10 Secret Ways to Make Money Online in Nigeria as a Student (2025)

Students want to make money, especially online, as it allows them to work and still attend lectures. The high cost of living, school fees, and daily expenses is making it harder for students with little stipends to survive.

Many students who want to make money online often fall for scams. This blog reveals 10 legitimate online money-making sources for Nigerian students in 2025.

What Makes an Online Gig Legitimate?

There are several freelance platforms online where you can get gigs. Some of them are scams, while some are legitimate. There are key traits to look out for when applying for a freelance platform:

Transparency: the online gig should be transparent; there should be transparency in how to apply for gigs, work on the gig, and receive payment. If you are going to any online gig website, check how transparent they are in their operations.

Payment Proof: There should be evidence of people being paid from the platform. Before giving out your service on any platform, you need to verify if people are being paid from the platform.

User reviews: Check online review platforms to verify the legitimacy of the online gig platform. Other users who have tried out the website would have given their reviews about the reputation of the platform.

Warning signs of scams to avoid.

Asking for upfront payment
Offers that promise so much money for doing very little
No verifiable information on the internet (social media, website reviews, etc.)
Poor and unprofessional communication

Tools to verify platforms (e.g., Trustpilot, Nairaland reviews, YouTube testimonials).

There are several platforms to verify if an online gig platform is legitimate or a scam:

Trustpilot: You can use this platform to check reviews, ratings, and user experiences of other users about the company. Visit Trustpilot’s website to get started.
Nairaland: This is a forum where users discuss different topics. You can use this platform to verify if the online gig is legitimate or not.
YouTube: Several creators on YouTube do user reviews about websites. You can watch the videos where they test the platform before you decide whether to use the website or not.
Reddit: Since this is a social discussion platform, you can search for subreddits where people share their experiences about online platforms and how legit they are.
Glassdoor: People who have worked with the companies drop their reviews on Glassdoor. You can use this platform to verify the legitimacy of the online gig website.
Social media accounts of the website: check the social media accounts of the online gig websites to see how recently they post and the comments that people leave in the comment section.

10 Legit Ways to Make Money Online in Nigeria (2025)

1. Freelance Writing and Editing

If you are good with grammar, you can write fast, and you can research any topic, then you should develop your writing and editing skills and apply for jobs on websites like Upwork, Fiverr, Problogger, and iWriter.

2. Graphic Design and Branding

Companies and individuals constantly search for people who can design logos, flyers, and social media graphics for them. This is a skill that can fetch you lots of money if you can deliver design services. Tools like Canva, Photoshop, and CorelDRAW are often required by employers for you to work on projects. Apply for design jobs on platforms like 99designs and DesignCrowd if you have these skills and can deliver the required services.

3. Online Tutoring

Subjects like mathematics, physics, English language, and coding are usually in high demand for teachers. If you are good at any subject and can teach students, then there are many opportunities available on the internet for you to monetize your knowledge. Use websites like Tuteria, PrepClass, and Outschool to apply for teaching jobs.

4. Affiliate Marketing

Many companies like to partner with people to promote their products and earn a commission from the promotion. If you like to promote products on your social media platforms, then platforms like Jumia KOL, Konga Affiliate, and Amazon Associates will pay you as a partner when you promote their products and have people purchase from them using your unique link.

5. Content Creation on TikTok/YouTube

You can monetize content on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok if you consistently create content and have lots of views. Start by creating content on what interests you or in a niche that people like to watch. If you can get lots of views, you’d be able to monetize your social media accounts and make lots of money from them.

6. Sell Digital Products

Another way to make lots of money is by creating digital products and selling them. You can create e-books, Canva templates, past exam questions, and designs. You can sell them on platforms like Selar, Gumroad, Paystack Storefront, and Amazon KDP.

7. Social Media Management

Businesses now want to be on social media. If you understand how social media works and how to help businesses run their social media accounts, then you can consider applying for social media management gigs.

8. Survey and Microtask Sites

Many companies pay you for giving your opinions and also when you carry out some micro tasks. Websites like Swagbucks, Toluna, Remotasks, and Clickworker pay you for completing surveys and carrying out microtasks.

9 Crypto & Web3 Micro Jobs

Many crypto projects will pay you for carrying out some tasks for them. You can use platforms like Zealy, Crew3, Layer3, and Airdrops.io to find companies that are looking for people to complete tasks for them.

10. AI Prompt Writing or ChatGPT Freelance Work

AI is the new technology that people are excited about, especially with generative AI and large language models like ChatGPT. If you can write prompts very well to execute tasks, then you can sell your skills on platforms like PromptBase and Fiverr.

Tools Every Online Student Earner Should Use

PayPal/Payoneer for global payments.
Wise/Barter for virtual dollar cards.
Canva, Grammarly, and Notion for productivity.
ChatGPT for research and writing help.

Conclusion

Start with any skill you have or any skill you can easily develop, and learn how to sell your skills on the various online gig platforms. If you can be consistent and patient, then you’ll be able to achieve substantial results.

10 Secret Ways to Make Money Online in Nigeria as a Student (2025)