Being a broke student will humble you. We asked Nigerians about the wildest things they did for money as students. These accounts held nothing back.
“I briefly dated an older man.” — Gift*, 22, F
The wildest thing I’ve done for money was join a sugar daddy website. I was a 200-level nursing student, had just turned 20, and money was tight. I’m very extravagant by nature, and around that time, I’d just lost one of my major copywriting clients. So when things got tough, I figured, why not?
I went on exactly one date. The man gave me ₦100,000, but the whole time I just sat there irritated. He was older than my dad. Being with a sugar daddy wasn’t giving what I’d seen on TV at all. I left thinking, nah, I’m not doing this again. After that, I went back to what I knew. I cold-DMed more potential clients to rebuild my copywriting income, and I dabbled in web3 around the same time. Looking back now, I definitely laugh about it. It’s an experience worth sharing.
“I sold my eggs for ₦200k.” — Christiana, 20, F*
In April (2026), I went home for the holidays, thinking about how to get money to sort my bills at school. Then my friend started talking about egg donation, and I thought, why don’t I do it too?
When I asked her for details, she hesitated, assuming I was underage and didn’t want to give me the information. After proving I wasn’t, I got the details of the hospital and went to donate. The process involved taking shots for seven days. Nothing about it caught me off guard; I’m a 300-level medical student, so I knew exactly what I was signing up for.
I was paid ₦200,000. I added it to the money I’d made from working and used it to pay rent and buy school supplies. I don’t regret it at all. I basically used a part of my body to help people who are trying to conceive, and the money helped me too. Would I do it again? Surely. If only I could find a hospital that pays higher.
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“School was basically a side hustle for me.” — Jaja*, 26, M
I had a full-time 9-5 at a furniture company during my 300-level, while studying theatre arts at Unilag. And I mean actual full-time with a whole pension account and everything. My employer knew I was a student, so whenever I had tests or presentations, I just needed to let them know. My parents knew I had a job, but they didn’t really mind. They were even happy.
I was earning ₦120k, going to the office three times a week and school twice. Did they clash? Definitely, but the only reason I could pull it off is that I knew what I was doing academically. I could miss classes, get notes, and still understand a course. I even used to teach people in school then. School was basically a side hustle for me. I already knew what I wanted to do with my life.
I left the job after four months because the workplace was toxic. If not, I might have stayed longer.
“I waited for my monies to start coming in. Nothing came o.” — Ronke*, 25, F
One time in 200 level, I was strapped for cash, so I did blood magic. I’d seen a TikTok about how you could use your period blood to “work for you” by just speaking your intentions. I was supposed to write my wishes on a paper (while saying them out loud), drop my period blood on it and then burn the paper. I did that when I was alone in my hostel and went to sleep, waiting for my money to start miraculously appearing.
Nothing came. In fact, I got more broke. I couldn’t afford data or even ordinary ₦100. It was that bad. I’m never doing it again. I don’t want to go and invoke one entity, abeg.
*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.
PS: If you’re a student reading this, you can relate to being broke. That doesn’t mean you should stay broke. At the Naira Life Conference, you’ll get the opportunity to start your wealth-building game early and meet experts who have already walked the paths you’re treading right now. Student discounts are available right now. Secure a seat in the room today.
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