As the realities of inflation continue to set in in Nigeria, everyone is searching for alternative means of survival. Youths as young as 17-19 are setting up businesses, taking online gigs, and launching brands. According to Nairametrics, about 50% of business owners in Nigeria are under the age of 34, indicating the significant involvement of young people in entrepreneurship.
You’re a student, and the inflation is hitting hard on you, too. Your pocket money isn’t enough anymore—you need a side hustle. And that’s why you’re here.
Welcome! Today, we’ll be discussing 10 unique business ideas for students in Nigeria. Whether you’re in secondary school or university, these business ideas for students are flexible, cost-efficient, and easy to combine with your academics. So let’s get started!
Table of Content
Why Start a Business as a Student in Nigeria?
Starting a business while in school is one of the smartest moves to make. As a student business owner, you’ll gain some extra income, but its advantages go beyond that. Here are some top benefits of starting a small business in school:
- Helps you gain hands-on, practical experience, which will be useful to your future job applications
- Builds communication skills, confidence, and other soft skills that are highly relevant in the 21st century workforce
- Your business can solve community needs, create jobs, or contribute to global issues
- Running a business helps you gain clarity on what you really want to do after school.
- It makes you less reliant on others, building confidence in your own abilities.
Are you ready to kickstart your entrepreneurship journey? In the next sections, we’ll look at 10 unique business ideas for students in Nigeria.
We’ve divided these business ideas into the following categories: small business ideas for girl students in Nigeria, online business ideas for students in Nigeria, and business ideas for students in university.
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10 Unique Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria
It was earlier mentioned that over 50% of young adults in Nigeria have a small business. This means the competition is tough. So if you’re starting a business, ensure it’s relevant, creative, and scalable. Also ensure you’re within the vicinity of your target customers to avoid selling the right thing at the wrong place.
So what businesses are relevant, creative and scalable today? Here are 10 unique business ideas for students in Nigeria:
- Selling homemade accessories
- Fashion Design
- Personal shopping
- Online Tutoring
- Visual Designing
- Social Media management
- Affiliate Marketing
- Yard sale
- Laundry Services
- Rent-a-Book
These 10 unique business ideas for students in Nigeria are easy to set up, especially as they require little to no capital.
But we didn’t bring you here just to see a vague list—in the following sections, we’ll zoom in on each of these 10 unique business ideas for students in Nigeria under the respective categories they all fall under.
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Small Business Ideas for Girl Students in Nigeria
Every girl needs some form of financial independence—a source of income she can fall back on when all the chips are down.
Starting a small business as a female student in Nigeria is a step toward self-reliance and career building. The good news is that there are several business opportunities that you can juggle with your books. So let’s dive into some small business ideas for girl students in Nigeria.
Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #1: Selling Homemade Accessories
If you love accessories, this one’s for you! Selling homemade accessories is one of the most unique small business ideas for girl students in nigeria. Hone your artistic skill by designing wristbands, bracelets, necklaces, and so on. This business is creative and never gets boring. There are different types of homemade accessories you can design, such as:
- Beaded Jewelry: Bracelets, necklaces, and earrings made from colorful beads. To add a unique touch to this, you can personalize it with your customers’ names or initials.
- Ankara Accessories: Bracelets, headbands, and purses made from Ankara fabric.
- Hair Accessories: Headbands, scrunchies, and clips for various hair types.
Before you start, decide on one or two of these homemade accessories to focus on for a start. This will carve a niche for the brand and reduce the cost of buying materials for all the various types of accessories. Ashanti Avenue, owned by a 17-year-old, is a testament that with dedication and strategic execution, you can transform your love for accessories into a thriving enterprise.
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Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #2: Fashion Designing
21st-century fashion is bold. Daring. Highly creative. Today, fashion goes beyond clothing—it’s a form of art, a cultural statement, and a booming global industry.
So if you’re passionate about style and haute couture, fashion design offers a chance to express yourself and stay relevant in the industry. Establishing a fashion brand at your school could serve as a means to set trends, shape popular culture, and generate substantial income, as everyone requires an outfit!
Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #3: Personal Shopping
This one’s for the girls who love to shop, organize items, and handle finances. Gather in; let’s talk about personal shopping. As a personal shopper, your job is to help clients purchase groceries, clothing, or household essentials.
Your purchases will be made according to the client’s budget and preferences; however, your fee will be paid separately.
Personal shopping is a great side hustle to take up during the holidays, supporting busy clients with their shopping needs. With excellent communication, reliability, and an eye for quality products, you can quickly build trust and grow through referrals.
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Online Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria
Are you searching for online businesses you can engage in as a student in Nigeria? This section explores four online business ideas for students in Nigeria.
Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #4: Online Tutoring
Did you know you can tutor students online? With the emergence of platforms like Tuteria and City Tutors, you can now contribute to the academic growth of others without stepping out of your house.
So if you’re good with math, english, or any other subject, register on these tutoring platforms and start making money today.
Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #5: Visual designing
We cannot discuss online business ideas for students in Nigeria without also mentioning visual design.
Visual designers, also known as graphic designers, translate written content to creative visuals. This could mean pictures, videos, motion graphics, etc.
As a visual designer, you’d be working closely with social media managers, brand managers, community managers, and other similar roles. With creativity and reliability, you can scale to becoming one of the most sought-after designers.
Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #6: Social Media Management
As businesses sprout, the demand for social media handlers increases as well. A report by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) revealed that Nigeria’s total marketing and communication spending reached N605.2 billion in 2023, with the top contributors being digital media and creative and content production.
These statistics tell us how much businesses are leveraging social media to push their products. No wonder there is a constant demand for social media managers and content creators—it is one of the most common online business ideas for students in Nigeria.
You can also provide this service, and you can be confident that it will help you earn some extra money from students.
To thrive in the path of a social media manager, it is advisable to take some online courses. You can find free or affordable social media management courses on Coursera and LinkedIn Learning. Additionally, it is advisable to gain experience with smaller brands before venturing into larger brands.
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Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #7: Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing has recently become one of the most common online business ideas for students in Nigeria.
Affiliate marketing involves referring customers to a client’s business. For every sale made through your referral, you’ll earn a commission. Some e-commerce platforms that offer affiliate marketing opportunities include Jumia, Konga, and Temu.
When you sign up for the affiliate program on any of the platforms listed above, the program will provide you with a unique referral code. Any sales made through your referral code will earn you a commission, usually ranging from 1% to 25% per sale.
It is important to note that these online business ideas for students in Nigeria require a functional phone, tablet, or laptop; a reliable electricity supply; and a high internet connection.
Business Ideas for Students in University
Keeping up with the university lifestyle requires a lot of funds. From buying your course materials to textbooks, paying for practicals if you’re a science student, attending departmental programs, and so on, your pocket almost always needs to be filled.
Perhaps you’ve reached a stage where you’re fed up with relying on your parents for financial support, and you’re contemplating how you can support yourself independently. Here are some unique business ideas for students in university:
Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #8: Yard sale
Are there any clothes you no longer use? Are the shoes and bags still in your closet? Rather than abandoning them in your wardrobe, you can put them out for a yard sale!
A yard sale is a fun outdoor activity that involves selling off old clothing and household essentials. It’s like a mini thrift shop, but usually conducted within one’s premises.
As a university student, you can organize a monthly yard sale on campus. Simply reach out to the school authorities requesting permission to use an area in the school, such as an open field, for the sale.
Once approved, you can set up a stand to display your items attractively. To make it even more profitable, invite other students to join in by renting a spot to sell their items. It’s a great way to declutter while earning money!
Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #9: Laundry Services
Students always need to wash and iron their clothes. Setting up a good laundry service is therefore guaranteed to scale. You can hire one or two workers to run the business during lecture hours.
Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria #10: Rent-a-Book
Textbooks can be costly, and not every student can afford the recommended ones for their courses. Sometimes, these books aren’t even available in the school library—or all copies have already been borrowed.
That’s where a Rent-a-Book business comes in. You buy or collect used books, then rent them out to other students for a small fee. It’s a smart way to support your peers while earning extra income!
Frequently Asked Questions
Some ideas with low investment include POS business, selling clothes, textiles, or jewelry, tutoring, selling course materials, selling recharge cards, selling oil perfumes, and selling pure water. You can also consider online businesses that require zero capital, like affiliate marketing and social media management.
With 10k, you can start a couple of small businesses, such as selling pure water, selling recharge cards, and selling homemade accessories. You can also consider online businesses that require zero capital, like affiliate marketing and social media management.
There are many businesses a 17-year-old can start in Nigeria, such as selling homemade accessories, organizing yard sales, starting a fashion brand, selling books and other writing materials in school, etc.
Conclusion
If this article were a small business, we’d say it was highly successful! In the course of this article, we’ve covered small business ideas for girl students in Nigeria, online business ideas for students in Nigeria, and business ideas for students in university.
Now that we’ve done our part, it’s time to do yours! Go set up one of these 10 unique business ideas for students in Nigeria, and watch it thrive. We’re rooting for you!
Stay tuned to this blog for more interesting updates. Additionally, while you are here, check out the list of recommended posts below and explore whichever one piques your interest.
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References
- Shopify.com – 25 Business Ideas for College Students in 2025
- Premiumtimesng.com – Nigeria’s marketing, communication spending reached N605.2 billion in 2023 – Report
