Living as a student in Nigeria can be quite fun, but sometimes frustrating, especially if you are caught in the web of being broke.
You probably are wondering if it’s possible to learn and earn, especially as a student with lots of free time but no money to fund the kind of lifestyle you want.
Well, I’m here to tell you that you can make money as a student even while learning.
With the vast business opportunities available online, you can start putting your time and skill to good use and start earning some money.
In this post, we’ll discuss a few ways you can start hustling online in your free time on campus and how much you can potentially earn on a monthly basis.
Let’s get right into it.
Freelance Services
As a student in Nigeria, you can provide freelance services to businesses online and get paid.
Some services you can offer online include writing, graphics design, programming, virtual assistance and support services, video editing, etc.
If you have any of these skills, then you can join freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to start applying for freelance jobs and start earning.
The good thing about freelancing as a student is that you can work at your own pace, either during your free time or at weekends.
As a freelancer, you could make at least 50k Naira per month in Nigeria.
Website Flipping
Website flipping is the business of creating websites and social media pages, and selling them for profit.
This is a cool way to make money online without working full-time or investing any money.
As a student, you can create simple content websites or social media pages, and grow them using your social circle or school network.
Once the website or social media page has a respectable following and viewership, you can then sell it for profit.
I’ve sold a lot of websites and social media pages, and I believe it’s one of the easiest ways to make money online.
As a web flipper, you could be making at least 300k Naira per year.
Paid Online Class
I’ve always maintained that if you can find a way to teach what you already know, you’ll never lack money in Nigeria.
As a student, you probably have a skill, talent, or subject that you are very good at and equally passionate about.
So, why not start a paid online class to start helping other people learn what you already know and get paid for it?
You could start a paid online class via WhatsApp, zoom, and even X, depending on which platform your target audience are.
As an online tutor, you could be making 50k per month.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest passive income hustles you can start as a student in Nigeria.
You could build an affiliate marketing system that will be making you a consistent monthly income with minimal input after the initial setup, which is perfect for a student lifestyle.
You could start affiliate marketing with brands in Fintech such as Branch and Fairmoney, brands in eCommerce such as Jumia and AliExpress, or Affiliate marketing syndicates like Expertnaire or Digitstem.
The average successful affiliate marketer makes at least 100k monthly.
Social Media Management
If you’re active on social media and skilled with online chat, you can become a social media manager and get paid for your time.
Social media management is a type of virtual assistance that is focused on customer support and management, so if you have experience with virtual assistant, you can pivot your services into social media management.
More so, if you already create content on social media and have a good following, then that is an opportunity to pitch your social media management service. Who knows, someone in the audience might be interested or refer you.
The average social media manager in Nigeria earns 100k Naira per month.
Content Creation
Content creation is now a veritable way for anyone, even students to earn income online.
Most social media platforms today like Facebook, Tiktok, and Twitter(X) now share revenue with users. So, it’s now possible to share ideas and lifestyle content on your social media and get paid for it.
So, if you enjoy writing or making lifestyle videos, this could be your chance to share interesting contents online and start making money.
The average content creator in Nigeria makes 200k Naira per month.
Sell Digital Products
In my opinion, the greatest advantage the internet gives is the opportunity to sell to people without boundaries.
You could sell digital products like ebooks, software, videos, and even music to people you’ve never even met before.
With platforms like Selar, Flutterwave, and Paystack, you could start selling online in no time.
So, the question is, what digital product can you create and sell online? Can you create ebooks on high-demand topics? Can you create good sounds, instrumentals or music? Can you design fascinating art that people are willing to pay for? If yes, then you can start making money online as a student selling digital products.
The average digital marketer in Nigeria makes as much as 200k Naira per month.
Dropshipping
If you like to sell online but are not skilled in creating digital products or do not have your own products, then you can consider starting dropshipping.
Dropshipping is all about playing the middleman between buyers online and sellers offline.
You could create a niche sales page on a website or on social media, and get a supplier offline where you get products for sale.
How it works is that you get customers to pay upfront for products with a price markup, then you pay your supplier to deliver the products to the customers.
This could be a perfect side hustle for students who are passionate about e-commerce and want to test the waters without investing any money.
You could start drop shipping with little or no capital and start making an enviable income online if you really find a good niche and put the right amount of effort.
The average dropshipper in Nigeria makes over 200k Naira per month.
FAQs on Making Money Online as a Student in Nigeria
What do I need to start making money online as a student?
All you have to do is find the right opportunity that matches your skills, time, and resources.
You could start any of these businesses with just your phone and a social media account and then grow from there.
A case in point, I started my first blog as a student with just my mobile phone and grew it up to a point where someone was interested in paying me to acquire the blog.
What skills do I need to start earning online?
You need a few basic skills to get started, such as writing, social media management, digital communication, and using free tools such as Canva and Google docs.
As a student, you probably already have these skills or should be able to learn any of them in a short while.
Can I do this alongside school work?
Most of these activities can be done part-time alongside your school work. You only have to create a schedule for your online activities and stick to it.
You could work online on weekends or during evenings after your school activities, and still be able to deliver your business efficiently.
How do I receive payment online?
You can get paid in Naira or dollars, depending on the online business you engage in.
Your Naira earnings can be received into your Naira account while your dollar earnings can be received via a domiciliary account.
