Across Nigeria, the story repeats itself: a burst pipe, a dead generator, a door that won’t shut properly. Instinctively, you reach for your phone — not to open Google, but to message your contacts.
“Please, who get one reliable plumber?”
That’s how most people still find help — through word of mouth. It’s built on trust, but it’s limited. The best carpenter or electrician could be working just two streets away, yet completely out of sight if no one in your circle knows them.
Customers waste time searching; skilled workers lose income.
That cycle is what Owolabi Meshach, a web developer based in Abuja, set out to fix with Worker.ng, a digital platform designed to give local service providers visibility and direct access to clients.
“Most of our informal workers don’t have websites or social media pages,” Owolabi says. “They depend on referrals, which makes it hard to grow. Worker.ng is my way of giving them a public space without changing how they already work.
A Search Built for How Nigerians Move
Worker.ng reflects how Nigerians actually navigate cities. Every listing includes a Nearest Landmark, not just a neighborhood name. Because no one here says, “I live on Aderibigbe Street.” We say, “I’m near Wuse Market” or “close to Ojuelegba Under Bridge.”
That local logic transforms searches into real, relatable results — whether you’re looking for a tailor near Berger Roundabout or a painter by Kubwa Village Market.
Fair, Simple, and 100% Free for Artisans
For artisans, Worker.ng is intentionally easy. No emails, no passwords, no long registration. Just a quick form you can complete on your phone. Once listed, customers reach you directly through WhatsApp or a phone call.
And unlike most job platforms, Worker.ng doesn’t charge commissions or listing fees. It’s completely free, forever. Every profile is manually reviewed before going live, and users can rate artisans or report suspicious listings with one tap.
“We want to protect both sides — the people hiring and the people working,” Owolabi explains. “It’s built on human review and community feedback, not algorithms alone.”
Lightweight, Accessible, and Nigerian at Heart
Understanding data constraints, Worker.ng also comes with a Lite App option. It lets users save the platform to their phone’s home screen, giving one-tap access without downloads or updates.
At its core, Worker.ng is more than a directory. It’s a digital bridge for Nigeria’s informal economy connecting real people, honest work, and everyday needs.
“If someone can be found easily, they can earn more. That means more dignity and opportunity,” says Owolabi.
By blending trust with technology, Worker.ng is making the invisible visible turning that familiar, time-wasting question, “Who knows someone good?” into a quick, confident search that gets the job done.
SKJ