The street perspectives on side hustle

In Nigeria's vibrant streets, the concept of side hustling has become an integral part of daily life. From market vendors to entrepreneurs, individuals are embracing multiple income streams to make ends meet. But what do some Nigerians think about the importance of side hustles? In this article, we capture the candid perspectives of four individuals on the streets, who are students of The University of Ilorin, Nigeria. sharing their thoughts on the necessity of side hustles in Nigeria today.

The first person I spoke to was Adebisola, she sells plantain chips and she shared her thoughts on the importance of side hustle. Saying it helps her get extra income for upkeep asides the one she gets from home. So it's best if you work to get more money that can be sufficient to get exactly what you need. 

The next person I talked to was Abdulmalik. He runs a gas shop. In his words, “when you have a side hustle, you won't lack money.” He added that the people who should take side hustles seriously the most are the ladies. Saying, there comes a time in life, whereby they will no longer be able to call home for some basic things like sanitary pads, data subscription and the likes. It helps them to be financially stable, not having to depend on their parents or anyone to get the things they need.

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Next up was Atinuke. A social media manager and marketer and runs a small business alongside as a side hustle. She stated that it helps her settle emergency funds and sort out needs. Which also helps her to not depend on anyone when the need arises. So for Atinuke, side hustle is more than just money; it’s also about the independence that comes with it. 

Additionally, I spoke with Olamide. Who makes and sells popcorn. He mentioned that he hates the ideology of depending on mom and dad to sort the needs everytime. He uses the income he makes from his business to support himself in school.

From everything they've mentioned, I'll be talking about three important reasons why you should have a side hustle in Nigeria today.

First off, Nigeria’s economy today requires that you have a stream of income if you truly want to survive the hardship. Side hustle saves you the stress of having to worry about whether or not money is coming from home. It saves you the embarrassment of having to borrow from friends to feed and pay for your upkeep.

Side hustle keeps you sane as a Nigerian student. Take for instance, the tuition fees for both private and federal universities are now higher. Not every family is financially buoyant, some are still struggling to pay off tuition fees. The parents don't even know where and how to get the money for feeding, let alone projects and practicals in the school. In order to be sane, it's best you have something you can bank on for survival and to pay off little debts without having to call home or uncles and aunts.

Finally, Side hustles help you live a better life as a student. Being in a Nigeria school is enough stress, you need side hustles to live a soft life while on campus. We have heard cases of some students who ended their lives just because of how life is hard for them on campus. They have forgotten that they can actually start small and if they are diligent with their businesses, it'll boom.

In conclusion, having listened to these individuals speak about their side hustles; it has stirred up the spirit to make ends meet within me. So, I'll no longer have to call home everyday to survive. It makes me want to dive into something for myself

and see how it'll go.