I'm a virtual assistant and lead generation specialist based in Lagos, and these are the tools I open every single day, not a 'best of' list I found online, but the actual stack that keeps my work, my clients, and my content running. If you're buildi...
Sections
10
Project & Team Management
Lead Generation
Job Search
Client Communication
Personal Brand & Content
Writing
Project & Team Management
This is where my brain lives. Trackers, dashboards, content calendars, and client notes, all in one place.
The AI workspace that works for you. | Notion
For visual task management. When I need to see everything laid out in columns, this is where I go.
Capture, organize, and tackle your to-dos from anywhere
Some clients run their workflows here, so I had to learn it. Good for tracking deliverables across a team.
Manage your team’s work, projects, & tasks online • Asana
Lead Generation
The backbone of my lead generation work. Advanced search filters make finding the right prospects so much easier.
Sales Tool | LinkedIn Sales Navigator
LinkedIn automation that saves me hours. It handles outreach sequences while I focus on other things.
LinkedIn Automation Tool for Outreach That Works | dripify.com
Job Search
One of the platforms I check regularly for remote opportunities.
Remote Jobs & Talent Marketplace | Online.Jobs
Curated remote listings, fewer scams than most job boards.
FlexJobs: Best Work From Home Jobs, Online Jobs & More
Still one of the best places to find legitimate remote roles, especially if you optimize your profile.
LinkedIn Job Search: Find US Jobs, Internships, Jobs Near Me
The classic. I still check it because sometimes the right role shows up here first.
Job Search | Indeed
Client Communication
Docs, Sheets, Drive, Calendar, Gmail, this is non-negotiable for any VA. Everything client-facing happens here.
Google Workspace: Secure Online Productivity & Collaboration Tools
No more back-and-forth on scheduling. Clients book time directly and it syncs with my calendar.
For when a written explanation won't cut it. I record my screen and walk clients through things instead.
Free screen recorder for Mac and PC | Loom
Personal Brand & Content
Everything visual I create starts here, graphics, one-pagers, social posts.
Canva: Visual Suite for Everyone
For editing my TikTok content. Free and does everything I need.
CapCut AI Video Editor: Smart Online Video Editing with Advanced AI Tools
This is how I turned a simple page into my portfolio website without needing to know how to code.
Tiiny Host
One link, everything I want people to find. Simple but it works.
Link in bio tool: Everything you are, in one simple link | Linktree
Writing
Where I publish personal essays.
Nafisat Abimbola Akanni – Medium
My newsletter home — Scaling Softly.
Scaling Softly | Substack
Catches what I miss so I can focus on what I'm saying, not how I'm saying it.
Grammarly: Free AI Writing Assistance
My go-to thinking partner. I use this when a draft feels stuck or I can't tell if something lands, it helps me hear myself more clearly without writing for me.
Claude
Different energy from Claude but useful in its own way. Part of my brainstorming and editing process.
ChatGPT
Daily Drivers
Everything goes here, client calls, deadlines, content schedules. If it's not on this calendar, it doesn't exist.
With this many tools and client logins, a password manager isn't optional. It's survival.
Passwords, Secrets, and Access Management | 1Password
How I get paid by international clients. Essential for any Nigerian freelancer working with clients abroad.
Global Payment Solutions & Online Payment Services | Payoneer
Design Resources
Free, high quality stock photos that don't look like stock photos. My first stop for any visual content.
Unsplash: Beautiful Free Images & Pictures
Similar to Unsplash but with a slightly different library, I check both when I'm looking for the right image.
The best free stock photos, royalty free images & videos shared by creators.
For visual inspiration before I design anything.
Pinterest
Remote Work Setup
A solid laptop with decent processor and RAM is non-negotiable. Multiple tabs, video calls, and editing apps running at once means you can't afford something that lags.
Laptops Prices in Nigeria (19719 Products) | Jumia
Lagos is loud. Generators, traffic, neighbours, noise-cancelling headphones are the difference between a focused client call and constant apologizing for background noise.
Headphones Prices in Nigeria (600 Products) | Jumia
For content days. Good lighting changes everything, even on a phone camera. This is part of what makes my TikTok content look intentional.
Generic Ring Light And Tripod Stand - Jumia Nigeria
Small thing, but a good ergonomic mouse makes long work days so much easier on your wrist.
addigoes Vertical Mouse, Right Handed 2.4GHz Wireless
The most important investment for anyone working remotely from Nigeria. When NEPA takes light mid-task, this keeps you working without missing a beat.
Anker solix c1000 portable power station amp at Best Prices Online - Jumia Nigeria
Internet redundancy is survival in Lagos. When one network goes down, you switch instead of stopping work entirely.
Computers & It Accessories Prices in Nigeria (47063 Products) | Jumia
Learning
Free education on literally everything. Half of what I know about VA work and content creation, I learned here.
