How my business failed because of family pressure

Popular Nigerian skit maker and comedian, Zicsaloma, has spoken about the importance of setting financial boundaries, especially with family members, for people who want to escape poverty.

Speaking in a video shared on INSTAGRAM, the comedian explained that being “financially heartless” does not mean being cruel, but being disciplined.

“If you know you want to come out of poverty, you need to be financially heartless, even to your direct family,” he said. “Not because you want to be wicked, but because you want to break the poverty circle.”

Zicsaloma shared how some of his early business plans failed because he could not protect his savings.

“I remember saving 100,000 naira to start a recharge card business,” he recalled. “But when my mum needed money for rent, it became difficult to say no.”

According to him, many young people struggle to grow financially because their savings are constantly redirected to family needs.

“It’s not sitting down redundant,” he said. “I’m trying to save so that when my business works, I can help everybody.”

He added that learning to delay support can sometimes lead to better long-term results for both the individual and the family.

“When your business speaks, you can help better,” he stated.

Zicsaloma encouraged young people to plan carefully and protect their financial goals, especially in the early stages of their careers.