Mustafa’s story is one many young African freelancers will recognize, no clear roadmap, few resources, and a lot of trial and error before things started to click. In this interview, he shares how he moved from watching free tutorials online to working with international clients as a marketer and digital creator, the payment struggles that nearly held him back, and the lessons he’s picked up along the way.
Let’s dive in.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us what you do?
My name is Tiamiyu Mustapha. I’m a freelancer, Network marketer, and creator.
How did your journey into the digital or creative space begin?
Honestly, it wasn’t something I planned from the start. I didn’t go in with a fixed idea of exactly where it would lead, I was just drawn to tech and digital skills, and I started learning out of ambition more than a clear plan. I didn’t have anyone holding my hand through it. I had to figure things out mostly on my own, learning as I went and leaning on my own experience to move forward. Thanks to the community I found myself.
What first inspired you to start building your career online?
I started learning digital skills seriously through free resources, watching videos and using online platforms to teach myself, since I didn’t have money for paid courses. A lot of people in my community didn’t know much about Ai Skills at the time, so there wasn’t a lot of guidance available locally. I leaned on my community and the resources I could find, and just kept learning consistently until I felt ready to start taking on real work.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting out, especially working internationally?
The biggest challenge was not having enough resources to work properly with international clients, the tools, the platforms, even reliable access to some of the services other freelancers around the world could use easily. I had to make do with limited resources and figure out workarounds, watching tutorials and reading up online just to close the gap.
Did you ever face issues receiving payments from international clients? How did that impact your growth?
Yes, definitely. Payment issues are something almost every freelancer I know has dealt with at some point. I had accounts get suspended, and I had to find alternative platforms just to keep receiving money safely. It’s a real challenge, a lot of freelancers, especially Nigerians, don’t have access to certain international payment platforms, so you’re constantly looking for workarounds just to get paid for work you’ve already done.
What was your very first international payment experience like?
My very first paid gig was worth $10. I was doing marketing work on a freelance platform at the time. It doesn’t sound like much now, but I remember exactly how it felt, that first payment proved to me that this could actually work, and I knew I had to keep going from there.
How did you handle the payment challenges at the time?
Mostly through hard work and building trust with clients over time. I focused on establishing myself with reliable platforms and being consistent, so clients could trust that I’d deliver, and in turn, I could trust that I’d get paid. It wasn’t perfect, but staying consistent helped me manage the uncertainty.
In your opinion, how important is having a reliable dollar payment account for freelancers and digital creators?
It’s extremely important. A lot of the setbacks I faced early on came down to not having stable, reliable ways to receive money from clients abroad. When you don’t have that, you lose time, you lose trust with clients, and sometimes you lose money outright. Having a dependable payment system isn’t a luxury for freelancers working internationally, it’s foundational.
Was there a particular breakthrough moment that changed your trajectory?
Yes. Things started to shift when I leaned into AI-related work. I noticed the opportunities opening up in that space and decided to position myself early. One client reached out wanting help creating an AI-focused course, outlining the content and putting the material together. It was new territory for me, but I took it on, and it ended up being a turning point that opened doors to more serious, better-paying projects.
What skills or mindset helped you grow the most in your career?
I would say adaptability and consistency. Working in AI and freelancing means things change very fast, so I’ve had to keep learning new tools and improving my skills. I also learned not to give up easily, especially when things were slow or difficult.
What lessons would you share with African freelancers looking to work with global clients today?
My biggest advice is to focus on your skills and the value you can provide, not your location. Global clients care about results, communication, professionalism, and reliability. Also, build a strong portfolio because sometimes your work can speak louder than your qualifications.
How do you stay consistent and motivated even during slow or challenging periods?
I remind myself there’s no going back. There will be slow periods and downtimes, that’s normal. But I’ve learned to keep showing up regardless of the situation, because consistency is what eventually pays off, even when it doesn’t feel like it at the moment.
What is one honest truth about building a global career that nobody tells young African creators and freelancers?
It takes longer and requires more patience than most people expect. You will face rejection, difficult clients, payment challenges, and periods where things are slow. But if you keep improving and stay consistent, opportunities can come from places you never expected.
Novacrust is a platform that makes receiving international payments fast, simple, and secure. How do you think having access to a solution like this could help freelancers like you?
It would make a big difference because receiving international payments can sometimes be stressful for African freelancers. A simple and secure platform would help us get paid faster and focus more on delivering great work instead of worrying about payment methods.
Would you consider signing up for a platform like Novacrust to make getting paid from international clients easier? Why or why not?
Yes, definitely especially if it is reliable, secure, and makes it easy for international clients to pay me. As someone who works with clients from different countries, having a smooth payment process is very important.
Can you please tell us the maximum range of your salary in a month?
As a freelancer, my income is not fixed and can vary depending on the projects I’m working on. In a good month, I can make anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 or more, depending on the size and number of projects.
Mustafa’s story shows that you don’t need a perfect plan to start. You just need to keep learning, keep showing up, and keep improving. From a $10 gig to earning thousands of dollars a month, his journey proves that consistency pays off, even when growth feels slow. For young African freelancers and creators, his message is simple: your skills can take you anywhere, and the right tools, like reliable payment platforms, can make the journey a lot easier.