My challenges as a Nigerian freelancer and remote worker

I’d like to conclude that every job mode comes with its own set of challenges, and one that is particularly prevalent is that of a Nigerian freelancer working from home. Sometimes, as I stay indoors doing my remote tasks, I overhear neighbours speaking in the local dialect, questioning what I’m doing and where I work. To exacerbate matters, when I carry my bag to find an office space to work or a spot to power my system, the community has the perception that anyone carrying a bag, especially a laptop bag, is involved in cyber dishonesty or is a ‘Yahoo boy’ or ‘419.’

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Working from home is very challenging, and convincing people that you are working for a U.S. or Canadian company can be even more challenging. Last year, when I needed a house, most landlords and landladies I came across through house agents asked numerous questions related to my work. Since a significant part of my work happens from home, I knew that might pose a problem. A friend in the compound advised me that if I wanted to stay there, I should be someone who goes out every day. The landlord prefers tenants who go out Monday through Saturday. This is a red flag for me, considering I do a kind of hybrid work, spending some days at home and others on-site.

The hilarious time my neighbour asked, “What is a freelancer?”

I remember telling one house owner that I was a Nigerian freelancer. He asked, “What is a freelancer?” After explaining, he still wasn’t convinced. Searching for a house often means revealing much of our privacy. Can’t we keep some details to ourselves? Many questions are asked during the quest, ranging from your home state to your religion, but most notably the type of work you do and where you do it. Though the questions could be for security purposes, at times they go too far into personal affairs. The perception and body language that people have towards work-from-home workers are frightening.

Let me share a story with you about a man I came to know through a friend who is working with Upwork. He was accused of being an internet scammer by his neighbours because he seldom goes out of his home, possesses various technical devices, and is employed and earning dollars. Unable to cope with the pressure of baseless allegations and neighbourhood gossip, he had to relocate to a location where content writers and creative minds reside.

Another friend recounted a story where people in his neighborhood summoned the police to arrest a man who worked from home on suspicion of being an internet fraudster. Being a freelancer or remote worker in Nigeria has its price of having to cope with different perceptions, especially if you are in the wrong environment. This can be very bad for your creativity if not well managed. If you are mentally tough, you may even turn such experiences into content for your content management system and market them.

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