kekerazi: Wat an interesting and educative thread on NL..@OP GOD BLESS YOU. @Mz Sleek,Wat your doing in that school must be commended.But I must say its wrong- Teaching T/D.I'm sure you were allowed to teach T/D because of the Lack of teachers in that subject..(I said what your doing is wrong because u might not be competent enough to impact the necessary knowledge of Technical. Drawing) I might still be wrong Though....BUT KEEP IT UP.. @OP I think we should try to Follow our passion Not our Pension..dats exactly what Mz sleeq is doing ryt now.In Nigeria,its usually the monetary incentive.
s dat makes either the child or parents choose a particular course..

~ZN~:


Really, I wonder why your "oga" would say that. So you just jump into the Uni and study sociology then realize that you'd like to do an MSc Engineering, is that it?

Most of these students are supposed to plan their careers from High School days - too bad Career Guide counselors are not available in many institutions.

The trend I tend to see in Nigeria is rushing into the University with whatever course takes them in - it's almost as if emphasis is placed on "getting in" rather than following your passions/interests.

Heck, I wonder if some of these folks even do any research on Employability Prospects before jumping on a course.

ooseven: Very few people knew what they wanted to become when they were college students. They had dreams but rarely a clear cut road map.

AJ: My nephew who is 17 is just getting ready to go to university. He's chosen psychology as a major.
He says he really wants to be a journalist, but has no desire to be frustrated by JAMB trying to get into the Mass Communication program at UNILAG. He'd rather do something he feels is interesting, since he knows he can always do something else after his first degree if he wants.

He preferred to keep his options open and not put himself under pressure. I had no choice but to admire his decision.

ochukoccna: @ op,most Nigerians discover themselves (if they do so on time) and plot a chart suited to their skill sets after their BSc
Your nephew is blessed that at 17,he has that chart

tensazangetsu: Op blame the government nigeria does not have enough universities for its population and who is that person that said china does not have enough universities china has over 1000 universities and the best university in china hong kong university of science and technology is one of the best in the world its among the top 30 their maritime college is another asians don't joke with their education that's why they are where they are today.

IYA NGBALI: yes now,fool blooded lecture

Hope49ja: A Recruiter's Perspective:

As an Nigerian International Recruiter, it saddens me to see our brothers and sisters wasting money to do a million and one degrees and certificates which will get them nowhere, especially in the UK.

1) For many people who made mistakes in their secondary school or university choices, it can be corrected. Think of internships or volunteering, even if it is for free. Work experience generally is given preference, especially for non-technical roles.
2) For those studying in the UK, think twice before spending thousands of pounds/dollars or millions of naira on further education. Many of you will be better of investing the money and reaping the benefit if you have business management and development skills.
3) For those planning to further their education abroad, please remember that lots of things have changed over the last 5-10 years. It is now extremely difficult to get a proper job in Europe and America (especially). You will be competing with natives with the law and background fully on their side.
4) For many courses, it is a lot more beneficial to have some experience before furthering your education. The more education and certification you get the more specialist and expensive you become. Ultimately, the less attractive you are for a graduate role.
5) For engineering/technically inclined high/secondary school students, consider studying a broad degree, then decide on a specialisation afterwards. For instance do a BSc in Electrical Engineering and later specialise in Computer Engineering, Energy-related degrees or anything else that you are interested in. It gives you four/five years to figure out what you really like, but also a platform to switch easily in the future.. This is particularly so as the economic and industrial situation of a country may change in your lifetime (or your country location) may change and you want to be in a position to switch to something else that is relevant and of interest to you in the future if needed.

All the best!!!

AjanleKoko:

I missed this post earlier. I presume you're still in school?
I am not sure forcing yourself to do Biochemistry is even an option, considering you couldn't cope with Economics.
Just kidding tho.

I would say don't count yourself out yet. If your goal is to make money, who says you can't do something as out-there as fashion design or events planning? You can take some courses in the area that interests you. Someone like Tara Durotoye is making millions from makeup!

If your goal, as you said, is to go into social work, then money should not even be in the picture (though of course you will get paid for your work, just not investment-bank kind of money).

Whichever it is, don't worry too much. If you had the strong desire and drive (and discipline) to study economics or maybe biochem, you probably would have stayed with it. I know some people who were in my class in uni, and were failing horribly in engineering, but refused to drop out due to pride and societal pressure. Many of them ended up with extra years and barely passing grades. Eventually they had to seek other ways to make a living/alternative career path. The degrees they ended up with after many torrid years rendered them basically unemployable.

Ezekwesiri04: Nigerian system have made education not to be attractive,eduction or no eduction , the aim is to leave a good confortable life!, i spent 5 yrs in the university and plus 1 yr NYSC, got a job in a firm that is owned by my sec school who enterd business after we finished secondary school, now am still trying to start up life while he is already married with 3 children and leave in his own house. So tell me who haves a success story to tell

Fhemmmy: Interesting thread, and i think there are lots of things that make this happen:
1. Peer pressure, when you see a friend that you went to school together and now in University, pressure is now on the other to secure an admission, by so doing will accept anything.
2. Boast of the parent: a parent wanna brag of their kids being at the university and cos a child see him or herself as a failure if not able to raise the ego of the parent's bragging right.
3. Our education system: JME is not a true test of ability or even knowledge.
4. Our Leaders inability to leader right and help the kids in choosing a path in life, most parents dont even know what their kids are good at.
5. Trial and Error, cos most kids dont even know what path will lead them to the light of progress.

So sad but factual.

Egba girl:

Pls educate me because I don't really understand what you mean by nos 3 and 4.
3. It's normal to take a standardized exam to enter any school unless you are referring to the quality of the exam?
4. How exactly do the leaders play a role in choosing a person's career?

Gracias!

IYA NGBALI: @ op you are right,I studies yoruba in the university,but today I lecturer english in one of our higher institutes

Lamasta: With God all things are possible, with money all things are answerable...

That has always been the illness that is killing Nigeria . . . But please dont get me wrong, i am guilty of that as well oh, meaning we make sure all doors are left open cos of MONEY, sad but true, so what happened to those that has no money, they become our doormat?

Fhemmmy:

No 4: It is not the exam parse but the quality of the exam, if we could have a society that we are so sure that people dont have to pay to get it and we are sure that it is a fair table for the deal to all that are concerned.

No 5. Leader not as in Jonathan not the govt, your parents are leaders in your household as well, so that is what i mean, not as in the govt.

Egba girl:

Oh okay. Gotchu! I agree with the exam thing and yes parents play a very important role in developing a child talents and all and ensuring that they have a well-rounded education. That way, when the kid gets to college, she/he already knows herself/himself, what their interests are, their strengths and weaknesses, and what they are capable of doing.

Now it's back to a good educational system, which we are lacking

Fhemmmy:

Yes, sir and can you imagine how much Nigeria will be saving if we have a good educational system, imagine how much is spent sending kids to school out of the nation . . . SAD.

Egba girl:

I totally agree! The brain drain is getting worse.

viruz007:

I could not agree more with this post. Straight to the frigging point. Especially points 2 and 4. I keep on telling my college friends this but they don't want to listen . God dey sha.

Egba girl:

Sadly, not eveyone can do the same. Not eveyone can withstand that pressure to get a well paying job cause to be frank, life is crazy! It's like doing what you have to do whether you like it or not

Egba girl:

I totally agree! The brain drain is getting worse.

Aggrippa:
yes it will get very worse... naija dont appreciate or encourage education, scientific research, infact they have a phobia for anything scientific, twaz by chance Dr ZoOlogisT became mr preSidenT. this our kon3 is very stubborn. pardon my english...the pastime of evry livin soul there is to CHOP MONEY, how to chop they dont tell.

AjanleKoko: I think, generally speaking about Nigerians, that young people in college, as well as those trying to get into college, more often choose the wrong disciplines to major in.

Wrong as in what they are not suited for, both mentally and psychologically. They now spend the rest of their youth trying to correct this mistake, and usually end up adding to it.

There is also the 'overload' factor. Take for example someone who studied Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Engineering, and MBA as a follow-up. Usually people do this to 'enhance their job prospects'. I wonder if it really does. I know someone who did that, still did ICAN and some computer certifications into the bargain. I'm not sure what good so many diverse qualifications can do to anyone.

Either peer pressure, zero counselling ...............

esere826:

Why u dey curse me naw?

Ok, lets try this:
An elder once told me that if i enjoy reading
I could as well get certifications for what I have read and already know
I have not regretted taking on this advise

ICAN + IT certifications (knowledge) is cool if you wanna build accouting applications

The secret lies in 'dragging and dropping' the right certifications for the appropriate job opening

Some recruiters hate people like us
Some love us to bits
Me, as a contractor, I love the flexibility that multiple knowledge and its certifications offer me
one door closes another one opens