The internet is actually a funny place.
One minute, you're scrolling through X and minding your business. The next minute, somebody you've probably never heard of is trending because they made something everybody wants to talk about.
People are reposting it, making memes, and tagging their friends like, “Omo, have you seen this thing?”
And you're there wondering, “Wait, somebody actually sat down and built this?”
That's what makes the Lagos Life story so interesting. Beyond the game and all the cruise people are catching online, there's something else worth talking about.
Somebody had an idea, decided to build it, and now the internet is talking about it.
And the story behind it is even more interesting.
If you've been on Nigerian social media recently, there's a good chance you've come across Lagos Life, a Nigerian life simulation game created by Shalom Rayhamen.
But this whole thing didn't start with some big business meeting where people planned how to take over the internet.
It started with an idea.
Shalom grew up playing The Sims 3 and had always imagined what a life simulation game inspired by her own environment could look like.
Then, one Wednesday night, she came across Lagos Run, a Nigerian danfo-driving game that was trending on X. People were talking about it, sharing their thoughts, and imagining what other Nigerian games could look like.
And something clicked.
She already had the idea of making a Nigerian life simulation game. Seeing what was happening online pushed her to give it a shot.
She told her husband she wanted to start coding a game. His advice was to focus on her existing AI project, Eliy, instead.
Well, he went to sleep, and Shalom started coding anyway. 😂
By around 5 a.m. on October 1, Lagos Life was ready. She posted the link at 7 a.m. and went to sleep.
When she woke up around 10 a.m., the game was already trending on X, with over 10,000 plays.
In just a few hours, something she had built was already getting that much attention. 😭
And it didn't stop there. The game went on to attract millions of players and interest from businesses looking to advertise inside its virtual world.
Think about that for a second.
A game she built overnight became something people across the country wanted to talk about.
But here's the part I think we should pay attention to.
She had the idea before the internet had the reaction.
You don't have to be the first person to think of something.
Another thing I like about the Lagos Life story is how the idea came together.
Shalom already loved The Sims 3 and had imagined what a Nigerian version could look like. Then she saw Lagos Run trending, and that helped push her existing idea into something she wanted to build.
She saw something, connected it to an idea she already had, and decided to try it.
And that's a good reminder that creativity doesn't always mean sitting alone in your room and coming up with something nobody has ever imagined.
Sometimes, you see something and think, “What if we did this differently?”
You notice a problem and wonder whether there's a way to solve it. You experience something funny and realise there's a story in it.
That's creativity too.
The world is full of things we can learn from, improve on, or approach from another angle.
And honestly, I think that's one reason Nigerian creators are so interesting to watch. We have so many experiences, jokes, cultures, and everyday situations that can inspire things people connect with.
Sometimes, the idea that gets people talking is the one that makes them say, “Omo, this is so us!”
You don't always have to invent something completely new. Sometimes, you just have to bring your own perspective to it.
Yes, the game itself came together in a few hours. But Shalom wasn't learning how to code that night.
She had spent years developing her software engineering skills, working on projects, and building experience before Lagos Life happened.
She had also been thinking about whether to stop pursuing her own projects and focus on employment shortly before the game took off.
And I find that part interesting.
Imagine spending years learning something, trying different things, and building your skills. Then one night, you use what you've learned to create something you weren't even sure would become this big.
That's why I don't think the lesson is simply, “Build something overnight and go viral.”
If only life worked like that. 😂
The better lesson is that the things you learn today might become useful in ways you don't expect tomorrow.
Maybe the skill you're learning will help you build your first product. Maybe a small project will teach you something you need for a bigger one.
You can't always predict how everything will connect.
Sometimes, you just have to keep learning, keep trying things, and remain open to possibilities.
And no, that doesn't mean working every day without resting. Please, rest. Drink water. Touch grass. 😂
It simply means you don't have to wait until you have everything figured out before you start creating.
I don't think everybody needs to become an entrepreneur. Not every hobby needs to become a business, and not everything you create has to make you money.
Sometimes, you can build something simply because you want to see if you can.
Maybe you've been wanting to start writing, create videos, learn design, develop a game, or make something that solves a problem you keep noticing.
Whatever it is, you don't have to know where it will lead before you begin.
Start small. Learn along the way. Make something, discover what needs work, and try again.
Who knows? The next thing you build might introduce you to people, opportunities, and experiences you never expected.
Or it might simply help you become better at something you enjoy.
Both are worth something.That's what makes the Lagos Life story worth thinking about.
Shalom had an idea, saw an opportunity, and decided to build. She couldn't have known how big it would become when she started coding that night.
She just started.
And maybe that's the point.
You don't need to know whether your idea will become the next big thing before giving it a shot.
You just need to stop letting the idea live only in your head.
So, over to you.
What's that one thing you've been wanting to build, create, or start for the longest time?
Maybe it's time to give it a shot. 👀
About the author
Oluwa_techie🚀
Critical overthinker. I turn random thoughts, life experiences, movies, and pop culture into stories that might make you laugh, question yourself, or send them to a friend. Either way, welcome to my corner.
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