Nigerian Graduates And Their Academic Area Of Study

I have been doing some study lately on my people, Nigerians, especially the graduates, and their inclination to practice what they studied in Univ.

I found out that most grads are not practicing the profession for which they obtained University education/degree.

Some of the reasons explained here:
1) I had been applying for like 2-3years for course "X" as my first choice, the only admission I got after 2-3yrs was course "Y", after much prayer and fasting. I had to take it to at least have a face to show among my friends, after I graduate, I can go back to what I really want to do.

The next question: 'Ok, so are you finally doing what you had planned to do before Univ'?

answer: NO

Reason: I'm still trying to survive. All I want now is to put food on my table, kind of

2) Another reason: 'I just need a college degree', whateva comes my way, kind of attitude,
Reason:
- "because the main question you are asked is if you are a University graduate, and once you answer 'YES', thats all thats needed, at least "to get a job"
- motivations of such peeps are:  "I have many friends who did not read any thing accounting-related and yet are working in reputable banks, are successful, if they can make it, I know I can make it, in todays world, what you read does not determine your success level, even Bill Gates is a drop-out"

3) Another reason: "I am the first born, my parents wanted me to be a nurse, so I read nursing".
Question: if given the opportunity, would you have chosen another field and not nursing?
Answer: Yes, I wanted to be a journalist.
Question: so would you still want to be a journalist in future
Answer: Yes, hopefully, if I get bored with being a nurse, I can divert.

4) Another reason, most common among the interviewed ladies.
its like this: all they are after is to have "a degree", no matter what. Next is they want to get married, since they know their husbands might not allow them to pursue their profession, so why the waste of time, a lot of "the husband is the crown of the wife" mentality, so therefore, once they have that crown they feel they have achieved everything in life.
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OK, NLs, lets chat:

Of the 4-reasons I summarized above, I could only live with #1, since one is at the end of the rope here, but with the others, I think its more of a matter of being goal-less in life.

what do you think?

Question:
Are you presently Practicing your profession for which you received University Training/education? (YES/NO)
if No, - why are you not practicing what you read in the University?
if YES - are you really happy with your profession? if given a choice, would you have chosen something else

What other reasons, have you come across for people to practice, abandon, hate/love their profession?

Yes! I am practising what i studied in school.
I am happy with my job but I do regret that I
Traded away my talents of playing football.
I was a good goal tender in my school days.
But my dad being a teacher at that time did not allow me.

So there is so much money and fame in football than my profession.

Ain't nuthin' to do with being Nigerian - that's the way it is all over the world. In fact that's the norm. On average you likely to work in an field not entirely related to your degree particularly in the later stages of your life. That's why most Unis are making their Degree programs as flexible as possible by offering stuffs like combined programs to enable their graduate cope.

Students need to realise that too and take advantage of it as well because that's what employers are also wishing for. Nobody wants an inflexible robot who can't survive outside of his/her field.

You don’t go to university just to get a job. Infact, I think a university education is more about opening your mind and learning to think critically and analytically amongst other things. It isn’t like a trade school.
In some universities, students are allowed to get credits for extra curricular activities such as involvement in a club, society, SU, sports,etc.

Re:point (4)- The fact that these women are not in a work place doesn’t mean they are not using the skills they learned….I am sure I ‘ve read or heard something about the correlation of mothers’ level of education and that of their children …maybe someone else might have heard/read of it. You know what they say…educate a woman, you’ve educated a nation.

Finally, I know people who have abandoned their professions because
1) They re-aligned their priorities…e.g a career driven woman who decides to change track to do something more family-friendly….another person has given up his job to work for an NGO cos he wants to “make a difference.”….Yet another went to follow their dream…, the list goes on…

datz why we must take electives in skool, in most cases about 30 credits and up and upon dat must take FOUNDATION COURSES which comprises of 9 credits in Hummanities, 6 credits in NATURAL SCIENCE(BIOLOGY ETC) and 6 again in SOCIAL SCIENCE.

Am into my profession. You must follow your dreams else u end upunhappy. Life is not an event. Its a process.

Am into my profession.  You must follow your dreams else u end up unhappy.  Life is not an event.  Its a process.

Yes oo, i pratice what i studied and its fun.

i think a college degree is more about sieving the wheat from the chaff because the naija system doesnt really teach anything (except the pro courses like the medicals and engineering to some extent) that why you have microbiologists working in banks

I practice what i study except at a much more detailed level right now, hmm well grad school is like working.

Option 4 is so prevalent among goal-less women (er most women). i once had a gf studying mathematics. She could not even pass the first 2 fundamental maths courses in 100L
Moving to another course was out of the ques cos she was already going to her 3rd yr in a 4 yr course. How on earth did she choose to study a course she found so difficult to even pass basic courses. Both courses are prerequisites so she can't take other higher level maths courses and yet she insists on going forward, why? cos all her friends are studying the same cos and it's maths-computer!

Does she like computer? No! Maths? Never! What does she want to do after school? Masters in statistics! She does not have a GPA to do a masters even in naija, she finds statistics so difficult! I have never been so frustrated in my life. I remember once when we both went to check her result, she just started crying and i had to be running around looking for my brother to take her extra lessons.

davidylan:

Option 4 is so prevalent among goal-less women (er most women).

Shai! Let Nairaland women catch you o! Very correct sha.

@Topic, Yes I'm practicing what I studied. But maybe I'm already developing interest in something else?

@1ofall

Re:point (4)- ….I am sure I ‘ve read or heard something about the correlation of mothers’ level of education and that of their children …maybe someone else might have heard/read of it.

Yup heard that one too, the correlation of a mother's level of education and that of her children, as in the Zest that a child has for education is at par with his/her mother's educational-attainment zest.

@babadee

i think a college degree is more about sieving the wheat from the chaff because the naija system doesnt really teach anything (except the pro courses like the medicals and engineering to some extent) that why you have microbiologists working in banks

thats exactly the problem. Even the medicals and engineering etc, are a lot lacking.

I once met a lecturer from a certain Univ, we talked, etc, he told me he read B.Sc Chemistry, but he was lecturing Elect/Elect students. Ok, so he says he took a 6-months conversion course(after 2yrs of lecturing Chemistry students) to become an Engineering lecturer, because of the salary area/more Elect/Elect lecturers were needed in Elect/Elect debt at that time in his institution. Now, this guy doesnt even have it in mind to go for a Masters degree in Elec/Elect, at least to make up for his B.Sc Elect deficiency, all through his chat with me, im thinking, so, what exactly are you teaching elect/elect students, since he claims to lecture 3rd year above elect/elect students.

@HotStepper

datz why we must take electives in school, in most cases about 30 credits  and up and upon that must take FOUNDATION COURSES which comprises of 9 credits in Hummanities, 6 credits in NATURAL SCIENCE(BIOLOGY ETC) and 6 again in SOCIAL SCIENCE.

Yeah, i understand, but you know, a lot of/most of Nigeria grads ive met, its like theres this kind of pre-programmed mind-set "Just have a college degree" and thats all, "and ill go out and make it", and if you ask such what the definition of "making it" is to them, its all about money, money. I think its not just "working" or getting something to do that one should be thinking about, I feel people should be interested in making an impact, achieving something, not necessarily money wise, but maybe like thinking of a unique-breakthru in one's academic field,  or

,
its more of something like this: I believe development, as in DEVELOPMENT in a nation will come about when the right people are doing the right things.

Great discovery my brother. For me i saw this coming so i decided earlier to pursue a discipline that have a wide professional feel. I read Economics, so even when I was with a Manufacturing Firm and now with a bank am still within my profession. But for my basket ball skills nomore, no regret in that area also 'cos am cool. But of a truth this can be oohhhhhhhhhhh unsatisfying, unfulfilling feelings at a point, is like being in the wrong place at the rigth time.

Good topic!its a pity that things have gone so bad. I'm a biologist but now i'm working as a sales executive with a multi-national company.i never planned for it to be so, but after almost 3yrs of trying to secure a job related to my field,i decided to accept my present position,to keep body and soul together.the company is ok (i'm not complaining).

What saddens me is the fact that most graduates do not have the opportunity to put into practice what they read in the university.

Some people say, it's destiny at work. All the same, I thank God for my present job. Cheers.

x

2good,
You sound like a typical nigerian. Money is all things? I doubt. Job satisfaction counts more than the filthy lure of lucre. It's all right to think success in terms of money, but beyond money, you need a job that can bring out the best in you. Thats my point. Else, you turn to the Chris Uba's, Arthur Nzeribe's and even Emeka Offor's of this world, who rolick in money, but have little substance to justify their oppulence. Do you think these guys are among the happiest men on earth? I honestly doubt it!

waoooo, all diz guyz metioned are all ma neigbours

I'm a computer scientist (wateva dat means) but i work in a bank

I think Iofall has done justice to this thread. When you go to higher institutions of learning, emphasis is more on developing your ability to think logically and analytically and also engage in profitable things that will enhace the living standards of the people in your society.

So, whatever your degree, you should just feel good with yourself knowing that you're doing something worthwhile.

Now that said, I'm a Petroleum Engineer and I'm working in an E&P company.

This is a very good topic and it is something that is affecting alot of people in naijas in the states. I graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and wanted to be a lawyer. Infact this has been a dream of mine since I was a child. However after graduation, I found it very difficult to find a well paying job in my field. I also realized that most of the jobs in my field didn't need a degree. I was very disappointed becos i was made to believe that I would be making good money but i guess things haven't turned out the way I had hoped and was told they would be, not mentioning the student loans that you have to pay back in the states. Anyways sometimes you have to do what you gotta do, by taking a job in a different career field especially when you have a family to take care of.

I plan on changing careers and with God's help I can find a job that will pay for me to acquire mosre education, and provide the best for my family.

HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT A lot of people loose the opportunity to get that very important job placement just because of the way they present their resume, especially photocopied resume, however that is not all.

Your resume is supposed to portray you as the undisputed for the job, not misrepresent you, and a well package resume can bring you one step closer to getting job by seperating you from the pack.

A very strong example is myself i finished my Bsc. withh an average grade well we all know its 2.2 but the job i got is for 1st class and 2.1, the secret? My resume, sumptously packaged the Human Resources just could not resist me and before i commit sin, God!

Another example however, is a 2.1 banking and finance graduate with a 'badly' photocopied resume and thats not all badly packaged resume.

It occured to me that i should teach people this secret so i approached a Human Resources organisarion for support, they saw my vision and thus we are organising a TRANING, apart from what i know the HR organization have offered to support me with facilitators who themselves are experienced in resume advisory and writting to teach poeple on this elusive skill that is not taught in our school.

This training would be fully interactive unlike what you would see in the books or on the internet that you really can't ask questions. In this training you would not only be put through detailed explicit steps on how to write a convincing resume you would also be allowed to ask exhuastive questions on HOW to achieve it.

Requirements;
1. Your resume 2. 2 Passport with your full name and signature behind it

Date: friday 18th of April 2008

Time: 4.oopm- 6.00pm

Venue: 71, Allen avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. (3rd floor, Generis solutions)

Fee: N1500 only

I really hate to charge a fee but it is for the following reasons:

1. I had to rent a hall it would have been more than N1500 if Fidelity bank did not subsidize it and the HR organization did not provide facilitators.

2. I have noticed that when things are for free then VALUE is not demnded for what is being diseminated.

Call to book for your seats NOW as only 50seats are available.

yours truly


08033746601
frederick [b][/b]

l have a Bachelor Degree in Secretarial Administration, and work as a PA to the MD of my coy. so am doing what l studied.

@MYPEACE

P.A.

awon boiz:

@MYPEACE

P.A.

na you sabi where ur mind dey go ooo FYI i dey work with a female boss

@Mypeace,

Ok na, , I kinda like ya name MYPEACE

Se u go b my piece?

awon boiz:

@Mypeace,

Ok na, , I kind of like ya name MYPEACE

Se u go b my piece?

check here
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/board-38.0.html

@MYPEACE

na u know.

awon boiz:

@MYPEACE

na u know.

U know see PIECE there? l actually saw her before l pasted the link.

@Mypeace

Where r u at?

at Narialand, career section

Old thread that i stumbled on accidentally, but I couldn't help responding.

I don't think that the degree you took at university is your 'profession'. Your professional life begins when you start working.
Except, of course,  you're in an interlinked work-study profession like medicine. You know, study-internship-residency-specialization-consultancy etc. By the time you're done with all that, your life is basically over.

That you studied engineering in school doesn't make you an engineer. It's your practice of engineering that makes you one. I think even the grossly inefficient COREN and NSE hinge their memberships on that premise.

The way I see it is this: You study accounting/law/engineering in school, what you get is a degree. You finish school, you look for work, you get a job. You pursue professional certification or career employment in any of the aforementioned disciplines, then you have a profession.

Personally I think profession is overrated. So I vote option 2. Besides, I don't think anyone can get true fulfilment working for someone, except for people who like to pretend.

By the way, to the dude (davidylan) who made the comment about women not been motivated, I'd say that is a bit unfair. The entire human society is set up to downgrade the status of women in public and private life. How many Naija men honestly want an accomplished woman as wife? Would our egos permit? You should apologise to that your ex-girlfriend cos as a good bf you should have advised her to switch courses before it became too late. In fact, I'm willing to bet that she did all that stuff just to impress you, if I know women. You really need to seek her out and say you're sorry.

good incites AjanleKoko

A degree is merely a means to an end. Most people usually pursue other interests after graduating from school.