Dear Post Graduates,
I would love us to have a platform for sharing our experiences in Nigerian universities and this would, among other purposes, enable prospective postgraduates get acquainted with the happenings in our Universities, provide a platform for evaluating postgraduate education in our universities and expose the failures or successes of Nigerian universities at the postgraduate level.

By the grace and mercies of God, I have experienced postgraduate education in the Economics department of both the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and I must say the experience leaves me with a terrible sour taste.

At UNILAG in 2011, I observed the repetition of 200level and 300level courses at the Masters level. Imagine a Masters student being taught such fundamental concepts as average revenue (AR), marginal revenue (MR) and total revenue (TR), elasticity of demand, elasticity of supply, constrained optimization (with the Lagrangian) etc all covered in 100 and 200 levels. I noticed how in macroeconomic theory, they avoided such topics as dynamic macroeconomics (covering DGSE modeling, overlapping generations modeling, representative agent modeling etc). I also noticed how some books were a no go area. Books like David Romer, Advanced Macroeconomics and Hal Varian, Advanced Microeconomics were well beyond the mental capacities of our Dr.s and Associate Prof.s and they were systematically avoided.

I left UNILAG to UNIBEN in 2014 believing in the age old reputation they purport to have but I was grossly disppointed. First, they taught History of Economic Thought at the Masters level. I wondered why we had to do it at the undergraduate level and repeat it again at the Masters level. As if that was not enough, I could see that the Prof.s there attempted to put up some level of mathematical sophistication in their lectures but their display was bland and vague as many a time we caught lecturers dictating textbooks verbatim to the class. The most alarming part is the act of these lecturers turning assignments to business ventures. A good instance is the Applied Econometrics lecturer, he taught the course haphazardly such that students were left without a clue of what he was teaching. Soon enough the renown and respected econometrician descended so low as to require a payment of 10,000 for him to conduct econometric analysis for those who cannot do it by themselves. Ofcourse, he stated that the payment was not compulsory, but those who didnt pay the said fee were awarded F irrespective of their academic prowess in econometrics. Other lecturers followed suit. The lecturers of Health Economics, Monetary Economics and a host of others followed suit with the exception of a few. More devastating is the fact that supervisors of MSc projects collected fees from their candidates in exchange for assisting them in their analysis. These sharp practices are common place at the Economics department, UNIBEN. It is saddening that despite the huge fees they charge [#150,000 (1st session) + #425000 (3rd semester)] they still provide very poor academic services and condone sharp practices.

No wonder we see graduates with BScs and MScs in Economics bereft of problem solving ideas...Please share your experiences and if you feel my observation is flawed please let us know with your observations.

In the light of the above i would like to do my PhD in a university that is relatively worth the struggle...so please people, submit your thoughts and opinions concerning postgraduate education in your respective schools.

lalasticlala, let's go to front page.

Lol

The only thing i have to say is that the whole postgraduate thing is a crap as far as Nigerian Univerisities in concerned.
I came in happy and left bitter and disappionted.F.uck pg school unizik

lastmessenger:
The only thing i have to say is that the whole postgraduate thing is a crap as far as Nigerian Univerisities in concerned.
I came in happy and left bitter and disappionted.F.uck pg school unizik

Sir are u insinuating dat doing a PG programme in unizik is a sheer waste of time? I am confused pls help a prospective candidate.

Filosofa:


Sir are u insinuating dat doing a PG programme in unizik is a sheer waste of time? I am confused pls help a prospective candidate.

i have to be very sincere with u. Dont expect much. Work very hard on your own is my simple advice. The lecturers wont give u much( they may hand u some old note to read and pass exam)

My dear,its a Nigeria problem,I had my 1st degree in a Federal Univ in the S/E and now my MSc in UI.t is better off in UI.Ya,some repetitions from undergrad,but UI is worth it,depending on your department but for PhD,asides Education,run as far as your legs can carry U
My Opinions,though

lastmessenger:
The only thing i have to say is that the whole postgraduate thing is a crap as far as Nigerian Univerisities in concerned.
I came in happy and left bitter and disappionted.F.uck pg school unizik

Can you imagine! And I was contemplating a PhD there...UNIZIK! @lastmessenger can you shed more light on the problems in your department at UNIZIK?

fergie001:
My dear,its a Nigeria problem,I had my 1st degree in a Federal Univ in the S/E and now my MSc in UI.t is better off in UI.Ya,some repetitions from undergrad,but UI is worth it,depending on your department but for PhD,asides Education,run as far as your legs can carry U
My Opinions,though

Na wa o! Na wahala be dis o...you mean UI is not befitting for a PhD program? What are your observations please share them. You might just be saving someone his hard earned money or preparing them for what is ahead!

efficiencie:


Na wa o! Na wahala be dis o...you mean UI is not befitting for a PhD program? What are your observations please share them. You might just be saving someone his hard earned money or preparing them for what is ahead!

I am not an authority but based on sampled opinions,in Education a PhD for 3years is 3.Let me not generalise though,but for Engineering,keep your money.UI as a University is strongest in Education and Perhaps,Medicine.
If you can endure,its good,but God-Willing,make I finish this MSc here then run out for Phd,notwithstanding UI is d no.1 arguably,in terms of PG in Nigeria.

efficiencie:


I know of two assistant lecturers at the UNILAG that were doing their PhDs in Economics at UI. They both abandoned the program and started all over in universities in South Africa after they had spent about 6 years running their program at UI. I understand that the quality of education in Nigerian federal universities are nothing to write home about but what i detest the most is when a 3 year program becomes a 10 year program. I will handle my intellectual development myself if such issues as; favoritism, bribery, factionalism etc are minimal.

I would really like folks from other federal universities to provide their evaluations of their schools.

S/Africa is where every1 is going to,cheaper than d UK,and 3years is 3years no more no less.I also had 2 lecturers abandon their Phd program in UI from my department,hurry off to S/Africa ,finish after 3years return and met their colleagues still running PhD in UI....so if the cash dey,run off...I am only here because of cash but after this Oluwa must answer d call for outside oooo,S/Africa,Germany,anywhere.
God Help Us.

efficiencie:


I know of two assistant lecturers at the UNILAG that were doing their PhDs in Economics at UI. They both abandoned the program and started all over in universities in South Africa after they had spent about 6 years running their program at UI. I understand that the quality of education in Nigerian federal universities are nothing to write home about but what i detest the most is when a 3 year program becomes a 10 year program. I will handle my intellectual development myself if such issues as; favoritism, bribery, factionalism etc are minimal.

I would really like folks from other federal universities to provide their evaluations of their schools.

LOL I know then too. So economics department don show una pepper too?
The only way is self improvement, if you are a post graduate student, as there are many materials on the net that will help you; because if you are relying on what Dr. O (you know this person ) is teaching, you will not know ANYTHING

Na wah o! Na to just face South Africa o! The depreciating exchange rate is a major challenge coupled with the living costs associated with staying abroad...

efficiencie:


I know of two assistant lecturers at the UNILAG that were doing their PhDs in Economics at UI. They both abandoned the program and started all over in universities in South Africa after they had spent about 6 years running their program at UI. I understand that the quality of education in Nigerian federal universities are nothing to write home about but what i detest the most is when a 3 year program becomes a 10 year program. I will handle my intellectual development myself if such issues as; favoritism, bribery, factionalism etc are minimal.

I would really like folks from other federal universities to provide their evaluations of their schools.

I can relate to what you said ..one man just had his PHD last year after using 8 years for his PHD...in UI.His supervisor retired and he was lucky his new supervisor took pity on him annd within a year ,he finished.....some lecturers can be wicked sha.if an individual has the money ,he should go abroad!!!..if not he should pray for a good supervisor..probably in 4 or 5 years he will be through...Nigerian lecturers forming god since 1856

Ugosample:


LOL I know then too. So economics department don show una pepper too?
The only way is self improvement, if you are a post graduate student, as there are many materials on the net that will help you; because if you are relying on what Dr. O (you know this person ) is teaching, you will not know ANYTHING

My brother, na UNIBEN surprise me pass...Dem turn assignment to Small and Medium Scale Enterprise. Come see billing. Assignment com turn to pay as you go! I have seen Phd students from UNIBEN Economics that cannot interpret common multiple linear regression estimation output. Imagine a Professor saying in an MSc class that a constant elasticity of substitution function is a PhD related function. I just dey laff the Prof. A lot of idiots nowadays are Professors.
If you are a married man and you have you pretty wife doing a program in UNIBEN Economics, then be prepared to be the first of many husbands of your wife if your wife must succeed in getting good grades. At one point, those of us in the MSc program renamed the program MUMU.Sc.

The only valuable thing i can get from the department is the certificate. Studying in that school is a sheer waste of resources!

efficiencie:


My brother, na UNIBEN surprise me pass...Dem turn assignment to Small and Medium Scale Enterprise. Come see billing. Assignment com turn to pay as you go! I have seen Phd students from UNIBEN Economics that cannot interpret common multiple linear regression estimation output. Imagine a Professor saying in an MSc class that a constant elasticity of substitution function is a PhD related function. I just dey laff the Prof. A lot of idiots nowadays are Professors.
If you are a married man and you have you pretty wife doing a program in UNIBEN Economics, then be prepared to be the first of many husbands of your wife if your wife must succeed in getting good grades. At one point, those of us in the MSc program renamed the program MUMU.Sc.

The only valuable thing i can get from the department is the certificate. Studying in that school is a sheer waste of resources!

So uniben is even worse than Unilag in that aspect,
chai *hands on the head*
But at the end, we just need to make use of what we have tho, not everyone can afford going abroad

Ugosample:


So uniben is even worse than Unilag in that aspect,
chai *hands on the head*
But at the end, we just need to make use of what we have tho, not everyone can afford going abroad

Yes o! The exchange rate is crazy. Imagine universities in Ghana asking foreign students to pay in dollars. I wonder what the benefit of this ECOWAS and WAMZ is sef!? After converting their charges in dollars to naira, mehn na millions per session for a 3-year Phd. Although i learnt of University of Kwazulunatal and how they are tuition free and their PhD is by research but I was told that the living costs in South Africa is expensive not to talk of their zenophobic tendencies.

babyfaceafrica:
I can relate to what you said ..one man just had his PHD last year after using 8 years for his PHD...in UI.His supervisor retired and he was lucky his new supervisor took pity on him annd within a year ,he finished.....some lecturers can be wicked sha.if an individual has the money ,he should go abroad!!!..if not he should pray for a good supervisor..probably in 4 or 5 years he will be through... Nigerian lecturers forming god since 1856

, na so o! Many of my mates that started their project works in May of this year till now are still doing their projects. You will not believe that in UNIBEN Economics, some of the supervisors require that you write your proposal, chapter one, chapter two and chapter three on foolscap sheet first and after the final corrections you can go an type the work and print it. Even after printing they will correct what they have previously corrected. However if you drop like #50,000 for the supervisor you will finish your work in a month!

A lot of enemies of progress in Universities nowadays!

efficiencie:


Yes o! The exchange rate is crazy. Imagine universities in Ghana asking foreign students to pay in dollars. I wonder what the benefit of this ECOWAS and WAMZ is sef!? After converting their charges in dollars to naira, mehn na millions per session for a 3-year Phd. Although i learnt of University of Kwazulunatal and how they are tuition free and their PhD is by research but I was told that the living costs in South Africa is expensive not to talk of their zenophobic tendencies.

Na catch 22 situation honestly speaking.
In many cases, one even spends more on living expenses than the school fees during the year so don't be deceived o

My prayer for you is that you get a scholarship for your PhD in a friendly country

efficiencie:


, na so o! Many of my mates that started their project works in May of this year till now are still doing their projects. You will not believe that in UNIBEN Economics, some of the supervisors require that you write your proposal, chapter one, chapter two and chapter three on foolscap sheet first and after the final corrections you can go an type the work and print it. Even after printing they will correct what they have previously corrected. However if you drop like #50,000 for the supervisor you will finish your work in a month!

A lot of enemies of progress in Universities nowadays!

lmao...naija I hail

Don't be so quick to downgrade Nigerian universities.

I am an Erasmus Mundus student here in Romania and due to the broadness of my program, I do attend courses in many departments. But mostly with MSc agribusiness students.

In the MSc Agribusiness (Department of Economics) students here take a Statistics course that I have done back in FUNAAB at 100 and 200L and I can tell you most of them have no idea about it. The class makes me look like a very brilliant student because it's so easy for me and funny thing is I'm not offering the course and hate statistics but only attending it because I like the professor (I think she's hot and I like to see her face).

The professor for one of my courses hasn't even attended any of the classes. We don't have the lecture notes (He always promises to send them but never will). Exam starts in 2 weeks, I wonder what we're going to write or how we're going to be graded.

The differences is just that the intensity of courses in Nigeria is much higher but here it's much practicalized. You go on trips, sent on observation, perform case studies etc and you're basically seated in front of a WIFI computer in Classes and you better have good computer+Microsoft office skills.

Before in Nigeria, I was a shy student. But after 3 presentations/week in Romania, you can be rest assured the stage fright is gone. Also the classes are conducive and not too populated (Well, since only 20% attend the classes. I meet the other 80% in Pubs and Coffee shops and they introduce themselve as my colleague)

Mille:
Don't be so quick to downgrade Nigerian universities.

I am an Erasmus Mundus student here in Romania and due to the broadness of my program, I do attend courses in many departments. But mostly with MSc agribusiness students.

In the MSc Agribusiness (Department of Economics) students here take a Statistics course that I have done back in FUNAAB at 100 and 200L and I can tell you most of them have no idea about it. The class makes me look like a very brilliant student because it's so easy for me and funny thing is I'm not offering the course and hate statistics but only attending it because I like the professor (I think she's hot and I like to see her face).

The professor for one of my courses hasn't even attended any of the classes. We don't have the lecture notes (He always promises to send them but never will). Exam starts in 2 weeks, I wonder what we're going to write or how we're going to be graded.

The differences is just that the intensity of courses in Nigeria is much higher but here it's much practicalized. You go on trips, sent on observation, perform case studies etc and you're basically seated in front of a WIFI computer in Classes and you better have good computer+Microsoft office skills.

Before in Nigeria, I was a shy student. But after 3 presentations/week in Romania, you can be rest assured the stage fright is gone. Also the classes are conducive and not too populated (Well, since only 20% attend the classes. I meet the other 80% in Pubs and Coffee shops and they introduce themselve as my colleague)

even romania schools better Naija schools ?..chai!!..

Mille:
Don't be so quick to downgrade Nigerian universities.

I am an Erasmus Mundus student here in Romania and due to the broadness of my program, I do attend courses in many departments. But mostly with MSc agribusiness students.

In the MSc Agribusiness ¹ (Department of Economics) students here take a Statistics course that I have done back in FUNAAB at 100 and 200L and I can tell you most of them have no idea about it. The class makes me look like a very brilliant student because it's so easy for me and funny thing is I'm not offering the course and hate statistics but only attending it because I like the professor (I think she's hot and I like to see her face) ² .

The professor for one of my courses hasn't even attended any of the classes. We don't have the lecture notes (He always promises to send them but never will). Exam starts in 2 weeks, I wonder what we're going to write or how we're going to be graded.

The differences is just that the intensity of courses in Nigeria is much higher but here it's much practicalized ³ . You go on trips, sent on observation, perform case studies etc and you're basically seated in front of a WIFI computer in Classes and you better have good computer+Microsoft office skills ⁴ .

Before in Nigeria, I was a shy student. But after 3 presentations/week in Romania, you can be rest assured the stage fright is gone ⁵ . Also the classes are conducive ⁶ and not too populated (Well, since only 20% attend the classes. I meet the other 80% in Pubs and Coffee shops and they introduce themselve as my colleague)

Even from your observation about Romanian schools, Nigerian federal universities are clearly a sheer waste...the 6 points i have raised show clearly that Nigerian federal universities are no match for the university in Romania where you are enrolled. Imagine MSc Agribusiness, that is a course that should be offered in Nigeria but na where you wan see am? You sed the statistics prof. is hot, well that must be because she is a young lady whereas here in Nigeria there are loads of old fools parading themselves about as professors (enemies of progress). you sed your courses are practical, how many courses in Nigeria are practiced? Even engineering which is a naturally practical discipline is taught via dictations abi I lie?. you spoke of wifi PCs in conducive classes na where you wan see that wan for Nigerian fed. universities. For UNIBEN na basement of library be MSc Economics class, with no light or fans (na my set and the current set fix light bulbs and fans for the class) if you think i am lying go an confirm from the current MSc Economics set.

I am not downgrading Nigerian fed. universities they are already downgraded and destroyed and they are seeking the lives of whom to destroy!

My apologies for derailing the thread, i just need this info. @Mille na how Romanian univerisities dey...Please are their universities relatively cheap. Please inbox me any relevant details about how you got your admission, the cost of living, the cost of getting admitted and studying there and any other relevant info - particularly for a PhD in Development Economics or any Economics related discipline. My email is efficiencie@gmail.com

Na wa o....... #speechless

efficiencie:
My apologies for derailing the thread, i just need this info. @Mille na how Romanian univerisities dey...Please are their universities relatively cheap. Please inbox me any relevant details about how you got your admission, the cost of living, the cost of getting admitted and studying there and any other relevant info - particularly for a PhD in Development Economics or any Economics related discipline. My email is efficiencie@gmail.com

Sorry I dont know have the info about studying in Romania. Like I said, I'm an Erasmus Mundus Student. My main university is ISARA-LYON ( a grand ecole in France) and that is the university I applied to. But the first two semesters of the program will be spent at one of the 5 partner universities depending on your specialization ( so I chose Romania and Germany). You can google up on Erasmus+ or Erasmus Mundus for more information.

Well, these are the few things I can tell you about studying in Romania.

I stay in Cluj. It is a youthful city with almost zero crime. and I must admit I fell in love with the city. I have never lived a more peaceful life. I even told my university I would like to stay in Romania for the next semester but they disagreed.

Romanian Universities are good. I can't answer about cheap because I dont know how much they pay.

Cost of living in Romania is relatively cheap (according to European standards) but more expensive than in Nigeria. About €200 should be enough to take care of feeding/month. Accommodation depends on if you stay in the student dormitories, share a flat or have a private apartment. I stay in the dormitory and like all Erasmus students pay €200/month. Regular students pay about €50/month but be aware that the facilities are not the same so you can expect to share a room with some others. Private apartments are from €150-300, depending on city, place and facilities.

You can ask me any question you would like to know here as my email is unreachable. I'll be glad to answer you.

Mille:


Sorry I dont know have the info about studying in Romania. Like I said, I'm an Erasmus Mundus Student. My main university is ISARA-LYON ( a grand ecole in France) and that is the university I applied to. But the first two semesters of the program will be spent at one of the 5 partner universities depending on your specialization ( so I chose Romania and Germany). You can google up on Erasmus+ or Erasmus Mundus for more information.

Well, these are the few things I can tell you about studying in Romania.

I stay in Cluj. It is a youthful city with almost zero crime. and I must admit I fell in love with the city. I have never lived a more peaceful life. I even told my university I would like to stay in Romania for the next semester but they disagreed.

Romanian Universities are good. I can't answer about cheap because I dont know how much they pay.

Cost of living in Romania is relatively cheap (according to European standards) but more expensive than in Nigeria. About €200 should be enough to take care of feeding/month. Accommodation depends on if you stay in the student dormitories, share a flat or have a private apartment. I stay in the dormitory and like all Erasmus students pay €200/month. Regular students pay about €50/month but be aware that the facilities are not the same so you can expect to share a room with some others. Private apartments are from €150-300, depending on city, place and facilities.

You can ask me any question you would like to know here as my email is unreachable. I'll be glad to answer you.

sure bros, I will do my own research over here and get back to you...because i am tired of Nigerian universities...between 2005 and 2016 i have only been able to garner two degrees (with my intellectuality being, to a large extent, the result of my own effort) and that's more than 10 years...If i schooled in a better country with better educational standards i would have been a senior lecturer by now! Imagine how Nigerian universities are wasting the lives of its youths. SMH!

efficiencie:


sure bros, I will do my own research over here and get back to you...because i am tired of Nigerian universities...between 2005 and 2016 i have only been able to garner two degrees (with my intellectuality being, to a large extent, the result of my own effort) and that's more than 10 years...If i schooled in a better country with better educational standards i would have been a senior lecturer by now! Imagine how Nigerian universities are wasting the lives of its youths. SMH!

It wastes the life of the youths indeed

I have not heard from postgraduate students from Ahmadu Bello University. I would like to know what's going on in that university...It may be relatively better than the crappy schools with big name i have attended!

lastmessenger:
i have to be very sincere with u. Dont expect much. Work very hard on your own is my simple advice. The lecturers wont give u much( they may hand u some old note to read and pass exam)

Frankly i have heard these before but didn't give it a thought.