Do you know that with just a smartphone, internet connection, and basic digital skills, many Nigerians are already earning a steady income from affiliate marketing? If you have been searching for a legitimate online business, learning how to start affiliate marketing in Nigeria might be your best first step.
In this article, I want to share how to start affiliate marketing in Nigeria from my real experience — what works, what doesn’t, and the exact process I recommend if you are starting from zero.
No hype. No fake promises. Just the truth.
When I first heard about affiliate marketing, I honestly thought it was another online scam. Like many Nigerians, I had already tried a few “make money online” things that didn’t work, so I was very skeptical.
But after testing it myself, making mistakes, and learning the hard way, I can confidently say that affiliate marketing is one of the most realistic online business models for Nigerians today.
What Affiliate Marketing Really Is
In simple terms, Affiliate marketing simply means: You help sell someone else’s product online, and you get paid a commission for every sale.
You don’t create the product, you don’t deal with customer support. Your job is only one thing: bring buyers. When I understood this, everything became clear. Affiliate marketing is basically digital sales.
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Why I Recommend Affiliate Marketing in Nigeria
From everything I’ve tried online, affiliate marketing stands out because:
You don’t need much capital
You can start with just your phone
You don’t need an office or staff
You can earn in naira or dollars
It works with any skill level
In a country where jobs are limited and many people are trying to survive, this model actually makes sense.
Another reason I recommend affiliate marketing is that it teaches you real-life digital skills. Even if you later stop promoting affiliate products, the skills you gain — content creation, persuasion, copywriting, audience building, and online communication — can be used in many other businesses.
In fact, many people who started with affiliate marketing later moved into:
Running their own digital products
Offering consulting services
Managing social media for businesses
Building blogs and monetizing with ads
So, affiliate marketing is not just about money. It’s also a training ground for the digital economy.
The First Big Mistake I Made
My first mistake was promoting everything. I joined an affiliate platform and started sharing links to:
Weight loss products
Crypto courses
Relationship ebooks
Business trainings
I thought more links = more money. But I was wrong. All I got was:
People ignoring me
Some people are blocking me
Zero sales
That’s when I learned my first real lesson.
Looking back now, I understand why that approach failed. Nobody wakes up in the morning waiting for random links. People are busy, skeptical, and tired of being sold to.
When you constantly push products without giving value, you become noise. People stop paying attention to you, even when you later have something genuinely useful to offer. This is why trust is the real currency in affiliate marketing, not links.
Lesson 1: Choose One Niche
A niche is just your main focus.
From my experience, this step is very important.
Instead of promoting everything, pick one area like:
Make money online
Business
Health
Tech
I chose digital skills and online business, because that’s what I was already learning and sharing. It made everything easier.
Lesson 2: Don’t Join Too Many Platforms
Another mistake I made was joining too many platforms at once.
- Expertnaire.
- Selar.
- ClickBank.
- Digistem.
I was confused, overwhelmed, and unfocused.
What I recommend instead:
Start with one platform, learn it well, and grow from there.
For Nigerians, good starting points are:
Expertnaire
Selar
They are simple and beginner-friendly.
How to Start Affiliate Marketing in Nigeria (From My Experience)
Here is the structure I use now, and you can employ that too to get a good result.
Step 1: Learn One Product Properly
Before you promote anything, understand it.
I always ask:
Who is this for?
What problem does it solve?
Would I recommend this to a friend?
If the answer is no, I don’t promote it.
Step 2: Create Value First
This changed everything for me.
Instead of posting links, I started:
Sharing tips
Writing small guides
Answering questions
Teaching what I know
People began to trust me, and when I finally shared links, they listened. Creating value does not mean you have to be a big expert. It simply means sharing what you are learning only.
For example:
If you’re learning about online business, share lessons you just learned.
If you’re reading a book, summarize key points.
If you tried a tool, review it honestly.
When people see you as someone who is learning and sharing, they naturally follow your journey. And when they are ready to buy something, they are more likely to buy from you than from a stranger.
Step 3: Pick One Traffic Source
Don’t try to be everywhere.
From my experience, beginners should start with:
WhatsApp
TikTok
One platform is enough.
Master one before adding another.
Step 4: Stop Spamming
Spamming is the fastest way to fail.
I’ve seen people:
Drop links in groups
Send links to strangers
Beg people to buy
It never works long-term.
Affiliate marketing is about relationships, not pressure.
Common Mistakes I’ve Seen Nigerians Make
These are mistakes I see every day:
Expecting quick money
Promoting without learning
Using fake screenshots
Copying others blindly
Giving up too early
Most people don’t fail because it doesn’t work. They fail because they don’t stay long enough.
How Long It Took Me to See Results
Let me be honest, it did not happen in one week, and it did not happen in one month. It took consistency. Some people see results in:
2 weeks
1 month
3 months
But almost nobody succeeds if they quit after 7 days. One thing I wish someone told me earlier is that consistency beats intensity. Doing a lot for one week and stopping will not work. Doing a little every day for six months will.
Most people quit right before results show up. Not because they are not capable, but because they get tired of working without immediate feedback.
In affiliate marketing, your early work is like planting seeds. You don’t see anything for a while, but underground, things are growing.
How Much You Can Realistically Earn
From what I’ve seen:
Part-time:
₦30,000 – ₦100,000 monthly
Serious learners:
₦150,000 – ₦300,000+
Top performers:
Much more
But the money depends on:
Your skills
Your traffic
Your consistency
Not luck.
Is Affiliate Marketing Still Worth It in Nigeria?
Yes. But not for lazy people. It is worth it for:
Learners
Builders
Teachers
Creators
Not for people looking for magic.
My Long-Term Advice
Don’t chase quick money, just build:
A blog
A page
A brand
An email list
When people trust you, money becomes easier.
List Of Sites to Start Affiliate Marketing
For those of you looking for the sites where you can start affiliate marketing. I have listed them below. They are the best and most realistic affiliate marketing sites you can start with in Nigeria (both local and international). These are platforms people actually use and get paid from.
Nigerian Affiliate Platforms (Best for Beginners)
These are easiest because:
They pay in naira
No PayPal stress
Products are already familiar to Nigerians
1. Expertnaire
Website: expertnaire.com
Type: Digital products (courses, ebooks)
Very popular in Nigeria
High commissions (30%–50%)
Products on business, crypto, health, and relationships
You need to buy at least one product to join
Best for: beginners who want fast results with digital products.
2. Selar
Website: selar.co
Type: Digital products
Free to join
You promote other people’s courses and ebooks
Commission depends on product (10%–50%)
Pays directly to a Nigerian bank
Best for: bloggers, WhatsApp sellers, and content creators.
3. Digistem
Website: digistem.com.ng
Type: Digital products
Similar to Expertnaire
Lower competition
Good for Facebook and WhatsApp marketing
4. Konga Affiliate
Website: konga.com/affiliate
Type: Physical products
Earn commission on phones, electronics, and home items
Nigerians trust Konga
Good for review blogs and TikTok
5. Jumia Affiliate
Website: jumia.com.ng/affiliate
Type: Physical products
Huge product range
Commission is small (1%–11%)
But very easy to sell
Best for: product review websites and deal pages.
International Affiliate Platforms (High Income Potential)
These pay in dollars, but you’ll need:
Payoneer or PayPal
Or a dollar account
1. Amazon Associates
Website: affiliate-program.amazon.com
Promote any product on Amazon
Very low commission (1%–10%)
But high trust and massive product variety
Best for: niche blogs, YouTube reviews.
2. ClickBank
Website: clickbank.com
Digital products
Very high commissions (50%–75%)
Good for health, money, and self-help niches
Best for: landing pages, email marketing.
3. Digistore24
Website: digistore24.com
Similar to ClickBank
Accepts Nigerians easily
Pays via Payoneer
4. PartnerStack
Website: partnerstack.com
Software (SaaS products)
High-ticket commissions
More advanced
Best for: tech blogs and B2B content.
Conclusion
If I had to start again today, I would still choose affiliate marketing, not because it’s easy. But because it’s real. Learning how to start affiliate marketing in Nigeria is not about copying links. It’s about learning digital skills, building trust, and staying consistent.
It’s not a shortcut; it is simply a system. And for Nigerians who are willing to learn and stay patient, it can genuinely change their financial direction.
I hope this article was helpful. Feel free to share on your social media accounts so that others can learn from it. If you have any questions, kindly use the comment box below.