How to make money on YouTube Shorts in Nigeria
By the Korareel team · Updated
Unlike TikTok, YouTube does share money with creators in Nigeria. The catch is the threshold: most new Shorts channels take a long time to qualify. Here's what it takes, and how to earn from your Shorts while you build up.
YouTube's Partner Program in Nigeria
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is available in Nigeria. To share in ad money from Shorts, a channel currently needs 1,000 subscribers plus either 10 million valid Shorts views in the last 90 days or 4,000 public watch hours on long videos in the last 12 months. Shorts views and watch hours don't add together.
YouTube has announced higher limits for new applicants from February 2027. Always check YouTube's own YPP page in YouTube Studio for the rules that apply to you.
Earn while you build: pay-per-view
Ten million views is a big target. In the meantime, brand pay-per-view campaigns pay for every verified view your Shorts get, with no subscriber minimum. On Korareel, creators earn about ₦666 to ₦3,333 per 1,000 verified views, paid in naira to your bank.
Brand clips also bring new viewers to your channel, which helps you reach the YPP thresholds faster. See how pay-per-view works.
Shorts that keep people watching
- Hook in the first second. Start on the punchline, the drop or the twist.
- Loop it: an ending that flows back into the start gets watched twice.
- Vertical 9:16, with big captions.
- Make a clear title, and use the same theme often so YouTube learns who to show you to.
What gets channels in trouble
Reposting other people's videos, buying views and misleading thumbnails can get a channel refused from YPP or removed. Only use content you have permission for, such as a brand campaign's official content.
Get paid for the views your clips already get
Korareel is launching in Nigeria. Join the waitlist and we'll tell you when the first campaigns open. It's free, and you don't need followers.
Questions people ask
Does YouTube pay for Shorts in Nigeria?
Yes, through the YouTube Partner Program, which is available in Nigeria. A channel currently needs 1,000 subscribers and 10 million valid Shorts views in 90 days (or 4,000 watch hours). Higher limits apply to new applicants from February 2027.
How can I earn from Shorts before I qualify for YPP?
Brand pay-per-view campaigns pay for verified views with no subscriber minimum. On Korareel you're paid in naira for every 1,000 verified views.
Do Shorts views count towards watch hours?
No. YouTube counts Shorts views and long-form watch hours separately.