How to Make Money Online in Nigeria as A Student for Free 2024

As a student, making free money online in Nigeria is pretty simple as ABC.

You can earn much money online with your phone or laptop device.

Many years ago, I asked myself this question after attending medical school.

Blessing, what exactly are you doing with your laptop device?

I felt useless because I had got a laptop for over three years without making a dime online.

Of course, becoming a Yahoo boy was not an option for me. As a student, making money online is not a legit way.

The self-examination prompted me to research ways to make money online.

To my disappointment, many of the tutorials online were not practical. The recommendation sounded foreign, with little or no feasibility here in Nigeria.

Today, I have decided to put together practical ways to make legit money online in this post. 

Please tell me if you need more information on how to make money online.

The bitter truth is that your certificate alone cannot give you a good life.

Education now looks like a scam with the economic situation of the country. There is no available job in the oversaturated labour market.

I would not tell you to drop out of school to pursue a business online. No, do not do that to yourself. You have come too far to drop out.

See, let me tell you the fact.

The best thing about making money online is that you can combine it with your academics.

It is why earning online is a passive income. So, do not think about dropping out of school.

Let me know in the comment box below if you have any questions. I would love to hear from you.

Follow the resources in this post to start creating wealth as a student.

How to Make Money Online in Nigeria as A Student

Here are the ways how to make money in Nigeria as a student for free;

1. Graphic Design
2. Online Registration & Printing
3. Blogging
4. Become a YouTuber
5. Photo Editing
6. Programming/Coding
7. Web Design
8. Microsoft Excel Knowledge
9. APP Development
10. Copywriting
11. Facebook ADS
12. Content Creation
13. Affiliate Marketing
14. Become an Importer
15. SEO/Google Analytics
16. Cryptocurrency
17. Sell an eBook
18. Video Editing

Graphic Design

Graphic designing is one of Nigeria’s most lucrative ways to make money as a student.

The skill is a hot cake on campuses across Nigeria’s higher institutions.

I know you may be wondering right now, what is graphic design? Well, I will tell you what graphic design is.

Graphic designing is the process of displaying information through pictorial illustrations. 

Examples of graphic design work are creating banners, logos, posters, etc.

The purpose of graphic design is to communicate information in a graphical format.

A person who does graphic designing is a graphic designer.

All the posters you see in school during the SUG elections are the handwork of a graphic designer.

You are also aware that every week Christian fellowships on campus organise programs. It is graphic designers that create the banners for the programs.

Now, you can see that there is always a need for the service of a graphic designer on campus.

You can offer your skill online besides getting a job on campus.

Many startups are looking for graphic designers on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Learning Graphic Designing

Here is how you can learn and make money with graphic design as a student in Nigeria.

The first step to learning graphic design is to get graphic design software.

Learning graphic designing with your phone comes with certain limitations. It is better to get a personal computer for the skill.

You do not need to attend a design school to learn graphic design. It is possible to get the skill by enrolling in a graphic design beginners course online.

The best place you can learn graphic design is on YouTube. It is interactive and free of charge.

Also, grab the opportunity if you find someone willing to teach you in school for free or at an affordable fee.

Graphic Design Software

Here is the list of software that you can use to learn graphic design as a student in Nigeria;

• Adobe Photoshop
• CorelDraw Graphics Suite
• Adobe Illustrator
• Inkscape
• Sketch
• Affinity Designer
• Adobe InDesign
• Gravit Designer
• Photoscape

Online Registration & Printing

Doing online registration in your hostel is a high money-making business for students.

Many of the applications and registration in school today are online.

These online registrations are easy as ABC. But most students do not have a laptop or printer to do the registration themselves.

You can get the necessary devices to run online registration in your hostel as a student.

You will get customers because it will be convenient for students in the hostel to do business with you.

I remember the night in my first year when I had to print my term paper at night. It was a student in the hostel that did the job for me.

So, you can make cool cash by printing and online registration.

It is necessary to let students know in your hostel that you do online registration and printing.

Also, your price must be more economical than what is attainable outside the hostel. 

Materials for Online Registration

It would be best if you had the following devices for online registration;

• A Laptop
• Fast Internet Connection
• Printer
• A4 Paper

Blogging

Blogging is the best and easier way to make money online as a student in Nigeria. Everywhere you go on campus, you will see a blogger.

A blogger is a person that creates content for readers online. For example, Studentship is a blog for Nigerian students.

Blogging is all about writing for people on a topic that you know.

For example, you can write about dating relationships. Millions of people out there need a fix on their relationships.

Guys on campus would like to read a step-by-step guide on how to woo their beautiful coursemates.

Blogging is all about solving problems with a well-structured article.

I know the question on your mind right now is how you can start to make money as a student blogger.

Well, making money as a blogger requires a lot of hard work.

Like every other medium to make money online, blogging is not a get-rich-quick medium. It will take you learning and consistency to become a successful blogger.

As a recap, only go into blogging when you identify a topic you know.

Do not deceive yourself with the mindset that you can write on multiple topics. You will not achieve success as a blogger.

Blogging Niche for Students

The following are the top blogging niches for students in Nigeria;

• Education & Jobs
• Relationship
• Finance
• Religion
• Technology
• Cryptocurrency
• Lifestyle
• Food
• Fashion
• Health and Fitness
• Travel
• Digital and Internet Marketing
• Sports
• Pets and Animals
• Books & Literature
• News
• Autos & Vehicles
• Real Estates
• Digital Marketing
• Gaming
• Music and Video

Choose one out of the list to get started. You can expand to other niches after you have achieved success.

Here is the list of ways to make money as a Nigerian student blogger;

• Google AdSense
• Sponsored Post
• Direct Advertising
• Affiliate Marketing
• Sell Product Online

Google AdSense

Google AdSense is an advertising agency company. The online platform allows businesses all over the world to advertise their products.

You must have seen an advert on websites that you visit daily. Well, many of those are Google AdSense.

How it works is that Google places those ad banners on your blog. You get paid by the number of visitors that click or view those ads.

Getting Google AdSense approval can be difficult. The secret to getting your blog approved is to write original content.

Never make the error of copying content from other websites. 

Also, your blog must follow the Google AdSense policy.

Other similar AdSense platforms are Ezoic, Media.net, AdCash, Infolinks, PropellerAds, etc.

Sponsored Post

A sponsored post is publishing articles of other bloggers articles on your blog.

It could be to promote their blog or get backlinks.

People will pay you to add their posts to your blog when they discover you have authority in your niche.

Direct Advertising

Direct advertising is promoting a product on your blog to your readers.

For example, a company like MTN can contact you to buy advertisement space on your blog.

It means you will place their banner on a section of your blog.

Of course, they will pay you well for the advertisement space.

Like the sponsored post, you must have a successful blog to get an endorsement deal in Nigeria.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is promoting products on your blog to get a commission fee.

How does affiliate marketing work?

Affiliate marketing recommends a product to your audience to buy in an online store. You will get paid for each successful transaction from your readers.

You must have high traffic to earn money through affiliate marketing.

Sell Product Online

Selling your products online is a way to make money through blogging as a student.

For example, you can sell a makeup kit if you run a lifestyle blog.

Selling products that align with what you write about on your blog is necessary.

Requirements for Blogging

The following are the requirements to start a blog in Nigeria;

• Web Hosting
• Domain Name
• A Laptop or Smartphone
• Contents

Web Hosting

The internet is like the Onitsha market in Anambra State. Businessmen and women rent shops to sell your goods and services.

Web hosting is like renting a shop on the internet. They will help you to keep your content online. Visitors with an internet connection can access your blog.

There are free and paid web hosting services.

For example, Google Blogger and WordPress.com offer free web hosting to bloggers.

But these free web hosts come with a lot of limitations for bloggers.

As a student who is serious about blogging, do not use free web hosting services. To get money in Nigeria, you must invest.

The best road to follow is to buy a hosting plan from a web host company.

A one-year hosting plan on Harmonweb is about four thousand naira only. It is the cheapest hosting plan in Nigeria.

Create an account with Harmonweb service to get started with launching your blog.

Domain Name

A domain is the name of your blog. 

For example, the domain of this blog is studentship.com.ng. 

A domain name is your unique identity in the internet world.

Buying a .com or a .com.ng domain is the best option for bloggers.

A .com domain name costs about four thousand naira. You can get a .com.ng domain for one thousand naira on Harmonweb.

Content

Contents are blog posts on your blog.

You need to write quality posts on your blog to rank on the Google search engine. 

Every of your article must be relevant to solve a reader’s problem.

Become a YouTuber

YouTube monetisation is now a popular method for students to make money online.

You will see students making videos everywhere you go on campus.

Some students are into producing comedy skits, dance, tutorials or lifestyle videos.

These videos get a lot of watch time on YouTube because they are engaging and funny.

To make money on YouTube, you must get 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within your first year.

Meeting the requirements within a year will be accessible when you do what you are good at.

After monetisation, you will earn dollars as people watch your videos.

Managing a successful YouTube channel requires creativity and persistence.

Equipment to Start a YouTube Channel

The following are necessary devices you need to have to become a YouTuber;

• Digital Camera or Phone with a Good Camera
• External Microphone
• Video Editing Software
• Lighting
• Tripod Stand

Photo Editing

Photo editing using Photoshop is a high-profile soft skill that you can use to make money as a student.

Photoshop is software that allows you to edit pictures and produce graphic designs.

You cannot see studio pictures on WhatsApp status without Photoshop edit.

Photographers use Photoshop to edit pictures of people to look perfect.

It was shocking the first day I took a studio picture. The outcome was astonishing. I began to wonder if it was my picture.

Learning Photoshop will give you a lot of money in school.

You can add photography to your hustle to make more money.

Also, you learn graphic design by making banners, logos, etc.

Programming/Coding

Programming is the number one soft skill in the world right now. It is a high profit-making skill for students.

Every technology around the world follows the architecture of a programming language.

Knowing how to code or program is the gateway to making lots of money in the virtual economy.

Programming jobs are available online. It is the future.

The best part about programming is that you can work online. You can work for a company in Australia while a student is in Nigeria.

Learning Programming

Learning programming requires diligence. You can learn any programming by yourself online within the space of six months.

Learn coding on YouTube or take programming classes online.

Also, you can look for a student in your school that is good with a programming language. The individual will teach you the basics of coding.

List of Programming Languages

Here is the list of programming languages you can learn as a student in Nigeria;

• Python
• HTML
• C ++
• PHP
• JavaScript
• C Language
• SQL
• Swift
• Objective-C
• Ruby
• Pascal

Web Design

Web design/development is the skill of designing a website for the Internet.

Every website on the internet has a design or architecture. It is a web designer’s job to create a website’s structure.

As a web designer in school, you can start to create professional websites and blogs.

Every business or blogger wants a fast-loading website with the best functionality.

For example, this blog has a good web design. It makes it easy for you to read the article.

Many students in school want to create a blog to earn money online. You can offer to build their blogs at a cheaper rate.

Also, you can source for jobs on freelancer websites like Upwork, Fiverr, etc.

Learning Web Design/Development

You can learn web design online or meet someone in your school with high skills in web development.

Learning web design requires that you know the necessary web development programs.

Becoming a proficient web developer can take about six (6) months.

Here is the list of web development programs for web designers;

• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript

It would be best to begin your journey of becoming a web developer by learning HTML.

HTML stands for Hyper Text Makeup Language.

CSS deals more with colours and adding extra functionality to a website.

CodeAcademy and W3School are the best places to get started with web designing.

Check out the Nairaland Programming section to interact with other Nigerian programmers.

Microsoft Excel Knowledge

Microsoft Excel is a program software for handling mathematical-related data analysis.

You can solve mathematical problems using the Microsoft Excel program.

Many students have the Excel program on their laptops without knowing its usefulness.

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool that solves complex programs in every organisation.

The Excel Program calculates the salary of workers in a company. Also, final students hire people to do statistical calculations using the Excel program.

To get started with learning Microsoft Excel. 

Install the program on your Laptop. 

You can then learn the program online on YouTube or get a tutor.

Proficient Excel users can get jobs online on Freelancer sites like Upwork.

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APP Development

APP development is a high-paying skill for students in Nigeria.

It involves developing a mobile APP for Android and iPhone devices.

The Google Chrome browser you use to read this post is an APP developed by an APP developer.

You can make a lot of money as a student by developing an APP for clients in your school or on freelancer sites.

Also, as an APP developer, you can create and upload your APP on Playstore. Google will pay you when people download and use your APP on Playstore.

Learning APP Development

You can learn APP development by taking a course online at edX, Udacity, Udemy, etc.

Learning APP development requires skill in the following programming software languages;

• JAVA
• Python
• Swift
• Dart
• JavaScript
• Kotlin
• C ++
• C#
• PHP
• Ruby
• MATLAB
• XML
• OpenGL
• COBOL

Copywriting

Copywriting is a high-paying skill for students in higher institutions. You can earn a lot of money online by becoming a copywriter.

Copywriting is all about promoting a product or service through content creation.

A copywriter’s job is to convince readers to buy a product or use a service.

Many companies worldwide use copywriters to drive more sales and increase revenue.

Copywriting requires that you have good writing skills. You can learn how to write by reading books and taking courses online.

Take lessons and read books on marketing and finance. It will help you to write compelling articles to make a sale.

Here is the list of copywriting books for students in Nigeria;

• Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
• The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert Bly
• How to Write Copy That Sells by Ray Edward
• Copywriting Secrets by Jim Edward
• The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman
• The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert
• Ogilvy On Advertising by David Ogilvy
• Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins

Facebook ADS

Knowledge of running Facebook ADS is a new way for students to make money online.

Many companies have seized the profitable opportunity of running Facebook ads. You can learn how to create Facebook ADS online.

You must have seen an advertisement while scrolling down on your Facebook app. A Facebook AD manager creates those ADS.

Also, product companies will pay you to manage their Facebook page. All you have to do is to put up engaging posts.

Open a Facebook Business Manager account to get started with Facebook ADS.

Content Creation

Content creation is the production of content in text or media format.

It is one of the highest-paying skills in the world right now.

Content is king in advertising, business, technology, etc.

As a Nigerian student, you can make money as a content creator.

You have to learn how to create inspiring text and media content. Learning animation will give you an edge as a content creator.

You can also start by becoming an Instagram influencer or a Lifestyle blogger. Through this process, you will grow to become a content creator.

Content creation jobs are available online. All you have to do is to be good at creating unique content.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the process of selling products to get a referral fee. The commission rate could be as high as five per cent.

For example, if you convince a blog reader to buy a laptop from Jumia worth one hundred and fifty thousand. You can get a commission of about five to ten thousand nairas.

There are lots of people in the world who are living off affiliate marketing.

I prefer you start a blog for your affiliate marketing project.

You will make money by building an audience on a particular blog topic.

For example, It will be easy to sell baby stuff if the contents of your blog are about parenting.

Here is the list of affiliate marketing website programs for Nigerian students;

• Jumia
• Konga
• Payporte
• Amazon
• eBay
• Shopify
• ShareASale
• Clickbank
• Awin
• Etison
• CJ Affiliate
• JotForm

Become an Importer

Becoming an importer is one way to make money as a Nigerian student.

Today, many students are in the importing business. They buy products from websites like Alibaba and sell them to students.

Students import the rechargeable hand fan and AirPods you see on campus.

You can start this business by first identifying what students in your school need.

After which, you can import the items from international E-commerce websites.

You must know how to buy and clear your things with Nigerian customs.

You can also use a clearing agent to remove your items at the port.

Importing Website for Nigerians

Here is a list of websites where you can import goods to sell in school;

• Alibaba
• Aliexpress
• Amazon
• eBay

Let me know in the comment box if you need more guidance to start an importing business in your school.

SEO/Google Analytics

SEO and Google Analytics are high-paying skills in content creation. Every online platform today utilises SEO and Google Analytics.

SEO stands for search engine optimisation. It is the process of optimising a website and its content for search engines like Google Search.

The goal of every digital marketer is for their website to appear on the front page of Google searches.

Achieving this takes a lot of work and analysis by an SEO expert.

Many companies are willing to pay you to make their company appear on the first page of a Google search.

The best place to learn SEO is on the YouTube channel – Income School.

Google Analytics helps a Webmaster understand visitors’ behaviour on their websites. It is a tool to get more website visits.

You can work to help Webmasters analyse the data in their Google Analytics dashboard.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is digital money to make transactions online.

There is no difference between physical cash and cryptocurrency. Many financial analysts predict that cryptocurrency is the future of the world economy.

Cryptocurrency is now the wealth creation gold mine to make money.

It is more flexible than conventional physical currency.

Here is a list of cryptocurrency exchange blockchain platforms;

• Bitcoin
• Binance
• Ethereum
• Dogecoin

Go to YouTube for more information on investing in cryptocurrency as a Nigerian student.

Sell an eBook

Selling eBooks online is a way to make money online as a student.

An eBook is a softcopy material that educates and guides readers on a topic.

For example, you can write an eBook on how to start snail farming in Nigeria.

Nigerians who want to go into snail farming will buy your book.

The secret to making money by selling eBooks is to write on topics that solve the problem of people. Nobody would want to buy a book that is not helpful.

Writing an eBook can take much time, but it will ultimately pay off.

Facebook is the best place to promote your eBook to make a sale.

Video Editing

Video editing is the practice of editing videos for content creation.

Many businesses in Nigeria prefer to use video for their advertisements. Animated videos are more engaging and bring in more leads.

You will earn much money if you are proficient in video editing.

Students who are into YouTube Vblogging will hire your service to edit videos. 

You can learn video editing on YouTube and install the editor software.

Video Editing Software

The following is the list of video editing software;

• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Blender
• Lightworks
• Filmora
• Vegas Pro
• OpenShot
• HitFilm Express
• Movie Maker 10
• VideoPad
• Flowblade
• Shortcut
• DaVinci Resolve
• Corel VideoStudio
• Vimeo Create
• InVideo
• iMovie

Best Students Apps for Learning

Here is the list of best Apps for learning for students in Nigeria;

• YouTube
• Coursera
• Udemy
• Medium
• Udacity
• Lynda (LinkedIn Learning)
• Sololearn
• Codeacademy
• Alison
• TED Talk
• Duolingo
• Code Avengers
• CodeSchool
• W3school
• Khan Academy
• Lumosity
• Instagram
• Memrise

Freelancer Websites for Students

Here is the list of freelancer websites for students in Nigeria;

• Upwork
• Fiverr
• Guru
• LinkedIn
• Zeerk
• Freelancer.com
• Toptal
• TaskRabbit
• AngelList
• Dribble
• PeoplePerHour
• Flexjobs
• SimplyHired
• 99designs
• Aquent
• Behance
• DesignCrowd

I would love to hear from you in the comment box below.

Ask me any questions or advice on how to make money online as a student. 

I will guide you on how to start an online business or hustle.

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See also:

• How to Make Money as A Student in Nigeria

• Common Mistakes Students Make in School

• When your Friends Are More Successful

• School Hostel vs Off-Campus Lodge Accommodation

• Why I Stopped Being a Serious Student

• Walk of Shame: My Most Embarrassing Day at the University

• Watery Love: A Campus Love Story

• See Why Sometimes Giving Up is the Best Option

• How to Revive Your Business Using Customer Relationship

Let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification. I would love to assist you.

You can watch my videos on the Studentship YouTube Channel by clicking here.

Join my Facebook Group, Like my Facebook Page or Follow Me on WhatsApp for more interactive discussions.