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Faced with soaring living costs, uncertain job prospects and fierce competition for internships, they launch small ventures ranging from digital services and tutoring to food delivery and handcrafted goods during the six-month pre-service interval.

Early income helps cover rent, transport and registration fees while building industry-relevant skills in marketing, customer relations and money management. It also provides seed capital for businesses that continue through service and beyond.

By converting skills and passions into profitable projects before donning the NYSC cap, these graduates gain financial resilience and practical experience that set them apart.

ALSO READ: 5 lucrative businesses you can start during your NYSC programme

1. Covering up-front NYSC expenses

Travel to relocation camps, uniform purchase and administrative fees often exceed initial allowances. Side hustles in web design, trade supplies or content creation generate the cash needed to settle in without accruing debt.

Those who sell branded apparel or offer campus photography services often recoup registration costs within weeks.

2. Turning portfolios into proof of competence

Employers and placement officers value demonstrated ability. Graduates who complete freelance graphic design projects or manage e-commerce storefronts showcase real results rather than theoretical class assignments.

A student who completes paid social-media campaigns for local brands arrives at camp with a verified track record.

3. Acquiring client-facing skills under pressure

Handling live orders teaches service mindset fundamentals. Pre-service entrepreneurs negotiate with vendors, resolve delivery challenges, and respond to payment disputes.

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A graduate running a mobile laundry service learns to optimize pick-up routes and communicate effectively, skills that are immediately transferable to NYSC team assignments.

4. Building cross-regional networks before deployment

Online side hustles connect graduates with clients and mentors in cities where they may be posted. A freelance translator based in Lagos might secure Nigerian clients in Abuja or Port Harcourt, creating referral channels that support business continuity when relocated.

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5. Seeding ventures that operate through service

Many continue their side hustle as a micro-enterprise during NYSC. A graduate who launches a petty-trading business in electronics accessories uses service-year stipends to replenish stock at scale, transforming a short-term project into a sustainable income stream.

6. Validating ideas with immediate feedback

The limited pre-service period forces rapid market testing. Graduates experiment with pricing, product mix and promotional channels on social media.

An aspiring baker might sell experimental recipes via WhatsApp and adjust ingredients based on early orders, refining their model before full launch.

7. Cultivating adaptability for unpredictable postings

Adapting to rate changes, supply shortages or client cancellations mirrors the challenges of life in new NYSC locations.

Graduates who pivot from food delivery to virtual tutoring when fuel prices spike demonstrate the flexibility and problem-solving mindset essential for success in any environment.

By embracing side hustles early, Nigerian graduates transform a waiting period into an incubator for income, skills and professional growth.

These ventures help buffer against economic uncertainty and also lay a strong foundation for success during NYSC and in post-service careers.

EXPLORE: What’s next after NYSC – How to ace the labour market

Initiative for Leadership Development and Change (ILDC), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), says the Federal Government’s ban on foreign goods

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