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Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me - Education - Nairaland

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Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 12:04pm On Aug 09, 2017
I'm planning to go for Masters degree abroad, and my uncle said no matter what my CGPA is, I would need a Honours Degree (equivalent of PGD) for a successful Masters degree. Read his words below...

I advise Nigerians to do Honours Bachelors except theyve had real and practical experience as that the independent research expected at Masters level is often most difficult.

I have over 4 direct cases in proof.

My niece with BTech from Lautech had worked with a pharmaceutical agency for few years before coming here. She could not even Use the equipment in th lab.

Tade has to cover the shame of 2 lecturers with Msc Engineering who came to do their PhDs here because they were out of their depth with the facilities.

Indeed the consequences could be dire.

When you do Masters in sciences and engineering they generally grant bursaries and scholarships - and in return expect you go help with undergraduate classes.

There are several documented cases of freshers from 9ja chased from classrooms by South Africans. The student - lecturer relationship is nothing close to the master-servant relationship as in Nigeria.

In 1999, I had my baptism of fire when protest letters were sent that they couldn't hear me because of accent. That was 1 of my 4 classes at the then University of Natal. Fortunately, I also had fortnightly seminars I presented to the faculty in consequence of which I had gained the trust of the senior members of the faculty - hence the unusual support of the faculty board i had. It could be traumatic.

I know of Nigerians with degrees from Nigeria who registered for Masters but supervisors later recommended they take optional courses in the honours programme to bridge their gap.

My niece who went to Lautech spent 4 years for the 2 years Masters with not so great results.

A friend is doing his PhD in Soil Science. He went to OAU. Surely he will tell you how long it has taken him to do the 2 masters.

On the contrary, Sola did his BEng, then Hons BEng and Masters in Chemical, and then a Hons BEng in Material Science after his Masters - all under record time. My 2 Masters in my field were each separately done in 1 year.

The issue is dig a deeper foundation with a coursework - it's a revision exercise and rite of passage.

What a useless system we have!
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 12:33pm On Aug 09, 2017
That's not true... There are so many Nigerian graduates doing their masters and some others working abroad with their Nigerian qualifications, like our medical doctors for example.

The above cases might be peculiar to those in your uncle's circle. Don't forget that not all Nigerian graduates are geniuses and not everyone with a bachelor's degree at hand is intelligent enough to adapt to studying abroad, cos there are so many things you need to learn which you weren't exposed to here, so that's the Nigerian factor.

For management courses, its all about reading and being smart... So a I understand the issues with science courses at masters level.

Either ways, it is totally wrong to call our degrees worthless, some of us are gurus who didnt have the opportunity to study abroad. It doesn't make our knowledge worthless... So many Nigerians are doing well abroad, so just speak for yourself and your uncle.

31 Likes

Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Donshemzy1234: 1:40pm On Aug 09, 2017
Check my signature to redeem your gift cards. We have the best price in town. Send in your cards and get paid in no time. #nostories
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 1:42pm On Aug 09, 2017
zubzero:
That's not true... There are so many Nigerian graduates doing their masters and some others working abroad with their Nigerian qualifications, like our medical doctors for example.

The above cases might be peculiar to those in your uncle's circle. Don't forget that not all Nigerian graduates are geniuses and not everyone with a bachelor's degree at hand is intelligent enough to adapt to studying abroad, cos there are so many things you need to learn which you weren't exposed to here, so that's the Nigerian factor.

For management courses, its all about reading and being smart... So a I understand the issues with science courses at masters level.

Either ways, it is totally wrong to call our degrees worthless, some of us are gurus who didnt have the opportunity to study abroad. It doesn't make our knowledge worthless... So many Nigerians are doing well abroad, so just speak for yourself and your uncle.

This observation is limited to science degrees, medical courses not inclusive. I relied on textbooks for 5 years in Lautech. We were 1500 students using a hall marked 1000 lecture theater. Public address system not working. If you get to the hall by 7am for lecture, you won't find a standing space let alone siting.

6 Likes

Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 1:56pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


This observation is limited to science degrees, medical courses not inclusive. I relied on textbooks for 5 years in Lautech. We were 1500 students using a hall marked 1000 lecture theater. Public address system not working. If you get to the hall by 7am for lecture, you won't find a standing space let alone siting.

Yea, not far from my point.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 3:40pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


This observation is limited to science degrees, medical courses not inclusive. I relied on textbooks for 5 years in Lautech. We were 1500 students using a hall marked 1000 lecture theater. Public address system not working. If you get to the hall by 7am for lecture, you won't find a standing space let alone siting.
Oga o these universities should be compelled to stop admitting more than their carrying capacities.

1 Like

Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by ThatCEO: 5:44pm On Aug 09, 2017
There is nothing like education in Nigeria. Maybe sometimes in the next 50 years, we will get it right.

A few differences.

1. our Practice of waiting 2 weeks to exam before reading cannot work there.

2. Exams are meant to see if you can perform a task not to see who can score the highest.

3. To buttress point 3, you are usually allowed to bring as much materials as you like. Nobody is expecting you to cram any formula.

4. There are people who can help you in the lab. Students usually help each other, if you don't know how to use an equipment, it is because you are proud. FULL STOP.

5. You don't need to do any PGD or whatever, the first semester will be hard but that's it, you get to blend.

6. Nigerians usually believe they can perform better than a white man given the same educational background. I say this to you...SHAT-TAP-THERE.

7. Our first class is meant for the one who can cram the most. Their first is not meant for crammers, is not meant for the most brilliant, but is meant for the consistent student who does the basics well.

23 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by philiancoop(m): 6:10pm On Aug 09, 2017
It's more funny in FUNAAB
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Funnyguy83: 7:13pm On Aug 09, 2017
isswell
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Meel: 7:22pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


This observation is limited to science degrees, medical courses not inclusive. I relied on textbooks for 5 years in Lautech. We were 1500 students using a hall marked 1000 lecture theater. Public address system not working. If you get to the hall by 7am for lecture, you won't find a standing space let alone siting.
. What is your discipline sir??
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by lacruz12(m): 7:27pm On Aug 09, 2017
If it's not money then it's not making sense.....

1 Like

Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 7:29pm On Aug 09, 2017
ThatCEO:
There is nothing like education in Nigeria. Maybe sometimes in the next 50 years, we will get it right.

A few differences.

1. our Practice of waiting 2 weeks to exam before reading cannot work there.

2. Exams are meant to see if you can perform a task not to see who can score the highest.

3. To buttress point 3, you are usually allowed to bring as much materials as you like. Nobody is expecting you to cram any formula.

4. There are people who can help you in the lab. Students usually help each other, if you don't know how to use an equipment, it is because you are proud. FULL STOP.

5. You don't need to do any PGD or whatever, the first semester will be hard but that's it, you get to blend.

6. Nigerians usually believe they can perform better than a white man given the same educational background. I say this to you...SHAT-TAP-THERE.

7. Our first class is meant for the one who can cram the most. Their first is not meant for crammers, is not meant for the most brilliant, but is meant for the consistent student who does the basics well.

I can only be proud of college of medicine in Lautech. The rest are trashes. I never attended lectures for up to 5 times in 5 years time in Lautech.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 7:31pm On Aug 09, 2017
Meel:
. What is your discipline sir??

Animal Production and Health.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Meel: 7:46pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


Animal Production and Health.

wow same dept, am still an undergraduate in Lautech, I can relate with you bro

we still use the syllabus of 1990 ,

The only fpt, we do his pluck cashew nut, use hoe ( imagine a school of technology in the 21st century),

Even though we ain't vet, we should, be able to do some clinical field work, every thing na f9.

we just continue to do LA cram, LA pour, nothing practical able is being taught.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 7:48pm On Aug 09, 2017
ThatCEO:
There is nothing like education in Nigeria. Maybe sometimes in the next 50 years, we will get it right.

A few differences.

1. our Practice of waiting 2 weeks to exam before reading cannot work there.

2. Exams are meant to see if you can perform a task not to see who can score the highest.

3. To buttress point 3, you are usually allowed to bring as much materials as you like. Nobody is expecting you to cram any formula.

4. There are people who can help you in the lab. Students usually help each other, if you don't know how to use an equipment, it is because you are proud. FULL STOP.

5. You don't need to do any PGD or whatever, the first semester will be hard but that's it, you get to blend.

6. Nigerians usually believe they can perform better than a white man given the same educational background. I say this to you...SHAT-TAP-THERE.

7. Our first class is meant for the one who can cram the most. Their first is not meant for crammers, is not meant for the most brilliant, but is meant for the consistent student who does the basics well.

I would start reading 2 days to exam in Lautech and would still get 60B despite losing marks on attendance.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 7:54pm On Aug 09, 2017
Meel:


wow same dept, am still an undergraduate in Lautech, I can relate with you bro

we still use the syllabus of 1990 ,

The only fpt, we do his pluck cashew nut, use hoe ( imagine a school of technology in the 21st century),

Even though we ain't vet, we should, be able to do some clinical field work, every thing na f9.

we just continue to do LA cram, LA pour, nothing practical able is being taught.

Imagine students peeping through that lecture room close to HODs office in Aph dept. for lecture. A room that can't accommodate 50 students and we were more than 500. Add AGN, AEE and have more than 1500 students using 1000LT. My coursemates were looking at me as if I were a mercenary during exams because you would only see me in school for exams.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Meel: 8:01pm On Aug 09, 2017
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 8:05pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


This observation is limited to science degrees, medical courses not inclusive. I relied on textbooks for 5 years in Lautech. We were 1500 students using a hall marked 1000 lecture theater. Public address system not working. If you get to the hall by 7am for lecture, you won't find a standing space let alone siting.
While it is true that the education system in Nigeria is substandard, I can assure you that it's well acknowledged as a normal degree in many developed countries, both Europe and the United States , I got my bachelor degree in Lautech also and I got into a masters program here in the U.S with no prerequisites or whatsoever, in fact you may be surprised to hear that most schools here recognized HND as a bachelor degree, especially when you evaluate your transcript to American standard, YES you can get into masters program in many schools on the US with HND!
Although it may be a bit challenging here coming from Naija background, but trust me you will adapt because it's kinda convenient and you have many resources at your disposal, I graduated with 2:2 from Naija and graduated with 3.7/4 here with my Master's degree. cool

16 Likes 1 Share

Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Meel: 8:06pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


Imagine students peeping through that lecture room close to HODs office in Aph dept. for lecture. A room that can't accommodate 50 students and we were more than 500. Add AGN, AEE and have more than 1500 students using 1000LT. My coursemates were looking at me as if I were a mercenary during exams because you would only see me in school for exams.
I believe things are bad during your time, but now it is worst, we make use of 1000lt gay(at the T junction that leads to adenike and management).

We are up to 2000 in Faculty of Agric, all the chairs you can sit on is not up to 750, the hall is fuckingly damaged, the Aph lab and Agn (in Nigeria), that is meant for 100 students, are now being used for 400 students at once.

will pm you sir
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 8:11pm On Aug 09, 2017
Meel:
I believe things are bad during your time, but now it is worst, we make use of 1000lt gay(at the T junction that leads to adenike and management).

We are up to 2000 in Faculty of Agric, all the chairs you can sit on is not up to 750, the hall is fuckingly

Lol, 2000 students! That's why photocopy biz is booming there - only a very students write notes. Just pray get employed by a big farm: that's where you will get access to practicals. I didn't want to let it be known that I have no practical experiences in school, but I was bombarded with tasks to treat animal, help animals with difficult births. I would keep vigil trying to salvage dystocia cases in pigs - I almost became a vet after series of personal research. Now before the arrival of a vet, I can battle most diseases to standstill. It is in the farm I gained full experience about feed formualation, biosafety measures etc.

3 Likes

Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by eltolu: 8:14pm On Aug 09, 2017
We may have poor facilities but we Nigerians have great potentials.

We may look at one side of the issue and say Nigerians are not good enough; we may look at another side an say Nigerians are great.

I believe we are great, we may lack the tools and instruments, but the potential is there.

Solve this quiz on the Nigerian oil and gas sector and test your knowledge https://letslearn.ng/course/brainiacs-spenaice-challenge/
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 8:18pm On Aug 09, 2017
desiigner:

While it is true that the education system in Nigeria is substandard, I can assure you that it's well acknowledged as a normal degree in many developed countries, both Europe and the United States , I got my bachelor degree in Lautech also and I got into a masters program here in the U.S with no prerequisites or whatsoever, in fact you may be surprised to hear that most schools here recognized HND as a bachelor degree, especially when you evaluate your transcript to American standard, YES you can get into masters program in many schools on the US with HND!
Although it may be a bit challenging here coming from Naija background, but trust me you will adapt because it's kinda convenient and you have many resources at your disposal, I graduated with 2:2 from Naija and graduated with 3.7/4 here with my Master's degree. cool

Well, good for you, bro. The only equipment I touched once in Lautech was a microscope. My uncle is talking of a leading University in South Africa. And I guess you were one of those guys that served others during "bond forming" in exams in Lautech. Lol. The brained ones will still find courseworks abroad easy.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Meel: 8:21pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


Lol, 2000 students! That's why photocopy biz is booming there - only a very students write notes. Just pray get employed by a big farm: that's where you will get access to practicals. I didn't want to let it be known that I have no practical experiences in school, but I was bombarded with tasks to treat animal, help animals with difficult births. I would keep vigil trying to salvage dystocia cases in pigs - I almost became a vet after series of personal research. Now before the arrival of a vet, I can battle most diseases to standstill. It is in the farm I gained full experience about feed formualation, biosafety measures etc.


I worked in a farm during our previous strike, currently working in a vet clinic now.

The doc was asking me, what was wrong with a cow, I was just looking like the cow,


Cramming ti po ju

4 Likes

Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Meel: 8:23pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


Well, good for you, bro. The only equipment I touched once in Lautech was a microscope. My uncle is talking of a leading University in South Africa. And I guess you were one of those guys that served others during "bond forming" in exams in Lautech. Lol. The brained ones will still find courseworks abroad easy.



Microscope, when you want to draw the cell in onions grin
CrescentMoon:


Well, good for you, bro. The only equipment I touched once in Lautech was a microscope. My uncle is talking of a leading University in South Africa. And I guess you were one of those guys that served others during "bond forming" in exams in Lautech. Lol. The brained ones will still find courseworks abroad easy.



Microscope, when you want to draw the cell in onions
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 8:35pm On Aug 09, 2017
Meel:



I worked in a farm during our previous strike, currently working in a vet clinic now.

The doc was asking me, what was wrong with a cow, I was just looking like the cow,


Cramming ti po ju

Lol. Good for you that you are now close to a vet. I was once faced with star-gazing symptom in ruminants. I had to look for ways to get thiamine injection but not available in Nigeria. So you have got to administer the available vit b complex which contains little portion of thiamine.

All these ear notching, tagging, branding they taught you can't work in numbering pigs. There is a special a way of doing this.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 8:38pm On Aug 09, 2017
Meel:





Microscope, when you want to draw the cell in onions

U dey mind that agronomy lab. I touched microscope in biology lab during the Bio 103 practical.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by ThatCEO: 8:41pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


I would start reading 2 days to exam in Lautech and would still get 60B despite losing marks on attendance.

Well, you fit try am abroad too but your 60percent na pass, P, no be "B" cheesy cheesy cheesy A starts from 90. shocked
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 9:09pm On Aug 09, 2017
ThatCEO:


Well, you fit try am abroad too but your 60percent na pass, P, no be "B" cheesy cheesy cheesy A starts from 90. shocked

I won't lose marks on attendance abroad. I will also not lose marks to handouts not bought. Impromptu tests won't cost me marks too. Why will 60% not be P since that cramming is not what determine a brilliant student? Come to Lautech, you won't score 40 in that common Pascal Programming which is a borrowed course for agricultural students.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by khristal87(m): 10:30pm On Aug 09, 2017
Meel:


wow same dept, am still an undergraduate in Lautech, I can relate with you bro

we still use the syllabus of 1990 ,

The only fpt, we do his pluck cashew nut, use hoe ( imagine a school of technology in the 21st century),

Even though we ain't vet, we should, be able to do some clinical field work, every thing na f9.

we just continue to do LA cram, LA pour, nothing practical able is being taught.
My bro develop ursef.....most f d tings i learnt in d field f animal prod ws nt frm d skul...i met ppl, vet doctors, researchers etc...dnt wait fr d skul oda wise u ll graduate wif a gud result n stil nt b relevant....learn practical feed formulation using software n feed mixing, learn debeaking, dehorning, castration, artificial insemination, learn brooding of day old chicks of all poultry species, learn d principles of broiler, layers management....learn basic stastistical anaylsys using spss, minitab, u cn see u ve alot to learn? An animal scientist dt cn not do most or all of dis tings and many more i ve nt mentioned will nt fit into d labour force
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by Nobody: 10:49pm On Aug 09, 2017
khristal87:

My bro develop ursef.....most f d tings i learnt in d field f animal prod ws nt frm d skul...i met ppl, vet doctors, researchers etc...dnt wait fr d skul oda wise u ll graduate wif a gud result n stil nt b relevant....learn practical feed formulation using software n feed mixing, learn debeaking, dehorning, castration, artificial insemination, learn brooding of day old chicks of all poultry species, learn d principles of broiler, layers management....learn basic stastistical anaylsys using spss, minitab, u cn see u ve alot to learn? An animal scientist dt cn not do most or all of dis tings and many more i ve nt mentioned will nt fit into d labour force

You will get to know these once you are out of school if you are lucky to get a job or good place for intern. If you don't work in a ruminant enterprise, who will give you his sheep to dehoove? We learnt notching, branding in school, when i wanted to number over 900 pigs, once ear tags were given to pigs, other pigs started chewing them off. If you use hot branding, pig skin will grow and shed off the brand. I started researching and came across a proven method.
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by khristal87(m): 11:09pm On Aug 09, 2017
CrescentMoon:


You will get to know these once you are out of school if you are lucky to get a job or good place for intern. If you don't work in a ruminant enterprise, who will give you his sheep to dehoove? We learnt notching, branding in school, when i wanted to number over 900 pigs, once ear tags were given to pigs, other pigs started chewing them off. If you use hot branding, pig skin will grow and shed off the brand. I started researching and came across a proven method.
Funny exp though, like i said i interracted with vet, doctors, ph.d students who came fr research dt ws hw i learnt feed formulation n mixing....i ws in 400l then.....if u re enterprising , u ll get enof practical knowledge bf u graduate.......in ma final yr proj i formulated n mixed with no assistance frm ma ever busy supervisor...d result ws excellent, i ws even aplauded during presentation
Re: Useless Nigerian Science Degrees: What An Uncle Abroad Told Me by laudate: 1:09am On Aug 10, 2017
zubzero:
That's not true... There are so many Nigerian graduates doing their masters and some others working abroad with their Nigerian qualifications, like our medical doctors for example.

The above cases might be peculiar to those in your uncle's circle. Don't forget that not all Nigerian graduates are geniuses and not everyone with a bachelor's degree at hand is intelligent enough to adapt to studying abroad, cos there are so many things you need to learn which you weren't exposed to here, so that's the Nigerian factor.

For management courses, its all about reading and being smart... So a I understand the issues with science courses at masters level.

Either ways, it is totally wrong to call our degrees worthless, some of us are gurus who didnt have the opportunity to study abroad. It doesn't make our knowledge worthless... So many Nigerians are doing well abroad, so just speak for yourself and your uncle.

Exactly!! You hit the nail on the head! cheesy It may be LAUTECH graduates that have a peculiar problem adapting to their studies abroad. undecided

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