BRT content creator Darkskinned Ella explains why she quit 9-to-5 job

Content creator Onyinyechi Nwachukwu, popularly known as Darkskinned Ella, has revealed that she resigned from her 9-to-5 job following experiences she encountered after returning from an international trip to Zanzibar.

The 24-year-old shared the revelation in a video posted on her Instagram page on Tuesday, weeks after announcing that she had left her job.

Reflecting on her decision, Ella said many people assumed she was happy at work because of the image she projected publicly, but insisted that reality was different.

“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.

Without revealing specific details, the content creator suggested that circumstances changed dramatically after her return from Zanzibar.

“Everything happened when I came back from Zanzibar,” she said.

Ella noted that the experience taught her the value of discernment, saying not everyone who appears supportive has good intentions.

“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,” she added.

The influencer had travelled to Zanzibar in May for her first international brand collaboration, documenting the trip on her social media platforms.

In June, she announced her resignation, citing the physical and mental strain of balancing work with content creation, as well as the long daily commute between her home and office.

She disclosed that she often edited videos while commuting and recalled falling asleep both on the bus and at work shortly before resigning.

“So I resigned from my 9-to-5 without having everything figured out. Most 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.

Darkskinned Ella gained national attention through her “100 Days BRT Challenge,” in which she documented overcrowding and the daily struggles faced by commuters using Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services.

The campaign went viral after she was confronted by transport officials while filming at a BRT station.

In an earlier interview, she said the project was inspired by her desire to document the realities of juggling a full-time job with content creation.

The campaign drew public attention to commuting challenges in Lagos and prompted the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority to announce measures aimed at improving bus availability. The Lagos State Commissioner for Information also reached out to her, assuring her that the concerns she raised would be addressed.