By Babatunde Emmanuel

Being a student is not just about academic pursuits. It comes with responsibilities, decisions and actions that prepare an individual for the future ahead.

Imagine Bola, a 100-level student of the University of Ibadan, with a test the next morning and an order due the following afternoon. She has to spend part of the night preparing and packaging the order while finding time to study for her test.

This reality is not farfetched for many students on campus who are balancing academics with a side hustle.

Everyone Starts Somewhere

In all things, the energy to take the bold step that launches a person into a new era is what matters. Most people are not where they should be because they lack the courage to take a crucial step that can turn things around.

Sometimes, the turnaround comes when you take the step of seeking, learning and improving your creativity through daily practice and research.

For Akeredolu Joshua, a 400-level student and CEO of GBT Luxury Footwears, the journey into leatherwork, particularly shoemaking, started about two years ago.

“I started shoe making about 2 years ago when I was in 200 level and currently I’m in 400 level,” he stated.

“I enrolled to a shoe making training centre because I really had a passion for shoe making and I decided to pick it up as a hand skill and a way of becoming financially independent. I had a highly experienced teacher who taught me shoe making while being a student,” he added.

Barakat Omowunmi, a 300-level student of the Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, and CEO of Luminous Pearl, discovered her interest in beading during her 100-level days.

According to her, learning a hand skill requires deliberate effort and intentionality. Finding someone to teach her also proved difficult.

“I started beading at 100 level and my 100 level days were more of a learning process because I figured out that I love beaded artistry when I was in 100 level,” she said.

“I looked for someone to teach me but I couldn’t find any. The only person I found then was a final year student who does a lot of beadwork but she had a lot of things to do then so she said she won’t be able to teach me.

“So instead of waiting for her, I took it upon myself to learn on YouTube. So I learnt a lot of things regarding beading through YouTube and I also learnt from watching people’s works on other social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok,” she further explained.

She said learning also required her to experiment and practise beading, using her personal finances to purchase materials. She has continued to improve her skills over time.

“During my learning process in 100lvl, I had to use my first capital to purchase some beading materials in order to experiment with it,” she added.

For Fatimoh Akinpelu, a 300-level student in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ibadan and founder of Zahroh Hooks, crocheting became another skill to explore.

“My journey into crocheting began in my 100-Level, second semester. As someone who has always loved learning new skills, I felt it was somewhat inadequate to stop at just the first skill I had learned. So, I decided to venture into crocheting,” she said.

“I initially learnt the skill through YouTube, and later had the opportunity to learn from a veteran crocheter, Jumabeel Creations. I completed my learning journey during the holiday after my 200L second semester,” she added.

She said her motivation has always been her passion for beautiful, unique, durable and long-lasting things. She also enjoys the idea of standing out and creating pieces that are distinctive and personal.

The Challenge of Side Hustle and Academic Combination

Managing a business or side hustle alongside academics most times is a tussle. It takes a great deal of time management and consciousness to effectively function in both. As an industrious student, trying to explore other aspects of life alongside academics on campus comes with sacrifice, discipline and diligence.

The CEO of Abigail’s Beads and Accessories, a 100-level student of UI in the Faculty of Science, shared her experience after venturing into bead making as a hand skill.

“In combining beading with academics, it hasn’t been easy and it’s actually not easy, I won’t try to lie to you,” she said.

“This business takes a lot of time. The major challenge I’m facing is time consumption, because for me to go to class and then come back and after the day’s stress then start beading again, it takes time a lot,” she further explained.

Akinpelu also identified time as one of her major challenges in combining crocheting with academics.

“One of the major challenges I have faced is time constraint. As a student in a rigorous and demanding faculty, trying to balance crocheting with academics and other personal responsibilities seemed almost infeasible at first,” she said.

She added that sourcing materials for a project can also be time-consuming, especially when she needs specific colours, textures or types of yarn.

The Keys to Maintaining Balance

Balance is one key element that helps an individual manage more than one responsibility at the same time.

For Akinpelu, maintaining a balance between crocheting and academics requires setting priorities and understanding what deserves attention at every given moment.

“Despite these challenges, the journey has been rewarding, and I have continued to learn and improve along the way,” she stated.

“Balance? I honestly doubt if a perfect balance ever exists. I believe one can only manoeuvre their way through things by understanding what needs their attention at each point in time.

“For me, prioritising what matters, setting goals, and maintaining discipline have been the mantras I try to live by. When academics require more attention, especially as tests or examinations approach, I naturally give academics priority. When I have some free time, I dedicate it to crocheting and working on orders,” she added.

She said knowing what deserves attention at every given moment and being disciplined enough to act accordingly helps her manage both responsibilities.

For students who want to combine crocheting or another hand skill with academics, Akinpelu advised them to start with what they genuinely want to do and remain consistent.

“First, know what you want and go for it. Do not let intimidation or comparison stop you. You do not have to copy what everyone else is doing. Find your own style, remain authentic, and stay unique to yourself.

“If you genuinely love the skill, give yourself the opportunity to explore it and improve. You do not have to become perfect before you start.

“Also, crocheting has gone far beyond being ‘just a hobby.’ It can be a valuable skill and a source of income if you are intentional about it. So, get started, remain consistent, and keep learning. It will only get better with time,” she recommended.

Omowunmi, whose brand name is Luminous Pearl, also encouraged students interested in learning a hand skill to be patient with the process.

“Beading is a nice thing but then it will still test your patience. There were times I’ve thought of giving up because it seems like there was no need for beading,” she said.

“Another thing is don’t compare yourself because comparison makes you feel less of yourself. Also there is a saying which states ‘you either love what you do or do what you love’ because whenever you feel like giving up, it is by doing what you love or the love for what you do that will keep you going,” she added.

She advised students to start anytime and anywhere and not try to speed up their learning process.