Nasboi, born Lawal Michael Nasiru Bolaji, has become one of Nigeria’s most dynamic entertainers. Known for his comedy skits, vocal impersonations and growing influence in music, he embodies a blend of humor, vulnerability and relentless determination. Today audiences see the charisma, the jokes and the hit songs, but long before the fame Nasboi was simply a young man trying to survive, navigate uncertainty and find purpose.
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After graduating from university in 2014, he pursued music with passion but found very little success. By 2017 he returned to complete his national service while dealing with heavy financial strain after his mother’s business collapsed. He recalled those days as extremely difficult. Music remained his only hope, and his best friend who had been producing him since 2008 was his strongest support system. When that friend eventually chose to pursue law school, Nasboi felt abandoned and defeated. It became a defining moment that pushed him to reflect on his path.
He remembered his late father’s advice about having a skill. At the time it did not seem important, but hardship sharpened his understanding. After NYSC he moved back to Port Harcourt because Lagos was too expensive. Life at home was difficult. Even finding fifteen naira could reduce him to tears. His only goal each day was to find food.
A breakthrough came when an older friend who had admired his music since 2014 decided to invest in him. He took Nasboi to Alaba and tried to push his sound despite limited resources. By 2018 financial pressure forced that friend to relocate abroad, leaving Nasboi again without support. The loss felt heavy, but it also opened his eyes. He realized that passion alone was not enough. He had seen too many older musicians from his neighborhood chase dreams that no longer made sense for them. He did not want to end up the same way.
He began to explore other areas of entertainment. With a background in mechanical engineering and an interest in videography and photography, he considered visual arts. When he shared this new direction with his friend abroad, support arrived immediately. A camera, lenses and money for training were sent to him. With these tools he began taking photography jobs. Weddings came. Payments came. For the first time in years he earned real income from work he could rely on.
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But his journey was far from finished. Nasboi had always been naturally funny, and his friends often encouraged him to express that side of himself. One day he posted a comedy video online. It went viral. He tried another. It grew even bigger. Soon his posts were attracting hundreds of comments. When entertainer Tunde Ednut reposted his content, Nasboi’s visibility skyrocketed. By late 2020 he had become one of Nigeria’s most recognizable online comedians.
The music dream never left him. In 2022 he released a song that generated ten thousand comments on the first day. However, the momentum slipped and critics mocked the attempt. Nasboi retreated to comedy for a while but did not give up completely. In 2023 he partnered with a new collaborator who believed in his sound. Together they created “Umbrella” featuring Wande Coal. The song became a major hit and introduced Nasboi to a wider music audience.
Today Nasboi stands as a fully formed creative force. He is a comedian, musician, photographer and videographer who built a career through reinvention, risk and resilience. He is proof that one path does not define a person and that success can come from unexpected directions. Though he still faces pressure and online criticism, he has learned to rise above negativity. In his words, he is reclaiming his power and moving with purpose.
Nasboi’s story is more than entertainment. It is a testimony of survival, reinvention and the courage to become everything life once tried to take from him.
