Should You Pause Your Business for School? Here’s What to Consider

      Many Nigerian students dream of financial success, yet most avoid full-time entrepreneurship because of fear, societal pressure, and dependence on a broken education and employment system.

Today, we can say that this isn’t entirely their beliefs. It’s majorly the society’s , parent’s and friend’s beliefs being forced on young people.

They believe a university degree alone is their safest path to financial security, ignoring the harsh reality that thousands of graduates still struggle for jobs, remain broke, and start POS businesses.

Even those who have a profitable side hustle or part-time job hesitate to scale their businesses or go full-time, fearing failure, academic distraction or their parents.

But by avoiding entrepreneurship, they delay financial independence, reduce their opportunity for wealth, and trap themselves in the same cycle of job-seeking that has kept many Nigerians poor.

Today, we explore why most Nigerian students fear taking the leap into full-time entrepreneurship and how it keeps them financially… stagnant.

1. Fear of Failure & Financial Instability

       Many students fear losing money if their business fails, disappointing their families, or being mocked by friends. But the real failure is neglecting to reinvest and manage time, causing the business to fail—not because it couldn’t succeed, but because they didn’t commit to its growth.

2. Fear That Full-time Business Will Affect Academic Performance

         Some students avoid running a business full-time because they fear it will make them fail their courses.

However, many successful entrepreneurs managed to balance a full-time business while attending university and still graduated. But the truth is, not everyone can do this.

Factors like refusing to bribe a lecturer or arriving late to class can significantly impact your grades. However, only one thing can truly affect your future—and it’s not your grades. Your present actions and how you choose to build your financial foundation today will define your future, not a university result sheet.

3. Societal & Family Pressure

        Many Nigerian parents force their children to focus only or majorly on school, seeing business as a distraction. Many students fear going against these expectations, even if they know the job market is unreliable.

The Society sees entrepreneurship as unstable, while a government job is seen as the ultimate success. Ironically, a job is far more unstable. Just ask ASUU!

4. Comfort in Dependence & Fear of Responsibility

        Some students prefer depending on their parents’ allowance rather than taking responsibility for their own finances.

They would rather borrow from friends or struggle through school broke than putting more time into their business.

This mindset leads to financial weakness, not strength, leaving them unprepared for real-world challenges.

5. Delayed Business & Career Growth

          Fear of putting their businesses over their degree can make them lose years of potential growth.

Spending all their time chasing grades, only to graduate and realize that academic excellence doesn’t guarantee financial stability.

Meanwhile, students who embrace entrepreneurship graduate with financial independence and a head start in life.

6. Missed Opportunities for Multiple Income Streams

       A degree provides only one path: employment. Students who ignore this often end up regretting it later when they struggle financially.

This financial security allows them to make better life choices without desperation.

7. Business & Career Readiness

      Running a business teaches so much more skills that set students apart after graduation.

Employers value real-world experience, making student entrepreneurs more employable than their job-seeking classmates.

8. Building Wealth Late

      The earlier you start, the faster you build wealth. It teaches financial discipline, reduces wasteful spending and poor money habits.

9. Not Knowing Their Business’ Flexibility

       Some businesses require minimal time and can be run alongside studies while others require a high amount of time that doesn’t align with school activities.

 

Don’t Wait Until After School to Secure Your Financial Future

        A degree alone is not enough for financial success. In today’s world, the students who take calculated risks in their businesses, and build income streams early are the ones who win.

Building wealth early gives you options—why are you choosing to struggle later just to ‘graduate on time’ with no financial backup?

Waiting until after graduation to take control of your finances can be a costly mistake. The best time to start is NOW—because your future success depends on the risks you take today.