Working Lives

Working Lives: The Working Girl Who Wants a Faithful Husband

The Working Girls of Lekki

This is one of our most unusual and revealing in the series. Working Lives provides insights into the lives and finances of people on low-incomes or in “offbeat” vocations. The world’s oldest form of self-employment remains “off-beat” after all these centuries but the incomes of the ladies we spoke to-at an average of N100,000 per week- is by no means modest. We have of course used the “working names” of the ladies. Read and discover the different reasons why they started the “hustle”, the different things they do with the income, their different plans for the future and more.

The Working Girl Who Wants a Faithful Husband 

Tosin

About 80% of our main customers are yahoo boys. They are always outside from Monday to Sunday clubbing and spending their fraud money lavishly.

Where are you from?

I am from Abeokuta in Ogun State but I grew up in lagos.

Tell me about your education?

I went to Lagos State Model College. I finished Secondary School in 2012. I am currently at the University of Ibadan studying Biochemistry. But you know, I sometimes come down to Lagos to have a good time with my friends.

Tell me about your family

My mother is a tailor. She is a very good tailor. She sews Nigerian styles for women and young children. She is a well-known tailor in the area where we live in Lagos. My father is a civil servant. He works with the Lagos state Ministry of Health. I come from a family of three. I am the second child. I have an older brother and a younger sister.

How did you start this hustle?

I am not really from a well-to-do family. My parents struggle to make ends meet. But I give it to them, they try their best. One good afternoon in Ibadan, I called my parents to ask for money for something I cannot remember now. They did not have the money. I was quite frustrated. I had this friend in school, more like an acquaintance, not really a friend. We are in the same department. She noticed I was moody. I told her what the problem was. She asked me not to worry and gave me the money. We naturally became close. I could easily see she was not from a well-to-do home so I was curious about how she got the money to finance her posh lifestyle. One day I asked her if she had a generous boyfriend. She was quite honest. She told me she had a boyfriend but she was also into “runz”. I was shocked as I never thought she could be into such things. She was like instead of just giving my body to my boyfriend and he will still cheat, why not just make money from it? I decided to join her. We came to a lounge in Ikeja. I don’t want to tell you the name of the place. It is a popular lounge. That is how I started. So, I started in that lounge in Ikeja.

Do you think you would have started runz if you didn’t meet this girl?

Honestly, I wouldn’t have. I don’t have the balls. She asked me to join her and she kind of gave me the courage.

Is this how everyone starts- a friend doing it invites you?

Yes. A friend tells you to come make some cool fast money. That is how everyone starts.

No girl wakes up in the morning and says ok let me dress and go and sit at a lounge or bar and look for a man who would take me home for the night. It isn’t only about courage. Someone has to tell you how it works- where to be at what time, what to do and not do. Stuff like that. There are levels to this job. Someone has to show you the ropes then you slowly rise up the hierarchy.

So you got some prep?

Yes. The girls tell you how to turn out. You have to be fresh, dress nice, smell nice, wear the latest styles, use the latest iPhone so when the guys see you, they will know your worth. You don’t want them to regard you as one smelly bush girl. Otherwise, you won’t get guys to carry you.

How many university girls do think do runz?

I would say 10%. You are shocked? Every girl wants to look posh-buy the latest phones, human hair, designer bags etc. How many parents can afford to give them money for all this? University girls now dominate the runz market these days. They are the ones popping in town now. Most of the girls you see lurking around lounges and hotel bars are university girls. Many of them are even from private schools like Babcock, Covenant and the like. The girls from private schools are way cooler. They speak very well and are up to date with fashion accessories. They are younger and fresher. Most of the other girls doing runz are either school dropouts or single mothers that just need to make some cash.

University girls get paid more?

Yes of course. We have more swag than the regular girls. The majority of clients want to roll with uni girls. They pay us more. Sometimes as much as N200,000 for the weekend or more sef. No guy would pay a single mother from Iyana Ipaja that cannot even speak fluently that kind of money. You need to look posh to get paid good money.

Why did you shift to Farm City from the lounge in Ikeja?

The place was getting so crowded. It is patronized by rich yahoo guys so every runz girl started to go there. Then the police were raiding the place. I had to pay N20,000 on different occasions to be let off by the police.

Also Read: Working Lives: The Area Boy Still Wondering Why His Poor Father Married A Second Wife

Who are your clients?

As long as you have money, I don’t have a particular kind of person I sleep with. But I mainly sleep with young guys. You know most of these young guys are now doing yahoo. I sleep with them as long as they can pay me. They pay N20k to 30k.

So, yahoo boys are the main customers for runz girls?

Yes. About 80% of our main customers are yahoo boys. They are always outside from Monday to Sunday clubbing and spending their fraud money lavishly. Of course, we have to be outside to chop from the money too. The other 20% are single men and the married 9-5 guys that just want to relax and have good sex during the weekend.

Do you have a fixed price? 

I don’t have a fixed price really. You learn to rate the client. It depends on the kind of vibe I get from the guy approaching me. The kind of car he drives, the way he is dressed. You can tell this guy has a lot of money or this person is not really loaded based on their appearance. But my minimum rate is N20k. But sometimes I take N15k. And I have been paid N100k.

Do you ever worry about your safety?

Of course, I worry about my safety. Some of our friends have disappeared and we don’t know where they are. But we just continue and hope nothing bad happens to us. We all have had funny experiences. A customer once tried to rape me. He made it very clear he wasn’t going to pay. I started shouting really loud. We know runz is risky. We find ways to reduce the risk. We go only to areas we know very well, to only hotels we are familiar with. A client can’t pick me up from Lekki and say we are going to Iyana Ipaja. I will never agree to that. I don’t even go to men’s houses. I stick to hotels. If anything happens, the guy is likely to be apprehended.

Other unpleasant experiences?

A yahoo guy picked me up around 9 p.m. and agreed to pay N20,000. Then in the morning, he said he wasn’t going to pay because he didn’t enjoy the sex. I made a big scene in the hotel and I was ready to fight. He had no choice but to pay.

Biggest money you have made?

The highest amount I have been paid is N200,000.  It was a white man. He actually said he would pay me $400 but he just rounded it up to $500. Just for a night o! I get expatriate clients once in a while. You might just get lucky you find one of them that will really spoil you with cool cash.

So, do you have regular clients?

Yes, I have loyal clients. When I get down with some of them, they enjoy the moment we have together. They therefore collect my number or give me their cards and ask me to stay in touch.

How much do you make in a good week?

I don’t work every day. I only go out on weekends because that is when a lot of people come out to chill andrelax-Friday, Saturday and Sundays. I no longer live with my parents. I share a two-bedroom flat with a friend who is also into “runz”. Sometimes I go out on Wednesdays and Thursdays when I really need money. I make between N150,000 and N200,000 on weeks when I work Wednesday to Saturday. It depends on how lucky I am. But it is not all about luck. Some “runz” girls don’t make this kind of money. You have to package yourself very well. Credibility is also a factor. When you have spent some time doing “runz”, you develop a network- old clients give your number to other people. In a bad week, I make between N80,000 and N100,000.

How much do you spend on “packaging”?

I spend between N50,000 – N100,000 on clothes every month. I also shop quarterly. Also, when a client splurges on me, I go out to buy stuff. Some clients that like my vibe send awoof money from time to time. You can see that I am a fine girl!

I am curious, do you ever feel ashamed about your job? 

I used to when I started. But I no longer feel any shame. There are moments of embarrassment. Lagos is a very small place, you run into people you know or someone that knows someone you know. I once encountered my cousin while working. I had to discuss it with him. He saw things from my point of view, though he was disappointed. He understood I needed the money. I told him I was trying to stop. I don’t feel ashamed. Iam making money.

How much do you save?

I save with PiggyVest. I save about N60,000 to – N100,000 in a month. I spend the rest on my upkeep- doing my nails, facials etc. I also occasionally buy wigs. I spend between N120,000 to N200,000 depending on the grade of the wig. I spend quite a lot on myself. You have to be attractive for people to want to sleep with you and pay you well. You understand, guys don’t pay any random girl N20,000 to sleep with her. You have to be of a certain class.

What else do you spend on?

My siblings. I assist my parents to pay their school fees when required. I also send money home to buy food stuffs. My parents are living in a better apartment now. When they ask where I get money from, I tell them that a friend is helping, my boyfriend gives me money and that I also have a job. To an extent, I am being truthful. I see “runz” as having a job. My relationship with clients is strictly business. I never allow myself to think it is or could be romance. You sleep with me; I get my money and I go! If a guy wants to have my number, why not? But I give my number with the objective of continuing to render a service that I am paid for. Not to develop any form of relationship or romance. When you want more and you have the money to pay, call me.  That’s how it works.

Has any guy tried hard to start a relationship?

Yes. Mostly married men. Two of them were very persistent. I don’t pray to have a husband who would date other women. So why would I be consistently going out with a married man? I have hence kept the relationship strictly business.  Nothing else. They are rich men and I know they could really spoil me. But I have not let that get into my head.

Have you ever liked a guy and wanted something more?

Yes. A really cool Nigerian guy who lives in the United States. We got down for the night and after then we saw each other again a couple of times. I started really liking him. But I had to quickly tell myself to stop dreaming. I wasn’t in his league at all.  He was a well to do guy that had a lot going on for him. I told myself to just focus on the business.  Life is not that hard.

Would you say you have always been a “hard” babe or the hustle made you hard?

The hustle made me hard.  In this hustle one has to be very focused and not bring emotions into it. The moment you start falling for guys here and there, you would just be having sex for free. These men will use that against you. They wouldn’t want to pay or they would just give you small change because they know you like them. That’s bad business.

Oluwatomi Otuyemi

Oluwatomi Otuyemi, a Geology graduate from Crawford University, has 5 years experience in corporate corporate communications. He has a passion for storytelling, and investigative reporting.

Related Articles

Back to top button
Arbiterz

Subscribe to our newsletter!

newsletter

Stay up to date with our latest news and articles.
We promise not to spam you!

You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

Arbiterz will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.