13 side hustle ideas for students in Nigeria (2023)

Seeking for more than one income stream is no longer a new trend. With the ever increasing cost of living, it is important for everyone who has the time and capabilities to look out for alternative sources of income.

This article contains 15 side hustle ideas that you can consider if you are seeking for alternative sources of income.

1. Blogging

If you are the type that likes to create content or write, this will be perfect for you. With the right viewers, you can earn. You can pick any niche and create content on it. Stay consistent and grow your blog. You will need to search for what people want to see, make research on your audience and create content that matters to them. Blogging gives you the opportunity to work remotely without having to go out and look for audiences. Note that blogging might not generate income for you instantly, but it can open doors to multiple income sources if you are consistent with it.

2. Selling Okirika (second-hand clothes)

Most people won’t like to get into this type of trade, but it’s very profitable. A lot of people hardly go into boutiques because they believe anything that’s being sold there is expensive. Especially in school where students are trying to budget their money well, and that’s the perfect place to start an Okirika business. Buy in bulk and sell. You can buy lots of Okrika at places like Onitsha, Lagos, Kano e.t.c. in Nigeria, and sell in your area.

3. Tutoring

If you are the type that’s called a guru in school, especially if you are good in a particular subject then this can be the best way to start up a tutoring business and teach those that need your services. In school there are a lot of students that either don’t understand a particular subject or have a busy schedule, so you can reach out to them and ask them to also refer you to others. You can also teach secondary or primary school students who need part of the knowledge you have.

Here is how to become an online tutor

4. Laundry business.

You might think a lot of people don’t patronize this idea but have you tried? You would be surprised to see the number of people or students that need help with their laundry. After a busy week, washing clothes when there’s a pile of assignments to do is traumatic for a lot of people. You can start washing manually and then buy a washing machine later on to assist your business. Your target customer can be anyone, not necessarily students. Laundry service is something you can offer at home too.

5. Graphic design.

This is a skill you can learn with your smartphone or laptop. It’s most trending now because of its flexibility, you can start by using Canva or take a course and then go into it professionally. Graphic designers create designs for brands or other businesses looking to market their products with flyers, logos, or business cards. It’s easy to combine school and work when you go into graphic design.

Try to signing up for  a course in an online platform 

6. Catering services.

As the saying goes, the road to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Are you the chef of the house? Do you have available resources to cook and sell? You can take catering master classes or start with the basic cooking skills you have. There are a lot of videos on YouTube about catering, you start watching them. You can start from there and learn the basics of catering. Buy a few types of equipment and start cooking.

7. Affiliate marketing.

This is also one of the most trending businesses in Nigeria. An affiliate marketer sells other people’s products. All you have to do is link the sellers to the buyers or sell the product on the behalf of the seller and get paid a commission for each product you sell. Find an affiliate program you can register to, get a link, advertise it and help the company drive sales. You make money when they make money.

Click here to learn more about affiliate marketing.

8. Delivery services

One major advantage of delivery services is that it’s easy to start. There are big companies that need delivery services, and you can also start from your current location. A lot of busy small businesses can also hire you to handle their deliveries. If you have a vehicle or can drive and people trust you with their goods then you can start delivering goods for them.

KEEP READING…

you can also learn new skills, here are Nigeria’s top 10 digital skills in demand

9. Drive for Uber/Bolt.

Locations that mostly use Uber/Bolt are Abuja and Lagos. If you good with driving and know a particular location very well or can use GPS, you should consider driving for Uber/Bolt. People drive for these companies for a lot of reasons, some are to make money or explore a particular place. You may choose however you want to work either full-time, part-time or only on weekends. This kind of flexibility can be very convenient for both students and those that are looking for alternative income sources.

10. Photography + Video/photo editing

You don’t need to have a digital camera to start photography nor do you need a laptop to start editing your pictures. There are a lot of mobile phone photographers out there. If you are interested in taking/editing pictures and videos, you can learn the basics from YouTube or take an online class.

11. Event Planning.

You must have heard this before “Saturdays are for Owambe (parties)”. In Nigeria, weekends are for parties and weddings, you can walk around on a Saturday and count more than 5 weddings going on in your area. Fortunately, parties and weddings need an event planner to prepare and ensure everything goes well in exchange for money. It takes a little capital to start, if you have experience with this or if you are a good event planner, you can start working without a shop. Just start an Instagram page, brand yourself and market your offers.

12. Start a YouTube channel.

Similar to blogging, Youtube is another long-term passive income generator. To start a YouTube channel is quite easy. First, understand what you want to do on the platform and the kind of contents you want to create and share. Learn about content creation and be consistent with your channel. Learn more about your audience as you grow and create contents that are relevant/beneficial to them. With consistency, Youtube can generate solid income for you overtime.

13. Transcription services.

With a good listening ear and the ability to type fast, you can start offering transcription service. It’s all about converting audio to text. It requires low capital, a smartphone or laptop and a good internet connection. Transcription has a flexible schedule and can be done remotely which is an advantage for students.

Feeling like you can’t do it? click to know why you need a growth mindset as a student.

Conclusion.

The above are just a few. There are a lot more ideas you can explore. It might be difficult to start in the beginning but when you start consistently you can earn. Becoming successful in anything solely depends on how determined you are. Choose an idea you find most welcoming. Go for something you are certain you can do and can offer you more profit than loss.