How I Made My First ₦5,000 Online Without Any Experience
By Blessing Oghie
I still remember the day I made my first ₦5,000 online.
It wasn’t glamorous.
It wasn’t a “tech bro” moment.
Nobody clapped for me.
But I promise you – that tiny ₦5,000 felt like a million naira.
Because it wasn’t about the money.
It was proof.
Proof that this “online money” thing wasn’t just motivational quotes and Twitter threads…
It was real.
And someone like me -with zero tech background, no special skill, nothing but my phone and Wi-Fi – could earn too.
Let me tell you exactly how it happened.
It Started With a Simple Question: “Can someone like me even do this?”
Like most Nigerians, I had heard stories about online work.
Some were inspiring.
Some sounded like pure lies.
And some were scams in disguise.
I didn’t have a laptop.
I wasn’t a designer.
I didn’t know how to code.
I had no special skill.
So I kept telling myself:
“This online hustle is not for someone like me.”
Until one particular week…
My salary finished early, unexpected bills appeared, transport money became a motivational message, and I said,
“No, this can’t be my life.”
So I decided to try something – anything.
The Search: Frustration, Confusion, and Almost Giving Up
I googled “how to make money online.”
Big mistake.
I saw:
“Earn $100 daily with your phone!”
“Get paid instantly just by watching videos!”
“Make ₦300k monthly as a beginner!”
Lies. All lies.
I joined a WhatsApp group promoting “typing jobs.”
They asked for ₦3,500 training fee.
That was when I realized – scammers are everywhere, and they look very professional.
I almost gave up again.
But something inside me said,
“Just try one more time.”
That “one more time” changed everything.
The Discovery: A Simple Online Task I Could Actually Do
I came across a beginner-friendly online gig:
surveys and simple tasks.
Not the fake ones on WhatsApp.
Not the “pay before you earn” nonsense.
A real, global research platform asking regular people for opinions.
The instructions were simple:
- Answer questions honestly
- Complete short tasks
- Earn small but real money
No experience needed.
No payment required.
Just time and consistency.
I told myself:
“If I can chat on WhatsApp for 2 hours, I can do this.”
And I tried it.
The First Earnings: It Wasn’t Easy – But It Worked
The first few surveys were… frustrating.
I got disqualified a lot.
I earned ₦83 here, ₦150 there.
At some point, I wanted to throw my phone away – but I stayed patient.
Then suddenly…
A survey went through.
₦500.
Another one.
₦1,200.
A short task.
₦350.
Slowly, those small amounts added up until I hit the minimum withdrawal.
I requested payout, half-expecting it not to work.
But a few hours later…
Alert: +₦5,000 credited.
I stared at the screen for a good minute.
Smiled.
Then said:
“Wow. So I can actually earn online.”
That moment changed everything for me.
Why That First ₦5,000 Meant More Than Money
It wasn’t life-changing cash.
But it changed my mindset.
It showed me:
Online money is real
- You don’t need a laptop
- You don’t need advanced skills
- You don’t need to be perfect
- You just need the right platform and consistency
That ₦5,000 became the foundation of every other online gig I do today – surveys, microtasks, VA work, Canva design, writing… all of it started with that first small win.
Small money, big confidence.
What I Want You to Know (If You’re Just Starting)
You don’t need:
- Experience
- Perfect English
- A laptop
- Big skills
- Money to start
You only need:
✔ Time
✔ Patience
✔ The right platforms
✔ The willingness to start small
✔ The courage to ignore unrealistic promises
If you’re confused or overwhelmed, you’re not alone.
I was too.
Everyone is – until that first win.
Online income grows like a plant: slowly at first, then suddenly.
Where You Can Start (Beginner-Safe)
If you want to learn how I actually got started – the safe platforms, beginner jobs, step-by-step guides – everything is inside 1extraGig’s Another paycheque section.
These are verified, beginner-friendly, scam-free options:
It includes:
easy side hustles you can do after work
If you want your own “first ₦5,000 moment”…
start there.
Conclusion
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