Some suggest creating a blog or YouTube channel, but these take time and significant investment to become profitable. Others recommend becoming a freelancer on Fiverr or doing micro jobs/task, yes that's true but do you know that thousands of people quit freelancing platforms because they couldn't make any sale? As I'm talking here I've joined Fiverr and Upwork but nothing come out. I know most Nigerians rely on micro tasks website that pay ₦10 per task, and you'll hardly find enough tasks to complete let alone reaching a withdrawal threshold of 5k after joining the site with 1k.
Now that you're here, chill! In this guide, I'm focusing on simple, realistic businesses you can start and manage yourself without interfering with your studies.
What is this? Virtual Top-up (VTU) is a simple business any student can operate. As a VTU owner, you have either a website, Android app, or both where users can buy airtime, cheap data, JAMB, WAEC, NECO pins, pay electricity bills, betting payments, wallet funding, etc. While you're asleep, people are buying data and airtime from you! I know you're wondering how much it costs to start and how to get started.
Starting a VTU business typically costs around ₦200,000, but if you follow this guide, you can get it almost for free. There are developers who offer this service all over the internet, but thanks to Techswitch.pro, you can get both a VTU website and Android app for just ₦19,999. This company builds professional websites/apps with free hosting for users. If you need additional services like publishing on Google Play Store, they may charge up to ₦150K normally. I advise my students to start small—build it first with small capital before seeking to expand!
If you set up by yourself, you'll need:
Option Two: Get from VTU service provider:
You might think you must be a developer to create apps and make money. That's not true in this generation—the way forward is Kemiex OS.
What is Kemiex OS? It's a mobile app builder. You install it on your phone and start building Android apps without coding. You can build almost anything, publish it, and start making money. This app also offers other features like website builders, scripts, SEO tools, and business/coding courses. All this costs ₦8,000 or $27 for international students.
No-Code App Building:
Kemex OS facilitates the development of apps without requiring users to write any code.
AI-Powered:
The core functionality of Kemex OS relies on artificial intelligence to automate the coding process. Describe what you want and it will be done in seconds.
Multi-Platform Support:
It supports the creation of apps and games for both mobile (likely Android based on the context) and web platforms.
So why not using it to create apps and games, monetize them and make money.
Students can also start forex copy trading without breaking the bank. Students who invest by copying expert traders can testify that they earn just like the experts. Getting started is simple—sign up on any social or copy trading platform like Exness, deposit a minimum of $10 (₦14,000), and you could earn up to $1 (₦1,400) daily without trading yourself. If you deposit more and copy more traders, you earn more. It's recommended to start with about $30 to see meaningful results, since most expert strategies require a higher balance to copy effectively.
With this, you earn without even knowing how to trade, and the expert only takes about 15% of your total earnings, which is pretty reasonable. But I should say that you will loose some times. From my experience, you earn over 100 times than you loose if you copy a good trader. I started with $50 and it grew to $766 in six months but there are some days I will lose up to $20 but for sure the next trade will cover up. You just have to download exness copy trading app on Play store and sign up.
Another business opportunity is becoming a tutor to help other students, perhaps junior students in your department. Let's say you study medicine and surgery at the 300 level—you can create a group where you share updates, help students, and tutor them for a monthly fee. Say ₦1K monthly with 100 students equals ₦100K monthly.
Campus food delivery is self-explanatory—you take food orders and deliver them to students in hostels for a fee. Students don't like stress, so most will gladly pay an additional fee to get food delivered to their hostel or class. This is an underrated business where you can actually earn ₦15K–₦20K daily with minimal capital.
1. Partner with local food restaurants on campus
These are the people who will supply your food, so you don't have to cook. Let them know you're in business and handle the packaging yourself.
2. Create a simple food ordering website
As someone who incorporates tech into every business (because this generation doesn't need outdated methods), your website should be simple and attractive with your contact details.
(i) Food Menu Section: List different kinds of food you supply from your partners. Users should be able to select their choice and make payment, or at least pay for transportation and additional costs.
(ii) Payment Policy: Take orders for take-away food, with food costs paid on delivery or at least transportation fees paid upfront. Some students can unintentionally or intentionally fail to pay—it's totally free for them to say "just playing, I won't pay."
Include a custom shopping area where users can order items not listed on your site.
(iii) Payment Section: Shows the total cost of students' orders. Integrate Flutterwave for easy payment.
(iv) Delivery Estimation: Note that security may restrict deliveries during odd hours. This feature is optional.
Calculate transport costs from restaurant to student hostel—let's say ₦100. Add this to the food cost, plus takeaway charges and a ₦100 service charge.
So if a plate of food costs ₦1,000, you deliver it for ₦1,300.
To conclude, these are my top business ideas any Nigerian student can start with minimal capital while maintaining focus on their studies. These businesses can source out your school fees and you don't have to worry about being broke.
This article was first published Students blog on https://www.freshnote.com.ng/2025/08/top-5-businesses-for-nigerian-students.html
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