A young Nigerian wife has become an internet sensation after demonstrating how she prepared a full pot of stew for her family using only one thousand naira (N1,000). The video, which documents her entire process from receiving the money to serving the meal, has ignited a fiery debate across social media platforms.
The N1,000 Stew Challenge
In the now-viral clip posted on TikTok by user @sharonstv, the married woman revealed that her husband handed her the sum and tasked her with making stew for everyone at home. Rather than complain, she decided to turn the situation into a public experiment in extreme budgeting and culinary skill.
The lady filmed her journey from the moment she received the N1,000 note, expressing both the challenge and her determination to make it work. She stated her hope to encounter her regular market traders, who she believed would offer her better prices, crucial for the success of her mission with such limited funds.
Market Strategy and Ingredient Breakdown
Armed with her camera and the cash, she headed to the market. Her shopping list and spending were meticulously planned out of necessity. She allocated her funds as follows:
- Dried Bonga Fish: N500 (half of the total budget)
- Onions: N300, purchased from a Hausa vendor she described as a friend
- Fresh Tomatoes: N200
- Crayfish: N100, a small portion to enhance the stew's flavor
After successfully acquiring all the ingredients within her tight budget, she returned home to her kitchen. She then recorded the step-by-step cooking process, culminating in a pot of what she described as "delicious stew" ready for her family.
Mixed Reactions from Netizens
The video, particularly the final result, triggered a wave of diverse and passionate reactions from viewers. The comments section became a battleground of opinions on finance, marriage, and survival in Nigeria's current economy.
Many users were critical. TikTok user @UC baby simply commented, "God forbid," expressing disapproval of the entire scenario. Another user, @BiG Bisola, remarked, "Una come dey do competition of who suffer pass for TikTok," suggesting the platform was becoming a place to glorify hardship.
However, others praised her resourcefulness and positive attitude. User @Wholesaleattachmentsvendor wrote, "This kind of always bang. Wow this woman is blessed..." applauding her ability to manage. @Lifestyle Ahrniey commented, "All Nigerian and Ghana men are proud of you, you’re the best wife in the world..." framing her actions as wifely virtue.
The discussion also veered into broader socio-economic commentary. User @blessing nice stated, "...na who rich pass them I go marry," indicating the video influenced her own marital standards.
The incident highlights the daily financial realities many Nigerian families face, where cooking a basic meal requires strategic planning. It also underscores the evolving narrative on social media, where personal challenges are shared publicly, often leading to communal judgment, advice, and debate.
This is not the first time a Nigerian has shared cost-saving alternatives amid rising living costs. Legit.ng previously reported on a woman who demonstrated using charcoal, costing less than N1,000, as a cheaper cooking method compared to liquefied petroleum gas, which can cost as much as N30,000 for a 12kg cylinder in some areas.
