17 Profitable Business Ideas for NYSC Members in Nigeria

The mandatory NYSC service year offers new graduates a glimpse into the real world, with the Nigerian government providing them a monthly stipend of approximately 19,800 Naira ($65). During this period, many individuals choose to acquire new skills, while others focus solely on their assigned government jobs. Some go the extra mile to achieve remarkable accomplishments within their communities, setting themselves apart from their fellow youth corps members by the end of the NYSC service year. A few even go on to establish successful businesses that ultimately provide employment opportunities for other NYSC youth corps members. In this article, we present profitable business ideas for NYSC members in Nigeria.

Given the large number of university graduates joining the ranks of unemployed individuals each year, how can you make the most of this mandatory year of service? What should you prioritize? And, most importantly, how can you generate income during your NYSC service year? Read also 33 business ideas for students that require no investment which you can start right away.

The most popular businesses in high demand typically revolve around providing knowledge, creating wealth for others, and meeting essential human consumption needs. After extensive research and gathering feedback from students in tertiary institutions, recent graduates, and serving corps members, we have compiled a list of the most promising entrepreneurial ideas currently in high demand.

17 Profitable Business Ideas for NYSC Members in Nigeria:

1. Laundry Services

During your time at the orientation camp, you’ll encounter many fellow corps members who prefer not to wash their own clothes due to various reasons. This presents an opportunity for you to provide laundry services and earn a fee in return.

You don’t need to worry about advertising; simply wash clothes for one person, and they will spread the word to their friends.

To succeed in this business at the camp, come prepared with the knowledge that you must also iron the clothes you wash. However, electric irons are not allowed in the camp. To overcome this, you can use a charcoal pressing iron in combination with a kerosene stove.

By having these tools ready, you can make even more money by offering ironing services alone. People who wash their own clothes may still bring them to you for ironing.

2. Assisting Students with Research Projects

Writing research projects can be a daunting task for many final year university students, especially those who are not academically inclined or don’t want to risk failure. These students often outsource their projects to individuals or businesses that specialize in research project writing.

As a youth corps member, you can market your professional research project writing service to university students and dedicate a significant portion of your year to writing and delivering these projects in bulk.

With the cost of final year projects ranging from 50,000 Naira to 150,000 Naira per project, successfully completing and delivering 10 to 50 research projects priced at 50,000 Naira each during your NYSC year can generate revenues ranging from 500,000 Naira to 2,500,000 Naira.

Also Read: 24 Business Ideas You Can Start After Retirement

If you establish a wide network across universities and attract hundreds of students to entrust their final research projects to your organization, you could expand your team and earn anywhere from 3,000,000 Naira to over 10,000,000 Naira during your NYSC service year solely through writing research projects for final year students.

3. Blogging

Becoming a blogger is now easier than ever. You don’t necessarily need a laptop; a Smartphone will suffice. If you pay attention to learning the basics, blogging can be a lucrative endeavor for you as a youth corps member. Instead of simply wasting time and data online during your NYSC program, you can invest it in learning and becoming a blogger, ensuring you have something to show for your efforts.

If you have a specific area of interest or expertise—such as education, fashion, science, technology, medicine, fiction, or news—start a blog. You have a great chance of your blog becoming popular and generating substantial income sooner than you might imagine. Platforms like WordPress or Blogspot allow you to start a blog for free, giving you the opportunity to learn and work towards financial independence.

4. Buy and Sell on Online Marketplaces

Take advantage of online marketplaces such as Jumia, Konga, Payporte, and more to engage in buying and selling activities. By doing so, you can eliminate expenses related to web hosting, online advertising, website design, and other maintenance costs that can heavily impact your business. Instead, focus on acquiring and reselling sought-after products without incurring any additional costs.

To determine which products are in demand, visit Konga and assess the average number of sales for specific items. This will give you insights into what people are interested in purchasing, allowing you to cater to their needs effectively.

If you lack the funds to purchase products upfront, you can first identify the most popular items and collaborate with a business owner to showcase their products through online images. By acting as a commission-based sales broker, you can facilitate sales until you are able to afford your own inventory.

5. Start Affiliate Marketing

If you haven’t come across the concept of affiliate marketing before, let me provide a brief introduction. Affiliate marketing involves earning commissions by promoting other individuals’ or companies’ products. Given that many Nigerian youths are active on various social media platforms, affiliate marketing presents a simple business opportunity during their NYSC year. It requires no initial capital and can be initiated with the same data you use for social media activities. Simply find a product you like, promote it to your online network and beyond, and earn a portion of the profits for each sale made through your promotional efforts.

6. Establish a Food Supply Business

One business that consistently attracts customers is the food supply industry. People will always need nourishment, whether it’s through canteens, restaurants, or individuals supplying home-cooked meals to offices and other locations.

You can start a food supply business by initially targeting acquaintances who work in organizations, offering to deliver their lunches. From there, expand your services by reaching out to their colleagues, ensuring they know they can have their meals delivered every afternoon.

After gaining momentum with your friends, approach organizations to promote your services, create a website to advertise your business, and actively engage with potential customers on social media. Share visually appealing images of your delectable meals, accompanied by remarkable customer testimonials in the form of pictures or videos.

7. Start Graphic Designing

Now, let’s address undergraduate students and those awaiting admission. During holidays or while waiting for admission, you can learn graphic design software such as CorelDraw, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, or Adobe Illustrator and become a graphic designer. Even those who have already graduated and are awaiting their call-up letters can acquire this lucrative skill.

You can find direct employment opportunities or collaborate with programmers who design websites for companies and organizations. In this role, you may create logos, banners, stickers, flyers, and other graphical elements. Additionally, you might secure contracts to design business cards and brochures. With the necessary graphic design skills and a passion for creativity, you can earn a substantial income as a corper by utilizing your free time from the comfort of your accommodation or home.

8. Offer Manicure, Pedicure, and Makeup Services

In today’s world, there is a high demand for beautiful makeup and perfectly manicured nails, particularly for weekend outings among women and girls. If you possess the necessary skills, leverage social media platforms to promote your services. Print advertisements and strategically display them in your PPA (Place of Primary Assignment) and at your CDS (Community Development Service) meeting venue. Remember, the market for manicure, pedicure, and makeup services is competitive, so make sure your work stands out and captures the attention of potential clients.

9. Establish a Cleaning Service

Keeping offices and homes clean is a constant need for organizations and individuals. Many busy individuals hire professional cleaners to maintain cleanliness during their free time, while businesses often enter into long-term contracts with cleaning companies to ensure a tidy environment.

You can tap into this demand by starting your own professional cleaning service. Assemble a team of marketers, which could include fellow co-corpers, and visit various organizations to promote your corporate cleaning service. While marketing your services and distributing flyers in these organizations, you can also offer a special flyer that highlights a home cleaning package for the employees. This way, even if the organization doesn’t immediately engage your business, one of the employees may reach out to you for home cleaning services.

10. Setup a Bakery Business

The bakery industry is experiencing rapid growth in the country, driven by the increasing demand for baked goods in schools, markets, neighborhoods, and public places.

As a youth corper, you can start a small bakery business and package your products in sealed nylons. Distribute these items to individuals who sell in public places, schools, and various other locations. Some delectable treats you can bake include doughnuts, meat pies, cupcakes, and more.

Additionally, you can offer an on-demand bakery service for people celebrating birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions.

By pursuing this path, youth corpers can establish and nurture a successful bakery business during their NYSC year.

11. Start Buying and Selling Business

As a corper, you have the opportunity to engage in buying and selling activities based on the needs of the people around you. You can buy and sell items such as cosmetics, clothing, underwear, footwear, and more. You can even take it a step further by identifying items that are abundant and affordable in your Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) and transporting them to areas where they are scarce and expensive. With proper planning, you can sell these goods in those areas and make a profit.

12. Photography Business

The photography industry is thriving and offers numerous opportunities for growth. Many photographers specialize in specific niches such as lifestyle photography, wedding photography, fashion photography, and more.

People have developed a keen interest in photography, seeking professional services for events like birthdays, weddings, and more. As a youth corper, you can start as a lifestyle photographer, promoting your work effectively on social media platforms like Instagram. Over time, you can expand your services to include weddings, personal photography sessions, and more.

The success stories of renowned photographers like Emazims Photos, Godis Photos, and others who began their careers in university demonstrate the immense potential of the photography business for both new and established entrants.

13. Bead Making

Are you looking for a profitable venture during your service year? Look no further than bead making. Many corps members have found success in supplying well-crafted bead works to big boutiques and fashion shops. The possibilities with beads are endless – from necklaces and bangles to rings, bags, footwears, and even flower vases. This business can be done at your own convenience and spare time. If you lack the skill, don’t worry, you can easily get trained for it. In fact, it is highly recommended that you do.

Once you’ve honed your bead making skills, ensure your products are well-packaged and start approaching high-profile shops in your Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) for business opportunities. With persistence, you will soon establish your own company and start making impressive profits that will leave you in awe, not just during your youth service year, but beyond.

14. Home Tutoring Service

In today’s fast-paced world, home tutoring services have become increasingly popular. As a graduate, you have the opportunity to register on platforms like Prep Class, where you can be assigned to parents and their children for personalized coaching sessions. This is a convenient way to earn an income as you directly receive payment from Prep Class.

Alternatively, you can start your own home coaching service, connecting fellow corps members and teachers with parents seeking tutoring services. By bridging this gap, you contribute to the educational growth of children while generating income for yourself and others.

15. Organize Professional Trainings

Both students and organizations understand the importance of acquiring professional certifications and staying updated with industry trends; this is an opportunity for you to unleash your expertise. As a youth corps member, you can leverage your network to organize professional training programs.

Identify professionals with diverse certifications in various fields, create a comprehensive training brochure, and assemble a marketing team to promote your services to organizations and students. Highlight the quality of your instructors, their track records, and the positive impact they can make on organizational growth. By securing corporate training contracts, you can share the revenue with the instructors and build a successful venture.

Jimoh Ibrahim, an entrepreneur who executed this strategy during his NYSC service year, achieved remarkable success, earning up to 70ml Naira while his peers were struggling to find jobs paying just 10,000 Naira monthly at the time.

16. Freelance Writing

The demand for skilled and creative writers and content developers is ever-growing in the digital age; this is a platform for you to convert your words into income. Numerous websites and blogs require a constant stream of articles, and you can capitalize on this opportunity.

Register as a freelance writer on popular platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Once you’re enrolled, you’ll receive orders from blog owners and organizations. Deliver high-quality articles within the specified deadlines, and you’ll start receiving payment. The beauty of freelancing is that it offers flexibility and independence, allowing any interested corps member to dive into this field.

17. Agricultural Business

Entrepreneurs who venture into agriculture in Nigeria have witnessed the immense potential for high revenues through both local sales and exports. The country boasts rich resources, including highly-demanded products like Sesame seeds, Cassava, Snails, Poultry products, Fisheries, and more.

Consider starting a small-scale agricultural business, where you can learn the intricacies of the industry, make mistakes, and ultimately reap the rewards. As an agro-preneur, your success lies in cultivating market-ready products that align with the demands of both local and international markets.

Embrace these profitable business ideas for NYSC members in Nigeria during your service year, and unlock the potential for financial independence and personal growth for your future.