₦airaland Forum

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7589241432439999766?_t=ZS-93Fjzn64KG5&_r=1

A Nigerian man, Kolawole Ajayi, has sparked widespread reactions on social media after revealing that he quit his teaching career in Nigeria to become a full-time suya seller in London.

Ajayi’s story gained attention following a viral interview video shared on TikTok by @Onijekujelondon, where he was seen preparing suya and narrating his journey from the classroom to entrepreneurship abroad. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Speaking in the interview, Ajayi disclosed that he worked as a teacher for 13 years in Nigeria, while running suya business as a side hustle alongside other ventures such as YouTube content creation and catering services.

According to him, the decision to leave teaching was driven by financial realities.

“I was doing it for like 13 years as a side hustle. I was cooking, doing YouTube videos, catering for people, and doing barbecues. When my passive income became about half of my salary, I decided to leave my nursery job and focus on this full-time,” he said.

Ajayi explained that his suya business gradually grew to the point where it became more profitable and sustainable than his teaching job, motivating his move into entrepreneurship.

He added that the journey has not been without challenges, recounting moments when unexpected issues, such as weather conditions, affected his business operations — including an incident where strong wind reportedly scattered his suya pepper.

The viral video has triggered mixed reactions online, with users sharing both praise and criticism.

One TikTok user, @MrsHil, claimed to have personal knowledge of Ajayi, writing, “He managed my children’s nursery. Nice to see him thriving.”

However, others shared less positive experiences. A business owner, Non Tarnish Jewelry Store, commented that while they admired his content on YouTube, their personal encounter with him was disappointing due to his response.

Another user, @Venom, claimed Ajayi earned about £140 as a teacher in Nigeria, sparking further debate about teachers’ wages in the country.

Some commenters also criticized his food quality, while others made controversial claims about hygiene during the interview.

Ajayi’s story has reignited discussions around teacher welfare in Nigeria, the realities of migration, and the growing culture of Nigerians turning side hustles into full-time businesses abroad.

While opinions remain divided, his journey continues to trend across social media platforms.

https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/01/21/nigerian-teacher-quits-job-13-years-suya-seller-london/

There is nothing like entrepreneurship mindset.

Even government school teachers dey suffer for here,how much more you wey be private school teacher

Anyway anyhow
We must to make am

Did he gather the money he used to relocate to London from the teaching job??

SStop aññ these trash talk.

These guys are just dudes that even if they were doing better, they would have still flee to another country.

Its called greed.

They worship money.

I hope he did not vote for Yekini Amoda in the last election

Aboki suya guys in nigeria earn more than him sha

By now, he earns more than a professor in the class here in 9ja

More Nigerians should be encouraged to become small business owners when they get abroad rather than settling as corporate slaves (like washing toilets, house maids to elderly people who obviously hate you and you hate them right back but can't show it for fear of being sacked.)

The way forward. A colleague told me to prepare my mind to create a side hustle. One day, the side hustle may pay more than one’s 9 - 5. When that becomes the case, you will naturally decide to kiss your day job goodbye.

Na him calling be that and there's nothing wrong with that.

Someone who will end up making his Nigerian monthly salary in one day in the UK.

even if he had remained as a teacher in London, he wud have still made money. it's not really abt the vocation. It's the demand of his craft over there. Nigeria biz environment get comma.

That's breakthrough for him

We really need to do something about the remuneration of workers in Nigeria.

And then, our currency...

I kno a frnd dt left Nigeria like 6mnts ago for uk is doing very well. He was working in a factory here in naija earning around 170k per mnt.
He got a factory job in uk where he earns up to 800k per day. same hrs. Different pay.

Sad our economy has crumbled

gerizzim:
I kno a frnd dt left Nigeria like 6mnts ago for uk is doing very well. He was working in a factory here in naija earning around 170k per mnt.
He got a factory job in uk where he earns up to 800k per day. same hrs. Different pay.

After tax n expenses like house rent e
, food, transport he got 800k in a day?

That means i have to leave the US and enter UK

Very good decision.
When the children will be behaving anyhow, and you can't whozz them slap.
Or the other confused set will come and insist that you call boy girl, and girl boy.
Kukuma just comot their school for them before you crase insider there.

U may think his decision is awkward but wait and hear how much he makes on a daily then compare with his salary back home, don't forget the exchange rate. Smart one sir, god bless ur hustle..

Na de way. Na dey money matter. All other things na wash

Why would UK health authority allows the roasting of beef in open air expose to flies & pathogens & carcinogenic smokes?he was even using bare hands is this how bad London has fallen?

viyon02:
There is nothing like entrepreneurship mindset.

Yes. But number of failed entrepreneurship in toxic governance is insignificant to successful ones.

UK sef dey tolerate rubbish o 🤦‍♂️

Awesome guy. Very acclimatise and chatty with the customers. I saw him last week when I drove by Peckham. His beef and chicken Suya are banging.

Sells suya in Peckham.

Kudos to him anyway.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBAlTJIINQI?si=os_xVv5sBBr2s1sf

Why would UK health authority allows the roasting of beef in open air expose to flies & pathogens & carcinogenic smokes? is this how bad London has fallen?

When you are poor in many facet of life, the most critical become priority. Has a Nigeria we work to survive, as such, fulfillment comes when you achieve some level of financial security.

alphonsojidebab:

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7589241432439999766?_t=ZS-93Fjzn64KG5&_r=1



https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/01/21/nigerian-teacher-quits-job-13-years-suya-seller-london/

Bimpe29:
That's what it means to be proactively smart. Change is inevitably required only for the progressive minded.

Hope you are not taking of political scam "Change".

Omo, so long as the pay is good o and the job is legal. It is all about the Benji’s

Any legit hustle is a good hustle better than going to India or Thailand and carrying starch around.