my friend Chuka. I gave them some old clothes and money too.
I packed up my entire life in one bag. I also carried my tiger generator and fuel container in a sack bag.
I had relatives in Lagos, but I knew I didn’t want to stay with them. I was too scared to face anyone.
I was the black sheep of the family — I had dropped out of Pharmacy School. Who does that???
Arriving Badagry
I had spoken earlier with my friend (Let’s call her Chi) about it, and she was okay with me coming over to stay at hers.
She lived in Badagry.
The plan was to spend 2 weeks at hers, 2 weeks at my Bestie’s, 2 weeks at my cousin’s and 2 weeks in Ghana visiting my parents and siblings.
But you know what they always say, “Life doesn’t always work the way it works in your head!”
At the time, I had a remote job as an Influencer Outreach Manager and was earning 100K/month. In mid-July, I resigned from my job for some reasons.
I decided to pay a visit to my mentor (Onyinyechi Joy Nwosu) for one week in Aba before I embarked on my journey to Lagos.
One week turned to two, two to three, till a whole month went by.
Finally, on the 4th of August 2023, I took a night bus heading to Lagos from Aba.
By the next morning, at around 10am, we arrived at Mile 2, my bus stop. Following Chi’s directions, I found a bus heading to Badagry.
My first 2 months in Badagry were rough.
I had no job and little money. And Chi was patient with me.
My plan was to attend events every weekend in Lagos, but I soon realised that most events either happened in Ikeja or Lagos Island.
And the cost of transport to and fro these places were about 4–5K.
I did try to attend 3 events in the course of those months — TEDxLASU (Ojo), Africa Startup Festival (Island) and TIBA Conference (Ojota).
Moving into my apartment in Badagry
By November, Chi started asking me when I was going to move out, and what my plans for renting my own place were.
Thanks to a 100 GBP gift from my friend Massarath Sheriff, and a 100K loan from my parents, I was able to pay for a room self-contained in Badagry.
I paid 200K (100K for one-year rent, 50K for Agent and 50K for Agreement).
As soon as I paid for the house, the pressure from Chi became stronger. She wanted me to leave.
(Two years later, I genuinely understand why she had to do what she did and bear no grudges.)
But, it wasn’t easy.
I had already given away and sold most of my belongings before leaving Port Harcourt. So, even though I had paid for the apartment, I still couldn’t move in.
I had no mattress, no curtains, no cooking utensils, just an empty room, my generator, phone, laptop and bag of clothes & books I carried from Port Harcourt.
I pleaded with her to give me some more to get the place ready for my habitation. But, it was very obvious I had overstayed my welcome.
Moving into my apartment in Badagry
So, on the 14th of November 2023, I moved into my own apartment in Badagry.
It was a room self-contained.
I left Chi’s house with a mat, her mat. She has given it to me to sleep on till I was able to buy a mattress.
The walls of the room were an eyesore. The previous tenant had used wallpapers on it, and the coldness/wetness of the wall had soaked the whole paper, discoloured and it was peeling off.
I had dreamt that the next apartment I moved into after leaving Port Harcourt, I was going to paint my walls white.
Why? I just felt white was a colour for inspiration.
A night before I left Chi’s house, I had posted 3 crying emojis on my WhatsApp Status. I was so sad and scared. This wasn’t how I planned my Lagos relocation to be.
Someone responded to that status. A guy. I had met him earlier that month when I attended TIBA. Jide was his name.
We hadn’t talked much since we exchanged contacts, but that night, we talked.
He asked me what the problem was, and I told him. I told him I was leaving my friend’s apartment to mine, but had no money.
He sent me 1 or 2K that night. But it couldn’t suffice for everything I needed to get my belongings from Chidera’s Apartment to mine.
He also said: “What if I come to Badagry tomorrow and help you move?”
I was like, “huh.”
He was like, “I’m serious. I’ve never been to Badagry. This would be a great opportunity to come there. Moreover, you need help too. Moving isn’t always easy.”
All I could say was, “Are you sure about this? I don’t want you to inconvenience yourself.”
“I don’t think that’s a problem. I’ll come to Badagry tomorrow to see you.”
I swallowed hard. I knew Jide was right. Almost 3 months since I moved from Port Harcourt, my social life has been poor. I missed visiting people and being visited.
The next morning, I moved to my apartment.
And while I was there, Jide came. We spent the whole Afternoon together, till evening.
I didn’t realise how lonely and almost depressed I was.
Jide helped me wash and scrub the entire house. He did it with so much strength and excitement. From the kitchen to the room, to the bathroom and veranda, he left everywhere sparkling clean.
While he was cleaning, we talked and sang to Simi’s songs. I told him Simi was my favourite artist.
We also talked about our lives, ourselves. And, I did like this guy. He had been through quite a lot in life, but he looked very young.
He told me how he had worked at a supermarket, he had done a house boy job and pursued his ND in a private polytechnic in Lagos, and was now working as a social media manager/digital marketer.
Then, I asked him, “How old are you?”
“22.” He said.
It was 8 days to my 24th birthday. So, that meant I was 2 years older than him.
I liked this guy already, and I had never been with someone younger. But, I tried to keep an open mind.
That evening, he couldn’t go back to his place. It was too late already. And the traffic on Badagry road is not anyone’s agemate.
He spent the night.
We both slept on Chidera’s mat, with a very wide gap between us. Lol.
The next morning, miraculously, I woke up to a credit alert of 120K Naira from my “Ireland Boss” (as I liked to call).
It was half of the total money for the 40 articles I wrote for him.
With that 120K, Jide and I left the next morning to Agbara Market to buy things for the house!
We bought a mattress, gas cooker, plates, pots and other kitchen utensils, and others.
In less than 24 hours, the house went from nothing to functional.
That night too, Jide spent the night.
By the time we were done shopping and cooking, it was very late again.
Jide left on the third day.
After he left, we talked multiple times everyday. We had something special. Something we both loved.
A week after, he came back. He came to celebrate my birthday with me. My 24th birthday.
He bought me pizza. He curated a playlist of Simi songs. He sang and danced together.
But the next day, after my birthday, I fell ill.
Jide was in so much panic. He took me to a pharmacy, and one could see how empathetic and caring Jide was.
I was very sick and wasted. I was throwing up and pooping.
Jide took charge of the house. He washed my clothes, cooked for us to eat and cared for me than anyone ever has since my adult life.
It was at that moment I knew that this guy was for keeps. He was a “husband material.”
The rest of November and December 2023, Jide and I kept seeing each other unofficially. He was always visiting me at least, every other week and would spend a day or two with me.
GGP Lagos Hangout 1.0
In all of this story, you can see how Jide was always the one visiting me and spending nights at mine.
I had never been to his place. I didn’t know where he lived.
All I knew was that he stayed in Ogudu. Where exactly? I didn’t know.
I also knew that he was sharing a room with 4 other people — his aunt, her daughter, his mum’s younger brother (technically, that should be his Uncle, but they’re agemates) and a friend.
What I didn’t know was that they were living in a make-shift apartment with trampoline roof and unplastered walls.
How did I found out?
- A black-and-white video he had posted on Facebook, and
- A video call with me when he was in his “compound”
When I tried to poke holes, he blotted, “Yes, I’m living in a batcher house.”
At that moment, I felt deceived. I felt used.
I also discovered Jide had a lot of debt. That scared me to.
In January 2024, he asked if it was okay for me to move in with me. He explained they had sent them packing out of the batcher house, as the owner wanted to construct something better. My first reaction was “Hell No!”
It’s bad enough that I’m already sinning against God with him. But cohabiting, I didn’t see myself doing that!
But after saying NO, I started feeling guilty. This guy was there for me when I moved in here. He always came around to keep me company and made sure I was fine.
So, now that the tables have been reversed and he needed my help, was I going to refuse it?
Out of guilt, I accepted that he could come stay with me.
Surviving 30 days together was so hard! He came around 9th of January and by 10th February, I had begged him to leave.
I was becoming very resentful and toxic to him. My OCD was showing up, and I was becoming who I didn’t recognise anymore.
That same January, I volunteered to be the host for Grow & Grove with Peter (GGP) Hangout. It held in Lekki Phase 2.
I went all the way from Badagry.
I couldn’t go back that same day, so, I spent the night with Debbie, who lived in Lekki Phase 1.
Visiting Debbie in her tiny apartment, made me appreciate mine even more.
GGP Hangout was a ray of sunlight for me! I had so much fun emceeing the event, and so many people came up to collect my contact.
So many of them connected with me on LinkedIn and on WhatsApp, and that was how I met Amaka.
Meeting Amaka
During GGP Hangout that day, I raised a conversation about how older generations often have a problem with GenZs.
I raised some points, and GenZs and non-GenZs were arguing.
It was a very interesting conversation!
So, Amaka chatted me up on WhatsApp. She started by saying, “My Fellow GenZ!”
Amaka and I talked a little on WhatsApp. We connected on LinkedIn.
One morning, I went on LinkedIn and saw a post from Amaka.
The opening line said that both of her parents are deaf.
When I saw that post, my brain was spinning like “w-w-what!!!”
I sent her a WhatsApp message, and she said YES.
At that moment, I knew she was my “next project.” I knew her childhood must have been very hard, and I wanted to know more.”
We did talk a little online. She was telling me that she wanted to get married. I asked her why, and she said because of her age. I told her that wasn’t a good enough reason.
A few weeks after, she told me her boyfriend and her had broken up. And when I asked her why, she said he was a “narcissist.”
So, one day, I volunteered with Pregnancy Support Foundation. We were given a stipend of like 4K after the project. I told Amaka I was going to come out her a visit at her place so that we could talk properly.
So, I embarked on visiting Amaka.
Igando to Oshodi, Oshodi to Ajah, Ajah to Awoyaya, Awoyaya to Her House.
Amaka was so shocked that I came.
Then, we started talking. First day, second day, third day… Amaka was such a sweet girl, but had a rough childhood. She has a childhood most wouldn’t survive, and she needed to heal.
Not only did Amaka’s parents not speak, she was also exposed to a lot of childhood sexual abuse experiences. She was a very strong woman!
In one week, I made Amaka talk about all the things she had locked up all these years. She cried, and cried and cried some more.
After a week, my job was done, and went back to Badagry.
The next week, Amaka paid me a visit, and it was her turn to be my therapist.
She made me realise my whole 4-year relationship was a façade. Amaka looked me right in the eyes, and told me the truth 😁
One of the things I love most about her! Her ability to call out your bullshit.
The next week, after finding out my ex had been cheating on me with several girls, and stumbling on the chats, I was back in Amaka’s house again, crying.
Amaka was the sister the universe knew I needed at that very time.
My First Onsite Job
One of the things I discovered upon moving to Badagry was his far away it was from civilization and the opportunities in Lagos.
While still living at Chi’s place, I knew I wasn’t going to last long in Badagry, but I didn’t know how.
When I wrote my goals for 2024, topmost of the lost was moving to an apartment in Ikeja or Ikoyi. Lmfao.
Where the money wan come from?
I was barely even surviving living in Badagry. I was out of job. I didn’t have any money.
In July 2024, I published the most honest piece I’ve ever written on Substack.
Rejoice read it, and chatted me. She said she’ll like to pay me a visit.
I have had her contact for the longest. Since the days of Figure-8 Connect, but didn’t exactly have a close relationship with her.
She spent 4 days with me. We talked about my failed relationship, and I cried A LOT.
Rejoice asked me a BIG question:
“What can you do to change your life right now? I have 50K I’m not using urgently that I can give to you. What can you do with that money that in 6 months from now, you’ll be in a different place?”
I couldn’t give Rejoice any tangible answer.
Then, one day, I was talking to my mum, then she said something about me trying to get a “proper” job in Lagos.
Then, I brought proper my regular excuse of, “I live far away.”
Then, my mum said, “In our days, we’ll use the address of other people to apply for jobs. When we get it, we’ll find a way around it.”
I thought about it for a while. I could use Pastor Anya Oko’s address in Ogba for all Mainland jobs, and Amaka’s address for all Island jobs.
That’s exactly what I started doing.
I went on Telegram, and searched Jobs in Lagos. With all the skills I had developed from 2021 since I dropped, I was a fit for all:
- Content Manager
- Social Media Manager
- Digital Marketer
- Sales & Marketing Executive
- Executive/Virtual Assistant
- Administrator Assistant
- Front Desk Officer
So, I started shooting my shots. I got several interviews (both in-person and virtually), both Island and mainland. I eventually landed 2 jobs on the mainland:
- Executive Assistant @ Acabodo — 100K/mo
- Content Manager/Team Lead @ Dr. Seyi Absolute Wellness — 200K/mo
I’m sure you know which one I went for 😂
In addition to that, I also got a remote job with Rita Omovbude Consults as a Content/Copywriter.
My job at Dr. Seyi Absolute Wellness was my first-ever onsite role since I started working in 2021.
Onsite jobs weren’t as bad as I imagined after all. It was nice having colleagues, some of whom become friends eventually.
Our office was predominantly made up of 80% GenZs and 20% Millennials. And our boss, Dr. Seyi, was a very nice woman.
The hardest part of working from an office is just commuting. If you take commuting away, onsite jobs can be fun!
I was the head of the content team, and that meant I was responsible for hiring and ensuring my team performance was excellent.
I was incharge of 4 team mates:
- Content Creator/Presenter
- Videographer
- Graphic Designer/Digital Marketer
- Facebook page manager
Where was I living? For my first week at work, I was staying with my ex bestie (TeeJay), but by the second week, I was staying with my Aunt at Ogba.
So, I lived there from July to October (3 months), when I now moved into my own apartment in Ikeja 😎
(Yes, you heard that right! Dreams do come true!)
Hos did I rent my own apartment? God did!
I had 400K in savings before I was laid off, and Dr. Seyi paid the rest of the money (250K).
Why? I don’t know.
So, that was how I started living in the city center since October 2024.
Forming my own Tribe
The first night I spent in my Ikeja apartment was on the 31st of October, 2024.
I had gotten a job in Shomolu with a YouTube Farm.
1st of November was both my first and last day at the job.
On the 22nd of November 2025, I had a small birthday party in my new apartment.
The party was attended by me, Jide, Peace Michael and Esther (who had visited from Aba).
October 2024 till the time of writing this (September 2025), I have never been happier.
I am living in an apartment with an uninterrupted power supply and running water.
I have access to all the social amenities I need. I can easily access career and fun opportunities too.
Living in Ikeja, has helped me become a committed member in Royalty Assembly Lagos.
It has helped me make friends too.
In December 2024, I travelled back to the East, and spent time across ABSU (Uturu) with my friend Favour Ndudim, Port Harcourt, Aba with my cousin Emeka and Item with my brother and cousins.
In January 2025, I came back with renewed vigor to take on my 3 goals for the year:
- Hosting Mutation ‘25
- Getting a Scholarship to study in France
- Scaling my CV Writing Business to $10K MRR by Q4.
In order to help me achieve my goal, I called for Accountability partners. Many came and left, but for a very long time, these women became not just my accountability buddies but my tribe too:
- Amaka
- Rejoice
- Debbie, and
- Peace Michael
In April, we went to the Beach together. It was so beautiful.
We have helped each other through tough times, and I’m grateful that God brought each and every one of them my way.
A lot has happened since then, but the one thing that never changes is my resolution that Lagos is the place I ought to be at this point in my life.
Apart from my Accountability Buddies, living in Ikeja has helped me meet and spend time other amazing people like Fumnaya, Jireh, Godswill and many others.
It has helped me stay very productive, and my spiritual life is currently in the best shape since 2021.
Lessons and Conclusion
Living in Lagos over the last 2 years has taught me so much about myself, life and other people.
It has taught me the power of self-belief and determination. It taught me the importance of persevering when things seem so tough.
It has taught me that Lagos is full of fake life, and people aren’t always what they seem like!
It has taught me that your superpower to making it in life is your ability to say NO.
It has taught me the importance of having a community of like-minded people, and what positive impact it can have on you.
I can go and go, but, I am so grateful to myself for taking that leap of faith and relocating here 2 years ago.
I hope to see more of what this city has in stock for me!
Till then, I’ll keep trying new things, keep making new friends, and keep being the truest version of myself!
