Life in the diaspora: The weekend hustle – side jobs, side hustles, making ends meet in the UK
By Mary Opii
In the UK, weekends are often associated with rest and recreation – quiet family time, pub lunches, or long countryside walks. But for many Nigerians living in the diaspora, weekends are anything but restful. They are sacred, not for leisure, but for the hustle.
Whether it is driving Uber, catering for events, braiding hair, doing deliveries, running a pop-up Afro store, or cleaning offices, the Nigerian in the UK often has something going on the side, and it is usually on the weekend.
We didn’t invent the side hustle, but we have perfected it. It is a survival strategy rooted in our upbringing: “Never depend on one source of income.” For many in the UK, that philosophy follows us across continents. It is a culture of hustle.
The 9 – 5 may pay the bills, but it rarely stretches far. After rent, transport, school fees, (if you or your spouse are studying) and food, there is little left. The side hustle, therefore, becomes the safety net, and often, the launching pad for bigger dreams.
READ ALSO: Life in the diaspora: The silent struggles of Nigerian students in the UK
Life in the diaspora: Workplace realities – The Nigerian work ethic abroad
Life in the diaspora: Parenting in a new culture
Some weekend hustles start from talents like cooking, makeup, tailoring, or photography. Others are born from necessity, like ride-sharing, food or parcel delivery. But what they all share is the sheer determination and grit behind them.
Take Sarah, a full-time carer during the week who bakes cakes on weekends. Or Uche, a warehouse worker who prints custom T-shirts from his garage. Or Lola, a single mum who does cleaning jobs Saturday mornings while her children are at football practice. These stories are not uncommon, they are the rhythm of Nigerian resilience in motion.
Balancing a full-time job, weekend hustle, family life, and personal well-being is no easy feat. Many Nigerians in the UK run on little sleep, lots of caffeine, and the unshakable belief that our efforts will pay off in the end.
Some even use their annual leave not for rest, but to work more shifts or run temporary businesses during school breaks. The goal for juggling time and energy? Build savings. Send money home. Pay off loans. Or invest in property back in Nigeria.
The dream of returning home “one day” drives many of us to go above and beyond, even when the body says rest.
Behind every side job is a story. A reason. A hope. For some, it is to avoid living from paycheck to paycheck. For others, it is to send children to better schools, support relatives back home, or eventually buy land in Lagos, Benin, or Abuja.
Even in moments of exhaustion, many of us find pride in what we are building. Because the hustle is more than a job, it’s a statement of self-determination. A reminder that we are not just surviving in the UK, we are planting seeds for something greater.
