Laying a good foundation in Nigeria is very important if you want to have an edge over others. The course you study in School will also determine the number of job opportunities that will be available to you.
For instance, in a country like ours where getting a job is no different from looking for a needle in a haystack, you do not want to limit your chances. As a matter of fact, people still get good jobs without trying hard because the course they study is one of the most sought in Nigeria.
Students go to university or polytechnic without knowing what they are getting into. It is later they realize they will not be able to apply for most jobs due to its restrictions. Someone who studies Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa Language at the University will not be able to apply for most jobs. Nevertheless, it does not mean there are no jobs for them.
For instance, studying medicine in Nigeria is a good choice, as it offers more stable job prospects. A 45-year-old who pursued medicine can easily find employment in both private and government sectors, which might not be as certain for those in other fields of study.
As a would-be job seeker, the time to prepare is now. On the internet, you might find over a million job search articles but what makes you get the job is the certificate and the skills you possess. In this article, our focus will be on courses that are valued by employers and how appealing they are to students.
Please do note that the best courses to study in the University / Polytechnic in this article are in no particular order. They are based on the career opportunities available for them and the perceptions of employers.
1. MEDICINE
In Nigeria and around the world, students who pursue medicine as their field of study are often highly respected. It is quite unusual to find a graduate of medicine from one of the top-ranking universities in Nigeria who doesn’t have good job prospects.
Medicine is not your average course and only a few selected get the chance to be part of the people who will be trained to be a doctor, public health workers, medical researchers, surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, obstetricians, gynecologists, pediatricians, etc. Whatever your specialty, you can be sure of a rewarding career in Nigeria. Doctors and people in health science are paid better than most courses.
Even when you choose not to work under anyone, you can set up your own space or even become an online health blogger. There are lots of medical practitioners who earn more on their blogs.
However, the stakes are always high when looking for admission into a medical school as you will be required to score high in your Jamb UTME and also satisfy the Post UTME requirement. For the Jamb UTME Requirements, you must have Five O/Level credits in Maths, English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Only universities take medicine students.
2. ACCOUNTING
Accounting stands proud among the courses in Art or social science courses. It is one of the professional courses that are needed in every establishment. Such establishments include eateries, banks, hospitals, tech firms, hotels, schools, churches, and even government establishments.
Like Medicine, this is one of the most competitive courses in the university and polytechnic. The cut-off mark set on accountancy is always higher than other courses in their league. To get admitted into the Department of Accountancy, you will need to possess Five O/Level credits in Mathematics, English Language, Economics, and any other 2 subjects from Art or Social Science.
To have a better chance of getting jobs, you must know how to use at least one or two accounting software. They include QuickBooks Accounting, Tally, SAGE, Taggeris, and NCH. Once you are able to do this, your chance of getting a job is high. There are several people with a certificate in accounting but what separates them is the skills they possess.
3. ARCHITECTURE
Another popular course in Nigeria is Architecture, a profession centered around designing and creating structures and buildings. Architects play a crucial role in providing the plans and specifications that serve as the foundation for the actual construction of these buildings.
Architecture is always needed in every building and construction company and they are always pay well. Even casual workers would be able to testify of their magnanimity. Since it is one of the highly rated courses in the institutions, know that the bars are raised very high.
To be part of the lucky few, you must perform exceedingly well in your Jamb Exam after satisfying the 5 O’Level Requirements in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, English Language, and any subject in Geography, Fine Art, Economics, Wood Work or Technical Drawing (At least Credit Level).
4. ESTATE MANAGEMENT
Estate Management has always been shunned by many students due to not knowing how attractive the course is. Only a few of us get to know later as we sojourn in our journey. If you are lucky to come across this article, this might tingle your love for the course.
Are you asking why I know this? How many people have chosen the course because they really want it? Only a few, if I were to conduct an investigation. However, nowadays, universities and polytechnics often give this courses to students who didn’t meet the required marks for their preferred courses.
Estate management involves the management of estates. In other words, it is the control and oversight of properties. If you are in Nigeria and familiar with the success in Real Estate, you will know it is easier to make quick money as a real estate dealer than working 9 to 5 jobs. As a certificate holder in estate management, you can also work in banks, real estate firms, governments, mortgage institutions, property management companies, courts, etc.
To study Estate Management in universities or polytechnics, you must possess 5 ‘O’ level credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Economics, and any two others from Geography, Chemistry, Agricultural Science / Biology, Government, and Commerce. The cut-off mark is not that competitive due to the low number of applicants. It is one of the courses you can choose if you want to get admission into university easily.
5. PHARMACY
Another coveted health science course is Pharmacy. They are always in high demand in big establishments including schools, government settings, hospitals, and private companies. They play a key role in ensuring that medicines prescribed to patients are suitable and also advise on their usage.
There is always an increased demand for pharmacists. Even in the small pharmacies, they are well-paid. They are also respected all over the world, and someone who studies pharmacy in Nigeria can also move abroad easily for better career prospects.
To begin the journey into a rewarding career at the University, you must have Five SSCE credit passes in English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. A good score in your Jamb exam and Post UTME exam is also important to get you your preferred course.
6. MASS COMMUNICATION
If you are good with words, studying mass communication at a university or polytechnic could provide several career opportunities. Time is changing at the moment, the vast improvement in technology has provided numerous channels for certificate holders in mass communication to practice their craft.
Certificate holders in Mass Communication can work in journalism, social media, screenwriting, filmmaking, advertising and marketing, digital media, public relations, radio jockeying, TV anchoring, blogging, and many more. One could say that mass communication is one of the most marketable courses in Nigeria and with good career prospects.
Despite the growing love for the course among applicants, it is one of the courses with room for several students. As an applicant, you will need to have obtained (5) ‘O’ Level credit passes to include English Language, Mathematics, Literature in English, and two subjects in Arts and Social Sciences. Some universities and polytechnics in Nigeria accept “O” level pass in Mathematics.
7. LAW
Another course that has a big career prospect is Law. Once you get admitted to any school to study Law, white and black become your colour. The reason why Lawyers and Law Students wear black and white is that BLACK symbolizes sovereignty and power; a total submission to justice while WHITE symbolizes integrity.
The respect that comes from being a lawyer is top-notch. One can decide to work as a Legal Adviser, Stockbroker, Judge, Barrister, Government Solicitor, Legal Analyst, or work for the state as a Public Defender. You can also choose to set up your own Law Chamber.
With just 5 ‘O’ Level credit passes in five subjects including English Language and Literature in English, you could be on your way to a big career in Law.
8. ECONOMICS
Economics is considered one of the top courses in Nigeria. Many students in Commercial or Art classes choose either Accountancy or Economics due to the high demand for economists in both private companies and government organizations.
Applicants tend to choose economics because they want a deeper understanding of government, firms, households, and how individuals administer their scarce resources. For some, they enjoy working their brain. Nevertheless, there are still some students who choose it because it is one of the most marketable courses in Nigeria.
As one of the highly coveted courses in Nigeria, the stake is high. If you need to get the course, you will need to do well in your Jamb CBT exam and School Post UTME. To qualify to write the Jamb CBT exam, you will need to possess 5 ‘O’ Level Credit Passes in Mathematics, English Language, Economics, and any additional two Art or Economics Subjects.
Only universities offer Economics, meanwhile, Banking And Finance are closely related to the course in terms of course outline, it can be studied in either a Polytechnic or University.
9. MATHEMATICS
If you are good with formulas and numbers, you can have a promising career in Mathematics. Arithmetic, as a subject in secondary school, is always portrayed as a nightmare, and when studied as a course in the University, one can expect a lot more.
Only a few will be bold enough to pursue a career as a Mathematician. The few who made the list can expect a rewarding career in the course because of its high demand in private companies, government establishments, and post-secondary schools like universities, colleges of education, and polytechnics. As a mathematician, you can also work as a software tester, financial trader, insurance underwriter, quantity surveyor, meteorologist, finance and investment analyst, adviser, and financial manager.
Five Ordinary Level credit passes in Mathematics, English Language, Further Mathematics, Physics, and any one additional subject in Chemistry, Economics, and Geography will be enough to get you a Jamb UTME seat. After, you will proceed to write your post utme exam provided you meet the Jamb Cut-OFF Mark. Only universities offer Mathematics.
10. MARKETING
Another course people often ignore is Marketing. Not many see it as a big deal, this is why people will avoid the course until they are pushed there by the schools.
Marketing is always needed to change or improve the affairs of a firm or establishment. Being a marketing student will give you a better chance of getting a job after school. As a marketer, you can work as an online marketer for a company or by creating awareness via other methods. Working as a marketer means you will have to portray the company you represent in a positive light and convince them of why they need the products or services.
As a marketer, you can have a career as Chief Marketing Officer, Brand Manager, Market Research Analyst, Digital Marketer, Advertising Manager, Promotions Manager, Market Researcher, and many more.
To be admitted into universities or polytechnics offering Marketing as a course, you need to have credit passes in five ‘O’ level subjects, which include Mathematics, English, and three other subjects that are relevant to the course. Since it is not one of the most sought courses in the Universities and Polytechnics, it will be easier to get admitted to study the course.
11. NURSING
Nursing is one of the highly-rated professions in Nigeria; as a nurse, you can carry out your practice in a variety of settings. A nursing graduate from any school is open to several opportunities, They can choose to work in schools, community health centres, clinics, camps, hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care, government establishments, etc., or even decide to set up their own space.
In Nigeria, even nurses without paid jobs work from home. They charge between ₦5,000 to ₦20,000 per treatment depending on how they can market. To study nursing as a course in any School Of Nursing, you will need 5 ‘O’ Level Credit Passes in Mathematics, Biology, English Language, Chemistry, and Physics.
12. THEATRE ARTS
Theatre Arts course is also among the top-rated courses in Nigeria, as a student of the theatre arts, you will be exposed to pre-professional training in drama. After your exercise in school, you can get a job as a stage performer, producer, music and film director, choreographer, actress, actor, etc.
To study Theatre Arts in the university, applicants must have obtained five ‘O’ Level credit passes to include English Language, Literature in English, and other subjects from Social Sciences or Art. The other subjects could be from Government, Commerce, Economics, Fine Art, etc. When they are ready, you can proceed to sit for your Jamb UTME Examination and with Post UTME to follow.
13. STATISTICS
Another course with better job opportunities is Statistics. Because it is aa tough course, Nigerian students have often avoided choosing this course. However, if you know how to assimilate and interpret formulas, this may be the course that will give you a big break.
Because it’s not a popular choice, there aren’t many graduates in Statistics. If you graduate with good grades and have the ability to interpret data, it won’t take long for an employer to hire you after your service year.
As a Statistician, you can find employment opportunities in various sectors, including banks, government agencies, private companies, healthcare, research centers, and many other fields. However, to study Statistics in a university or polytechnic, candidates must have Five ‘O’ Level credit passes to include Mathematics, English Language, and any three (3) subjects from Statistics, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Physics, Geography, and Economics.
14. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Another hotcake course to study at a Nigerian university or polytechnic is Business Administration. It is also one of the most chosen courses when people are vying to make a place in the school.
Choosing between Accountancy and Economics can be challenging, as both courses offer a wide range of career opportunities. However, both fields provide access to diverse career options.
A Business Administrator, otherwise known as a Manager is needed to carry out a variety of tasks that will ensure a business is run the way it should. As a Business Administrator, you can work in human resources, operations, project management, and even in the accounting fields. To gain admission into the school of Business Administration and management, A 5 ‘O’ Level Credit Pass in English Language, Mathematics, and Economics plus any two subjects from Art or Social Sciences will be required.
15. ENGINEERING
Engineering being an extensive course will be difficult to write just a few lines for. As an applicant, you just need to narrow it down and select what is best for you. To help you decide, you should come to terms with what you are excited about.
All Engineering Courses are cool no matter which one you go for. To help you research further, it is important I list some of the engineering courses. They include Petroleum engineering, Mechanical engineering, Chemical engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Materials And Metallurgical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Agricultural and bioresources Engineering. They all have good career prospects.
To study any of the engineering courses in School, an applicant must possess Five O’level credit passes including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and any additional science subject.
