The reality in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions today is a clear reflection of how tough the economy has become. Back in the day, parents could afford to send their children off to school with bags of food, provisions, clothes, books, laptops, and even basic home items to make life on campus comfortable.
But those days are gone. Now, beyond the soaring cost of school fees, textbooks and other academic expenses, many parents can barely provide the essentials for their children. This has forced students to take survival into their own hands, and one of the most common strategies is hustling through small businesses right inside the campus.
Walk into lecture halls today and you’ll find students with bags not just filled with books, but with biscuits, sweets, chewing gum, and even stationery. These items aren’t for personal use — they are for sale. The little money made helps them feed, buy handouts, and cover day-to-day expenses.
For some, this hustle is born out of painful circumstances. Miss Kate Momoh, a Mass Communication student, said she started selling snacks in class after losing her father, who was her main sponsor. With her mother in poor health and little support from extended family, she turned to selling biscuits, gum, and stationery to survive on campus.
Another student, Sadiq Ekhei, shared how he struggled in his first year because his parents could only afford tuition. Luckily, his baking skills became his saving grace. He now sells puff-puff, chin-chin, and fish rolls around campus to sustain himself. Though challenging, he says it’s far better than the suffering he endured in his 100 level.
Lecturers too have taken notice. Mr. Jubril Oleighe, a lecturer, praised these students for their resilience. He acknowledged that while the hustle can be a distraction, many of them still excel because they put in extra effort to balance business with academics. According to him, in today’s harsh economy, it is commendable that students choose legitimate hustles over destructive shortcuts like prostitution or fraud.
The situation paints a picture of determination and survival. It also shows how Nigeria’s struggling economy has reshaped the lives of students, forcing them to become not just scholars, but hustlers, entrepreneurs, and fighters for their own future.
