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FelixCrown: How I make N6M monthly as a professional photographer

Winner Ajibola

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A popular question aspiring photographers ask is whether full-time photographers earn good money or not. We were also curious, and that’s why we had a chat with one of the most sought-after professional photographers in Nigeria. 

In this conversation, Felix Crown shares his journey into full-time photography and how he transitioned from working for exposure to earning six figures even on a not-so-good month. He also offers tips on how to determine your rates as a photographer in Nigeria. 

How did you come about the Felix Crown Effect?

Towards my final year at UI, I knew I didn’t want to start looking for jobs. So, I looked out for things that interested me - which were a lot at the time and decided to start with photography. I joined a training organized by a church to learn a few things. After this, thanks to Youtube videos, I went on the self-study route. This was in 2015. 

For my business name, I used my name - Felix, and my surname Adebayo which means crown. So, FelixCrown lol. It was a playful name I kept throwing around until it became a big thing. 

When you were younger, did you try out photography at any point?

Uhmm not professionally. It was more of a hobby. When I was younger, about 11 or so, I forced my mum to get me this analog camera. It was more of a toy then because I remember I never printed any of those images. 

Then during my IT period, I was able to get a digital camera because I needed to document the events of my internship for a presentation.  Plus, I didn’t have a smartphone to do this. 

So when I wanted to start doing something with my life, I thought about all these experiences and chose photography. 

Nice…..What did you study in school?

Agricultural economics

That’s so far off lol. So tell us about your first gig.

Well, they were mostly collaborative jobs at first. What is known as ‘working for exposure’

I remember one was a shoot for Lamode magazine with other creatives. I shot for Beverly Osu and IK Ogbonna.

My first paid job as a photographer was a beauty shoot for a makeup artist that was trying to push her brand. The pay was N5000 and then it was a big deal because it felt like I could actually make money from this.

Can you share what your breakout job was? 

There was actually no breakout job. It was more of a progressive growth for me. The collaborative shoots I had for celebrities started putting my name out there. 

Although there was a particular one I did for Toke Makinwa’s birthday shoot. That was her first birthday shoot so it went viral. 

We know nobody likes being paid in exposure. But would you say collaborative content grew your brand?

It's very tricky, especially with photographers. When people say don’t go for collaborative shoots, they never go in-depth. I’d say it’s like investing in yourself. Let me explain.

For every investment, there’s an ROI. So before taking on a collaborative project, I look at what the returns could be. Will it improve my craft? Will it help my visibility as a photographer? Sometimes it could even mean clients because a brand can come back to book you for a paid job. 

I once did a collaborative job with Lady Vodka - Jennifer Oseh. We did a shoot that was very different from what I do. But after, I posted it on my page and it got me my first paid magazine shoot with Genevive magazine. Honestly, I didn’t even know how much to charge then.

The first shoot I did with Toke Makinwa was also a collaborative job. Then I looked into her fans, followers, and how her audience would help my brand at the time.

I did it and she even paid N40k for the shoot as a “thanks for coming”. She called me back for her birthday shoot and after that, I got a ton of calls. So the ROI from this collaborative job was a lot.

When people reach out to you, look at their brand, following, and engagements. You can’t always have that mentality of “I can’t work for free”. It’s an investment. Even lawyers take on pro bono cases for their portfolios. So do it for your portfolio and visibility. 

There’s a time to do collaborative work. When I was starting out, it was exciting. But now I’m always booked busy. So there’s barely any time to even consider a collaborative shoot. There’s a time for everything and now, we thank God for where we are now. 

What does a great month look like for you in terms of bookings and finances?

My schedule is usually very packed. On a good month, I can be booked from Monday to Saturday for the first two weeks. It used to include Sundays but now I’ve taken out Sundays to rest.

For the remaining two weeks in the month, I add in Wednesdays to catch a break too.

In terms of finances, I get N6-8M returns in a good month from high-end brands like banks. If it’s for a typical month with regular clients, it’ll be N5-6m in returns. 

Do you have other channels of income asides from photography?

I do investments on the side. Then I run photography training sessions. But 90% of it comes from shoots.

Makes Sense….What helps you determine your rates?

This was a major challenge when starting out - because how am I supposed to value myself? 

But one method I use is checking my years of experience, skillset, and client category. These three things help me quantify my value. 

Look at Kelechi Amadi. He charges N5M for a day’s rate and he has 20 years of experience with Coca-cola and other high-end clients. He’s charging what he should. This was able to challenge me.

So if I have five years of experience with clients like Toke Makinwa, Genevive magazine, and celebrities, I’m looking at 200-300k per look. If my clients are higher, I’d charge more, because they’d be able to afford a higher rate. So with brands like Union Bank and Zaron, I calculate it differently which could be N1.5 to 2M for a day’s rate. 

What financial tips have you used over the years to help you stay in business?

I’m a practical person. So I try to stay within my means. For example, if my headset is serving me well, there’s no need to purchase a more expensive headset. There’s no need to prove to people that you have money. So I’d say don’t buy what you don’t need.

Then photographers have this habit of acquiring gear - even when it’s not necessary. Thankfully, I don’t have that.

I’m not trying to sound humble by the way.  I still have things I spend money on and beat myself up for. For example, I have an iPhone 11, and there’s no need to upgrade because it serves me well.

But recently, I've been thinking about using my phone as a means to get Instagram reels for a behind-the-scenes shoot. Something unprofessional you know. So now I’m considering an iPhone 14.

I have a habit of saving too. Recently I've been saving in dollars because I don’t want inflation to affect my money. I invest as well although all Nigerian investments have been unfavorable. So now I'm considering investing also in dollars.

Last question - do you have clients that pay in foreign currencies? 

Haha, yes I do. 

Key Takeaways on How You Can Earn from Photography

  1. It’s not bad to consider unpaid jobs when starting out. Just ensure you calculate the returns you’d record from them. If it’s favorable in terms of visibility and future clientele, opt for it. Think of it as an investment towards yourself
  2. Don’t be scared to increase your rates. Quantify your value based on your skill set, experience, and clientele
  3. You can run photography training sessions and get paid as a side gig
  4. Take behind-the-scenes shoots to increase your engagements on social media
  5. Manage your finances as a freelancer by purchasing equipment and items only when you need them
  6. Save and invest for the rainy day
  7. Accept foreign payments when you can with a free Grey foreign account

Last updated:

September 13, 2026

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#GreyChat: Conversation With Getrude

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2 min read

#GreyChat is a laid-back series where users share their experiences with Grey. We discuss their relationship with money, tips for financial freedom, and other fun anecdotes. Want to get featured? Let us know here.

Getrude Mligo is a digital education consultant and communication strategist who has pioneered many online advocacy campaigns like #DearGirlChild in Tanzania. She’s also an accomplished author with 13 books under her belt and a humanitarian who is especially concerned with the digital literacy of women and girls. In this chat, she shares her motivations and how she had to decline international jobs before discovering Grey.

You have such a diverse skill set…What would you say motivated you to pursue a degree in communications?

Although I didn’t start my studies with digital marketing courses, soon after I graduated with a first degree in human resources, I found myself attracted to digital marketing and the digital world at large. I realized it wasn’t enough to get digital marketing experience — I wanted to become an expert too. This inspired me to enroll in different online courses before eventually pursuing a formal certificate in digital communications at Harvard, and another in content creation and community management from the University of Leeds.

That’s interesting. Would you advice other entry-level digital marketers to also invest in paid courses and formal education or just study with free courses and then get hands-on experience?

I actually started with free courses because, at the time, I was skeptical about investing my money in digital marketing. But then I realized that many people were already doing the free courses, and I wanted to find a way to differentiate myself from the crowd.

Also, when people see that you have a degree, certificate, or diploma, especially from a well-profiled institution, they have a level of trust in your ability and want to work with you. And, in the end, it all pays off. You have to know what you want and figure out how you want to stand out in the job market.

What advice do you have for people who want to enter digital marketing but come from a different background, and are interested in many other things like yourself?

It’s not easy to be a versatile person who’s involved with a lot of things. But speaking specifically from my experience, it was possible because I love what I’m doing. There are moments when I feel overwhelmed, but what keeps me going is how passionate I am to make a change. I want to be someone who excels at digital marketing and writing but also gives back to the community, so I am focused on creating this identity for myself.

So, pick interests you’re passionate about and find a way to connect them in a way that doesn’t drain you. Doing this would make it easier for you to face challenges and keep moving forward.

That’s awesome…Can you tell us about your initiative, The Social Media Academy? What motivated you to start it, and how has it contributed to digital communication in Tanzania?

Well, I wanted people to understand the type of benefits they can get through their smartphones, and also, I needed money. I won’t beat around the bush; I wanted money, and to get it, I had to use my skills.

The Social Media Academy trains and assists people to monetize their skills and earn from social media and websites. So far, we’ve connected more than 600 women through digital marketing to sell their handmade products to people in the U.S., Dubai, Switzerland, and Canada. These women make sales of about 40 million Tanzanian shillings monthly; a student of ours, who’s great at crafting, recently got her work featured on Netflix; it’s amazing to see that we’re making changes through digital platforms.

That’s impressive…I know you’ve received several awards. You were awarded the Digital Strategist of the Year recently. How have these recognitions impacted your career?

When people see you getting recognized, they view you as an expert. For instance, when I won the Digital Strategist of the Year, I got eight new clients. These awards and recognitions are like social proof and evidence that you know what you’re doing, and they influence people to want to work with you.

Nice…Can you share some of the challenges you’ve encountered in your career and how you’ve overcome them?

I remember that at the beginning of my career as a digital marketer, I didn’t know how to set boundaries with clients. My phone would be buzzing with calls and texts by 2 am, and some clients considered me to be their therapist. I also had situations where clients defaulted on payments and gave numerous excuses, making my work difficult.

Also, because I’m involved in three different fields: digital marketing, writing, and humanitarian work, there were instances where I was offered paid opportunities, but had to decline because I’m just one person. These were big challenges for me, but now I’ve learned the hard way to set standards and manage my time better, too.

Speaking of payments, you know we at Grey make it easier for freelancers and remote workers in Africa to transact internationally. Would you say receiving payments was a problem you faced at the beginning?

Yes, it definitely was. Some clients specifically used the excuse of not being able to send money to Tanzania to delay payments. I also remember that at the beginning of my career, I got an offer from Australia, but because of the tedious payment process that would be involved, I declined the opportunity. Being exposed to international payment then would have been helpful in that situation. There are still people in Tanzania who struggle with making international payments due to lack of exposure, so I believe that sessions should be created to spread awareness.

We’re definitely looking to gain more awareness in the East African market. So, what is your advice for young professionals entering this field?

You need to be aware of trends, especially in regards to how they can help the brands you work with. You need to take advantage of AI tools as they can optimize your content by giving you insights on what keywords to use and the best time to post content and help you improve your engagement and visibility. And lastly, as a digital marketer, you need to take yourself seriously because how else will other people take you seriously?

Also read: Tips for Building a Personal Brand

That’s great advice. Do you have any feedback you’d like us to take home?

Yeah, I believe kids should be exposed to Grey. Doing this will ensure that when they’re ready to start a digital career, they know what platform to use, and won’t have to miss out on international opportunities.

A guide to influencer marketing: Success tips from Ajibola Grey

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2 min read

Influencer marketing has become one of the most lucrative online professions today. This is because brands are using them to promote their businesses, products, and services. However, due to the increasing number of brand influencers online, it might take more work to stand out, especially as an upcoming creator.

In our recent Limitless podcast, we spoke to Ajibola Grey, a popular Nigerian social media influencer, about being successful in this field. He opened our eyes to some really insightful tips, which we’ll be sharing with you in this post.

Who is a Social Media Influencer?

An influencer is an online personality who has built a brand and reputation for themselves. These people command a large audience and are able to influence buying decisions based on their lifestyle, content, or recommendations.

Brands use these influencers because they have the reach. In the past, you would either be influenced by watching TV commercials, listening to radio jingles, or reading an ad in the newspaper. The investment into creating these types of ads is capital and labour-intensive.

Today, one tweet from a single person can reach over 70,000 people in one day. Social media is the new billboard, and influencers make ads more reachable.

How Much Can You Make as a Social Media Influencer in Nigeria?

You can go anywhere between NGN 50,000 to millions depending on your reach. Ajibola shared that his first paid gig was sending out five tweets for a brand, and the budget was NGN 150,000.

After that, he created a video for a brand and got NGN 500,000. His rates have obviously gone up since then, but with this, you can attest to how lucrative this industry can be. Unfortunately, many doubt you can rake millions from promoting businesses as an influencer.

Think about it. If Ajibola, with less than 100k followers on Instagram, can charge NGN 500,000 for a video, how much do you think people with millions of followers charge for a video? And how many of those videos do they get in a month?

Influencers also get discounts and deals.

For example, if you’d like to get a car, you can work an arrangement with the car dealer and get a certain percentage off. In exchange, you run a promotion for their brand. The benefits are endless.

How to Transition from a Corporate Job or Being a Student into Influencing

For starters, you need courage. Because even though Ajibola Grey wanted to become a lawyer, he only practised law for a day. In his words,

“I resumed my first job a week after being called to the bar. I got to the firm, and they put a whole lot of folders on my desk to sort through. 2o minutes after going through them, I knew this was not for me. I got up, put my laptop in my bag, and left.”

You might need a little bit of luck and the right timing.

For Ajibola, it was during the ENDSARs protest. He made a voice note that went viral, and that was it. People loved the voice notes and started following his accounts. During that period, he just kept putting out this type of content.

But before you go viral - you need a bird in hand.

Before making money as an influencer, he dabbled in real estate and catering. So be sure to have a source of income while waiting for your big break.

7 Tips for Being a Successful Influencer

Now if you’ve already found your viral moment or built up an audience, here are the seven keys Ajibola Grey shared as his recipe for success;

1. Find your motivation

For many people, money is the sole motivation. The ability to buy what you want, sort out your bills, and live an enjoyable life. For others, it might be different.

For example, you can be motivated by the people around you. If you love to help people in need, that’s a good reason to work hard at becoming an influencer.  It could also be helping small businesses or generally offering more helpful advice. Whatever your reasons are, it’s what will keep you going when it gets tough.

2. Always read your contract

Of course, a lawyer is going to be keen on the legal stuff, and Ajibola does not joke with thoroughly reviewing his contracts. To him, they aren’t as difficult as people make them seem. Plus, if it gets a little too complex, you can always let someone else review it for you.

This is because there are a lot of binding agreements hidden in your contracts—for example, a non-competitor clause. Many influencers ignore this, and it simply means you cannot work for a similar brand in the near future. One time after signing, he got offers 3x the price for a similar brand, and he couldn’t take it because of that agreement. So, read to know what you’re getting yourself into.

3. Don’t be afraid to negotiate

Everyone is always looking for the best deal - brands inclusive- so they’d try to reduce their budget by any means. You, on the other hand, should be confident in your work. You won’t be afraid to negotiate or increase your rates when you're confident.

Have a fixed price and negotiate until you’re satisfied with the offering on the table. Don’t just accept ridiculously low offers because you’re desperate.

4. Put in the work

You shouldn't just send random things if you get paid for one tweet. Put careful thought, strategies, and work into it. Try to be as organic as possible to get a high conversion rate.

This is because it’s sort of a portfolio for you and will determine whether future brands want to work with you. Brands are watching.

It’s also essential because your good work will bring in referrals. When you have a good relationship with previous clients and good results to show for your work, they’d be more inclined to refer you to their friends and professional network.

5. It’s okay not to have a niche

One would think TheAjibolaGrey would try to venture into law, but he doesn’t have a niche. Interestingly, he has tried being a skit maker, and it just didn’t feel organic. He really just sells his personality, so he’s keen on not being too niche focused because it can put you in a box.

Many other Nigerian influencers with a niche try to do other things. For example, Aproko Doctor goes beyond medicine-related gigs. This is what he means by not putting yourself in a box.

Focus on what feels the most organic to you. What you’re good at. But while at it, have an expandable personality. The goal is to be limitless. Be open to opportunities.

6. Sometimes, Say No

You will often need to say no because you need to create healthy boundaries for your brand. For example, you can reject a brand partnership because the pricing is just too low.

Another could be that it’s not in line with your morals. People will reach out so you can push a negative agenda or even make you venture into politics. You need to know where to draw the line.

Also, other influencers will take that gig. But that’s fine because the market is big. However, keep to your stance, and you’ll get more deals that align with your brand.

7. Be wary of clout

Finally, the influencing space is crazy because you’ll feed on clout, which can be good or bad. Many influencers intentionally create scenarios or drama and get involved with all topics to get traffic. While you might get engagements, it can hurt your brand. So avoid getting tempted, especially when jumping on every topic. Not all traffic is good traffic. Stick to the topics you’re known for.

Wrapping Up

Social media influencing can be very tricky. However, being true to yourself and putting your brand first will help you establish relevance in the market. Over time, it’ll be a lucrative source of income. We hope these real-life tips will also help you get a head start on building your influencing career.

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Adora: I lost thousands of pounds due to foreign exchange processes

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2 min read

#GreyChat is a laid-back series where Grey users share their experiences with Grey. We discuss their relationship with money, tips for financial freedom, and other fun anecdotes. Want to get featured? Let us know here**.**

Adora is a freelancer in the education sector, and she works remotely for foreign countries all around the world. In this chat, she shares how she lost thousands of pounds using alternative exchange platforms and how Grey became the answer to her prayers.

Let’s start by getting to know a little more about you, Adora.

Hi, My name is Adora. I am an educator and a writer, currently transitioning into mental health training. I do a lot of freelance work in the education sector, particularly teaching kids and adults. Most of my work is with foreign companies in China, Japan, and all around the world, to be honest.

I thoroughly enjoy freelancing. I hate working 9-5, haha. And I don’t like earning in Naira because it isn’t always so stable. That’s why I aim for higher-paying jobs abroad that’ll give me security, especially with my money.

When I’m not doing that, I’m being a baby girl and living my best life.

As you should. What inspired you to take on this unique career path?

I like to call myself Dora the Explorer, haha. I like to explore, so I never settle. Even right now, I feel like I’m getting comfortable, and I don’t like that. This is because if you stay where you’re comfortable, you may have the potential to succeed, but you won’t get there because you won’t try.

So for me, I like to put myself out there. As I said, I didn’t like the 9-5 because I didn’t feel like it was paying me what my value was. I went to school abroad, studied law, and even as a lawyer, it wasn’t worth it.

I just felt like even if I worked so hard, they would never pay me my value or worth. I have so much to offer, and I have so much to gain.

So I started finding out ways to push past my state then. I’ll say I’m very good at finding out information. I can spend hours on the Internet, trying to find out new things.

But as soon as I find out new information, I like to share it with people around me. I don’t want to be the only one making money. We should all afford to travel and do all these things together.

Nice….So let’s talk about your relationship with us a little bit. How did you find out about Grey?

I heard about Grey from a friend. Her friend’s husband had been really ecstatic about the platform.

That was interesting because, as a freelancer, changing money to Nigeria has been the hardest, most difficult, and most expensive thing that has happened to me.

Paypal would charge ridiculous rates, and while my alternative method was cheaper, I’d lose so much money. It made me feel like I was just throwing my earnings away, to be honest.

This is how I’d do it;

Wise → My UK bank account → Binance → Swap → my NGN account.

It was crazy. With each transaction, I was losing money in fees and exchange rate discrepancies.

So when my friend told me there was an app like this that existed, I felt like God finally heard my prayers. I don’t know about your other users, but I have been the happiest person. Now my flow is just Wise to Grey. I do everything there - the swaps, using the NGN accounts, the USD card, everything.

I’ve become a Grey fanatic since then, recruiting everyone - my family, freelancers, friends, everyone.

Omo, it was indeed a lot. Did you try out any other similar app before Grey to see if they could do this, or was it just this transfer process for you?

I think I tried to use popular ones like the Western Union app. But it was just a complicated process. I tried to use Payday, but I found Grey’s usability and interface easier to use. It’s simpler and more straightforward. I’ve used others, but I can’t remember their names because of how stressful they were.

Are there any goals you’re trying to achieve that we can help you with?

Hmmm, in the past was struggling to get money, and Grey helped me get it faster and cheaper. Because sometimes, my previous process could take up to three days to complete. So I’d say compared to the suffering I was coming from, Grey has been heaven.

As for the future, it might have to do with transaction limits. I know there are certain checks for fraud, but I once recommended Grey to a higher-up, and he wanted to use it to pay for his child’s school fees. Then he asked me about the limit. So I’d say maybe more obvious limits.

Then there was an issue with sending money for a project once. The money was returned to my account, and I think it had to do with the Silvergate issue. So, having USD accounts back will make my life easier.

There’s been a lot of transactions I’ve needed to do, and I end up swapping to pounds which makes me lose a bit of money in FX.

Apologies for this. USD accounts will be back soon. It’s taking time because we want to work with the right credible partners so this issue doesn’t happen again.

How long do you typically spend on the mobile app?

A lot.  I don’t even keep money in my regular bank app because the Grey Naira account seems to be more efficient than my regular account. So I just save on Grey after conversion and move money to my spending account when necessary, which reminds me.

Please look into investments. We need a savings section on Grey. Somewhere I can lock up some money or an instance where once I spend, a percentage gets automatically saved too. Because right now, there’s no way to save on Grey.

We’re working on this, and we can’t wait to share it with you. On a scale from 1-10, how easy has it been for you to navigate the Grey app?

I’ll say 8 - 9. It wasn’t so hard to navigate.

Have you ever required customer support? Were they helpful in resolving your issue?

Hmm, I haven’t had a need for support. But a friend did, and he got a response not quite long after. So from hearsay, support seemed very helpful and prompt.

Finally, is there any other way we can make your experience on Grey better?

Get USD accounts back up - that’ll really make it easier. Then maybe lesser downtimes.

But generally, it’s been good. Grey is greying.

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How specializing in one field helped me get my foreign gig

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2 min read

#GreyChat is a laid-back series where Grey users share their experiences with Grey. We discuss their relationship with money, tips for financial freedom, and other fun anecdotes. Want to get featured? Let us know here.

Vic is a Software Engineer working remotely in Nigeria for a US company. In this chat, he shares how he switched from juggling multiple Nigerian freelance jobs and how not being a jack of all trades pays in the long term.

Hello Vic. Please share a little bit about yourself.

My name is Vic. I work as a software engineer with a US company remotely, and I’ve been using Grey to receive my payments for over a year now.

Oh wow. That’s before our rebrand?

Yes. I get paid on Deel and use Grey to receive this payment in Nigeria. It’s easier than using Wise or Payoneer, and it was easy to set up. So I’ve been using it since then.

Before Grey, were you using Wise to receive your foreign payments?

At all. Before Grey, I was receiving my salary in Naira because the company had a partnership with a foreign bank.

They used their standard bank rates, so it’s fixed. This means the conversion wasn’t really favorable. Because of that, I only stayed in that company for a year before moving on to my current role.

How long have you worked remotely as a software engineer?

That’ll be like two years plus, I think.

Have you always been a software engineer?

I started my own career path as a software engineer, or should I say, I switched very early. I won’t get into the details, sha. But when I started, I worked with Nigerian companies and did a lot of freelance gigs on the side. Now, I just work for a single company. There’s really no time to even take on any additional gigs again.

Do you think you’d keep being a software engineer in the long term?

I love to write code, but I think there are other interests I’ll explore in the future. For example, I have an interest in clothing. These days, it’s very difficult to get clothes that fit you, especially if you’re plus-sized. So it might be something I’ll go into.

I could even do agriculture, sports, education, and many things, to be honest. But when I switch, it will be to something that excites me though. Not something to make money, and I’ll end up being bored.

Lmao, this is something someone with money would say

Hahaha…I don’t have money, please.

Is there a piece of advice you would give to a junior engineer or someone trying to transition into software engineering?

Nigerian developers are really good, based on my experience. You may not know, but compared to developers in other countries, we are good. Sometimes, the only other person on your team that’ll be better than you will be a Nigerian.

It already shows that the culture here pushes people to do a lot. So don’t look down on yourself at all. Know your stuff and be confident in it.

Most companies also hire people who specialize in a specific area. They don’t often look for a jack of all trades, as many would think. It’s how I’m landing roles because I’m good in the specific field I’m in.

So my main advice will be to build relevant experience in a specific area and be really good at it.

Okay! Thank you. Now if you were working at Grey, what would you love to implement?

I was waiting for the app for a while, but that’s dropped. I wanted a virtual card too. Because there was no way to spend the money, but that has also been resolved.

What I’ll recommend would be a savings feature or an extra wallet. This is because I end up moving all my money from Grey to spend it.

So if I could stash up some money and then, over time,  move it to my main account, that’ll be nice. It could be flex, one-month or long-term savings. Anyway, to sha save on Grey.

What’s your favorite part about being a Grey user?

What then was how simple it was. There was no app, so it was pretty much a website then. I loved that it was very simple and efficient. I was receiving funds, and the payouts to my bank were also very fast. I know you guys are still improving, so I’m sure it’ll get keep getting better from here on.

Thank you. If you had a Nigerian, Kenyan, or Tanzanian working in your company, would you refer them to Grey?

I already do this. I’ve referred everyone I know to Grey already. So I do my part by talking about the app.’

Was it a referral that brought you to Grey?

Oh yes. Some guy kept bugging me till I signed up. Lol

GreyChat: A conversation with Caleb

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2 min read

#GreyChat is a laid-back series where Grey users share their experiences with Grey. We discuss their relationship with money, tips for financial freedom, and other fun anecdotes. Want to get featured? Let us know here.

Caleb is a Software Engineer working remotely in Nigeria for European companies. In this chat, he shares how experimenting with other foreign payment platforms, like Wise, drained him before he finally moved to Grey.

Hello, let’s start by sharing a little bit about yourself.

My name is Caleb, and I work remotely for a European company as a Backend Engineer. I’ve worked here for just over a year.

Is this your first foreign job?

Not at all. This isn’t my first foreign job. I’ve been a software engineer for almost six years, and it’s all I’ve done in my career. But I’ve been earning in foreign currencies for about two to three years now. 

Interesting. Well, we aren’t that old, which means you have been receiving foreign currencies well before Grey.

Oh yes. I used Nigerian Domiciliary accounts. Then I experimented with other foreign platforms like Payoneer and Wise. 

These are well-established platforms. What made you stop using them?

For DOM accounts, it was how easy receiving money and converting it to Naira was on Grey. That’s what made me move completely. I could still convert currencies with my domiciliary account, but it takes about 3 days to receive the payment. With Grey, it takes only a few hours. 

I didn’t really like the user experience on Payoneer. It wasn’t exactly smooth. 

Wise was a good option because I could do p2p, crypto and get good rates. But the entire process was just draining. Because I’d have to use three different platforms to convert and receive payments. At least with Grey, everything is in one place.

Wow, that’s a lot. Did you face any restrictions on these sites because of your location?

Of course. On Wise, the cards are unavailable in Nigeria because they are tied to physical cards. It was a big issue for me with Wise. Then other platforms like Paypal have several restrictions. Crypto really is the only option accessible to Africans, and even that….. you know.

Ah, we know. So how did you find out about Grey?

A friend o. I was having issues with receiving payments at the time. They recommended Grey, and it has stuck since then. Fun fact, I started using Grey in 2021… back when you guys were Aboki Africa. 

A Day One User! 

See, I’ve referred everyone around me that has had issues with receiving payments from their employees.

We love to see it. What do you like the most since our rebrand to Grey?

When I started, foreign accounts weren’t a thing. So I’d say introducing foreign accounts in the three major currencies. Recently it will be the virtual cards. It’s been a long one coming.

Lol, we agree. Since you are a software engineer, if you were on the Grey team, what feature would you love to implement?

That’s an interesting question. A feature I’d push for would be reliability. Maybe a dashboard so users can see status updates on the platform. So these downtime notifications will reduce support requests and prevent users from being stranded.

Another thing I’d do - which may be biased because I’m a customer, would be to lower the rates.

Ha ha ha. We feel you on this one… As a senior engineer, do you have any advice for upcoming engineers?

My advice would be for them to master the fundamentals as much as possible. Once the fundamentals are solid, you can branch out anywhere. 

They should also build stuff they can show off. Engage in many open-source projects, find one that interests you, and devote yourself to it. Finally, don’t give up the road ahead can be tough.

Thank you! If you were not a software engineer, what do you think you would have been?

I’d probably be an investment banker or a footballer. I used to play football really well, but in Nigeria, no one really puts in the effort to go so far when you’re young.

Enjoyed the read? Join over 200,000 remote workers solving their foreign payment hassles with Grey. Start by opening a free account here.

GreyChat: A conversation with Nana

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2 min read

#GreyChat is a laid-back series where Grey users share their experiences with Grey. We discuss their relationship with money, tips for financial freedom, and other fun anecdotes. Want to get featured? Let us know here.

Nana is a content creator and a new mum based in the United Kingdom. In this chat, she shares how she has to send money back to Nigeria and her experience with Grey.

Hello, Please tell us a little more about yourself, Nana. 

Hi, My name is Nana Dania, and I’m a new mom living in the UK.

I used to work as a content creator in charge of creating content for some companies, mostly as a freelancer. However, lately, I’ve had to take a step back and spend some time raising my baby. So once he’s up to a year old, I’ll get back to work. It’s not easy coping with a new baby. 

We’re sure you’re doing an amazing job with him. How long have you been in the UK? 

I’ve been in the UK for almost two years. Before that, I lived in Nigeria. I started using Grey say about a year ago, and I’ve stuck to it because it’s easy for me to send money back home at relatively inexpensive rates. Sometimes, I don’t think you guys even charge me. 

I also kinda like it cause I can just move money from my PayPal to my Grey app. 

Although. there was an issue I had with the Grey account. When my account number was changed, I didn’t know about it. I sent money through my PayPal, and then it didn’t deliver. I was worried for a bit because then it was just stressful.

Your customer support was helpful, so it got resolved. Everything is back to normal now. I like the app, and I think I’ll definitely recommend it.

Aww, we’re glad that our support team came through. Can you share how you found out about Grey? Seeing as you found us in the UK

It was actually a friend that introduced it to me, and I was like, okay, I’ll give it a try. 

Hmm, do you just send the foreign currencies home or do you swap to Naira?  

The person I send it to also has a Grey USD account. So it’s much easier for them to make the exchange themselves. I make this exchange sometimes, but it's just more convenient to have them do it themselves.

‍Was it easy convincing your family member to create a Grey account?

It was. I think we Africans really don’t care much about the means as long as we get our money. Hahaha

Well, it might just be my mentality toward it. I don’t like stress. So as long as it’s easy, straightforward, and it does the job, I don’t mind. I think a lot of people are like me too. 

‍Nice. Can you share how you were sending money before moving to Grey?

I used to send money through world remit before. But the charge for every transaction was just a lot. And the rates were too inconsistent. That’s why I decided to find another solution.

‍We can relate. What would you say is your favorite Grey feature?

Hmmmmm….. Can I say I have a favorite feature? 

I just like that it’s fast. Then I don’t have to worry that my money is hanging somewhere. So the speed and security.  I’m really always relaxed when using Grey. 

Even when I had an issue with my account and the money didn’t deliver within three weeks. While it was worrisome, I wasn’t exactly still worried, you get? The team was constantly assuring me. Every time I reach out, they were helpful. 

There was a time I was like you know what, send me a receipt so I’m sure it really went back to my PayPal account, and I got it within 24 hours. So things like this are why I like the app.

‍Thank you. Is there any feature you’d like to have on Grey at the moment that isn’t available yet?

To be honest, I’m not really great at picking out problems. As long as I’m comfortable with a product or service, I’ll stick to it. 

Except maybe there’s a change in the future that I’m not comfortable with. But for now, I’m fine with everything. Of course, if I’m no longer satisfied, I will definitely raise a ticket to complain.

So with your experience over the last couple of months, do you have any advice for a new mom trying to get back into the corporate world?

I’d say don’t try to overdo it. Being a mom is stressful and especially in this country where you may not have your family around. So even if you want to get back immediately and hire a nanny, when you think about how much it’ll cost, second thoughts will come in. 

You also need to take breaks cause it’s tiring and sometimes depressing. So try to take it one day at a time.

‍Thank you Nana. Do you have any questions for the Grey team?

Just a piece of advice. I really like this app, please don’t change for bad.

Haha, we definitely won’t. Thank you, and our love to your baby.

Join the over 200,000 workers and freelancers using Grey to receive and send foreign payments abroad. Start by creating a free account here.

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