Working Lives – Nigerian Students Earning Cool Cash on Campus

The Comedian and Compere

Ajayi Adekola, a 300L student at Adekunle Ajasin University, explains how he turned his passion into a career that has helped him sustain a financial life in school for the past three years. 

Can we meet you? 

My name is Ajayi Adekola. I am a 300 level student of Criminology and Security Studies at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA).

I am a comedian and also an MC. I organise events on Campus through my team, South West Gold Entertainment, and I also plan and host events.

How did you start?

My special talent is how to make people around me laugh because I always see the funny side of every situation.

I started officially in 2018 with comedy skits on Instagram, and later that year, I delved into Stand Up Comedy. I hosted my first comedy event Laff O Clock with Dekola Season 1, on the 19th of October, 2018.

How do you balance work and study?

The ability to properly balance work with school depends on an individual. As for me, I study when it’s time to study, and I engage in my business when it’s also time. You have to find the right time.

Any challenge so far?

Finance is my number-one challenge. It is very hard to get someone or an organisation to sponsor your event. They would tell you to come back when the brand has become recognised and successful.

Who are your clients?

My major clients are students. Not only students of AAUA because my team and I organise events across other institutions in Nigeria.

Currently, we are hosting our Laff O Clock Comedy Tour in schools. We are planning to visit The Federal College of Agriculture, Akure.

How did your parents take this?

My parents are behind me, and in a few years, I see myself going bigger. I am talking about national and also international recognition.

How much do you earn monthly?

We don’t organise events monthly, and it’s not every month we get booked as a Compere (MC).

Let me say N15, 000.

Why Stand Up Comedy?

It is my passion turned career, and it has been supporting me financially since I was at year 1 till now that I’m at 300 level.

Follow Dekola on Instagram @dekola_cfr

The 19-year-old Student Who became an Entrepreneur Through a Truth or Dare Game  

Also Read: The Dollar Mallam Who Gets A lot of Customers After Naira Devaluation

Lolu Pinheiro was dared by his friends to become a self-taught Makeup Artist in school through consistent practice. Now he is getting contracts and jobs from editorials and brands. At 19, he looks ahead to dress the faces of his dream people. 

Can we meet you?

I am Lolu Pinheiro, a 400 level student of Zoology and Environmental Biology, at the Lagos State University.

I am a self-taught Makeup Artist. It started as a game – truth or dare game. During the game, I had called out girls for taking too much time putting on make-up, and I was dared to learn it and see how long I’d last.

I decided to give it a trial and voila it became my hobby and source of escape from all the sciences (truth be told I have always loved Arts more). I practiced for a whole year and turned my hobby into a business in 2018.

How do you balance work with study?

It is not easy at all, but I try to set my priorities. I know the period in school that I’m able to do a lot of jobs (as they come) and collaborations to get content.

Then I know when I have to put my entire focus on academics, because of exams and other things. It has become a little easier since I got to 300 level. I’m 19 years old now so I can go to a lot of places myself that I couldn’t before and make better choices, so it’s easier for me.

What are the challenges so far?

Challenges come with clients that don’t want to pay your worth because they feel “you’re still a student.”

Another challenge is the difficulty of getting essential tools and products for the business due to the high cost.

I would have said bias and unwarranted insults from backward thinking Nigerians was also a challenge, but now that doesn’t bother me because they stay ignorant while I’m thriving and happy with my art.

How did you start the business?

I started with my pocket money because my parents weren’t really into me being a make-up artist – you know African factor. They were not supportive at the beginning because they wanted me to learn hair making and styling, but over time they started to see how happy I was doing it and how good I got on my own, so they joined the train. Now they’re my biggest fans.

Who are your customers?

My major clients are brands and editorials. I also do makeups for dinner and birthday parties, and any kind of outings. I have photographers that collaborate with me.

Where do you see yourself in few years?

I see my business booming and achieved some goals I’ve set and one of which is to dress the faces of my dream people.

This would be a stepping stone to achieving my other goals in life.

How much do you make in a month?

The least I can make is N10, 000 in a month. Let’s keep the highest to ourselves. I am doing this out of interest, not really the money. Makeup business is very profitable in school.

You can follow Lola on Instagram @Loludoesmakeup

The 500-Level Student Entrepreneur Who Set Up a Firm to Sell Dried Fish

Also Read: The Lagos Dollar Mallam Who Used to Be a Porter at Kano Airport

Habeebullahi Olamilekan partnered with his friend in 2019 to set up Abibas Agro Enterprise – a registered company offering consultancy services, sale, and purchase of farm produce. Within a few months, he introduced different dried catfish packages for students and other customers. The company also helps other students make extra income. In this interview, he explains how he started and strike a balance between academics and business.

Can we meet you?

My name is Habeebullahi Faruq Olamilekan, and I am a 500 level student of Agronomy at the University of Ilorin.

I launched my company, Abibas Agro Enterprise, in September 2019, duly registered under the Corporate Affairs Corporation (CAC).

What do you offer?

My business offers consultancy services, sale, and purchase of farm produce, setting up farms and agro research. But for now, we focus more on marinated oven-dried fish.

What was the experience?

It was not easy starting the business. I partnered with a friend who is also a field researcher. We had to do menial jobs to be able to raise little capital for set up.

How did you manage to strike a balance between Business and Academics?

It has never been a problem. I have always been involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities right from my 100 level days, and till today I still have a lot under my sleeves.

The key thing is planning and time management, which I have been able to improve on over time, and it has yielded positive results.

What are the challenges so far?

We have faced several challenges along the way. The first challenge is convincing people around you to purchase your products. I think this has to do with the environment I found myself in, but the narrative seems to be changing now, thank God.

The second challenge is finance because it has limited our expansion. We need money to fund our research and commercialise the idea.

Who are your customers?

At first, our main customers were the working class because a pack of our dried catfish cost N1, 000.

Later on, we realised we need to fit into the school system. So, we came up with the student package known as “fish for all pack,” which goes for N500, and that made students our major customers.

We also source for clients using social media, personal briefings, and through student marketers.

We also helped students by giving them the product for free to sell, and after they make sales, they return the money removing their profits.

What is your parent take on the business?

My parents are aware of the business, but not in detail. They have been very supportive, and I never asked them for any funds to support the business. I just managed whatever comes as pocket money for my upkeep and academic materials.

How much do you make monthly?

It depends on the production and services rendered for that month. So, there is no fixed amount.

You can follow Olalekan on Instagram via @official_agbeloba