It’s almost like Nigerians only talk about two things these days — japa-ing and making money (preferably in dollars). Sigh! We might not be able to get you on a plane to Canada tonight, but we sure can teach you how to make money online today.

You can make money online in Nigeria through affiliate marketing, blogging, content creation, podcasting and e-commerce. Other viable options include freelancing, trading, using savings and investment apps, social media management and selling digital products.

All you need is internet access and an internet-enabled device (a phone, a tablet or a computer).

11 guaranteed ways to make money online in Nigeria

Figuring out how to make money is a key part of the Nigerian experience. However, the good news is you can make cool cash using the internet. Do you want to be in the know?

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria:

1. Affiliate marketing
2. Blogging
3. Content creation
4. Crypto, forex and stock trading
5. E-commerce
6. Freelancing
7. Podcasting
8. Selling digital products
9. Savings and investment apps
10. Social media influencer marketing
11. Social media management

Now, let’s discuss what makes them so viable.

1. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing might seem like one big Ponzi scheme, but it’s actually legit — big time. In fact, it’s one of the top ways to make money online in Nigeria, and you need little to no funds to get started.

But what exactly is it?

Affiliate marketing is an online business where brands (and even individuals) pay you to promote their goods or services. In other words, you receive payment for introducing clients to a product.

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria using affiliate marketing:

1. Find a niche. It might seem unimportant, but choosing a niche that fits your talent — as well as a suitable audience and product — will help you make more money in the long run. For example, you could decide to focus on online courses if you’re still a student and have a knack for teaching.
2. Choose your preferred online platform. Take your pick — social media, YouTube, blogs, and even newsletters. Just ensure it’s a platform you understand and one that’s accessible to your audience.
3. Find and join verified affiliate programs. You might need to do a little digging (and lots of research!), but there are many legit affiliate programs in Nigeria. A great example is the rewards program you can participate in when you sign up for many fintech apps. You get affiliate links to share with your audience.
4. Create high-quality content. You’ll use this content to promote the brand (or product) you’re affiliated with and connect with your audience. For example, you could make a YouTube video or write a blog post.
5. Market your content and your platform. You can try SEO, paid ads or direct word-of-mouth marketing to ensure they visit. The point is to get people to see the content and click your affiliate links (or take some other action).
6. Get paid. Although getting lots of traffic is awesome, most affiliate programs only pay you if your audience completes an action (like making a purchase). Therefore, we recommend selling the benefits of the product as best as you can.

That’s all there is to it! The steps you’ll take might differ slightly — depending on your affiliate program — but always do research to avoid Ponzi schemes and similar scams.

2. Blogging

Have you ever heard of Benjamin Dada? He’s the founder and CEO of benjamindada.com, a  tech blog that’s now one of Nigeria’s top media companies. This blog is also pretty profitable — a remarkable feat since it’s only been live since June 2018.

Here’s how you can make money online in Nigeria from blogging:

1. Find a niche. Decide if you want to do creative writing, write news articles or work on creative non-fiction. It’s totally up to you!
2. Create an account on a self-publishing blogging platform. We recommend using Medium or Substack, but WordPress is also pretty great! They’re free and easy to set up, even without a technical background.
3. Set up monetisation. If you want to earn money online by offering paid memberships and participating in platform partner programs (like the Medium Partner Program), Medium and Substack are perfect. WordPress is ideal if you want to make money from online ads.
4. Start writing. It’s essential you write for your audience, but ensure you create high-quality content. And remember to enjoy the process!
5. Publish your work. It should take a maximum of a few seconds to publish, irrespective of your blogging platform. And don’t forget to market your content on social media (and everywhere else, really) so you get more traffic.

As you’d expect, the larger your blog traffic, the more money you make!

One last thing:  while excellent writing skills are a plus, you’ll build a larger audience (and make more money) by putting out valuable, engaging, relevant and properly optimised content and resources.

So, don’t shy away from putting in the work!

3. Content creation

Content creation has been on-the-rise in Nigeria since social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram became mainstream. After all, content — especially in video form — has the world in a firm grip at the moment.

But how do content creators like Jay On-Air and The Igbo Wolf monetise their work?

Well, here’s how to make money online in Nigeria as a content creator:

1. Choose your niche. You can create content around beauty, comedy, dance, food, even education. It’s unlikely that a niche is saturated — you just have to bring your own spin to the field.
2. Select the best social media platform for your content. We recommend you pick one that you understand and that’s easy to use. You can also go for trendy options like TikTok.
3. Create and post your content. Our advice? Keep it as authentic as possible, and have fun while you’re at it!
4. Monetise your content. Try collaborating with brands and running ads. You can also partner with the platform you’re on. YouTube, for example, has a Partner Program).

We know how much of a big deal content creation is in Nigeria, and we’ve covered the topic extensively in other articles. For example, you can read all about how to make money on TikTok or learn the fine details of Facebook monetisation on the PiggyVest blog.

4. Crypto, forex and stock trading

The financial market is always a great way to make money — whether you trade cryptocurrency, forex or stocks. And as long as you have a solid understanding of the basics (and some money to invest in the market), you can thrive as a trader. Of course, it’s easier said than done, and you’ll need to put in a lot of work to succeed.

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria as a trader:

1. Carefully research the market you plan on trading in and get some training. Fortunately, they’re lots of paid courses that can help. You can also find free resources online or read books on the subject.
2. Open a trading account. As you’d imagine, the account you’ll create depends on the market you want to trade in. For example, you must create a brokerage account if you’re trading forex.
3. Create a trading strategy. You need a solid plan as a trader; it’s the best way to make it in the field. And remember: be as disciplined as possible.
4. Start trading and collect profits. You can withdraw your earnings directly to your bank account or reinvest it in the market. It’s up to you!

Overall, trading is pretty lucrative in Nigeria and can even help you make money daily if you’re disciplined and patient enough to do the work.

5. E-commerce

E-commerce is the online equivalent of owning a physical store — without the hassle of a heavy rent and all the benefits of the internet. After all, everyone is shopping online these days. All you need to get started is to create a virtual storefront where you can market and sell your products.

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria from e-commerce:

1. Decide on what to sell and pick a target market. We recommend selling an always-in-demand item — like food or clothes — but anything people will buy works. You could take a page from Bemituale Favour’s playbook, who uses Pocket App to showcase Draint Urban Clothing — a clothing and lifestyle brand.
2. Find a reliable supplier for your products. You can save money by buying wholesale, but ensure it’s high quality. Of course, you can create your own products just like Mina Hartins does with Faro Candles.
3. Buy and photograph the products. Excellent product photography can go a long way in e-commerce, so don’t skip this step. In fact, you should hire a professional photographer to help, if your phone just doesn’t cut it.
4. Create an e-commerce store. You can use popular platforms (like Jiji, Jumia and Konga) to get started, but the best option is Pocket by PiggyVest. After all, it’s free and straightforward for you and your customers.
5. Register your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Registering with the CAC legalises your business. Plus, it’s an excellent way to let buyers know you’re the real deal.
6. Start a social media page. Marketing is a big deal when running a business — especially if it’s online — and these platforms can boost your visibility. Of course, you can also use your social media page to gather feedback and handle customer complaints.
7. Sell your products. You can make a lot of money from e-commerce, but it’s important to keep at it. And don’t forget to use a reliable delivery service to ensure your customers are happy.

PocketApp is a pretty impressive online storefront, but you can do so much more with the platform. From managing Ajo contributions to sending money and settling bills, it’s the one business app you want on your phone.

6. Freelancing

Many Nigerian creatives freelance — sometimes alongside their 9 to 5s — to increase their income. Platforms like Fiverr, Behance and Upwork help connect graphic designers, web designers, writers, proofreaders, translators, video editors and transcribers to opportunities that require their skills.

But just how do they do it?

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria from freelancing:

1. Pick a niche. As we are fond of recommending, choose a high-paying niche that fits your abilities. Of course, you can take some time to learn the skills required for your chosen niche.
2. Get the tools and gear you need to start freelancing. You might not need much if you’re, say, offering content writing services. But you might need to invest in a high-quality camera and premium video editing software in a niche like content creation.
3. Join a freelancing platform. You can try popular platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, but LinkedIn and social media can also work. These platforms are free, and you can choose whichever suits you.
4. Connect with clients and deliver great work. The best way to make lots of money as a freelancer is to do good work, and you shouldn’t have trouble landing clients if you’re great at what you do. 

You can learn more about the lucrative world of freelancing (as well as some neat tips and tricks for succeeding as a freelancer in Nigeria) by checking our article on how to make money on Fiverr.

7. Podcasting

Podcasts pretty much came out of nowhere and are now a smash hit in Nigeria. And why not? After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good gist?

Plus, they’re pretty profitable!

Being a podcaster is almost like being a video content creator — just different content and medium. Therefore, you can monetise the same way creators on Instagram and similar platforms do — through brand collaborations and paid ads. 

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria from podcasting:

1. Choose a niche and theme for your podcast. It can be about anything: football, politics, anime, tech — whatever you want! For example, I Said What I Said, hosted by FK Abudu and Jola Ayeye, focuses on conversations around the African millennial experience.
2. Select a format. You can decide to have one or more co-hosts, do longform or bite-sized episodes, or even put a spin on your podcasts (like only dropping episodes when a new season of Big Brother Naija is on). There are no rules — you decide!
3. Pick a platform for your content. Spotify for Podcasters (which used to be called Anchor App) is one of the best ways to get started in Nigeria. You can also use YouTube — where you can record (and upload) videos alongside your regular audio content.
4. Get recording equipment and editing software. Your smartphone can serve you well if you’re just starting, but investing in equipment like microphones and headphones will significantly improve the quality of your content. 
5. Record and post your podcast. Do your thing! And remember: make your podcasts as engaging as you can.
6. Monetise your content. You can collaborate with brands or run sponsored ads.

Podcasting is still in its early stages in Nigeria, and you can make a lot of money from it if you do it well. We recommend taking it slowly and only focusing on creating quality content — especially if you’re just starting out.

For more inspiration in your podcasting journey, you can check out the official PiggyVest podcast (on YouTube), where we talk about Grown Ups — our first-ever comic series.

8. Selling digital products

Don’t have a physical product? Create a digital one! In fact, you don’t have to sell physical products to make money online in Nigeria. Many people make money selling digital products like ebooks and courses on platforms like Selar.

All that matters is that it’s valuable and helpful.

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria by selling digital products:

1. Create a digital product. You can also sell products like audiobooks and templates, as well as digital art and webinars. Anything goes — just ensure it’s legal and can generate demand.
2. Upload your product online. You might not always need to do this, but the point is to have a platform to showcase your offerings.
3. Promote your product. The key to selling anything online is ensuring more people see it and recognise its value. You can use social media and even run paid ads to do this.
4. Sell your product. Get paid and keep selling. The great thing about digital products is that you only need to create them once to keep making money.

You might need to be a little more creative to make money using this method, but it’s super lucrative!

9. Savings and investment apps

We already mentioned how lucrative savings and investment apps can be when we shared ten great ideas to make money with your phone in Nigeria. And while there are hundreds of apps on the App Store and Google Play Store, PiggyVest is still the best option thanks to its security and excellent returns.

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria using PiggyVest:

1. Visit the PiggyVest website or download the official app. It’s on both the Google Play Store and the App Store.
2. Create a free account. You’ll need to submit your details and set up your withdrawal bank to complete this process. Don’t worry: it shouldn’t take you more than five minutes.
3. Pick a savings or investment plan you like. There are six great options to choose from — including Safelock and Investify. Plus, you can select multiple options if you want.

It’s that easy!

Note that you’ll need some funds to make money using this method, but you can get up to 35% annual returns from PiggyVest.

10. Social media influencer marketing

Social media influencer marketing is pretty popular in Nigeria today. In fact, it’s almost impossible to go through a week without stumbling on an online personality that’s working with a famous brand.

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria from social media influencer marketing:

1. Find a niche. Choosing a suitable niche is a game-changer as a social media influencer; it’s what has helped turn creators like Salem King into online sensations. Our advice is to lean into something you enjoy or something that comes naturally — like sports or art.
2. Pick a social media platform you like and create an account. Some great choices are Facebook and TikTok, but there’s also Instagram and even Twitter. 
3. Create content and grow your followers. The content you’ll create depends on you and the platform you’re on, but ensure it’s original and of high quality. Also, ensure it’s in line with the niche you’ve chosen.
4. Connect with brands and make money. You can ask for collaborations and set the terms of your partnership. You could also wait for them to contact you first.

One of the best things about social media influencer marketing is that it’s not complicated to get into — as long as you have the patience to build your online presence. 

Plus, you can also grow on multiple platforms at the same time. In fact, many of your favourite influencers and creators use multiple social media platforms to reach a wider audience and connect with more brands.

11. Social media management

Both small and big brands now understand the importance of an active social media presence and often require the services of savvy individuals to manage their accounts for a fee.

As a social media manager, you will be responsible for creating catchy content and engaging with the audience in creating an online personality for the brand. 

Here’s how to make money online in Nigeria from social media management:

1. Learn the fundamentals of managing social media. You can skip this step if you already have some experience, but free resources like Coursera’s Social Media Management course can be helpful.
2. Find a job. Here’s the hard part — applying for jobs. Fortunately, platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter can help you during your job search.
3. Get to work. As a great social media manager, you can help brands move from lacklustre accounts to high engagement to sales. To succeed, you’ll need a grounded understanding of digital trends and the psychology of netizens.

Social media management is a big deal in today’s increasingly digital landscape. Many brands (and individuals!) will pay a decent sum to people who are able to manage their social media accounts effectively.

Conclusion

The internet is more than just a platform to meet new people or get the latest gist. It’s a verifiable way to make money online in Nigeria. This article contains the information you need to succeed.Still, you can do so much more in addition to making money. You can build and grow wealth that’ll last for generations. At PiggyVest, we have all the tools you need to safely and securely grow your income through savings and investments.