You are not really asking about business, AI, or migration.
You are asking: “Which path gives me the highest chance of building a stable future from where I am today?”
From what you wrote, I see a young man who:
Is 24 years old.
Has no parents to fall back on.
Is already hustling in another country.
Is willing to drive keke to reach his goals.
Believes he can save about ₦5 million in 18 months.
Has people willing to mentor him in cosmetics.
Is interested in digital skills and AI.
Is considering risking his life through irregular migration.
My advice would be:
1. Remove the Morocco-to-Spain illegal route from your plan
Not because people never succeed.
Because your downside is catastrophic.
If you lose ₦5 million in a business, you can recover.
If you fail learning digital marketing, you can try again.
If you are stranded in the desert, imprisoned, exploited by traffickers, or die at sea, there is no second chance.
The risk-reward ratio is poor for someone who can already generate income and save capital.
2. Continue hustling and reach your capital target first
Many people make life-changing decisions while broke.
You are already working.
Focus on:
Saving aggressively.
Avoiding unnecessary spending.
Building discipline.
Reaching your target capital.
Capital gives options.
Without capital, every path looks impossible.
3. Cosmetics appears to be your strongest immediate opportunity
The biggest clue in your message is this:
“I like it so much and I have people already in it who are willing to put me through.”
That is important.
A business becomes less risky when:
You understand it.
You enjoy it.
You have mentors.
You have suppliers.
You have a network.
Many successful businesses in Nigeria started with less than ₦5 million.
The economy is difficult, but people still buy:
Body creams
Perfumes
Soaps
Hair products
Beauty products
Demand has not disappeared.
4. Learn digital marketing and AI alongside the business
Don’t treat it as either/or.
Treat it as both.
For example:
Run a cosmetics business.
Learn social media marketing.
Learn content creation.
Learn AI tools.
Learn online advertising.
The person who can both sell products and market them online has an advantage.
Digital marketing can also become a second source of income.
5. Do not let social media decide your future
People say:
“Nigeria is finished.”
Yet every year people build businesses, buy houses, and become financially stable in Nigeria.
People also say:
“Europe is heaven.”
Yet many migrants struggle with loneliness, low-paying jobs, immigration issues, and discrimination.
Every country has opportunities and challenges.
The question is not:
“Where is the perfect country?”
The question is:
“Where do I have the highest probability of success?”
Based on what you wrote, your highest-probability path is:
Continue working in Gambia.
Save your target capital.
Return with a clear business plan.
Start cosmetics gradually.
Learn digital marketing and AI at the same time.
Grow both income streams.
Later, if you still want to relocate abroad, pursue legal routes such as study, work, or skilled migration.
If I were ranking your options
1st: Cosmetics business + Digital Marketing/AI (together)
2nd: Legal migration after building skills and capital
3rd: Illegal migration through Morocco and the sea
The first option gives you the best combination of:
Safety
Control
Growth potential
Long-term wealth creation
You are 24. You are much less behind than you think. The fact that you are already thinking about capital, skills, and business puts you ahead of many people your age.
Your biggest danger right now is not Nigeria’s economy.
It is making a desperate decision because you feel time is running out.
At 24, your focus should be building assets, skills, and networks—not gambling your life on a route where the outcome is largely outside your control.