Ola Of Lagos: From ₦18,500 Salary To Luxury Influencer

Waris Akinwande Olayinka, popularly known as Ola of Lagos, has opened up about the struggles, pain and hardships he endured while earning ₦18,500 a month, revealing how those experiences shaped the man he has become today.

Ola of Lagos, who disclosed that he once slept under a Lagos bridge, has risen to become one of Nigeria’s prominent influencers and voices in the luxury space.

In an interview on the Key-to-Keys Podcast, he recalled his early struggles, including doing laundry, washing people’s clothes and scrubbing floors in Lekki to make ends meet.

Rather than resorting to begging or becoming dependent on others, Akinwande said he chose to work and find ways to improve his circumstances.

Screen grab of Waris Akinwande Olayinka popularly known as Ola of Lagos appearing as a guest on The Key to Keys Podcast on YouTube.

His ₦18,500 monthly salary was barely enough to sustain him and his family until the next payday. He therefore began taking on side jobs, including domestic chores, house cleaning and washing cars for wealthy residents of Ikoyi and Lekki.

He recalled trekking from Ikoyi to Lekki in search of people who might give him work.

“So I’m like, okay, let me look for a side hustle, and I used to trek then from Ikoyi actually to Lekki, you know, looking for big men and big women to talk to and like, sir, ma, I can actually clean your house.”

How Akinwande Got The Name Ola Of Lagos

Akinwande said his love for Lagos and the city’s infrastructure inspired the name Ola of Lagos.

He recalled that while walking from Ikoyi to Lekki one day, he saw the Lekki Bridge and was struck by the sight.

“So when I used to walk from Ikoyi to Lekki, one day I was walking, and I saw this Lekki Bridge, and I’m like, oh, I love Lagos, Ola of Lagos. So that is how the name Ola of Lagos came up.”

How Car Spotting Started

Although Akinwande is now widely known for spotting exotic cars on Lagos roads, he said becoming a car spotter was never part of his original plan.

His passion for cars, however, naturally drew him towards the activity.

“So I didn’t plan to become a car spotter. I started spotting cars out of passion, and I don’t stand by the roadside, you know, remember I mentioned earlier that I have this big dream. I had big dreams then till now.”

He said he initially spotted cars after work while making his way home and did so without a mobile phone capable of recording videos.

He later bought a basic phone before eventually upgrading to one that allowed him to record videos.

The excitement he felt while spotting exotic cars also gave rise to the catchphrase he is now known for: “Oh my God, it’s plenty, stop playing.”

Leaving Home For Lagos

For Akinwande, the journey was driven by a desire to change his circumstances and create a better future for himself and his family.

He said he left his hometown for Lagos in search of better opportunities, despite not having anyone in the city to rely on.

“I need to make it out of my family. I’m not sure anybody else has really rise from my family. Yeah, so I’m like, no, no, no, I have to change this whole story. Then I left home, my hometown. I left there to come to Lagos to come and seek greener pastures. Mind you, I don’t have anybody here.”

Akinwande’s journey from earning ₦18,500 and taking on menial jobs to becoming a prominent figure in Nigeria’s social media space reflects the difficult beginnings behind his success.

Today, Ola of Lagos is known for showcasing exotic cars, luxury homes and lifestyles to his large social media audience, making his journey from humble beginnings to the limelight a defining part of his story.

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