How mastering no-code tech skills improved the livelihood of these 5 university students

No one really prepares you for the financial reality of being a university student in Nigeria. Beyond lectures, assignments, and great CGPAs, there is the constant pressure of transport fares, data subscriptions, project materials, rent, and sometimes even supporting family members. 

For many students, the struggle is not just to graduate, but to survive school without becoming a burden to their parents or guardians.

In the midst of these is a growing number of students finding their way into the digital economy. Not by learning how to code or spending years studying technical courses, but by mastering no-code tech skills like social media management, video editing, graphics design, digital marketing, content strategy, and content creation. 

Some started during ASUU strikes, some started out of curiosity, and others simply started because an opportunity appeared. But today, their stories show how one decision to learn a skill can completely change a student’s university experience.

To understand how this shift is playing out in real life, we spoke to five university students who are using no-code tech skills to change their financial realities. 

Their stories are not just about tech; they are about survival, growth, resilience, and what it means to take control of your future while still in school.

Read also: Top 10 social media platforms for women building in tech in 2026

Ivy Elebesunu — Content Strategist

Ivy Elebesunu is a 400-level student of Economics from the University of Lagos who is also a content strategist. Her journey of learning started when she was handling her mum’s social media pages.

What began as simply posting content gradually turned into an interest in understanding how content works, how data influences creativity, and how brands communicate online. In school, she once volunteered as a graphics designer for a community, and at some point, she realised she wanted to merge data analytics with creativity, which led her into content strategy.

She explained that she took digital marketing courses on Coursera and Google to understand social media and marketing better, and she continued learning because she believed in constantly improving herself. 

However, combining school, a professional exam at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and work in her early university years was extremely stressful, and time management became one of her biggest challenges. Despite the stress, earning her own money changed her life significantly. 

“I wasn’t broke, but I was bothered about having clarity on how to earn well after school. I needed to ensure that I had the right skills to build a career after school. Having my own money has given me financial freedom, and I can afford the comfort I want when I want it,” Ivy said.

More importantly, it gave her clarity about her career path after school. From her content strategy work, she has earned over $10,000 as a student.

Her advice to other students is that earning while in school is possible, but it requires prioritisation and discipline. Students must learn how to manage their time, set priorities, and focus on what truly matters if they want to succeed in both school and work.

Adebowale Daniel — UI/UX Designer

Adebowale Ifeoluwa Daniel discovered design in 2021 when he was introduced to the Canva app during an internship at an agritech company in Ibadan. 

He already had a love for design, so when he saw an opportunity to learn through a free class, he took it seriously and later paid for advanced classes to improve his skills.

Over time, his design journey grew beyond freelancing. He became an official Canva Ambassador, was nominated for the Canva Community Awards, mentored over 3,000 people, and co-hosted the first Canva Summit for African Canva designers. What started as learning a skill turned into a career and a global community.

As a 400-level student of Agricultural Economics at Obafemi Awolowo University, he earns between $1,000 and $1,500 monthly from freelancing and his full-time role. He admitted that balancing school and work is very difficult and that sometimes one has to suffer, but he focuses on managing his time and prioritising tasks.

According to him, the biggest change was the power to make choices. Earning his own money meant he could go for what he wanted and knew that even if he could not afford something immediately, he would be able to afford it soon. 

“Do the work now. It’s better if you start while you’re still in school, with less pressure for you. Especially if you have parents who still send you money. For me from the beginning of my university days, I sponsored myself, even while being a complete newbie in Tech. I paid my acceptance fee of N100,000 in 100 level. Don't wait till you’re done with school, start now,” Daniel advised.

Yetunde Ogunmola — Social Media Manager

Yetunde Ogunmola did not start her journey by taking a formal course. Instead, someone noticed her consistency online — how she posted regularly and wrote consistently — and allowed her to manage social media for a brand. That opportunity became her entry point into social media management.

As she gained experience, she later took a course to improve her skills, which helped her grow into managing social media for startups and NGOs. While still studying French at the University of Ilorin, she was earning between ₦60,000 and ₦200,000 monthly from social media management.

She explained that balancing school and work was exhausting at times, and there were moments she felt confused and tired. However, the income helped her pay part of her tuition and rent, reducing the financial pressure she faced as a student funding herself through school.

Beyond the money, she said the experience gave her independence, confidence, professional skills, and taught her how to manage deadlines and client expectations. 

Her advice to other students is not to wait for opportunities but to create them, start early, build practical skills, and gain experience before graduating.

Theophilus Oyedenu — Creative Videographer & Editor

Theophilus Oyedenu’s journey into videography started during the ASUU strike in 2022, when he decided to learn video editing at EditSpace Africa. After the training, he was selected for an internship, and that opportunity became the turning point in his career.

Although he studied Zoology at the University of Lagos, a course completely different from videography, he continued to build his skills and take on projects. He explained that being a creative professional exposed him to rooms and opportunities he would never have accessed if he had stayed strictly within his academic field. 

Through videography, he met high-profile individuals, expanded his network, and began to see life differently.

By his 300-level, he had secured a job with a top real estate company in Lagos while still freelancing on the side. From videography and editing, he has made millions of naira, which he uses to fund his life and support his family.

He believes the journey shaped him beyond money, teaching him confidence, exposure, and how to handle pressure. His story shows how a skill learned during a strike can completely redefine a student’s future.

Joseph Riches — Content Creator & Digital Marketer

Joseph Riches started learning video content creation and digital marketing out of curiosity. She wanted to understand how people created clean videos and how they sold products online, so she began by watching free tutorials and practising consistently before investing in paid classes to improve her skills.

Over time, she started working with clients, handling projects, and building a portfolio. She earns through freelancing, affiliate marketing, selling digital products on Selar, and working with companies. In total, she has earned between $461 and ₦400,000 from her digital skills while studying Business Administration at Yaba College of Technology.

She explained that balancing school and work was difficult at first, but once she created a schedule and learned to prioritise, it became manageable. The income helped solve most of her financial needs and reduced the pressure that comes with being a student.

She said earning her own money made her more confident, disciplined, and intentional about her future. 

Her advice to other students is to start small, stay consistent, and not wait to be perfect before starting. According to her, the first client comes from visibility, not perfection, and skills can completely change a student’s life.

Read also: 10 female-led platforms to learn and master tech skills in 2026