The number one priority of any student should be getting the best grades possible. But sometimes, you may need to support yourself a bit in the financial area. Nigeria has an unemployment rate of 23%. That is almost a quarter of us. And this figure represents degree holders from B.Sc and upwards. Because of this, we often have the mindset as Nigerian students that we can’t find jobs because even graduates don’t have jobs. I beg to differ. There are so many things that you can do while in school that could even fatten up your CV and give you tons of experience and exposure. Of course, not forgetting cool, extra cash. Because you really can’t use exposure to buy a cup of rice in the market.
Unlike our western counterparts who can work hourly and at various places ranging from coffee shops to law firms, it may not be as easy to find flexible jobs like that. But that’s not the case if you’re actively looking. Here are a few ways you can make money as a student in Nigeria.
Social Media Management
You knew this one was coming, didn’t you? The world really and truly has become digital in 2019. Everyone is online. Especially on social media. You can make a pretty sun of money managing social media accounts. It’ll take a little manoeuvring around the social media-sphere, but you know you can learn anything on the internet. You can learn how to post for brands, how to grow their KPI, how to increase sales and monitor analytics. Everything you need as a student in Nigeria is at the top of your fingers. There are tons of resources that teach you how to manage social media accounts on free platforms such as YouTube and paid ones such as Skillshare.
You can make anywhere from 20k to 100k without having to step foot in an office. Isn’t that the dream?!
Graphic Design
If there’s a role for a job more in demand than social media managers, then it is graphic designers. Many brands require people to help them to prepare anything from Instagram content to logos. This is a great skill and if you have solid graphic design knowledge, you can always improve in it and make money off it.
And then why stop there, it is a whole new accessible world of skills including web design, coding, UI/UX development etcetera.
Organize tutorials
Hey brainy bunch, this one is for you. Why not organise tutorials for the lower classes in your department and get them to pay a small fee. You should be really good at it so that they get value for their money. Ensure that you take them through every aspect and help them with resources that’ll ensure that they do well in school too.
You can also tutor secondary school or primary school students who need a hand. Make sure you have a scheme to work with so that you do a thorough job.
Use your talents
Put that God-given talent or interest to work. A friend of mine started hosting shows in school for a token just to put himself through. Now, he’s an amazing host and comedian who gets jobs ranging from weddings to award shows.
Another friend went from making share wraps in her dorm rooms to owning one of the most popular stores on the mainland.
There’s so much more you can do if you take time to do your research and learn new skills. And by the time you’re graduating, you have a degree and tons of work experience.