Tuition increases, ASUU strikes, and a restricted budget are the reality for most Nigerian students in 2025 with the high rate of poverty in the country. But what are the similarities between all of these problems? Money can help them and we have carefully researched and tested them on how to make money online in Nigeria as a student.
As a student, particularly a full-time student, your time is divided among lectures, personal study, and extracurricular activities. Adding a business can hurt your studies. I understand this. That is why many students opt to earn money online.
But what if I told you that there are businesses you may successfully integrate with your academic life? What if you could make decent money as a student?
In this article, I will discuss how to make money online in Nigeria as a student with many businesses available on the internet, and also the apps to make money online which makes it easier to begin.
These businesses are tested and have made many millions of Nairas and hard currencies, but they are not get-rich-quick schemes. These suggestions might be useful if you are willing to carefully create a solid business while a student.
Also, if you are looking for 15 Proven Ways on How to Make Money Online in Nigeria, read this article so explore more make money tips on our blog.
How to make money online in Nigeria as a student 2025
Here are the 10 ways to make money online in Nigeria as a student in 2025:
1. Photocopy & Printing Business
Photocopying/printing is the most common business that most people (students and non-students) perform on campus today due to its high demand at various Nigerian colleges.
It is also incredibly simple to start and allows you to set your working hours. A photocopy and printing business can be launched with very little money, some equipment (printer and laptop), and a small/mini power generation set.
If you wish to start a business while still in school, you do not need to open a shop. You can squat in any place with a lot of traffic on campus and perform your work without any problems.
You can also hire someone to do it for you (assuming you have a laptop and a printer), and you can split the profits based on the arrangement you made when you started the partnership.
2. Data Reselling or Recharge Card Business
Data reselling is the practice of purchasing data from telecom providers (typically in bulk) and then selling it to your customers (mainly students) piece by piece at a lower cost than the normal data plans given by these telecom firms.
On the other hand, the recharge card business, as you are aware, entails selling recharge vouchers to individuals who need to recharge their phones with a specific amount of money.
3. Freelancing
Freelancing is one of the finest ways for Nigerian students to gain money online. It entails assisting someone (typically referred to as a client) in completing a specific work (or jobs) within an agreed-upon time range, after which you are compensated by them.
Unlike the other physical jobs described above, freelancing has no minimum age limit, making it a viable option for secondary school students and university aspirants alike.
Before you consider freelancing, you need first develop a valuable talent that is in high demand. Some good abilities that you can generate money from by giving freelance services to consumers are coding, WordPress development, logo design, graphic design, article writing, translation, virtual assistant, and lots more.
Most Nigerian freelancers choose international freelancing websites such as Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer because they pay in dollars and allow them to increase their earnings by exchanging this cash on the black market.
You can also look up several freelancing websites in Nigeria on Google, as they would pay you in Naira and save you the hassle of changing from other international currencies.
4. Blogging
Blogging is one of the top online careers for Nigerian undergraduate students. If you can generate outstanding material and run a weblog successfully, you should be able to earn some money as your blog grows.
To become a successful blogger in Nigeria, you must focus on a specific topic (commonly referred to as a Niche) and provide high-quality content for your followers.
Some prominent categories that can generate money in Nigeria include health, technology news, viral gist and recommendations, fashion, sports, cookery, general knowledge, and so on.
You can monetize your blog by applying to programs such as Google Adsense, Propeller Ads, and Media.net, or you can earn money through affiliate marketing or selling physical things on your blog.
5. Programming
If you enjoy technology or are studying computer science (or other similar topics), you might think about this. Programming is the process of creating and designing a computer program with the sole goal of addressing a specific problem.
You can specialize in a variety of areas of programming. These categories contain web design and development, Android/iOS development, embedded system programming, game development, and so on.
As a computer programmer in university, you can earn money in a variety of ways because this expertise is quite rare among Nigerian students.
As a programmer at the university, you can make money in the following ways:
- Freelancing
- Create a mobile app or website and profit from advertising.
- completing coursework and final-year projects for computer science students.
- Tutorials (Online and Offline)
- Physical jobs for clients, etc.
Finally, if you’re a tech enthusiast who wants to learn more about computers, programming is one of the finest methods to earn money as a Nigerian student.
6. Setting Up Paid Tutorials for Students
Not all university students excel academically, thus tutoring is one of the finest ways to generate money as a Nigerian student on campus.
To begin this business, you will need a suitable location (a teaching hall) and students (often first-year students) who may not be highly academically gifted.
You can also provide freebies such as textbooks and other resources to encourage more students to attend the tutorials. You can bill your pupils for your tutoring services on a daily or monthly basis as a “tutorial master”.
7. Hairdressing/Hair Cut
This form of company is extremely popular among students with the necessary skills. Barbering/hairdressing is a highly profitable business for both male and female students.
Hairdressing is quite popular among female university students. If you are skilled and know how to do various hairstyles for students in school, you will be able to earn some money because practically every female student at university does her hair at regular intervals.
This hairdressing company can be merged with other trades such as makeup, knitting, bead/bangle production, Okirika (worn clothing and underwear) sales, and so on.
Barbering, on the other hand, requires a permanent location (shop) and is not as portable as a female hairdressing service. It is also profitable and does not require much capital/money to begin; you can simply start from your room if you live off-campus.
8. Photography
Nigerian students enjoy printing images of themselves as they explore the university by attending events and other shows, which highlights the necessity for professional photographers at these institutions.
Although many people believe photography is dead, I can assure you that it isn’t. As a photographer, you can earn money by taking passport photos for students, photographing popular campus events, selling your photos online, and a variety of other activities.
To start a photographic business at the university, the following are the essential requirements:
- A camera or a high-end smartphone with a good camera.
- Computer or laptop to edit your photos
- Photo-editing skills
- Photo printer
- A little location to stay so you’ll stand out on campus.
9. Sell Past Questions & Other Useful Booklets
This business is also quite popular. To earn money here, simply produce and publish a booklet (typically tutorial booklets/handouts) and distribute it to various handout dealers in your school to sell for you.
You can also collect additional old questions in a variety of areas and sell them to students via these vendors.
The Past Questions/Handout business is for students who have mastered a specific subject and have the requisite skills to publish a handout so that other students can learn from it when they purchase.
10. Paid Online Surveys
This is one of the most effective ways to make money online without paying anything. Paid online surveys are methods by which various internet companies obtain extensive feedback from customers about their new products/features, usually in exchange for payment for time invested.
Surveys are a pretty simple company (kind of) that Nigerian students may start and earn a small bit of money in a few minutes.
The majority of these websites are worldwide and accept payments in dollars, although we do have several in Nigeria.
Apps to make money online in Nigeria as a student
Here are the top apps to make money online in Nigeria as a student:
-
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a great way for Nigerian students to earn some additional money online. You earn “Swagbucks,” or points, by taking surveys, viewing movies, or purchasing. These points can then be redeemed for real money or gift cards. It’s a convenient method to earn some money during your study breaks.
However, keep in mind that the earnings may not make you wealthy, and they will not replace normal work. Swagbucks is more of a side hustle to help pay for your coffee or textbooks. Simply be alert, avoid fraud, and use the official Swagbucks website or app.
-
NairaMetrics
NairaMetrics is a cool way for Nigerian student hustlers to make money while staying in the loop. Here’s the deal: you read news stories and earn points that can be redeemed for cash or airtime. Plus, they have a referral scheme, so you may increase your profits by encouraging friends to join the party.
It’s a great way to generate some additional money while remaining informed. Just keep things real: you won’t be rolling in wealth, but it’s a nice way to put some green in your wallet as a student. Stay informed, hustle, and bring your friends along for the ride!
-
Gigbucks
Gigbucks is a gig marketplace for Nigerian student hustlers. You may display your skills, bid on assignments, and earn money. It’s similar to Fiverr in that it provides opportunities for freelancers to shine.
As a student, it’s a great way to make money, hone your talents, and establish a strong portfolio. Just remember that it’s a busy environment, and you’ll need to work on your profile to stand out.
The competition is stiff, but with determination and a little elbow grease, you can convert Gigbucks into a cash machine as you continue to study. So post your gigs, impress clients, and watch your revenue increase!
-
iWriter
iWriter is an excellent choice for Nigerian student writers. It is a platform where you may demonstrate your writing abilities. You sign up, take on numerous writing assignments for clients all over the world, and get paid.
Payments vary depending on the length and difficulty of the article, but it is a flexible option to supplement your income while studying.
Expect some competition and lower-than-average first earnings. To succeed on iWriter, focus on improving your writing skills, constantly delivering high-quality work, and developing a positive reputation with clients; this is how you will climb the pay ladder on this platform.
-
Upwork
Upwork is an excellent choice for Nigerian students seeking to earn money online. It functions as a hub where you may demonstrate your skills and talents, whether you enjoy writing, coding, design, or something else.
You create a profile, bid on job postings, and begin working on freelance projects. The wonderful thing is that Upwork links you with clients from all around the world, allowing you to earn in foreign currencies.
It’s an excellent opportunity to gain experience, build your professional network, and earn money while studying. Just bear in mind that there is fierce competition, so make your profile sparkle to stand out and land those gigs!
Conclusion
As a student, you may easily combine your education and earn money online. However, in most circumstances, you must prepare to work hard to attain this. So do not expect it to be simple. Instead, strive to increase your chances of success by selecting a profitable online business, focusing on your abilities, producing high-quality work, and refusing to give up. I wish you well.