It is no longer a secret that a large chunk of Nigerians live below a dollar per day, more so, move than 60% of the total population are categorized as poor or middle level earning people. Ridiculously, about 152 million Nigerians live on less than $2 a day, representing about 80 percent of the country’s estimated 190 million population, the African Development Bank has said in its 2018 Nigeria Economic Outlook.
Ironically, more than 2/3 of these individuals are parents of Nigerian students, whose wards are resident in the nation’s ivory towers; Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.
Realistically, majority of Nigerian students, male and female are from poor background and have a difficult time offsetting their bills in school, ranging from tuition fees, to other other academic charges, accommodation, as well as living expenses.
It is a frustrating experience when you are an undergraduate and you have the bills pilling up with exams fast-approaching. It’s even more difficult to command a strong academic performance when you can’t even look forward to the next meal.
To help you scale through the financial huddle of school irrespective of your financial background, I have pin-pointed some small scale businesses you can do as a Nigerian student to help pay your bills. You won’t have to be a school drop-out, or having accommodation issues or be chased away from examination venues for inability to pay your fees or even denied any right and privilege as an undergraduate of your school.
Businesses to do in school to help you pay your bills
1. Pastry making
Food is an basic need of humans and whether you are male or female, this one suits you right. Pastries is a major selling point on campus as it gets patronage from almost all students, being a fast food. Students often skip regular meals due to rigorous academic schedule and in the process rely on pastries such as doughnut, rolls, cakes, pies, and puffs to make up lost energy.
One good thing about pastry business on campus is that it is easy to make and affordable to set up. You can even be a re-seller with so many producers of pastries available these days whom you can purchase from in moderate quantity at decent rate and in no long time, you start raking in your profits.
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2. Braiding/Make-overs
The beauty niche is a money spinner. Ladies always want to look good. This one doesn’t require funds to start, rather your skills. Your ability to make good looking hair or do make-overs will prove priceless when you are in dire need of money to pay your bills in school.
Students need people who can make them up or their hairs at their convenience and at an affordable price, and so they really don’t buy the idea of patronizing big saloons. They are interested in you, a fellow student, who is skilled in the art to come make them up after lectures.
You can start building your client list right from your hostel and the affordable price and accessibility you offer will prove decisive in the long run.
3. Graphics Design
Your ICT skills come in handy when you are broke and require financial assistance in school. Instead of attempting to die in self pity, get your hands to work and be creative.
Students on campus, especially those into campus unionism need election posters, flex banners and handbills in hard and soft copies to enhance their cause. Reach out to them and they can have you do those designs for them. Over time, other students with such interest will ask where they made those designs and in turn, they will refer them to you. Same goes to campus fellowships in need of posters and banners.
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And there are those that need complimentary cards and ID cards as well. Get busy reaching out to them to have you take up such jobs. Remember, you are striving to pay your bills.
You don’t have to be stranded again as your skill give you just the money you need to see support your education.
4. Website design
It is no longer a secret that we are in the digital age and owners of most offline businesses are beginning to seek an online presence for their business to thrive. Your skill as a graphics designer serves them well, hence this is one of the most profitable businesses to do in school without having to slide back on your studies.
Being a student with academic activities to contend with, utilizing your skills in website design at your convenience can aid your schooling with extra finance here and there. You can advertise your skill by word of mouth to students who desire to own and operate blogs and lecturers who want to own websites for publication.
Interestingly, departments and faculties are beginning to have online presence as well and contacting them to have you set up a website for them at affordable price is a decent deal for you. All you need is a laptop and boom! You start meeting your financial obligations in school.
5. Popcorn stand
This will make my number one of the most profitable businesses to do in school as a student, if I were to make a post of that nature. Having a popcorn stand on campus is as lucrative as much as it is affordable to set up.
Get a good location in school where a large chunk of students usually ply in conjunction with the Students’ Union Government at little or no cost to mount your pop corn stand, acquire heat supply such as gas, get a show-glass, buy some cups of corn like that of N500, get vegetable oil, milk and as your business progresses, you can add desired flavours to make it more spicy and toasty.
One good thing about having a popcorn stand in school is that you can easily blend it with your studies as you don’t always have to be at your stand as you have open and close hours, say 3 hours daily for a start. Before you know it, your customers would know your schedule, and you are already paying your bills just fine in school.
6. Mobile Bank
Ever thought of owning a bank? Here you go! You may not own a commercial bank, but you can actually own a bank on campus if you are looking for businesses to do in school to pay your bills.
Students are unable to save money while in school as they often tend to meet wants, wants, and wants with little or no money-management skills. Take a long note and start from your class; reach out to your friends and course mates, and help them save their money. A little dime here and there, if saved, can amount to a huge amount overtime. They could, according to their ability, save money as low as N50, N100 or N200 or even as high as N500 with you daily and withdraw it by the end of the month or on demand, while you obtain 10% on every money saved. Lets say a student saves N100 daily with you, your profit becomes N100 whereas you get N500 from another student saving N500 with you daily.
With your commitment and good inter-personal skills, your client-base grows and imagine having 100 students on your list..your guess is as good as mine. You will not only comfortable foot your bills while you are still in school, you will also have some money in savings.
7. Freelance
Are there services you can offer? Writing, running errands,video editing, picture editing, blog contributor and other services you can offer without long term contract are freelance opportunities you can take advantage of.
Writing for several blogs and magazines on commission basis or at a fee will come at your convenience as you can comfortably terminate your service anytime you fee indisposed to render such services. You won’t have to abandon your academics, yet you will be able to get good money from this if you are consistent and offer quality service. You can as well run errands for departments and institutes at a fee.
I know so many students currently engaged in freelance activities and are able to pay their necessary bills in school with it. Your case should be no exception.
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8. Blogging
Although blogging made this list, it doesn’t yield quick financial return and may not be a good idea if you are in ‘urgent’ need of money to pay your bills in school. However, it is one of the things you can do as a student to pay your bills.
Blogging is a profession and if you have the passion for it, you could start a blog as a student in need of financial support on any area of interest and be patient enough to grow it, and monetize it. It will not only put food on your table and money in your pocket, you will be able to pay your school and accommodation charges after a while.
There are so many students cut across Nigerian tertiary institutions who are making a decent income from blogging. One downside is; it is very demanding and conflict with your academics if you lack effective time-management skills. All you need to start is a laptop or mobile phone with internet access, and commitment.
Bonus:
9. Photocopy
With a photocopier, you won’t have to run out of funds to see yourself though school again. Students photocopy lecture notes and documents regularly. You can start by photocopying lecture notes at home in bulk for your course-mates and have them pay you for it the next day in school. If your studies permit, you can even go further by securing a place around school where you can providing your services from, and start raking in your profits.
There are some other businesses to do in school to pay your bills, howbeit, I have carefully selected the eight above putting a lot of factors such as income, profit rate, durability, academic commitment e.t.c into consideration.
You can start a laundry or passport photography outlet if your academics permits or you can as well do assignments, submit files, opt to stay in long queues, pay bank charges, for other students at a fee. Students are in dire need of these services and if you can be reliable enough to offer them, then inability to foot your bills in school, especially paying your school charges will be behind you.
I have taken care to show you some businesses you can do while in school whether you are studying full-time or per-time. You can also check out this guide on Why you should consider taking a distance learning program
If you desire to ask a question or share your thoughts, please leave a comment below.
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Maxwell is a Dietitian with passion for showing people hope. With nearly a decade experience helping people make key decisions on education and career, you can find him almost everywhere on this site. From answering admission and scholarship questions to creating tutorials and helping others live their best lives though nutrition. Connect with me on Twitter.
Thanks alot.
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The pleasure is mine. I’m delighted you found the post really useful.
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