If you’ve seen the latest naira-to-dollar exchange rate, you wouldn’t need a soothsayer to tell you to find ways to earn dollars in Nigeria. These days, the Nigerian dream isn’t just to japa. It has morphed into earning in freshly minted US dollars while in the motherland.
We might have a few suggestions to get you started on your journey to the Nigerian dream.
Export of agricultural produce
As of Q1 2023, Nigeria generated over ₦279 billion in the export of agricultural commodities. Exporting raw agricultural products can be a good way to double your income and earn in dollars. But it’s important to do deep market research for potential buyers, or collaborate with local farmers, before you commence. Some agricultural products you can export:
- Cocoa beans: High demand in Malaysia, Indonesia, Belgium, Germany and Italy
- Sesame seeds: High demand in China, Japan, Turkey and South Korea
- Cocoa butter: High demand in France, Canada, Turkey and Poland
- Soya beans: High demand in Canada, Turkey, Nepal and Pakistan
To kick off your journey as an exporter, you have to register with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
- Minimum entry requirement(s): Registration on NEPC
- Risks/potential obstacles: Fluctuating exchange rate, stiff competition, losing perishable goods
- Average required hours per week: Flexible
Organise online cooking classes
The more Nigerians seek greener pastures across different parts of the world, the more people are interested in our culture, particularly our food. If you have your culinary skills on lock, here are some great ways to earn dollars in Nigeria:
- Organise online cooking classes to teach people how to make homemade meals from scratch.
- Hold advanced level classes at extra charge, for people looking to go commercial in their countries of residence.
- Package and sell recipe videos for different meals. For example, a tutorial focused on buka stew
- Minimum entry requirement(s): Expert culinary knowledge
- Risks/potential obstacles: Bad internet, stolen recipes
- Average required hours per week: Flexible
Freelancing or remote work
Image source: Legit.ng
Your laptop, mobile phone and stable internet might be all you need to turn your financial life around.
As a freelancer, you get to choose who to work for, how to work and how much to charge for your services. In essence, you call the shots because you’re not bound to one employer. However, all these are only possible if you’re exceptionally good at a digital skill like writing, graphics design, social media marketing, video editing, coding or web development.
Once you’ve mapped out your unique selling point, move on to phase two by registering and creating a profile on freelancing platforms. Consider starting with popular platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour and Freelancer. However, there are opportunities on platforms like LinkedIn and X too.
Next, write proposals, apply for jobs and get to work.
While you’re your own boss, it’s important to do your best work to build your credibility score through satisfied clients.
- Minimum entry requirement(s): Expertise in any field
- Risks/potential obstacles: Bad internet, dishonest clients
- Average required hours per week: Flexible
- Platforms: Upwork, Fiverr, LinkedIn
Content creation
So you spend many hours scrolling through Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for hilarious content or quick tutorials that make life a little easier. What if we told you some of the people behind this content are smiling to the bank? And in dollars too…
Content creation might be the new national cake, and you can get a piece of it too, as long as you’re ready to put in the hard work and consistency required.
Establish yourself as a content creator by putting out content that appeals to people with similar interests. Some content creators focus on money, food, travel, etc. Once you’ve gained traction and following, you can reach out to global brands and businesses trying to reach Nigeria, or those that already have a presence here.
As a content creator, you can earn dollars in Nigeria by:
- Producing organic content such as videos, pictures and blog posts for brands
- Partnering with brands to advertise their services
- Organising online content creation classes
But that’s not all. You can also:
- Start a YouTube channel and monetise it
- Monetise your content on platforms like Instagram, X and TikTok by offering subscriptions for exclusive content
- Minimum entry requirement(s): Knowledge of photography, video and editing apps like Inshot, Canva, Capcut, etc.
- Risks/Potential obstacles: Time-consuming, competitive market
- Average required hours per week: Flexible
E-commerce
If you’re already in the business of buying and selling goods, delving into e-commerce might just be the final push you need to earn dollars in Nigeria. E-commerce is an online business that makes your products accessible to customers on a global scale.
You create an online store where people can seamlessly pay for your products in dollars and have it delivered to them.
Do you sell custom-made jewellery, footwear, fashion accessories, bags, shoes? This might be your opportunity to double your income. What are some quick steps involved:
- Choose a platform: There are many options, but Shopify and WooCommerce are two popular platforms for beignners. They both have extensive features and are easy to use.
- Set up your store: Create an account on your platform of choice and add your products. Most platforms have guides to put you through the process.
- Choose a domain name: Go for a name that’s relevant to your business and easy to remember.
- Set up your payment processor: Stripe is one of the most popular. They both have extensive integrations with a variety of platforms and are easy to use.
- Marketing: Now that you’re all set up, you’ll need to create marketing materials for your online store, such as a logo, website banner and product images. It’s also important to promote your products to potential buyers.
- Minimum entry requirement(s): Product to sell, starting capital
- Risks/potential obstacles: Competitive market, slow sales, delivery logistics
- Average required hours per week: Flexible
Invest in stocks
This is another good way to earn some dollars on the side as a Nigerian living in Nigeria. However, you need deep financial education to navigate the murky waters of stock investment.
Platforms like Rise, Bamboo and Piggyvest have made it a little easier to trade stocks in Nigeria. On these platforms, you can access a wide range of foreign stock options and choose where to put your money. You’ll need some self-discipline and patience to watch your money grow.
- Minimum entry requirement(s): Deep financial knowledge, starting capital and high-risk appetite
- Risks/potential obstacles: Market volatility, emotional decision-making, unforeseen events affecting stock prices
- Average required hours per week: Flexible
