How To Make Money During NYSC: [10 Things To Do]

In today’s post, you’ll discover ways in which you can easily make money as a youth coper in Nigeria! So if you’re a corp member in Nigeria and want to learn how to make money during NYSC stick around.

Methods shared here will also help you on how to save money as a corper in Nigeria.

When it comes to Nigeria things are not always easy, especially for the youths of this beloved country.

The current allowance for NYSC Corp members as of the date of this post is N19,800, I do believe it should have been increased by now and congrats if it has!

Success is deliberate and it only happens to those who take action. Meeting you here makes me believe you are one of the few that want a better future for their life irrespective of the current situation in Nigeria.

Trust me, there is nothing better than you taking responsibility for your life as fast as you can.

In this post, am going to walk you through some easy and low-capital start-up businesses, or ways you can make money while serving in your current place of primary assignment.

Mind you, nothing good comes easily, especially when they are legitimate. So, I will want you to bring your passion alongside while we review these various ideas together.

How To Make Money During NYSC

Let’s go over a few of the unique ways that actually work plus guarantee to make you money as corper in Nigeria in your chosen state and PPA.

Few might be restricted to location while others can be done irrespective of your location, also known as online businessess.

For the online business ideas I’ve listed over 30 online business ideas in Nigeria you can start and make millions of naira even before you finish you NYSC.

Be sure to go through them thoroughly and start putting them to actions.

#1: Start A Blog

Actually, the blog you’re reading now started while I was serving just like you. I started my blog in my PPA in Akwa Ibom.

I can’t tell you how this simple blog has changed my life. It gave me the opportunity to be my own boss and the same time assurance that I won’t go back home seeking a job.

Initially, I thought starting a blog was very difficult, but it wasn’t when I took the first step. There are far many ways in which you can make money from your blog.

A few of them include:

• Affiliate Marketing 
• Selling Informational Products 
• And so many others…

I can only list a few, however, if you think this is what you can start, I’ve written a simple and most explained article on how to start a blog. 

Check it out and see for yourself.

#2: Start Mini Importation Business

Mini Importation is another cool business you can do both online and offline. And it’s also a good side hustle on how to make money during NYSC.

The online methods include running adverts and using Instagram, Facebook or WhatsApp to promote the products you’ll be selling.

Mini importation simply means importing cheap products from China or other countries like the US, Turkey and resell them at a higher price in Nigeria.

There so many products you can find on AliExpress at a way cheaper price that are so nice that people would rush to buy in Nigeria.

Buying some of these products can make you a lot of money while you serve in your current PPA.

Some of the goods can also be sold your fellow corp member that can afford it or sell to indigenes at your PPA or fellows worker that does not corner.

I’ve written an in-depth post on how to start your own profitable mini importation business, you should give it a trial.

Or watch this case study.

#3: Start A Popcorn Business

The popcorn business is another good business to do during NYSC. This is because it has proved to be a lucrative business over the years because of its easy setup and vast market for it.

Almost everybody eats popcorn, I can’t recall if I have come across or seen anyone who doesn’t eat popcorn if at all there is; it’s definitely going to be few.

So the demand is pretty much and definitely something to look into for small entrepreneurs with little to no capital.

Reasons Why You Should Start a Popcorn Business

Like I said, hardly can you see a person that doesn’t eat Popcorn. The demand for popcorn is very high because it cut across all ages. The adult eats it, the young eat it even the children eat it.

And it only cost a few changes to buy so the demand is always there.

Another reason why am recommending this business for NYSC Youth Corpers is that the raw materials are easily accessed.  They can be gotten in any part of the country, so your (PPA) “place of primary assignment” shouldn’t be a barrier in setting this up.

For those worried about capital in starting up their business. They shouldn’t be worried because popcorn only requires a little capital to start up.

Requirements For Starting a Popcorn Business

First thing first, you have to go for knowledge. The good part about popcorn business is that it doesn’t require much time in learning.

You can acquire all there is to know about the business within a week if not too much.

Also, get your equipment ready. For you to start this business you have a get a popcorn maker machine. I will suggest you buy one for starters and study the progress of the business …. Then buy another one if you see reasons to buy.

Then again, when buying the popcorn maker machine I recommend you to buy the one powered by gas so as to ease your production.

Other materials needed include butter, sugar, salt container mixer, a show glass, nylons etc.

Marketing strategy

You can liaise with your friends by going to their place of work be it school or anywhere and drop some for them. Make sure it has been calculated and plead with them to help you sell. Also on the days of CDS, or general CDS. Do well to take some with you and sell along the line while doing your CDS and lastly you can get a location and mount a mobile shop there and sell.

Try and make sure you meet the entire requirement before starting and carry out a feasibility study first before starting your business.

This is a good business idea and I’m sure it will help you a lot on how to save money as a corper.

#4: Conduct Private Lessons

This is the most popular means in which Youth Corp makes money asides from their federal allowance.

It a very good business to do during NYSC because almost everybody does this. So the more reason I am recommending it to you.

You can earn up to N50,000 monthly besides your federal allowance doing this.

Hook up with the passing out Corp members to recommend you to the parents of their former students so you can take over from where they stop.

If your work is good your evening meal can be settled while going for the home tutoring, although it’s nothing much trust me it’s part of it.

#5: Do Handy Works

If are you skilled with tools and good with handy works then this is a good time for you to monetize your skill while serving as a Youth Corper.

Like me, I can install DStv, GOtv, flat-screen etc. and all this have been fetching me a good sum of money. At times I do installations within 2hours and I bill 5k to 8k per installation. Isn’t that cool?

Yours might be different it might be plumbing work, it might be the building of shoes or building of bags just name it.

So far you can do it, the thing is, you might not be called every day to come and work. But once you’ve seen a contract even once in a week. it’s still worth it.

#6: Use Your Talent

Another thing I can do easily or very good at; is decoration. Though I didn’t do it for money while serving as a youth Coper I only did it for my church. But who says you can’t make money from it.

If you can do it or even something else you are good at. Like if you can plate hair you can start by doing for your friends. And once they see your work, they will start referring their friends to you.

Doing this, you don’t even need to open a shop you can use your room or you go to your customer house and do it for them there. I know people that prefer doing their hair at home without going to the salon.  The list is just too many depending on your talent.

If you are a comedian you can start some shows or do MC by anchoring your friend’s birthday party and get paid for it.

#7: Start a Pastry Business

Pastry business is one of those businesses you can start up with little capital and make a lot from it. You can start by making cupcakes, doughnuts, pie, etc. depending on the one you can easily do.

You don’t have to worry about the market so far you are a Corper, expect your place of work is inside a bush, even at that once they have schools you already have markets for your product.

Your CDS meeting place. Besides your school is a good place for selling your pastries. You can also walk up to some various store around your place and sweet-talk them into doing business with you. Once they agree you can start supplying them, trust me, you’ll start making your money.

#8: Make Money From Beads Making

Beads have come to be the talk of the town when it comes to fashion. You hardly see ladies without beads even guys now use beads. The market is just there and the good thing is; you can make money from it even as a Corper.

Another means in which you can make money for bead making is to organize tutorials for those that want to learn bead making. But that’s only if you are good at making beads and if not, go for the training and join them make money from bead making.

Your basic requirement for beads making include:

• Bead design board
• Metal strings
• Wire cutters
• Tape
• Scissors
• Pins
• Clasps
• Varieties of beads etc.

Here are some bead products you can make as a Corper and sell in your place of primary assignment (PPA):

• Necklace
• Waist belt
• Bracelets
• Handbag
• Rings
• Wristwatch etc.

If you are truly good at this why not give it a trial and if you are not I will suggest you ask around on how you can learn bead making.

#9: Savings

Saving cannot be overemphasis when it comes to serving as a Youth Corper. Have heard countless of time that the N19,800 is not enough for a month to talk less of saving from it. But the truth of the matter is that; there are many Corpers that are saving from this same amount just as everyone else.

I will suggest you find a trusted person you can save it with. If you can’t save it yourself, be it your Mum or Dad. Make sure immediately the payment is received do well to send the amount you want to save immediately.

It can be N5000 or N10,000 depending on how you can survive. If it’s N5000 for every month that’s N60,000 at the end of your service year. And if its N10,000 that will be N120, 000 at the end of your service year, not bad is it?

#10: Start a Thrift Savings

It really helps on how to save money as a corper.

This is how it works; let’s say ten friends agreed on a monthly payment of N10,000 for every month for ten months. That is N10,000 in 10 places which of course is N100,000.

What happens is that the first receiver receives a total amount of N100, 000 including he/her own contribution which is N10, 000. He/ she is free to do whatever he/she likes with it but preferable it’s saved in a fixed account or he/she use it to start a business.

For the next nine-month, he/she is required to a continuous contribution of N10, 000 till the last month. And this is so for every other party in this agreement. So the first have N100,000 at the end of the first month the second also have N100, 000 at the end of the second month until the circle is complete.

This can be a good idea once you know what you are doing.

#11: Become a Personal Trainer

You can make money from most of the skills you received from the orientation camp by becoming a personal trainer yourself in your PPA.

Most obese singles and married women are looking for a quick way to shed their weight but don’t have time because of their work. You can seize this opportunity if you find any by going to their house and becoming their personal trainers and getting paid.

Conclusion on How To Make Money During NYSC

On a final note; the list is endless there are hundreds of business ideas and ways to make money as a youth coper in Nigeria. But the best thing to do is to take time and study your environment first and see their needs.

Bring what they want to them and you will make serious money from that. Just a tip of advice, for you to be reading this post tells me you are serious about your future. And you want to make effective use of your one year.

Which of course is good, I commend you for that but the place of God cannot be overemphasis in one life make sure you give time for prayer and plan for your future.

Please if you have any suggestions you want to add, please feel free to comment in the box below and please help us share if you find these helpful