[STORY] Digital Mastery 101: Learn Skills That Pay

Two weeks ago, I enrolled in an online course that everyone on TikTok swore could change your life in 30 days.

It was called “Digital Mastery 101: Learn Skills That Pay.”

Catchy, right?

I’d been job-hunting for months, bouncing between unpaid internships, and questioning my degree. My mom kept saying, “You went to school, why are you still broke?” So I decided — if school didn’t work, maybe online education would.

The course promised freelance skills, digital marketing tips, and “the exact formula to make $5k a month.” I was sold.

I paid ₦45,000. Money I didn’t even have — I borrowed it from my cousin, Bayo.

My room became my classroom.

Laptop on one side, cold garri and groundnut on the other.

The tutor — a smooth-talking guy named Coach Theo — spoke like he was allergic to being poor.

“If you’re serious about learning, this course will make you unstoppable. You’ll become a digital boss in weeks.”

I nodded at the screen like a loyal disciple.

Classes were all self-paced. There were pre-recorded lectures, interactive quizzes, and a private Telegram community full of people dropping motivation quotes like “Don’t scroll, enroll.”

I was actually learning.

SEO. Copywriting. Email funnels. Even Google Ads.

For the first time, education felt… fun.

No pressure. No lecturers with ego problems. Just me and my laptop, vibing to lo-fi music while taking notes on Udemy-style modules.

One evening, I decided to test my new skills.

I created a personal brand website (thank you, Skillshare tutorial), optimized it with all the SEO keywords I’d learned — online courses, digital marketing training, how to make money online, top e-learning platforms, the whole package.

By midnight, my blog ranked on the second page of Google. I screamed like I’d won a Grammy.

I texted my cousin:

“Bayo! Bro! This thing works! I’m gonna pay you back soon.”

He replied:

“Just don’t forget me when you blow.”

But then… it all went south.

The Telegram group disappeared.

Coach Theo’s Instagram account got deactivated.

And my login credentials? Gone.

At first, I thought it was a glitch. I emailed their “support team.”

No reply.

I called their Lagos office number — “The number you’re calling is not reachable.”

That was when it hit me.

I’d just taken an online scam course.

The Real Lesson

I sat on my bed, laptop open, watching the login screen mock me.

Bayo called.

“So, how far with your online course?”

I swallowed. “Bro… I think I enrolled in Digital Misery 101.”

He laughed. “You mean they scammed you?”

“Yeah. But it’s weird… I’m not even mad. I actually learned something before they vanished.”

And that was true.

Even though I’d been duped, I’d genuinely learned SEO, digital writing, and content marketing — all from the free bits and YouTube links Theo used to “bait” us.

So I decided to continue — for real this time.

I joined Coursera, Skillshare, and Google Digital Garage (real platforms, by the way).

I built my skills legitimately.

Within months, I got my first remote job as a content writer.

Now I tell everyone:

“Don’t just chase online courses — research them. Not every ‘coach’ on Instagram is a teacher.”

Last week, I got a DM on Instagram.

A new account. No profile pic.

“Hey, it’s Theo. Glad to see you’re doing well. You learned fast.”

I froze.

I typed back:

“You scammed me.”

He replied:

“No. I inspired you. Not every education comes from a classroom.”

I stared at the message for a long time.

Then I smiled, whispered, “Touché.”

Maybe he was right.

Maybe I didn’t lose money — I paid tuition for the wildest online education of my life.