Nigerian media personality Joseph Onaolapo, popularly known as Jay On-air, has opened up about the struggles he faced after quitting his corporate job and how he found purpose through content creation.
In an emotional interview with Chude Jideonwo, Jay On-air revealed that he was once forced to rely on selling secondhand clothes, popularly known as okrika, after enduring months of unpaid salaries and feeling deeply undervalued in the corporate world.
“I came to Lagos from Benin, sent my CV to every radio station… nothing happened,” he shared. “I eventually got into the corporate world, worked as an executive assistant and communications executive, but was owed salaries and treated like I wasn’t worth anything.”
Feeling “crippled” and stuck, Jay said he made the tough decision to leave his job and start a small business selling secondhand clothes. The business surprisingly thrived, earning him the nickname “the shorts guy” as customers began to recognize him for his stylish and affordable pieces.
“People would come to me just to buy shorts. I remember I could even afford to go to Waje’s concert, which felt like such a big win,” he said.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. With no customers, no income, and no job, Jay On-air was left stranded.
That’s when he discovered TikTok.
“I was home. Depressed. But then people were on TikTok, and I just jumped in. I started lip-syncing sounds, just to have fun,” he recalled. “Creating content gave me something to wake up for. I’d have a shower and try to create as many videos as I could in an hour. It saved me.”
Now a rising star in digital media, Jay On-air’s journey from joblessness to content creation is a powerful reminder that creativity and resilience can emerge from the darkest times.