Speaking with journalists in Benin City, the comedian encouraged talented young Nigerians to channel their skills into profitable ventures through creativity and persistence.
Abino revealed that after graduating, he initially secured a salaried job, but the income was insufficient to meet his needs. He said he therefore intensified his efforts in comedy until he landed his first major job, which paid him N150,000—an experience he described as proof that perseverance and self-belief can change one’s destiny.
A graduate of Biochemistry from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Abino admitted he faced immense pressure juggling academics and comedy performances during his school days.
“To survive, I took up multiple jobs, including riding okada and even working as an undertaker, all in a desperate bid to make ends meet while chasing my dreams,” he said.
He added, “After graduating in 2016, I moved to Lagos with hopes of landing a stable job. What followed was disappointment after disappointment. Corporate opportunities failed to materialize, bank job applications were rejected, and the only job I managed to secure paid me a meagre ₦30,000 monthly.”
Despite the setbacks, he said he refused to let his dreams die. “Frustrated but not broken, I realised that depending on white-collar jobs alone might bury my talent. That realisation marked a turning point in my life.”
Determined to rewrite his story, he committed fully to comedy and harnessed the power of social media to create and share skits online, steadily growing his audience.
He said his breakthrough came in 2015 after he was introduced to a client by veteran comedian MC Casino, who later became his mentor. “The first major pay of ₦150,000 for a single performance opened my eyes to the financial potential of my talent.”
From that moment, Abino said bigger gigs and higher paychecks began to follow. In 2019, he collaborated with Pluto, a partnership that further boosted his brand and visibility. As his career soared from local stages to international platforms, he described the transformation as dramatic.
“Comedy not only changed my financial status but literally took me out of the shores of Nigeria,” he said, adding that plans are already underway for a Europe tour for MC Casino’s “Games of Jokes.”
The rewards of his hustle are visible in his current lifestyle, as he explained that income from comedy and social media has stabilized him economically and socially, giving him a happy home.
“Having been in comedy since 2009, and mentored by MC ‘Mellow Down’ before submitting fully to MC Casino’s tutelage, my success is the product of years of preparation meeting opportunity,” he said.
Abino concluded with advice for young talents: “Talented youths must learn how to monetize their talent.” He emphasized that social media is a powerful tool that can transform raw skills into income.