I gained admission into the university in 2011 at 20 years. I thought I will graduate by the age of 23. In developed countries, you don’t need to pray and fast to graduate on time. In fact, I heard that you are told the day you will be graduating from the university right from your year 1 registration point in some countries.

But being a Nigerian who went to a government-owned university, my dream of graduating at 23 years never came through. I graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University and I don’t think I need to tell you the strong relationship between OAU and incessant strikes.

Within my first two months campus, I experienced my first strike action. The school management sent us home because of a proposed protest scheduled for our matriculation day. We didn’t resume until three months after. We proceeded again on ASUU strike in 2013 which lasted for six months. We had other internal strikes and I ended up spending close to five years for a course I should have spent less than four years for.

Graduating from the university in 2015, I stayed at home for another one year before I was mobilized for the compulsory National Youths Service (NYSC) which also lasted for another one year. I finished NYSC in 2017 and I was 26 years going to be 27 by the end of that year.

I had always been an entrepreneur right from campus and I was really doing well. I had made up my mind not to look for a job after NYSC, I just wanted to face my business and go for my masters degree because I knew my chances of getting a job was slim considering the 26 years age requirement by most of the employers of labour especially the big firms. In fact, many of them now request that you must be 25 years and below to submit application for their graduate trainee recruitments.

It took the wisdom and experience of my mentor for me to realize that going for masters degree at the age of 26 years without any job experience wasn’t the best for me. That is one of the reasons why I encourage youths to have mentors who can guide them along their career and life decisions.

If I had gone for masters, I would probably graduate at the age of 28 that is if there is no strike action within the two years and getting a good job at that age without previous experience will be be difficult.

At 28, most companies expect you to have nothing less than 2 years of experience and having M.sc. is not equivalent to that two years of experience.

You need to be strategic about going for masters degree if you are yet to get job experience and here are my advice:

1. If you are 23 years and below, going for masters if you don’t quickly get a job is cool
2. If you are 25 years and above, I will advise you to first get a job to get experience and do your masters degree later.
3. If your long-term goal is to end up in the academia as a lecturer, masters is cool.
4. If you don’t have that goal, writing professional exams may be better than going for masters immediately after graduation.
5. If your goal is to own a business later on, going for your masters may be the best decision.
6. Before going for masters, calculate the age you will be done with the program and look at the age requirement in your industry.
7. Life is about doing first thing first and you must know how to prioritize your life.

This is an advice from me, please feel free to disagree and share your views.

You may also want to read this https://www.nairaland.com/4358447/graduating-second-class-lower-no

#IamVincentAdeoba

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1849160375103415&id=100000284120324

Nice one. We've heard you but ain't going for any masters .

Only in Nigeria do people go for masters for the wrong reasons like to get a job

I don't subcribe to your submission with lots of reasons.

First,presently in Nigeria,the labour market is saturated with Bsc from all corners and in order to have an edge,you need to proof you're still learning which Masters can do.

Secondly,some Universities in the labour market are not well recognised, hence some applications not attended to. I have witnessed tbis a number of times. The moment your Uni is not UI,Lag,Convenant,Babcock,Afe and the likes,you can only proove your worth with a second degree from all any of these Ivy universities.

Thirdly,very soon, Bsc will turn to SSCE since you can obtain it,if you have money but Masters Cert o)is a little bit difficult to buy (not saying you can't buy it) because all those Drs and Profs will make it difficult.

Furthermore,it takes the grace of God to combine Masters and work together especially if you work in a private coy. You should go for your Masters the moment you grad,it will show your employer you will require to leave office and attend classes.

Finally,go for your Mastes if you intend going into academics. It is the best edge over others.

I have lots but let me stop here and advise those who intend doing their Masters . Make hay while the sun shine.

Wonderful nonsense

There's nothing wrong having a Masters Degree at the age of 21 without any job experience if possible.

You can always go for other masters degree when you start work if you like.

All for the paper....

Oma ga ooo... You entered Ife at age 20 and hoped to graj at age 23? Since when did Ife become Babcock...or Oxford? 24 years would've been ideal, and not 23.

femi4:
Only in Nigeria do people go for masters for the wrong reasons like to get a job

Don't mind them... Too many paper junkies.. No transferable and soft skills.

Masters degree is just paper.. Block heads everywhere. Upon all the masters yet we can't manufacture shitt.

I agree with the OP on points listed above. If you graduate at a later age as the OP, you either go for a professional course while looking for job. The process of going to one school in Nigeria and hoping to graduate with the belief that a job is waiting for you is a mirage except you are just lucky or favored. We need to face reality and work based on what is on ground. Labor market is saturated and for you to stand out and have an edge over others is either by experience or certification in relevant areas to your discipline.

femidejulius:
Wonderful nonsense

There's nothing wrong having a Masters Degree at the age of 21 without any job experience if possible.

You can always go for other masters degree when you start work if you like.

That's what the o.p suggested. You can go for your masters immediately if you're below 23 and no job is forthcoming.

vadeoba:
At 28, most companies expect you to have nothing less than 2 years of experience and having M.sc. is not equivalent to that two years of experience.

You need to be strategic about going for masters degree if you are yet to get job experience and here are my advice:

1. If you are 23 years and below, going for masters if you don’t quickly get a job is cool
2. If you are 25 years and above, I will advise you to first get a job to get experience and do your masters degree later.
3. If your long-term goal is to end up in the academia as a lecturer, masters is cool.
4. If you don’t have that goal, writing professional exams may be better than going for masters immediately after graduation.
5. If your goal is to own a business later on, going for your masters may be the best decision.
6. Before going for masters, calculate the age you will be done with the program and look at the age requirement in your industry.
7. Life is about doing first thing first and you must know how to prioritize your life.

This is an advice from me, please feel free to disagree and share your views.

You may also want to read this https://www.nairaland.com/4358447/graduating-second-class-lower-no

#IamVincentAdeoba

Read my other articles on this link http://facebook.com/joytohumanity

Wubbish! More than half of the advice given by this yeye blogger is totally misleading. How can you say "If your long-term goal is to end up in the academia as a lecturer, masters is cool...?" Does it mean that having a Masters' degree is only good for those in the academia? I used to work in a telco, and more than 75% of my colleagues had a Masters' degree! In fact in some cases, your higher qualifications put you in a good stead, when it is time for job redeployment, and promotion!

When you work in a bank, your MBA gets you a second look, than your BSc., when it is time to rise through the ranks! A masters' degree still gives you an added advantage over others, when it is time for recruitment.

When you no get job u keep urself busy with a master's program

Interesting read.....

Seriously... its better to grow on the job than coming in already grown...

Although masters gives an added advantage o... but...
it's better to get in the job with your 1st degree then become a master of that field as one grows on the job...
my2kobo

Let me not say am regreting mine...UDUS wants to kill me...am just stagnant...Imagine more dan a year after course work i have not done a proposal

Hmm

femi4:
Only in Nigeria do people go for masters for the wrong reasons like to get a job

You dey mind dem?

Everything for their country na upside down.

I'll say pursue money before masters...

wonlasewonimi:


Don't mind them... Too many paper junkies.. No transferable and soft skills.

That is why many are unemployable.

If you choose to go for a masters, make sure you plan well for it. Doing a masters without proper funding or sponsorship can be really frustrating.

If you are quitting your job for a masters, Enlighten yourself and be sure the risk is worth it.

There should be a good reason why you want to pursue a Master's degree.
If it's just because everyone is doing it then you may end up wasting your time.

For a lady, it's a dicey situation.

By the time of NYSC, most ladies want to be married and "settle down". Many don't want to keep going back to their parents after that age. And yes, many parents prefer this too, as it lessens their burdern.

If a lady lives home for Masters abroad at 26, 27 without a concrete relationship, rumor has it that her chances of getting married after she comes back declines.

After her studies, will she be able to get a job in the country she has travelled to? That will be a good hit. Will she find love there? Best! But the chances of these events occuring are slim. So she might be heading back home.

If she comes back at 29, 30 will she get the "dream job"? Will she still find a corresponding "dream man"? It's dicey joor.

Just follow your heart sha. What works for one person, may not work for another.
As for me, I left for my masters at 26. And now, four years after, no regrets at all.

My late friend finished his masters in Southafrica under 11 months


He also won a scholarship and got a first class


he studied Information technology

Nigeria is a difficult country

very good post. Well done bro

dingbang:
Masters degree is just paper.. Block heads everywhere. Upon all the masters yet we can't manufacture shitt.

You dey mind the idiots?

Foolish people everywhere doing stupid things just because others are doing it.

What exactly are you mastering?

Oh I see...

You are mastering how to get a higher paying job!

Fools.

Primusinterpares:
Seriously... its better to grow on the job than coming in already grown...

Although masters gives an added advantage o... but...
it's better to get in the job with your 1st degree then become a master of that field as one grows on the job...
my2kobo

i

u right...but a lot of factors will cause u to go for ur M.Sc...let say for instance..I teach in a private school plus npower allowee..so i decide to combine dose to run my M.Sc...Teaching job especially in a private school is not job..but when you find ursef in such situation u try to develop ursef..u get it...Nigeria is just a sick country...