30 proven ways to make money online from home in Nigeria

The traditional work environment has undergone a seismic shift since the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, working remotely and making money from the comfort of your home is emerging as a dominant trend. 

According to a research, 16% of companies globally are fully remote. In another report, 95% of employers said working from home positively impacts employee retention. So working from home or remotely is a work model that has come to stay. In today’s digital age, there are numerous ways to make money online. With just an internet connection and a laptop or smartphone, anyone can start earning money from the comfort of their own home. 

Here are 30 proven ways to make money online in Nigeria:

1. Freelance writing

Freelance writing is a lucrative way to make money online if you have a flair for writing. You can make money from freelance writing by writing for blogs, websites, and other digital platforms, getting paid per article. Freelance writers can earn as much as $100 to $300 per 1000 words worth of article. Platforms where you can get freelance writing gigs include Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, ProBlogger Job Board, and Textbroker. 

2. Start a YouTube Channel

You can make money online from Nigeria as a YouTuber. Here, you create valuable content (video) and upload to your YouTube channel. When your channel grows by viewership and subscription you can monetize it with Google Adsense, affiliates products, paid sponsorships, selling merchandise, YouTube premium, and Super Features. YouTubers earn between $82 and $83,000 per month.

3. Monetise your TikTok account

Making money online through TikTok in Nigeria involves leveraging the platform's features to create engaging content and exploring various monetization options. Some of TikTok’s monetization options include selling merch, affiliates, TikTok’s creator fund, consulting and coaching, earn from likes and comments, brand ambassadorship.

4. Social media management

Many businesses are looking for professionals to help manage their digital presence. This is a good digital way to make money in Nigeria. You can apply or offer to manage social media accounts for this businesses and then use platforms like Hootsuite or Buffer to schedule posts, engage with followers, and analyze performance.

5. App development

If you can code in either of JAVA, C++, Kotlin, Swift, Flutter, Ruby and you are good at developing apps then don’t miss the opportunity of earning massively online here in Nigeria with your skills. You can develop mobile applications for individuals and businesses and earn a fee for each project. You can find recruiters who need app developers on Appinventiv, Aloa, Naked Development, TechFetch, Goji Labs, Linkedin, Stack Overflow, Gigster, Toptal, and ArcTouch.

6. Blogging

If you are a good writer, another option you can consider is blogging. You can make as much as $500 –  $1000 in a month from blogging. Choose a profitable niche, create quality and heavily researched content, then you can monetize it through advertising, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts. 

7. WhatsApp marketing

Almost everyone with a smartphone uses WhatsApp today. It has become a tool for not just personal and work but also business communication as such a lot of  people are leveraging it as a channel for making daily income. One way you can leverage WhatsApp in making money online is by starting a Whatsapp TV and using educative and entertaining content to build a large audience which you can monetize later through advertisement. Another way is using WhatsApp as a kind of CRM for selling physical products especially with Whatsapp Business. More than just a messaging app, Whatsapp can be a goldmine when properly utilized.

8. Video editing

You can create and edit videos for clients and earn a fee per project. To be good at video editing you need to master tools such as Adobe Premier Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Media Compressor. You can find recruiters for video editors on Instagram, Facebook, Working Not Working, Ladders, LinkedIn, Indeed, Fiverr, Behance, SimplyHired, and Upwork

9. Remote Virtual Assistance 

You can also offer administrative support services as a virtual assistant to earn digitally from Nigeria. Most professionals today abhor having to do both secretarial and clerical duties, so they outsource it to virtual assistants. Tasks include scheduling appointments, managing emails, and handling data entry. You can get virtual assistant jobs from Fancy hands, Zirtual, Boldly, MyTasker, Upwork, Fiverr, Magic.

10. Email marketing

Provide businesses with email marketing services and earn monthly. If you possess the skills to effectively target and persuade readers through email channels, you can generate income in dollars while working remotely. Email marketing stands out as the leading online money-making method in Nigeria, allowing you to earn from the convenience of your home.

11. Create and sell courses

By turning your expertise into a course you can earn an extra passive income. The benefit is that you create the course once and have individuals enrol and pay for it at their convenience. Platforms like Selar, Gumroad, Udemy and Teachable offer opportunities to create and sell courses in various domains like cooking, marketing, life coaching, and more. 

12. Dropshipping

Selling products without holding inventory is another lucrative way to make money online. It’s a business model that allows entrepreneurs to sell products without holding inventory. After choosing your niche, you can choose your suppliers from AliExpress, SaleHoo and Alibaba. You can then use e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or WordPress to set up your store or sell on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp. 

13. Affiliate marketing

If you have a huge online presence, you can promote your products and services for companies and earn a commission for each sale made through your referral link. You can recommend products to your audience, and get paid a particular commission once they make a purchase through you. Services like Amazon, Jumia, Namecheap and lot more offer these affiliate services.

14. Translation

Offering translation services for documents, videos, and other digital content can help you to make money online in Nigeria. Transcription service platforms like TranscribeMe or Rev pays a fee per project. You should know that transcribing audio or video content into text requires attention to detail and good typing speed.

15. Online language teaching 

If you're proficient with languages you should consider joining platforms like italki, Verbling, or Preply to teach languages to students worldwide. Make sure you create engaging lesson plans and offer personalized guidance.

16. Graphic design

As a graphics designer, you can create logos, business cards, and other graphics for clients and earn a fee per project. You can earn up to $1000 for your graphics design work, if you know how to use CorelDraw, Photoshop etc. You can apply for graphic design roles from Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, Facebook. Pitching directly to SMEs on Instagram is another way to get clients.

17. Podcast

Start a podcast and monetize it through advertising and sponsorships. To get started with podcasting, you need to identify a niche or topic that you're passionate about and that you think will appeal to your audience. Also, invest in high-quality recording equipment and software to ensure that your podcast sounds professional. You can distribute them on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. To monetize your podcast, you can leverage sponsors and advertisers or use platforms like Patreon and Ko-fi to accept donations from your listeners, and merchandise.

18. Website design

You can design and develop websites for clients and earn a fee per project. In today's digital world, every business needs to have an online presence where people can have a glimpse into what they do. This is what a Website does. Web designers can make money by making appealing, communicative and responsive websites for companies and helping them with monthly management and maintenance.

19. Voice over artist 

If you have a clean, clear and crisp voice you can earn as a voice over artist. You can market your voice acting skills on platforms like Voices.com and then make money recording voice-overs for commercials, animations, audiobooks, and more.

20. Online surveys

You can also earn by participating in online surveys. Here you get paid by sharing your opinions on a particular product more like a review. Organisations create surveys to test the credibility of a service or a product. Some paid online survey sites to earn extra money include Branded Surveys, Google Opinion Rewards, Harris Poll Online, InBoxDollars.com, LifePoints, MyPoints.com.

21. Coding

In Nigeria, coding skills have become a valuable asset for online income generation. Freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer opportunities to undertake coding projects for clients worldwide. Additionally, the growing demand for mobile applications presents a lucrative avenue for Nigerian coders to develop and sell apps. Creating and selling online coding courses on platforms like Udemy allows individuals to share their expertise while earning a steady income.

Remote full-time employment opportunities with international companies provide a stable income source for skilled developers. Engaging in open source projects not only enhances coding proficiency but also opens doors to potential collaborations and opportunities. Whether through software development, tech blogging, or remote contract work, the online coding landscape in Nigeria offers diverse channels for individuals to monetize their skills and thrive in the digital economy.

22. Self-Publish Kindle Digital Books

If you can write entertaining fiction or non-fiction, and you want to make money online from Nigeria, then you can consider authoring and publishing a digital book through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform. On each sale that’s made, you’ll earn royalties. The good thing is that you can write a poem, novel, play or educational book.

23. Become an influencer

If you have a strong social media presence in a specific niche or industry or are on your way to building one, you should consider influencer marketing. With a large following of engaged followers on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok you should start reaching out to companies that are relevant to your niche and offer to promote their products in exchange for a fee, free products, or other incentives. Endeavour to be transparent with your followers and clearly disclose any sponsored content or partnerships.

24. Forex Trading

Trading the stock market is another lucrative way to make money online from Nigeria. Here you simply buy one currency and sell while the exchange rate constantly rises and falls based on the principle of supply and demand. If you learn to be a good forex trader, you can make as much $4K+ profit a day working online.

25. Data entry

You can offer data entry services to businesses and individuals and earn a fee per project. Data entry typically involves entering data into spreadsheets, databases, or other digital formats. As a data entry specialist, you can get paid as high as $200 per project. Some platforms where you can find data entry roles include FlexJobs and MyJobMag.

26. Remote Customer Service

You can work as a remote customer service representative for companies and assist them in attending to customers via call, chat or email. Here you'll help companies to handle customer inquiries, complaints, and issues. To perform optimally, you'll need experience in customer service, as well as strong leadership and organisational skills.

27. Buy Domain Names for Resale

Some people have made dollars online by owning desired domains and selling them to intrested buyers. For a minimum investment you buy domain names you feel will be popular (typically $10 to $20), you might make a big profit selling it down the line. Some platforms where you can buy this domain name include GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google domains, Flippa, Sedo, NamePros, Afternic, Bluehost.

28. Online tutoring

Share your expertise in a subject by becoming an online tutor for students worldwide. You can offer coaching services for individuals and businesses and earn a fee per session. Teach things like yoga, mind training, sport, and even healthy exercise tips. Leverage platforms Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to share and market your services.

29. Remote IT support

If you have technical skills, offer remote IT support to individuals or businesses. Platforms like Support.com and Geeks on Site hire remote tech support professionals. Some typical responsibilities on the job include technical troubleshooting, customer communication, remote desktop access, software installation and updates and security measures.

30. Remote project management

Project management is a field that has gained significant traction, especially with the rise of remote work and the globalisation of business operations. As a project manager you'll help businesses plan projects, manage communication, delegate tasks, manage risks, handle quality control and lead teams.

Final thoughts

Making money online is a great way to compliment your earnings as an employee or as a fresh graduate or even as a student. Although it’s not a walk in the park, with consistency, diligence and right support you’ll be able to pull it through.