Let’s be honest—one source of income in Nigeria these days? E no dey work again. That is where side hustles come in, Between soaring prices, fuel wahala, and unexpected “debits” from every direction, more and more people are waking up to the reality that they need to double their hustle.
But with so many online gurus shouting “make money from your phone” and “zero investment side hustle,” it can be hard to separate what actually works from the hype.
So if you’re seriously looking for side hustles that pay, not ones that just look good on TikTok, this article is for you.
1. Freelance Writing or Copywriting ✍️
Good for: People who enjoy writing, researching, or storytelling.
From blog posts and product descriptions to email newsletters and ads, there’s a huge demand for writers across platforms like:
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Fiverr
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LinkedIn
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Contently
You can earn between ₦30,000 – ₦150,000+ per gig, depending on your experience and niche. Learn the basics of SEO and copywriting, and you’re good to go.
2. Selling Digital Products 🧑🏽💻
Good for: Creatives, teachers, designers, and knowledge sharers.
People are buying:
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E-books
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Canva templates
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Online courses
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Printable planners
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Study materials
Platforms like Paystack Storefront, Selar, or even WhatsApp can help you sell easily. Once created, it becomes passive income—you earn while you sleep.
3. Social Media Management 📱
Good for: People who spend a little too much time on Instagram, TikTok or X.
A lot of small business owners don’t have time to post consistently or create engaging content. If you understand how to:
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Use Canva
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Write good captions
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Grow pages organically
…you can offer your services for ₦30k to ₦100k+ per month per client.
Pro Tip: Take a free course on platforms like Coursera or Skillshare to get started.
4. Mini Importation & E-commerce 📦
Good for: Risk-takers and marketers.
Ever seen those WhatsApp vendors selling skincare, gadgets, or fashion items? Many of them buy these items from sites like 1688.com or Alibaba for peanuts and resell here with good profit.
You can start small with ₦50k or less and scale as you grow.
5. Home Baking or Food Delivery 🍰🍲
Good for: People who love cooking or baking.
People are always eating—and even more now, they love ordering online. Whether it’s:
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Small chops
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Banana bread
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Healthy smoothies
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Office lunch packs
You can advertise your services on WhatsApp, Instagram, and food marketplaces like Chowdeck or Glovo.
6. Tutoring & Online Classes 📚
Good for: Teachers, students, or anyone good at explaining things.
Whether it’s helping someone pass WAEC, teaching kids math, or giving online French or coding classes, tutoring pays well.
You can use platforms like:
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Tuteria
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Classgap
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Or just run private sessions via Zoom/Telegram
Charge per session or create a monthly package. One-on-one tutoring can fetch you ₦5k – ₦20k per client weekly.
7. Affiliate Marketing 👀
Good for: People with a social media following or WhatsApp audience.
Here, you earn a commission for selling someone else’s product. Platforms like SabiMentor, Expertnaire, and Learnoflix allow you to promote courses, books, and more.
Some affiliates in Nigeria earn ₦100k+ monthly, just from commission. You’ll need to be good at marketing and trust-building though.
Before You Start Your Side Hustle
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Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Start where you are.
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Learn as you earn. You’ll get better over time.
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Treat your side hustle like a real business, even if it’s part-time.
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Be consistent. The money doesn’t always roll in immediately—but when it starts, it’s worth it.
