Meet Gbenga Adebiyi, a Freelancer Who has Trained Over 6500 People on Freelancing

Hello African Freelancers, meet Gbenga Adebiyi who has been a freelancer for the past 5 years now. He joined UPWORK in 2015. After learning more about Freelancing, he felt the need to share his knowledge with others. This birthed training, so far over 6500 people in that period on Freelancing.

African Freelancers: How has your experience been being a freelancer in Africa? 

Gbenga Adebiyi: It’s been wonderful so far, I have worked with clients all over the globe, the thought of that makes me grin every time. 

The fact that I can be in Nigeria and working with clients from the USA, Japan, New Zealand, Malawi, China and so on excited me. 

Last year I worked with a Texas company full time for 8 months and even hired my family members to tackle projects. It was a fantastic experience and we were paid well too.

African Freelancers: What are some of the lessons you have learnt in freelancing over the years? 

Gbenga Adebiyi: Your skill will put money on your table, with your skills, freelancing can be very lucrative if you know how to leverage it. 

Your reputation will speak for you, I have had some bad job experiences with some clients but due to the fact that I had completed wonderful jobs earlier, they let the bad jobs slide. I try to reduce bad jobs to the barest minimum though. 

Honesty pays, most clients want to work with an honest freelancer.

 African Freelancers: Would you consider freelancing as a lucrative field in Africa? 

Gbenga Adebiyi: Yes, it is, I have friends who do 6 figures in USD yearly, I even have a mentor who makes more than $100,000 yearly from Freelancing, if you take it seriously you would be successful. 

At the start you build your reputation, you can start with low jobs (but not so low), after a while you can tackle the big projects.

African Freelancers: What are some of your favourite websites for getting freelance jobs?

Gbenga Adebiyi: I love UPWORK, it was my first platform and the experience has been wonderful for me. There are other platforms out there with good reviews too like Fiverr, Toptal and Angellist among others

African Freelancers: Please mention some of the reasons that have helped you on your freelance journey

Gbenga Adebiyi: I learn about UPWORK (my platform of choice) regularly, I take courses to improve myself and this makes me better. 

I learn from my mentor, you need someone who will be your guide. Someone who has walked the journey you are about to take. 

I ensure I protect my reputation at all cost, this is your most valuable currency as a freelancer.

African Freelancers: What would be your advice to budding freelancers in Africa? 

Gbenga Adebiyi: You need a skill, this is what you will convert to income on any platform of your choice. You also need to understand how the platforms work. These 2 things are important for your success as a freelancer. 

Then be patient, I have noticed newbies be impatient. They leave before they are successful. 

3 things I mention to any Freelance Newbie, you need Determination, Patience and Perseverance. 

I mention all this because from experience those 3 things have helped me in my Journey.