Content creator Samuel Adegbeyi, popularly known as Baami, has recounted how a ₦30,000 loan he took to support his former girlfriend’s business eventually grew into more than ₦300,000 in debt and left him struggling financially and emotionally.
Speaking about his journey, Baami said his difficult childhood experiences shaped his determination to succeed. His father died while he was in secondary school, after which he lived with relatives and neighbours who helped him continue his education.
Although he initially wanted to become a chartered accountant, Baami began creating content in 2024 while in his final year of HND. He said his manager encouraged him to venture into content creation despite his initial reluctance to become publicly known.
As his popularity grew, several skit makers began inviting him to feature in their content. He has since worked with personalities including Oluwadolarz, Nasboi, Shank and Cute Abiola.
Baami said his financial struggles began while he was in a relationship. Wanting to support his girlfriend in starting a business, he borrowed about ₦30,000 from an online loan platform and added some of his savings before giving her the money.
According to him, her attitude towards him changed after she received the money, while the short repayment period and accumulating interest pushed him into a cycle of debt.
He said the initial ₦30,000 loan eventually rose to more than ₦300,000, forcing him to borrow from other loan platforms to repay the previous debts.
For almost a year, Baami said he battled serious financial and emotional difficulties. At one point, he spent about four months mostly indoors and relied on a friend who provided food and cared for him.
He described the period as one of the most difficult experiences of his life but said he eventually recovered and continued his education and content creation journey.
Baami said TikTok became his first major source of income. His manager encouraged him to host regular live sessions, where viewers sent gifts that could be converted into money.
He recalled receiving about ₦500,000 as his first major TikTok income. He later expanded to Facebook, where his first payout in January was about $200.
The content creator currently has about 1.3 million followers on Facebook. His main TikTok account, which had about 1.4 million followers, was reportedly banned, leaving him to continue with a backup account.
Baami said he has no specific content niche at the moment, explaining that he creates different types of content and portrays characters such as bosses, businessmen and mechanics.
He also spoke about facing discrimination because of his physical condition, particularly during his school years. However, he said some people eventually changed their attitudes after discovering his abilities.
He acknowledged that hurtful comments about his appearance sometimes affected him deeply and contributed to periods of depression, but said he chose to focus on self-improvement rather than dwell on the negativity.
Baami said his experiences have influenced his outlook on life and that he believes the challenges he faced ultimately led him to content creation.
He explained that the debt prevented him from returning to school at the time he had planned, but the delay allowed him to meet his manager and begin his career as a content creator.
Although he studied for a qualification that could have led to a career in accounting, Baami said he currently has no plans to seek employment with his certificate because content creation is already providing for his needs.
He said he hopes to expand his YouTube presence and eventually become a global content creator with an audience across different countries.
On marriage, Baami said he remains open to settling down but wants to find someone who genuinely loves and supports him rather than being attracted to his money or fame.
Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that his content creation career would take him beyond Nigeria, saying he hopes to become a globally recognised creator within the next three to five years.