From ₦700 a Day to the Bar, Nigerian Law Graduate’s Inspiring Journey

A young Nigerian man, Nwanneka Joel, has captured the hearts of many after sharing his remarkable journey from working as a bricklaying labourer earning just ₦700 per day to preparing for his Call to Bar. 

The story emerged on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) during a conversation sparked by a user, @sirjarus, who discussed the rising wages of construction workers across different Nigerian cities. 

According to him: “Site labourers? Used to be 2k per day. That’s where the ‘earned my daily 2k’ joke came from. I just called the bricklayers in our sites: Lagos – ₦10,000, Abuja – ₦7,000, Offa – ₦5,000.” 

The post quickly gained traction, prompting numerous Nigerians to share their personal experiences of working in construction to make ends meet. Among those who responded was Esquire Nwanneka Joel, who revealed that he too once worked as a labourer during his first year in university to pay his school fees during the 2018/2019 ASUU strike. 

In his words: 

“That was me utilising the 2018/19 ASUU strike to raise my fees as a Year 1 student, because we’d have to pay when we resume. That wasn’t the last hard labour I did while in university… But today, it’s all testimony. And then this picture popped out! I was already so deep in this work. How much did I make? ₦700/day ” 

He also shared old photos of himself at the construction site, which resonated deeply with fellow Nigerians. Many praised his resilience and determination to push through despite the odds. Now Set for His Call to Bar Years after those challenging days, Joel is now on the cusp of achieving a major milestone — his Call to Bar, scheduled for September 25, 2025. 

His story is a powerful testament to the strength of perseverance and hard work. It serves as a reminder that no matter how humble the beginning, success is possible through sheer grit and determination.