By Muhammed Akindele and Abdulrazaq Kamaldeen
Under the scorching sun of Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Wammako Local Government of Sokoto, Hassan Nasir, 26, bore the weariness of countless haircuts etched on his face. Despite the fatigue evident in his eyes, Hassan awaited the arrival of his next customers—their pending appointments adding to his dilemma.
The day’s relentless demands left Hassan torn between yielding to his mind’s call for rest or maintaining vigilance for the anticipated customers.
Considering the stress he had gone through that day, Hassan’s mind was urging him to rest instead of reading. However, the longer he waited for the customer, the harder it became for him to decide between diving into his book or waiting for the expected customer.
Hassan shared with this reporter his struggle in balancing academics with side hustles, explaining the challenges of pursuing education while also trying to earn money.
“ I didn’t perform excellently in one of my courses just that I didn’t ‘tn’t have enough time for reading,” said Hassan Nasir, a 300-level student of political science.
Hailing from Okene Local Government, Kogi State, Hassan Nasiru has been sacrificing some of his academic time to make money while studying. However, he acknowledged the risks, as it’s impossible to kill birds with a single stone.
“It’s tough. It is impossible to have it all. I need to sacrifice something to gain something else. It’s a popular thing in Africa that you don’t kill two birds with a stone, so what I doing now is that I am just trying.
Hassan emphasized the role of parental motivation in his journey, attributing it to his successful acquisition of barbering skills, which he now uses to earn money on campus.
Speaking, he stressed the significance of social amenities or facilities on the school campus in inspiring students who are balancing their side hustles with academics.
According to him, “Since childhood, my parents have consistently motivated and supported me, and that spirit, combined with the help of Almighty God, has remained a guiding force in my life.”
Hassan believes that the university can foster a more supportive environment by offering facilities.
He said, “The university can create an enabling environment by providing social amenities such as workshops. If the management can construct additional facilities or workshops, some students are keen on integrating hands-on activities with academics, which I believe would be beneficial.”
Success Through Focus
Abdullahi Abdulafeez, a 300-level Mass Communication student from ASA local government in Kwara state, shared his experience balancing academics with his side hustle in tailoring.
Speaking with The News Digest Press, Abdullahi discussed his initial struggles in adapting to his dual roles.
“When I started as a working student, I faced challenges adjusting,” he said. “I aimed for high grades while growing my business, but excelling in both areas simultaneously is tough.”
In emphasizing the importance of doing one’s work competently rather than aiming for perfection, Abdullahi remarked, “I’ve learned that perfection isn’t always achievable when managing multiple responsibilities.”
“You can do many things decently at once, but not flawlessly.” Adding to this, he said, “Success often comes from focusing on one task at a time. While I don’t claim to be a perfect working student, I strive to perform well in both my academic pursuits and my business.”
Udus Should Encourage Students Who Work Part-Time– Kabirat Adetunji
In an interview with Kabirat Adetunji Olaitan, a 300-level Accounting student, she emphasized the importance of school management encouraging students who work part-time as a means of motivation and support.
In her words, “UDUS can offer better support to students who work part-time by encouraging them.”
Kabirat doubled as a garri seller and sells fashion wear like scarves, hand sleeves, inner caps, socks, and gloves, noting that all these have not been easy for her.
She said, “I’m a fashionista, and I sell things relating to it in school- hijab, scarf, hand sleeves, inner cap, sock, and glove. I also sell garri just to survive this academic journey. I always manage my time between the two by advertising my products around hostels on weekends, pasting and posting my fliers online and offline, while I used Monday to Saturday for my academics.”