I am graduate of Elect Electronics/computer engineering, i am currently into IT (and have a job paying above130k a month in Abuja). i have an offer to study go for Msc electronics and communications or IT management. My deli ma is thus;
Not to go for the Msc. degree and manage with this salary and wed
and which of the two has a better prospect, IT management or electronics and communications?

continue to gain some work experience. How long have u been working ? total number of years ?

Keep working for now, get certification in specialist areas, and hands on experience.
IT has a bright future in Africa.

I have been working for 3 years now, If I stay in the country it means i will have to do my weding next year.
I intend going for an Oracle certification next year too if I am still around.
Advice reaching me from close pals and family is that do the masters before you wed, and after wards the prospects will be brighter, it is a though call to make.

^^^^^ certainly----- get a Masters before getting married----- btw, why the rush too be married ? I would say, work for one more year making it a total of 4 years, get a Masters and then get married.  So that when u get back from your Master's program, with your total number of working experience u may easily bolster into managerial level/

posakosa, thanks like you advice, i have a fiancee and i am about 29 years old, (that is y I was cosidering the wedding first). I like your views, now of these courses which is has better prospects, electronics and communications engineering and IT management, both are Msc.

^^^ U're 29--- why not get married at 32 ? give your self enough time to get life/ professional career together. IT management is the most relevant--IMO.

thanks alot you have been the most helpful, God bless!!

1. I will advise you to get married and secure your wife before travelling out for your Msc in Communications.
2. While you are at your masters. You can do your oracle certification.
3. There are professional management course that you can do in management. IT management is no expection.

1yr or 2yrs, time flies. In no time you are done, and back into the system. Waiting till 32yr b4 you get married is not a good advice. When you are 40 your kid is 8yr with lots of energy. How do you play with this kid ? U dont have such energy. 29 is even to late, no thanks to 9ja economy.

AjanleKoko:

Keep working for now, get certification in specialist areas, and hands on experience.
IT has a bright future in Africa.

Follow this advise

posakosa:

^^^ U're 29--- why not get married at 32 ? give your self enough time to get life/ professional career together. IT management is the most relevant--IMO.

Is it compulsory to marry @ 32? everybody with different personalities:::

AjanleKoko:

Keep working for now, get certification in specialist areas, and hands on experience.
IT has a bright future in Africa.

@ Poster
This is the same thing i would do if i was in your situation
Btw: is masters not calculated as 1 yr experience?

I think you have to go for masters - marriage is not something one has to rush into because you already have a fiancee. I was in your shoes sometime this year. I work in a bank and got a scholarship through PTDF to study for MSc in Sep.2009 in UK. Already I have a fiancee, and after discussion, she even encouraged me to go for masters. By sep.2010, I would round off and probably get something far better than the current bank salary which is still well over 200k. I clocked 30 this year and by the time i get married, I will be 31 or 32 - for me it does not matter. Some people would be 28 and still look like a 35year old man and vice versa. Secure a brighter future for your self, fiancee and family first irrespective of age standing. On the long run, your overseas masters degree would take you to a greater height. Early or Late marriage is not an issue, what matters is happiness at the long run and not how early you start producing kids.Wishing you all the best.

Focusmind:

I think you have to go for masters - marriage is not something one has to rush into because you already have a fiancee. I was in your shoes sometime this year. I work in a bank and got a scholarship through PTDF to study for MSc in Sep.2009 in UK. Already I have a fiancee, and after discussion, she even encouraged me to go for masters. By sep.2010, I would round off and probably get something far better than the current bank salary which is still well over 200k. I clocked 30 this year and by the time i get married, I will be 31 or 32 - for me it does not matter. Some people would be 28 and still look like a 35year old man and vice versa. Secure a brighter future for your self, fiancee and family first irrespective of age standing. On the long run, your overseas masters degree would take you to a greater height. Early or Late marriage is not an issue, what matters is happiness at the long run and not how early you start producing kids.Wishing you all the best.

Your case is totally different from the poster, YOU GOT A SCHOLAR

The poster will be paying his tuition fee/accommodation, did you consider that? running masters abroad ain't a joke, you need thousands of dollars

posakosa:

^^^ U're 29--- why not get married at 32 ? give your self enough time to get life/ professional career together. IT management is the most relevant--IMO.

chairman how you dey,,,,,,,,,long time

@jean2002,

I think you have not put your fiancee in the equation at all. How long have you been together?

If the relationship is serious, you have to show your responsibility. You are 29 and although you did not state her age, she is not getting younger.

Women can be concerned about their age and seriousness of their man. Are you serious with your fiancee? If not, tell her now.

If you are travelling abroad for your course, it makes it another cup of tea.

Let your fiancee know your plans and decision. Let her know so that she can decide what she want.

It's not all about you alone. Do not keep her in suspense.

I don't know much about IT or electrons n stuff but I'll frankly tell you to go for your masters as soon as possible and tell your present employers to eat dirt! They'd probably use lack of a masters degree to get rid of you in future anyway. Make hay while the sun shines and in time too! Don't let money tie you down.

I don't know much about IT or electrons n stuff but I'll frankly tell you to go for your masters as soon as possible and tell your present employers to eat dirt! They'd probably use lack of a masters degree to get rid of you in future anyway. Make hay while the sun shines and in time too! Don't let money tie you down.

@OP:
Masters is good but as an individual you just have to decide what is best for you personally.

It boils down to two choices: seeking for money or for more knowledge.

Man! you can study for your masters while on the job. That is what I do. It is better that way than to leave your job for masters studies in this era of joblessness. Think twice man.

@beknown
My fiancee is in the know of all these, infact during our discussion she hinted she might use the period I am away to do her PGD. She is 27yrs and kinda supports the idea of going for a masters degree,
I feel for her because she is a woman and I know what age can do to her (besides long distant relationship is something i dread alot).
I have known her for about 4years now and I love her alot, the amazing thing is that she seems comfortable with idea of masters and she is not showing any sign of worries especialy as regards her sex or age!!

Biyi1471:

Man! you can study for your masters while on the job. That is what I do. It is better that way than to leave your job for masters studies in this era of joblessness. Think twice man.

A ++++ Excellent advise !

My brother, keep on getting your experience. Build up your resume. if possible, obtain your Masters while
working (i.e. go part time), but don't quit your job.

If you can negotiate with your current employer about your intention to go on for a study leave, fine - the truth is there is no job now. The European and world job market is currently saturated. Let your current employer know your plans and here what they have to say. Personally for me, I dont encourage people resigning from their well paying jobs for UK universities. The exception could be if you got a scholarsip. If I had not gotten PTDF scholarship,  I would not have contemplated resigning from my current job which thousands of people are rearing to take from you including those with the overseas degree. Try and win the favor of your current employer before going abroad you never can tell. I detest people who say bad things about their employer. They might be the one to salvage you when you dont have job after your masters. People should learn how to talk good of their employer no matter the shortcomings - you might still meet the same person you derogated on your way to top

Your best bet is masters in electronics and communications .IT management skills you can get on the job and through certifications,and what is all these talk of employer etc ?You guys do you not aspire to own and run your own businesses?You talk of development how do you develop when you do not try to exploit your entrepreneurial abilities.

Why not kill 2 birds with one stone, get married to this girl (u know just do a small ceremony), then try get her pregnant so that you dont have to worry about giving birth at old age then go for ur masters if u have the money. Make sure u have the money ooooo because with ur N130,000.00, I do not think u can save the about N5 Million u will need for Masters abroad. A masters abroad puts u in contention globally, if u have the oppurtunity now do not throw it away for marriage. It will only cost u about 3 yrs of difficulty. When u get a good job u will forget about the difficulties in an instant. And let me tell u that IT is the one of the most lucrative courses especially in the face of the recent global crisis. But make sure u think hard before u act and involve ur wife OK!

@Poster
Feel free to go for your M Sc programme now if your fiancee supports that. It is tough doing a lot of things when you are married and have/having kids. I remember how the Oga missed a crucial professional exam because he was to take it the day I had the first baby. He refused to leave the hospital for his exams despite my assurances that I will be ok.

The funny part of it is that he became so busy at the office soon after that there was no time to read and he kept failing the exam. He kept attempting it until the baby in question got into nursery school. One day, she returned with a great result; her father said something about her being a chip of the old block. The girl told him to his face that he was lying. She said, 'but daddy you failed yor own exam'. She was listening the last time he came back with a tale of having failed the exam one more time. He passed the exam finally whe the second kid was seven moths old.

By the way, your fiancee is not approaching menopause. She is still young.

@jean2002,

I want you to take the following quote from Biyi seriously:

Man! you can study for your masters while on the job. That is what I do. It is better that way than to leave your job for masters studies in this era of joblessness. Think twice man.

The world is not standing still. Consider part-time study or distance learning but you must discipline yourself because it is your future.

Masters degree without a job can move your goal post until,

Hold on to your job and pursue part-time study or distance learning for masters.

Technology and the internet have made it possible to get a degree from home, no expensive travel abroad and no working permit wahala. You will get the same foreign degree like people who went to the campus abroad but you will work hard for it Oh, no joke Oh.

Good luck with your plans.

The following distance learning resources may help you:

http://www.rdi.co.uk/distance-learning/distance-learning.html
http://www.le.ac.uk/ulmc/dl_about.html

Marry you woman, good girls dont wait around. You seem like a smart chap, i have every faith you can juggle the responsibilities. If she loves and understands you she will find a way to support you in your choices. Because they will be hers too.


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beknown:

@jean2002,

I want you to take the following quote from Biyi seriously:

The world is not standing still. Consider part-time study or distance learning but you must discipline yourself because it is your future.

Masters degree without a job can move your goal post until,

Hold on to your job and pursue part-time study or distance learning for masters.

Technology and the internet have made it possible to get a degree from home, no expensive travel abroad and no working permit wahala. You will get the same foreign degree like people who went to the campus abroad but you will work hard for it Oh, no joke Oh.

Good luck with your plans.

The following distance learning resources may help you:

http://www.rdi.co.uk/distance-learning/distance-learning.html
http://www.le.ac.uk/ulmc/dl_about.html

The advice above is perfect for your situation.
I have couple of guys who resigned their jobs for masters abroad but who ended up in labour market today.

I am into IT and I have close to a decade experience. The fact is you need more of professional skills / certifications to advance in IT field. That, of course,does not mean you dont have to do masters, but this can be achieved online/ distance learning. For your record, I have 2 foreign masters (Eng Mgt & MBA) already. I achieved this without leaving my job.

Please and please, dont be thrilled or cajoled into resigning your job for a foreign masters coz you have more chance of returning to labour market than securing a gud job when u come back.

If you contact me personally, I can refer you to at least 5 people who have had bitter experiences relating to a decision you are about to take. So, i know wot I am talking about. I can also mentor you in IT if you dont mind.

@danny2002.abeg marriage can wait 4 now cos marriage is so much commitment dat u cant combine family,career and studies 2geda. cos am avin a felin dat dere"ll be a time in nigeria were companies wouldnt employ people with just their 1st degree.4 cryin out loud we are in a highly competitive world were notin is certain.things keep changing on a regular basis.so abeg put 1st tins 1st n not d oda way round

pally. please go get your masters. after that marry. your masters experience proceeds will cater for ur new family. if you wan go read go. and if you still prefer 130k slavery, your mates with better experience earn double of that