PROFITABLE BUSINESSES YOU CAN RUN AS A STUDENT AND AT SCHOOL

I believe that students of high institutions should have a positive tradition of setting-up businesses or engaging in productive (money-bringing) activities before leaving school.
This is good because they will have the opportunity to learn a whole lot, make mistakes and correct them before time. Also, when they leave school eventually and jobs are not forthcoming, the life of despair and hopelessness will not be an experience for anyone who endeavours to do this at school. Student entrepreneurship has a lot of merits and should be embraced. Hence, I have discussed below, some businesses you can start up as a student that will not affect your studies negatively. Enjoy them below.

PHOTOGRAPHY

This holds lots of opportunity for students and people in it. As a student, you could adopt this as a business and you stand to make a lot of money to cater for your school and your needs. The problem with most students is the tendency to look down on certain activities and people not  knowing that these people actually live well and are happy with their lives. I know a friend who started out his photography business while at school. Today, while most of his mates are still looking for what to do, he already has a business, a wife/a family and the things that most people desire. He runs his studio/business successfully under the brand, MEMORIES. We also know of ‘STUDIO 24’ and a whole lot of other successful photography businesses. The good thing about this business is that you can decide to leave the business after graduation to do other things or you can juggle it together with your other business(es). As a matter of fact, the popular Nigerian music artiste, the ‘The Land is Green’ crooner, TY Bello is a professional photographer and highly successful at it.

You can actually be engaged in several spheres. You can be a modelling photographer, a movie photographer, new-born photography, portrait photography and so on. With parties, shows, child dedication, house opening, projects, weddings and a whole lot of things going on, you stand to make a good living doing this business. The good thing is that you don’t need too much to start. What you need are a camera basically, and a laptop, as the case may be. However, assuming you don’t have money for these things, you can go ahead and attach yourself to an existing photographer and learn as much as you can. Where there is a will, there is a way.

TUTORING SERVICES

Students have a tendency, in some cases, to learn faster from their fellow students than their lecturers for obvious reasons. Hence, with this lacuna, it provides opportunity for smart students to eke out a living. Set up a tutorial to teach your fellow student who may be deficient in certain courses and having challenges with them, as well. You may have to join effort with fellow smart students to have this going. As these students to pay some money for the services/solutions you are offering. I can assure you that if your quality is assured, you will live well and must have created a business for yourself.

You can also take this business beyond the school and go ahead to set up preparatory extra-mural classes for students preparing for WAEC and similar examinations.

HAIR STYLIST/BARBING

This reminds of when I was a student in the university. I had this fellow who was studying law then and was also running a barbing business in the school coupled with GSM handset repairs. Now, the guy lived very well on those. Today as we speak, the hardworking young man works with the FIRS (FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE) and is doing well for himself.

Now, can you imagine someone studying law as at the time who was equally intelligent, combined that with his little business at school? The truth about it is that if he had left school and there was no job for him, he would not have felt it much because there was already businesses he had built for himself.  Do not neglect this business. It is a thing that will not disturb your studies but will consistently make money available to you. The same thing goes with running a hair stylist business. Once you are good at what you do, be rest assured of unceasing patronage and blossoming business.

INTERNET BUSINESSES/TECHNOLOGIES
The contemporary trends and developments in the internet and technologies have birthed enormous opportunities for university students. You can do a whole lot with the internet. With the internet, you can do blogging (covering different interests and passions), information marketing, affiliate businesses, domain business and so on. You can also do App development business, website designing/hosting and a much more. As I stated earlier, these activities will not impede your studies. Try and explore this area and you will be glad you did. People have built businesses that run in millions of dollars with little or no start up business.  The popular Linda Ikeji built her multimillion naira blogging business with a free blog and has been able to do what is only a dream to most people. My friend, internet is a reliable source of sustainable business. Explore it fast and you will be glad you did.

ARTISANSHIP

Most people do not know that where there is dirt, there is money there. I think our educational system is consistently churning out individuals who are proud (haughty) and not willing to dirty their hands to make money for themselves. Unfortunately, many of them leave school and end up working for the same people and possibly businesses they looked down on. Why not embrace a handiwork or skill and make something out of it. I remember a friend Honourable John. While at school, he was doing electrical wiring works and borehole drilling. John was a ‘big boy’, as we sayh in the local parlance and was able to build a business for himself before leaving. John went ahead to become a councillor in his place an is still on course for higher political positions. Now, while some, if not most of his mates may still be looking for what to do and are in a state of despair, he is already stable. My brother, my sister, do something today for yourself. Money does not say where it was made from and when you lack it, you lack confidence and lack worth. Go ahead and learn electrical works, tiling, plumbing, aluminium roofing/aluminium window works, modern painting, etc.

OTHER things you can do as a student is printing, graphic designing, fashion business, entertainment, use of your talent etc. if you can plan well, you can do a whole lot! Also, note that the ideas mentioned here are not the only businesses you can do as a student. Let your imagination run wide and you can see that you can do much.

Finally, I think the follow up to this post will be features on Nigerians who started their businesses from school and have done very well with them. Keep tabs with this blog. Please, do leave your comments below.