Nearly one in three Nigerians runs extra jobs to augment their base income. These accompanying jobs, colloquially referred to as side hustles, have in fact become an indispensable part of the Nigerian business culture as the citizens struggle to navigate the country’s dire economic straits.
Rampant inflation continues to stir a cost-of-living crisis, making it hard to depend on a single of income. “If you think only one salary will help you, then you are just deceiving yourself,” says Victoria, a public-school teacher who sells confectioneries during school breaks while managing a poultry business.
Referring to a business venture practiced on the side, side hustles can range from POS booths to cryptocurrency trading, all acting as a critical safety net against spiralling costs.
The boom of the side-hustle culture reflects the creativity of the Nigerian entrepreneur. Also it marks a generational preference for financial freedom. Disillusioned with the traditional 9-to-5 work model, younger Nigerians are resorting to freelancing, which lacks the pressures of a salaried job.
Take Zacheus ThankGod, for example, a final-year undergraduate juggling statistics classes with making customised shoes for sale. “I didn’t want everything I owned to be given to me by someone else,” says another student who manages multiple gigs, including content writing.
Unlike older generations that leaned towards hard-skill jobs, today’s youths favour gigs such as graphics designing, digital marketing and copywriting, among others, thanks to technological advancement.
The Strain of Juggling Roles
For all its promise, juggling multiple jobs presents its own challenges, however, taking a huge toll on mental health and time. The mental strain from struggling to achieve balance between individual roles is especially draining. Even worse is the pressure of a looming deadline, which might demand working day and night. More often than not, this results in a breakdown afterwards.
Beyond Financial Gains
Yet Nigerians would rather bear with the strain of side hustles than stick to a mundane salaried job. Given that many side jobs often align with the person’s interests and inclinations, they offer not just financial independence but also creative fulfilment—a means of creating impact in society.
For instance, ThankGod, the final-year student, considers his shoemaking as a way of providing quality products for his customers.
Side hustles in Nigeria offer more than just financial stability. They foster life skills, provide value to society, and reflect the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the nation. As technology advances and the gig economy expands, side hustles are evolving from temporary income streams to potential long-term careers.
The side hustle economy is a significant aspect of Nigerian culture, with nearly one in three citizens engaging in additional jobs to supplement their primary income due to the economic challenges and rampant inflation in the country. This need for financial security has led to a diverse range of side ventures, from POS booths to cryptocurrency trading. The growth of side hustles reflects both the creativity and desire for financial independence among Nigerians, particularly the youth. Unlike older generations who favored hard-skill jobs, modern young people gravitate towards roles in technology-driven fields like digital marketing and content creation.
While these side jobs offer financial benefits and align with personal interests, they also bring challenges, including mental health strains and time management difficulties due to juggling multiple roles. Despite these challenges, many Nigerians prefer side hustles over conventional salaried positions for the sense of creative fulfillment and societal impact they offer. These ventures are becoming more than just a temporary income source; they are evolving into potential long-term careers, thanks to technological advancements and the expanding gig economy. Ultimately, side hustles are not only a means of economic stability but also avenues for cultivating life skills and embodying the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the nation.
