How to sponsor your university education in Nigeria

Education is the most valuable asset a person could have as it opens you up to a world of opportunities. Some may argue that you do not need a university degree to succeed in life, but realistically speaking, you are more likely to make it in life with a university degree than without. Education is the reason why so many people are living good lives, and it’s expected that everyone should chase it in their youth. 

However, it is not enough to want to attain a university degree, you also need to be able to afford it. Not everyone has parents or guardians to assist them. With federal universities increasing tuition fees, it has made it much harder for the poor to pursue higher education. If you are someone who has to rely on yourself to fund your education, attaining a university degree may seem daunting. It may be hard and you’ll have to stretch yourself thin, juggling both studying and making money, but it is not impossible. There are various ways you can work and sponsor yourself in Nigerian universities, you just have to try. In this article, I will outline some of the ways you can sponsor yourself in university.

Ways to sponsor your university education in Nigeria

1. Apply for student loans

The new student loan bill approved by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu allows students that have been admitted into higher institutions to apply for interest-free loans that will cover tuition.

Since the loan will only cover tuition fees, you will need to look for other means to source funds to cover accommodation and feeding.

2. Apply for scholarships

There are several scholarship opportunities offered to the less privileged and academically excellent in Nigeria, including government institutions, non-governmental organizations, and private foundations. Some scholarships cover only tuition fees, while others may cover everything including accommodation, books and living expenses, so if you’re able to bag one of these, attaining a university degree will be much easier. Make sure to research each of the scholarship opportunities, assess the eligibility and apply on time. 

3. Develop money and time management skills

Unless you manage to find a scholarship that covers everything including tuition, books, accommodation and living expenses, you will always be short on money and staggering to create time to balance both studying and trying to earn money. This is why it is important to develop excellent time and money management skills. 

There are several ways you can go about this. You should first try to create a budget and timetable that you should stick to no matter what. Set priorities and make sure to allocate time for both studying and making money. Save time and money by learning to say no to outings with friends, save money by cooking yourself instead of buying food, and get some much-needed exercise by trekking to school. There are so many ways you can save money, but you will have to prioritize. If cooking takes too much away from the time spent working and doing other things, then it may be better for you to buy food even if it is more expensive. 

4. Start a business

There are businesses you can start with little or no capital that can help you support your studies. Choose a profitable niche to stick to and build expertise on it. Since you are a student and will most likely interact with other students frequently, choose products catered to their needs and market it to them. For example, you can decide to sell books, stationeries, food items and clothing items that students buy frequently. 

5. Learn a trade

Learning a vocational skill is a great way to earn money to fund your university education. Before deciding on a vocation to learn, research your university and its environment to figure out what will be the most profitable. Focus on marketing your services to other students and learn a skill that will be in high demand. 

Learning to plait or barb hair is one of the best options since every student will require this service. 

6. Try freelancing and online jobs

The internet opens us up to a world of opportunities. If you have profitable skills like writing, coding, transcribing, or virtual assistance, then you can easily make money online. Various foreign and local companies hire remote workers, so make sure to research and apply and you may find luck with one of them. 

Recommended: Best freelancing websites for Nigerians

7. Look for part-time jobs

It may be hard to find part-time jobs as a student in Nigeria, but if you try hard enough you may find something reasonable. Try to look for jobs within trekking distance from your school. 

If possible, try to find jobs within your school. Reach out to your institution’s student affairs department or the administration to see if there are available positions. If there is none, still show interest and request updates if any becomes available. 

8. Tutor your peers

It pays to be a good student and you can make money from it. There will always be those who fall behind in their academics, and you can take advantage of this. Tutoring your peers and juniors for money is one of the best ways to earn money on campus. It will help you gain a better grasp of your courses and earn money along the way. You can even make money by selling the notes that you compile and study guides that you draft. 

9. Study part-time

Though not very popular, there are many part-time study options in Nigerian universities. Enrolling in full-time programs may put you in a tight spot since you will need to juggle both studying and earning money. But studying part-time will give you ample time to work while studying.

However, you should keep in mind that you will have to spend more years in school than your counterparts in full-time programs. 

10. Opt for online study

Studying online is not only convenient, but it will help you save time and money. Distance learning and online studies have been incorporated into Nigerian universities, the most notable of which is the National Open University. Other universities that offer online courses include Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, the University of Ibadan, Lagos State University, the Federal University of Technology Minna, etc. 

By studying online, you won’t have to spend money on transport fares, and you will have more time to yourself to work and earn money. 

Conclusion

Balancing work and study is a dangerous endeavor because if you’re not careful you may end up in a bind. Spending too much time working instead of studying will cause you to do badly in school which is the reason you are working so hard to earn money in the first place. But spending too much time on your studies instead of working will leave you short on money, and in that case, you can not complete your studies. 

Regardless, do not be discouraged because as long as you plan well, work hard and drive away all distractions you will accomplish your goals. You need to keep in mind that you’re different from other students, so fun time will need to be kept to a minimum, however, do not overwork yourself. Create time to go out and have fun and create lasting memories with your peers.