How to Invest in Yourself (The Highest ROI in Nigeria)

There’s a kind of poverty that has nothing to do with naira.

Before you buy land, buy clarity. Before you earn more, learn more.

Williams Omodunefe

It’s the kind that comes from feeling stuck.
From knowing you want more but not knowing how to get it.
From scrolling Instagram at night, wishing your life felt like it was moving forward too.

Here’s something they don’t teach us enough in Nigeria:
The best investment isn’t in land or crypto or apps, it’s in you.

Because you’re the engine. The vessel. The builder.
And when you grow, everything you touch grows with you.

So this is for anyone who feels behind, tired, or overwhelmed.
You may not have millions to throw around, but if you have time, attention, and a little faith, you can invest in yourself today.

1. Learn a Skill That Pays in the Real World

There are many courses online. But what you need is one that:

• Teaches you something useful

• Has a clear demand in today’s job or business space

• Can be done with low capital or as a remote hustle

Some of the most in-demand skills in Nigeria today:

• Digital marketing (social media, ads, content creation)

• Copywriting and content writing

• UI/UX design and graphics

• Data analytics and Excel

• Video editing

• Web design or no-code tools

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to begin.
Platforms like Coursera, Skillshare, YouTube, and Selar offer affordable or even free courses.

Buy data. Pick a course. Complete it. Test what you’ve learned.
That’s how skill becomes income.

2. Take Care of Your Mind and Body

What’s the point of money if your mental health is in chaos?
What’s the use of a big job if anxiety is eating you from the inside?

Investing in yourself means:

• Resting when you need to

• Saying no without guilt

• Taking long walks without your phone

• Journaling your emotions

• Finding someone to talk to, a therapist, a mentor, a friend who listens

It’s okay to break. But don’t stay broken.
Your emotional stability is worth more than any trending investment.

3. Build a Personal Learning System

Success is not about knowing everything.
It’s about building a system that keeps feeding your growth.

Try this:

• Read one book every month, business, mindset, or biography

• Subscribe to newsletters from thinkers you admire

• Listen to podcasts during commutes or chores

• Follow value-driven creators, not just influencers

Learning doesn’t stop after school. In fact, real learning starts after NYSC.

4. Clean Up Your Online Presence

Your Instagram, LinkedIn, and email habits are part of your personal investment.
They’re either building your opportunities, or blocking them.

Take time to:

• Clean your digital space

• Update your LinkedIn profile

• Use your Instagram to reflect something real about who you are or what you offer

• Create a digital CV or portfolio with tools like Canva or Notion

Sometimes the only difference between getting picked and being ignored is whether your story is clear enough to be seen.

5. Find a Tribe That Stretches You

Growth needs community. You can't do it alone forever.

Surround yourself with people who:

• Talk about possibilities

• Want more out of life

• Are willing to teach and be taught

• Are building something, even if it’s still small

Follow them. DM them. Offer to help. Ask questions.
Proximity to purpose is part of the investment.

Final Words

You don’t have to wait until you’re rich to start growing.
In fact, you probably won’t get rich until you do.

So take that step.
Buy that course.
Join that program.
Write that pitch.
Get that journal.
Speak kindly to yourself.
Choose to believe that growth is still possible, no matter how this year has gone.

Because you are your greatest asset.
And the more you pour into yourself, the less you’ll depend on things that can disappear.