Beyond scholarships and parental support, Nigerian students are turning to creative and unconventional means to pay their school fees.
Alongside part-time jobs and borrowing, many students use less obvious sources of cash that are flexible, fast, and sometimes repeatable. These funding routes carry trade-offs, because convenience often comes with higher risk or effort.
For students balancing study and income, they can make the difference between staying in school and dropping out.
Below are 6 overlooked ways Nigerian students raise money for fees, how each works, and what to watch for when you rely on them.
- Short-term project work for lecturers and departments
Students with useful skills such as research assistance, lab support, data entry, or event help often get paid small stipends by departments or lecturers. The gigs fit around schedules and build experience, but agree on payment terms up front and get a simple written note of the arrangement.
- Peer-to-peer lending circles and rotating savings groups
Informal contribution groups, such as ajo, esusu, or rotating loans, provide lump sums when a member’s turn comes up. They deliver predictable cash without bank paperwork, though social pressure to contribute on time is high, and default consequences are personal.
- Course-based tutoring and note selling
Selling class notes, past questions, or running short tutoring sessions for juniors converts academic strength into steady fees. Scale this by forming small study groups, pricing by session, and collecting payment beforehand.
- Campus micro entrepreneurship, such as food stalls, recharge, and printing
Low capital on campus services like food stands, phone recharge reselling, photocopying, and #printing turn small margins into a reliable daily income during the term. Location, hours, and consistent quality make these ventures durable through semesters.
- Short coaching or skill workshops
Run weekend workshops teaching high-demand skills like basic graphic design, social media management, or exam techniques. Students pay for useful short courses, and organizers keep most revenue when they control the venue and materials.
- Asset-backed loans and family credit arrangements
Some students arrange small loans secured by family assets or informal guarantors. These provide larger sums for fees but require clear repayment plans and realistic timelines to avoid family conflict.
Each option has pros and cons. Informal routes are fast but can be risky. Small businesses require effective time management, and lending needs careful repayment planning.
