In 2025, your smartphone is your biggest money-making tool. Inflation, job uncertainty, and the rising cost of living have turned side hustles from “extra” into “essential,” and the smartest ones are happening entirely online.
The best part? You don’t need to quit your 9–5 or invest millions. You just need internet access, a bit of skill, and a willingness to put in the work. Below are 10 profitable side hustles that Nigerians are running from their phones right now, each with practical steps to get started.
1. AI Prompt Engineering & Chatbot Customisation
The rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini has created a brand-new digital job market. Businesses want customised prompts that improve productivity, marketing, and customer interaction, and they’re willing to pay for it.
What you’ll do: Create and sell ChatGPT or Claude prompt packs tailored to different industries (e.g. content creators, small businesses, customer service). You can also offer chatbot setup or customisation services for companies that want to integrate AI into their workflow.
How to start:
- Learn prompt engineering: experiment with different prompts to see what output you get.
- Identify a niche (e.g., content creators, small e-commerce shops, service providers).
- Create a sample prompt pack (e.g., “100 prompts for Instagram Reels for Lagos travel influencers”) and promote it on social media or sell it via Gumroad/Selar.
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: AI tools are still novel. Many local businesses still don’t know how to use them yet. This gives you a high-value niche.. A human-in-the-loop AI consultant is far cheaper than hiring a full-time team, creating a massive local demand for this skill.
2. Remote Tech Support / App Testing
As more startups expand globally, they often need testers and tech support representatives but cannot afford to hire full-time staff. Nigerians with solid communication skills or basic IT knowledge can help fill this gap.
These startups regularly look for real users to test their websites and mobile apps for bugs, usability, and overall user experience (UX) before launching. As a tester, you’ll get paid to explore an app or website, share your thoughts, and document any issues you find.
What you’ll do: Offer remote troubleshooting, software testing, or user experience reviews for startups abroad. You can find gigs on websites like Upwork, Testbirds, or UserTesting.
How to start:
- Register on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr under “App testing”, “User feedback”, “Remote tech support”.
- Build a mini portfolio: test apps you have, write short reports (“Here’s what I found”).
- Target early-stage tech companies, particularly those operating in African markets (your context is invaluable).
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: Global companies want diverse, non-US/EU feedback. Nigerian testers provide valuable insights on user experience in regions with varying internet speeds and unique cultural/local user needs, making it a high-demand niche.
3. Automation Consulting
Nigerian businesses are adopting digital tools like Zapier, Airtable, and Notion to automate repetitive tasks. However, many still struggle to set them up effectively.
This is where automation consultants come in. They help businesses and agencies connect various tools, such as Google Forms, email, CRMs, and accounting software, so that data can move automatically between them. Using no-code platforms like Zapier or Airtable, you can help businesses automate various aspects of their operations, such as design systems that handle orders, send follow-up messages, and manage customer information without requiring manual input.
How to start:
- Learn tools like Zapier, Airtable, and Notion via free tutorials.
- Identify a client pain-point (“I spend hours copying WhatsApp orders into Excel”), then build a simple automation (“WhatsApp → Airtable → Google Sheets automatically”).
- Charge a setup fee + optional monthly maintenance.
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: As businesses scale, manual operations become impossible. Automation side hustles provide the exact solution, but with a low supply in the local market, you become the go-to.
Related: 15 Remote Job Platforms Nigerians Are Using to Earn in Dollars
4. Online Tutoring
Tutoring remains one of the oldest and now, most digitised side hustles in Nigeria. Parents are moving online for extra classes, and young learners are taking virtual lessons to prepare for exams or develop tech skills.
What you’ll do: Leverage platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or dedicated local sites to teach in-demand skills or academic subjects. This includes local curricula (such as JAMB and WAEC) and global skills (such as coding, digital marketing, and graphics design, among others).
How to start:
- Choose your subject (e.g., Core Maths, English, Graphic Design).
- Create lessons and select a platform (e.g., WhatsApp group, Zoom, Telegram).
- Set a schedule and price per session.
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: The desire for better education and relevant skills is constant. Online tutoring eliminates the high cost of transportation and offers flexible scheduling for both tutors and students, aligning with the “hustle culture.”
5. Digital Course Creation
If you’re skilled in something, whether it’s fashion illustration, Excel, or copywriting, you can turn that knowledge into an online course or digital product.
What you’ll do: Package your expertise into recorded video lessons, e-books, or template bundles that people can buy anytime. It’s a simple way to earn passive income: create once, sell multiple times.
How to start:
- Pick a niche where you have experience. Identify a skill you have that others want
- Create a minimum viable product (MVP) by recording 4-8 modules using your smartphone and simple worksheets.
- Host on e-learning platforms such as Selar, Teachable, Paystack or your own website.
- Market via social media, build a wait-list, and launch.
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: Nigerians are hungry for skills to secure remote work. Selling courses online and templates directly addresses this demand, and local payment platforms make transactions easy and convenient.
6. Social Media Management & Consulting
Social media is no longer optional; every business needs an active online presence. Yet, most small brands lack the time or expertise to post consistently and engage their audiences.
That’s where social media managers and consultants come in. You can handle content creation, engagement, and ads for small or mid-sized Nigerian or international businesses, or focus on strategy, helping them plan and optimise their online presence without managing daily posts.
What you’ll do: Run social accounts, content calendars, and community engagement for small brands, influencers or service businesses.
How to start:
- Target a small, local business and offer a free/cheap 1-month trial to build a case study.
- Offer paid packages, i.e., 20 posts per month across various social platforms.
- Learn to use scheduling tools (Buffer, Later) and content creation apps (Canva, CapCut) on your phone and track metrics.
- Position yourself as an expert in social media management in Nigeria.
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: Every brand needs a digital face. Business owners lack the time and skill, creating a vast and constant local demand for skilled managers.
7. YouTube Vlogging
YouTube remains one of the best long-term side hustles for Nigerians who can create engaging content. There’s an audience for everything.
What you’ll do: Create videos on topics you’re passionate about (finance, lifestyle, diaspora experiences) and monetise via ads, sponsorships, and affiliate links.
How to start:
- Select a topic that you enjoy and that holds the audience’s interest.
- Use your phone to shoot; edit on mobile apps.
- Post consistently (1-2 videos/week). Build community: ask questions, invite subscribers.
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: Nigeria has a growing, mobile-first population that heavily consumes video content. A thriving creator economy means brands are constantly looking for local influencers and creators for partnerships.
8. Remote Community Management
This involves managing online communities for both local and international companies. Many businesses now thrive on active digital communities and require individuals who can keep conversations lively, support members, and foster genuine excitement around their products or services.
What you’ll do: Moderate & engage community members on platforms like Discord, Telegram & Slack for tech startups, Web3 projects or online brands, representing the brand’s voice.
How to start:
- Join remote-jobs boards looking for community moderators.
- Prepare sample community plan: engagement schedule, content prompts, KPIs (e.g., active users/month).
- Offer service: “I will grow your Telegram group from 0 to 500 active users in 3 months”.
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: The skills required (high-quality written English, soft skills, and time zone flexibility) are abundant in Nigeria, offering a pipeline of skilled, English-speaking talent for a globally in-demand role.
9. Mobile Photography & Videography
With just a smartphone, many Nigerians are turning photography and videography into a serious source of income. The real secret is creativity, sharp editing, and relentless consistency.
What you’ll do: Monetise high-quality visuals created entirely with a modern smartphone camera. This includes product shoots for small businesses, real estate photography and video, or creating stock content.
How to start:
- Build a portfolio: shoot 2-3 free/low-cost gigs to get experience and sample clips.
- Offer photography or short-form video services.
- Edit using apps like Lightroom Mobile or CapCut.
- Use Instagram and TikTok to showcase before-and-after editing and behind-the-scenes content.
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: The event market is vast, and content marketing is key for businesses. Many clients are happy with smartphone shots if delivery and editing are good.
10. Newsletter Curation
The newsletter boom is here. Nigerian creators are leveraging their insights to generate subscription income. Whether it’s financial news analysis, politics, tech trends or lifestyle, niche email newsletters are quietly growing.
What you’ll do: Write a niche newsletter (finance, tech updates, lifestyle tips) and monetise through a paid subscription tier.
How to start:
- Choose your niche and audience.
- Choose a platform like Substack, Mailchimp, or Beehive.
- Publish once a week. Offer a free version & a premium version.
- Promote via Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and Instagram stories.
Why it works in Nigeria 2025: Information overload is high. Nigerians are willing to pay a small fee for someone to filter out the noise and deliver high-quality, actionable, and locally relevant insights (especially in finance and technology).
What Makes a Side Hustle Profitable in Nigeria (2025)
The definition of “profitable” goes beyond just the price tag. In the current economic climate, the most profitable side hustles in Nigeria share a few core characteristics:
1. Low Overhead, High Margin: Digital hustles inherently win because they require almost no physical office space, generator fuel, or large inventory. The primary overhead is just internet data and electricity (or charging).
2. Global or Dollar Earning Potential: Earning in a stable foreign currency acts as an immediate shield against Naira devaluation, making the income significantly more valuable than the equivalent in local currency.
3. Scalability: The hustle shouldn’t depend only on your time. Digital courses, pre-made templates, and automated consulting models allow you to serve 100 clients almost as easily as one.
4. In-Demand Skill: Profitability depends on solving a critical problem for a client. In Nigeria, the essential needs are saving time (automation), acquiring skilled labour cheaply (AI, remote support), and selling more effectively (social media, content creation).
How to Start Your First Online Side Hustle
Starting is often the most challenging part. Follow these five simple, actionable steps to transition from reading to earning:
1. Pick a Niche You Can Sustain: Don’t chase the money alone. Choose a hustle that aligns with a skill you already have or one you are genuinely interested in learning. This passion will fuel your consistency when the going gets tough.
2. Learn or Refine a Skill: Dedicate time to mastering your craft. Use free platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn Learning, or Udemy to acquire just enough skill to land your first client. The goal is competence, not certification.
3. Build a Small Online Presence: Create a professional profile on one platform (LinkedIn, Upwork, or Twitter). Your profile is your digital CV. Showcase your work with a concise and professional portfolio.
4. Start Small and Scale Over Time: Offer your services to your first 2–3 clients at a discounted rate (or even free) in exchange for detailed, written testimonials. This helps you build your initial portfolio and confidence to charge full price. This is the surest way to start a side hustle in Nigeria.
5. Track Income and Reinvest: Track every naira earned and spent. Reinvest a portion of your first earnings into better tools (a small ring light, faster Wi-Fi, a premium subscription to a tool) or into visibility (running a small ad or paying for a consultation). This is the secret to making money online sustainably.
Bottom Line
Nigerians are actively redefining the side hustle economy. By embracing the digital revolution, the nation’s resourceful youth are transforming inflation and economic hardship into a powerful incentive to learn globally relevant, high-income skills.
The opportunities listed above are a direct response to the economic realities of 2025. They empower you to bypass traditional employment barriers and participate in the global economy from the comfort of your own home.
