Why I left my 9-to-5 job after BRT controversy – Content creator
July 28, 2026 1:12 pm
Content creator Onyinyechi Nwachukwu, popularly known as Darkskinned Ella…Photo Credit: IG/ darkskinnedella
BRT Content creator Onyinyechi Nwachukwu, popularly known as Darkskinned Ella, has revealed that her decision to quit her 9-to-5 job was influenced by experiences that unfolded after she returned from an international trip to Zanzibar.
The 24-year-old made the disclosure in a post shared on her Instagram page on Tuesday, weeks after announcing her resignation from the job.
Reflecting on the period, Ella said many people believed she was happy at her workplace because of the way she presented herself publicly.
“It’s funny how, after I left, so many people said, I’m sure you’re going to miss that place, you were so happy.
“The truth is, not everything is as it seems,” she said.
She added that the experience taught her the importance of discernment.
“Life has taught me that not everyone who smiles with you is genuinely for you, and that’s why discernment is so important.
“The sudden change caught me off guard, but I’m grateful for the experience because it made me stronger. I’ve made peace with it, I’ve moved on, and I’m taking the lessons with me.
“No regrets. Just growth,” Ella said.
Although she did not disclose what happened, Ella hinted that events took a different turn after she returned from Zanzibar.
“Everything happened when I came back from Zanzibar,” she said in the video.
The content creator had travelled to Zanzibar in May, documenting her first international brand trip on her social media pages.
In June, she announced that she had resigned from her job, citing stress and the long commute between her home and office.
“So I resigned from my 9-5 without having everything figured out. Most of the days I would edit on the bus. A day before I resigned, I found myself sleeping on a bus and sleeping at the office.
“Please do not stay far from your office,” she wrote at the time.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Ella gained attention after documenting overcrowded Bus Rapid Transit terminals in Lagos through her “100 Days BRT Challenge.”
The campaign highlighted the daily struggles of Lagos commuters and drew widespread attention after she was confronted by transport officials while filming at a BRT station.
Speaking to PUNCH in March, Ella said she started the challenge to document the realities of balancing a full-time job with content creation.
“As a full-time 9-to-5 worker and content creator, my days are very demanding. So, I decided to document 100 days of my life to show the reality of my daily experiences and struggles in Lagos State,” she said.
Following the viral videos, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority announced measures to improve bus availability, while the Lagos State Commissioner for Information also reached out to her, assuring her that the issues she raised would be addressed.
Samuel Omotere is an experienced journalist covering human interest stories, pop culture, and digital trends. He combines his background as a language graduate with a focus on sustainable digital storytelling.
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