There’s nothing funny about being a broke student. The endless “bro, abeg” texts, checking your account balance like money will suddenly appear, and doing mental maths to see if your last ₦5k can cover data, transport, food, and a little flex.
But students across Nigeria have also managed to escape this struggle. From managing social media pages to editing videos and even gaming, students like you are making cool cash online.
We spoke to some of them, and here’s what you need to know about how to make money online as a student in Nigeria.
7 Real Ways Nigerian Students Are Making Money Online
Good news: you don’t have to be broke when the internet exists. Here are 7 online income streams every student should know:
1. Social Media Management
Remember when your parents said, “You’re always on that phone”? Jokes on them because some students are getting paid to do exactly that. Social media managers handle Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok pages for businesses, keeping them active, engaging, and growing.
This is how Ameen, a 20-year-old third-year engineering student, is making it work:
“I started doing Canva designs as a side hustle for extra cash in April 2024. I set up a Fiverr gig, and one day, a podcast brand in Manhattan reached out. At first, it was just small, one-off projects, but they kept coming back.
After a few months of back-and-forth projects, we took things off Fiverr and started communicating over email. That’s when they put me on a $200/month retainer to handle their Instagram designs and upload content on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. I have Zoom meetings with my client once a week, where we strategise different ways to expand the brand’s visibility and reach.
It’s not been difficult balancing it with my engineering degree. Once I schedule everything, I barely have to think about the workload.”
How to get started:
- Build an online presence: Grow your audience and treat your social media account like a portfolio.
- Learn the basics: Master content creation, engagement strategies, and analytics. (YouTube, Coursera or HubSpot Academy).
- Get hands-on experience: Manage a friend’s business page, intern for a brand, or offer free services to a small business to build your portfolio.
- Master the Right Tools: Learn Canva (designs), Meta Business Suite (scheduling Instagram and Facebook posts), and Hootsuite or Buffer to manage multiple platforms simultaneously.
- Find Clients: Cold pitch your services to small businesses or professionals on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Upwork.
- Set Your Rates: Don’t undersell yourself. If a brand contacts you, they already see your value, so charge like it. Per Glassdoor, Social media managers in Nigeria earn between ₦73,000 and ₦210,000/month, with an average of ₦100,000. Entry-level gigs start at ₦50,000, while pros make over ₦ 300,000.
2. Video Editing
Everyone — from TikTok influencers to YouTubers — needs a good editor. If you can turn raw footage into a crisp, engaging video, you’re sitting on a skill that pays.
This is how Khaerat, a 19-year-old fourth-year law student, is making it work:
“I started creating video content on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok in my second year in uni, just for fun. But I was building a portfolio without realising it, and it landed me paying gigs.
I got my first gig in May 2024, about a year after I started editing videos for social media. I get paid according to my rate card. Right now, I have four video editing gigs: three pay me ₦50K each, and one pays ₦100K. I also juggle an ₦80K social media management job, all alongside my law degree.
Since I work best at night, I batch-edit my videos and designs to stay on top of everything. It’s also my way of unwinding from the demands of studying law.
I’ve landed all my jobs by simply tweeting about my work or commenting under posts to offer my services. It doesn’t feel overwhelming because I enjoy what I do, and with more experience, I’ve gained the confidence to charge higher and ditch toxic clients.
I use CapCut for editing, Canva for designs and Buffer to create and schedule content. After school, I plan to continue doing this alongside my legal career, especially since I’m going into corporate or business law—not litigation. I know my earning potential will grow when I have more time to take on bigger projects.”
How to get started:
- Learn the basics: Start with free editing apps like CapCut, InShot or DaVinci Resolve before moving to more advanced software like Adobe Premiere Pro.
- Watch tutorials & practice: Find tutorials on YouTube, Coursera, and Skillshare.
- Offer free or discounted work: Edit videos for small content creators or friends for proof of work.
- Create a portfolio: Showcase your best work on platforms like Google Drive, Behance, or a simple Instagram/Twitter thread.
- Engage on social media: Post snippets of your work, engage with content creators and offer your services on these platforms.
- Find paid gigs: Start freelancing on Fiverr and Upwork, and use Twitter and LinkedIn to network.
- Charge your worth: Set competitive rates based on your skill level, but don’t undersell yourself. Increase your prices as you gain more experience.
- Stay updated: Video trends change fast. Keep up with editing styles, effects, and platform-specific content demands.
- Build client relationships: Deliver quality work, communicate clearly, and retain long-term clients by being reliable.
3. E-commerce
Some students aren’t waiting for jobs; they’re creating them. From selling thrift clothes to launching skincare brands, e-commerce is thriving.
This is how Hikmat, a 22-year-old final-year Botany student, is making it work:
“I sell skincare products and get customers through WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. My Whatsapp catalogue makes ordering easy, and most of my customers are students in my hostel, department, and across campus.
I stock up on sheet masks, lip and eye masks, pimple patches, and nose pore strips from a Chinese e-commerce website (1688) through an agent.
My first order cost ₦70k and included 160 sheet masks, 100 lip and eye masks plus shipping fee. Since I started in June 2024, I’ve made three times that amount in profit. In my first week alone, I pulled in ₦25k. I’ve restocked at least twice since then. However, I use sea shipping, which takes 2–3 months. I find that it’s best to order in bulk.
On an average month, I make ₦35k to ₦40k; on a bad month, ₦10k. But on a good month, I make ₦50k. Skincare is huge among students right now, so I knew I was tapping into the right market. My earnings fluctuate because I haven’t been consistent.
I started this business because my ₦20k monthly allowance wasn’t cutting it, and I didn’t want to burden my family.
I recommend starting this business if you have enough capital to buy in bulk. The competition is tough, and many sellers drop their prices just to attract customers. It only works if you’re buying at scale.”
How to get started:
- Do your market research: Understand what sells and who your target audience is.
- Choose a product with demand: Items like thrift clothes, skincare products, accessories, and gadgets are in high demand among students.
- Source Smartly: Buy from local markets or platforms like 1688/Alibaba.
- Choose the right channels: Sell on the right social media platforms (TikTok, Twitter, Instagram). By creating engaging content, you get free marketing.
- Market your business: Build visibility and attract customers.
- Manage your finances: Track earnings, reinvest and scale your business.
4. Graphic Design
Logos, flyers, business cards, social media graphics; if you can design them, someone will pay you.
This is how Korede, a 22-year-old final-year Computer Science student, is making it work:
Korede, 22 (400 level, Computer Science)
“I was in 200 level when I realised I could make money from design. We had a class assignment, and my lecturer singled out my work as one of the best. But since what I study is programming-heavy, that one design class wasn’t enough. I wanted more. So, I started practising and sharing my work on WhatsApp, and before I knew it, someone paid me ₦5K for a logo. That was shocking because I survived on a ₦3k weekly allowance at the time.
I grew curious, obsessed and hungry for knowledge, but I didn’t have a laptop. So, I borrowed from friends and installed Corel Draw on a flash drive. A coursemate taught me the basics in a week, and I spent hours sitting behind students who designed after lecture hours, watching them navigate the software. That’s how I found Photoshop. It was tough at first, but I found a mentor on YouTube.
Now, I don’t even have to post my work. Referrals keep me busy, and I make between ₦500k and ₦700k monthly. I design at least 15 graphics daily—party flyers, social media graphics, stickers, logos, banners, etc. I also work a design internship at a Nigerian EdTech company, earning ₦80K/month. On Fiverr, I do photo manipulation gigs and regular designs, making around $250–$300 monthly. Occasionally, I design branding assets for UK wedding and event brands. I won’t lie — I spend a lot of it on food because I never imagined making this much. But the workload is insane. My grades have dropped, and I have no social life. Sometimes, I skip class to meet deadlines. It’s draining, so I plan to cut down on party flyers and new recommendations and focus on my internship and Fiverr. The money is sweet, but I still need to graduate.
How to get started:
- Learn a design tool: Start with Photoshop or Illustrator.
- Build a portfolio: Offer free designs to small businesses and build a portfolio on Instagram and Behance.
- Show your work: Post consistently on social media.
- List your services: Sign up on Fiverr and Upwork.
- Keep improving: Take online courses and study trends.
5. Ghostwriting
If you have a way with words, ghostwriting can be a lucrative hustle. Clients pay well for high-quality, anonymous content, from fiction to nonfiction and blog posts. You just need to know where to find them.
This is how Catherine, a 21-year-old final-year Human Physiology student, is making it work:
“I ghostwrite fiction for an international web novel company in the U.S., earning $300 per book. If a book performs well on the app, I get a bonus of $50 to $100, which pushes up my monthly earnings. It’s basically a 9-5, except I don’t leave my house.
I also take up side gigs on freelance platforms when I have time.
Before this, I earned ₦60k a month doing outsourced work for Nigerian writers who landed big gigs but paid me peanuts. Over time, I gained confidence and started charging my worth. Now, I source my own international clients on Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn and get paid in dollars directly.
The company I currently write for is similar to Wattpad, and they even have a partner company that adapts books into short telenovela films and repurposes them into bite-sized paid ads for platforms like Snapchat. My Nigerian friend, who currently works as a senior editor at the company, recommended me, and it’s been a great experience since I started working there in July 2023.
I typically write one book a month, but sometimes I push for two. When I write a full-length novel, the word count is 150,000 per book, while novellas are about 100,000 words.
Writing romance may seem easy, but it’s brutal. Some clients make me edit the same document 10 times before they’re satisfied. I put in about 80 hours a week, balancing school and deadlines.
I primarily work between lectures and late at night, but on free days, I wake up, check pending tasks, and grind all day. The workload can be overwhelming — tasks pile up, my head feels full, and sometimes, I just completely shut down. Now that I’m in my final year, juggling my thesis and writing is even harder, so I’m trying to cut back before it burns me out completely.
Will I keep ghostwriting after school? Yes. Will I do it full-time forever? Hell no. If I could start over, I’d charge my worth from day one. I let people underpay and exploit me at first, but never again.”
How to get started:
- Pick a niche: Specialise in a specific area to stand out and attract clients.
- Create a portfolio: Start small. Write Twitter threads, Medium articles, or LinkedIn posts to showcase your writing style.
- Find clients: List your services on Fiverr, Upwork, and LinkedIn platforms.
- Set your rates: Research how much ghostwriters in your niche earn and charge accordingly. Don’t undersell your work.
- Write your own work: Avoid relying on AI to generate content. Clients pay for originality and creativity. If you must use AI, limit it to best practices: research, brainstorming, or light editing.
- Stay consistent: The more you write, the better you get. Deliver high-quality work on time, follow briefs carefully, and build relationships with clients for long-term success.
6. Crypto Jobs
The crypto space is more than buying Bitcoin — it’s a whole economy. Some students trade, some play games to earn, and others take Crypto jobs.
This is how Fehin, a 21-year-old third-year History & International Relations student, is making it work:
“I make between $200 and $500 monthly from crypto jobs, but my highest monthly earnings have been up to $1,000. I got into crypto out of curiosity; I wanted to know how to make money online in Nigeria.
I started by learning the basics, trading, and immersing myself in crypto communities. Now, I manage social media pages, primarily on Twitter and Discord, for big projects and communities and create content to drive engagement. I also take ambassador roles because I’ve grown my crypto Twitter following to 6000 plus.
Most of my gigs come from networking on Twitter. I got my current role because I was active in the community, engaging with projects and applying for ambassador programs. I dedicate 15–20 hours weekly to my crypto jobs, depending on my school workload.
The hardest part is managing time during exams. I schedule tasks in advance and focus on high-priority work. I plan to go into the crypto space full-time after school. If I had to start over, I’d prioritise networking and building a strong personal brand on Crypto Twitter earlier.
My advice? Learn valuable real-life skills: content creation, social media management, research, etc., be active in communities, and don’t be afraid to apply for roles. Networking and consistency are everything.”
How to get started:
- Learn the basics: Use YouTube and online resources to understand the fundamentals of crypto.
- Establish a social identity: Build your presence on Crypto Twitter and grow your reputation by engaging in discussions and sharing insights.
- Penetrate communities: Look for active crypto communities to join on Telegram and Discord.
- Look for job opportunities: Explore Telegram, Discord, Twitter and crypto job listing platforms for opportunities. (CryptoJobsList, SuperteamEarn, etc.)
- Apply and Network Relentlessly: Engage with community members and build connections.
7. Virtual Assistance
If you’re good at handling tasks, replying to emails, or keeping things organised, you can make money as a Virtual Assistant (VA). Entrepreneurs, influencers, and busy professionals need help managing their workload and are willing to pay for it.
This is how Grace, a 21-year-old third-year Engineering Physics student, is making it work:
“I make an average of ₦120K monthly as a Virtual Assistant (VA).
I recently worked with a medical student, helping her source and compile data into readable files for her research. The contract lasted a month and paid well.
I got the job through a friend after consistently sharing my work and learning journey on social media. Building in public — documenting my training, progress, projects, and wins — helped me get noticed.
I started earning four months after completing my VA training on ALX Africa in 2024. My highest monthly earnings so far is ₦150K. Before this, I got ₦20K monthly from home — barely enough for transport, feeding, and study materials.
The job takes about 30 hours a week, which can be intense, but time management helps me balance it with school. I wake up early to complete tasks before class and structure my work hours around my school timetable. I also avoid taking on new projects during exams.
If you want to become a Virtual Assistant, get proper training, master tools like Trello, Calendly, Google Workspace, Notion, and Canva, and find a mentor. Most importantly, put yourself out there—opportunities come when you stay visible and consistent.”
How to Get Started:
- Identify your skills: Stick to what you’re good at, whether it’s email management, data entry, research, customer service, or social media.
- Learn the basics: Master tools like Google Workspace, Trello, Asana, and Notion with free courses on Coursera, ALX Africa, or YouTube.
- Set your rates: VAs in Nigeria earn ₦80K₦468K/month (Glassdoor). Start low, gain experience, and charge what you’re worth.
- Find your first client: If needed, skip Fiverr and Upwork, network on Twitter and LinkedIn, and ask around. Referrals work magic.
- Create a simple portfolio: Show what you can do with sample emails, calendar schedules, or task management templates.
- Sign a Contract First: Protect yourself with a contract covering payment terms, tasks, availability, and confidentiality. No contract? Big red flag.
Bottom Line
Making money online as a student in Nigeria isn’t rocket science. Pick one skill, start learning today, stay consistent and put yourself out there. Nobody will hand you money for free, but if you put in the work, urgent ₦2k will never be your portion again.
