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Nigerian comedian and skit maker Brain Jotter has opened up about his early financial struggles and how poverty influenced his attitude towards money.

The comedian shared the experience in a viral video while recalling how he received his first major payments after his comedy career began gaining momentum.

Brain Jotter said he had never seen ₦100,000 before 2019 and was surprised when he started receiving payments of ₦200,000 for his work.

He recalled how a man encouraged him during the early stages of his career, before a brand approached him with a one-year endorsement deal worth ₦2 million.

Brain Jotter recalls first ₦1m payment

According to Brain Jotter, he did not read the contract before signing the deal because he was excited about the money.

“I didn’t read the contract. They said 2 million Naira. I did not read.

“I didn’t, I’m like, what do you, what is on the contract that I cannot do? I didn’t open the book. Oh my God. I didn’t even open the book.

“And then I signed and then they gave me like 70%, 1 million.”

He said he immediately went to his mother’s shop after receiving the money.

“At that time, if you drink malt, you’re a big boy.

“2019. In the real world at that time, who drink malt? Because if you drink Coke, everywhere good. But you drink malt.

“I just buy malt first, collect meat.”

The comedian said his mother also asked him to give her the money, but he initially questioned why he should do so.

Brain Jotter added that although he had signed a one-year deal, his career grew rapidly within three months.

“But guess what? I signed a one-year deal. But in three months, I outgrew that contract. Like I was begging to refund.”

Comedian says poverty made him afraid of spending

Brain Jotter explained that his growing income did not immediately make him comfortable with spending money.

He said he often became frightened whenever he received large sums because he worried about how long the money would last.

“Yeah, because, because each time I get something big, I get scared. Because I, because how can I keep up? How can I, that’s all the thing in my head.

“When I got the money, I was scared.

“I wasn’t, I was scared because what if this stops, you know? So that was just what it was for me.”

He also recalled renting his first apartment for ₦700,000 despite having ₦20 million at the time.

“When I rented my first apartment of 700K, I had 20 million Naira. But I was scared.

“I saw an apartment. See how, see how scared I was. I saw a new apartment, 1 million.

“I didn’t rent it. Because I’m scared. How do I pay the subsequent rent?

“Then I rented another apartment, 700K, and I renovated with 1.6 million.”

Reflecting on his experience, Brain Jotter said poverty had left a lasting impact on his mindset.

“Poverty is bad. Poverty is bad. We got punished for poverty.”

Watch the video here…

"When I rented my first apartment of 700k, I had 20 million naira, but I was scared…" – Skit maker Brain Jotter pic.twitter.com/DpenrJSYyo

— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) August 24, 2026