₦airaland Forum

AjanleKoko: Good question.
My recommendation should be that you focus on getting into a category 2 company, worst case category 1. You need to get the skills, even if you go for training or acquire any vendor certifications.

My personal experience: I graduated with a 2.2 in the 90s.
You might think that it was easier back then, but in my opinion it was a lot more difficult. And there was little or no certification to speak of.
When I completed NYSC, I tried to get into some of those category 3 companies, with very little success. They only recruited top students of EE, CE, and CS (first class and 2:1).

I eventually was able to squeeze into a category 2 company, specializing in software development at the time.
While at that organization (earning a shi.tty salary), I started my masters degree in EE during that period. But more importantly, I did a development project that exposed me to biometrics and chip-card technology. That proved to be invaluable experience, as I was able to get a job not long after, with the only payment system provider in the country at the time.

I stayed with them until GSM started in 2001, following which I moved to telecom. However, the very important difference that made for me was that, I got enough training (local and international), vendor certifications (paid for by my company), and exposure (various hi-tech projects). When the GSM companies arrived in '01, people like me easily picked up positions. In fact I got jobs at both the two players that were licensed at the time, within days of each other. Probably that is why I don't think certifications worth the trouble without experience.

My advice to you is: Don't think about the labour market too much. Focus on where you want to go, and be realistic about how you're going to get there. There are really no short cuts. It's either you do the work in school, or after school.

GboyegaD: Been abusive is very wrong and I find it amusing when in some cases we support it in the name of corrections. I'm so sure you feel the lady who asked the household to sit on an electric cooker last week is wicked and all sorts but truth is she is not in any way worse than this lady as well. Parenting styles differs no doubt nonetheless, inhumane treatment should be frowned at. My opinion though.

AjanleKoko: Why don't you answer? Thought you knew it all

Anyway . . .

The ICT Industry in Nigeria (note I modified the term to include communications)has a reasonably wide scope. There are different categories of ICT jobs in Nigeria. I'd broadly classify under 5 categories:

1. In Computer Village, selling accessories, doing basic installations, repairs, etc., for the consumer and SME market. This could even be an itinerant freelance computer engineer or software developer doing basic stuff by himself/herself.

2. In small IT companies, doing system installation, cabling, LAN/WAN, helpdesk services, software development, implementation and support, for small and medium companies.

3. In medium and large system integrator-type companies, doing essentially the same thing as 2. Difference however is that the medium and large integrator companies have a lot of OEM relationships, and they typically manage the bigger projects, and work with bigger clientele (medium and large organizations).

4. Working in service providers (telcos, ISPs), managing their infrastructure, which they use to provide their services. Fixed or mobile voice, or Internet, or nowadays even cloud services.

5. Working for OEMs as sales/pre-sales technology people, account managers, system or software engineers, etc. Generally in Nigeria OEMS do not have a lot of in-country technical manpower, they employ mostly pre-sales, sales, and account management people.


To 'break into' the IT industry, you will need to 'break' into any of 1 to 5.
It's probably easy to decipher that 3-5 hold the largest career prospects, which include remuneration, training, exposure, and career progression. 1 and 2 are necessary evils that sometimes you need to pass through, in order to get to 3-5.

Now for what qualifications (or experience) you typically need to 'break' into 1-5:

- For 1: No qualifications required, just somebody willing to take you on in some sort of apprenticeship. Or if you are a self-starter, you can learn by yourself. In these days of YouTube, there are tutorials on just about anything.

- For 2: You need to have some level of experience or knowledge with 1, to be considered for employment in 2. That's the usual practice, because people here are very cost-sensitive and need people that can immediately add value to their bottom line.

- For 3: You need the following here usually: (a) A relevant tertiary qualification. (b) Evidence of experience in 2.
Certifications are definitely complementary here, but without a or b, you will struggle to get a place in a Telnet, or Resourcery, or Computer Warehouse, or WECO Systems, etc. Those are typical category 3 companies.

- For 4: This one is very interesting. It depends on the type of service provider. But generally you need (a) A relevant tertiary qualification. (b) Evidence of experience in 2 or 3, or particularly 4.

Certifications are not very relevant here. For example in the service provider where I work, you have a CCIE reporting to someone who has no
vendor certification. Experience is the most important currency in the telco or ISP environment.

- For 5: It usually gets worse here. You need a very good relevant tertiary qualification, plus experience, usually in 3, and certification is an added bonus. However, many of the OEMS in Nigeria don't even have large technical teams, as they have channel partners who are in category 3. Most OEMs presence in Nigeria is to generate business, not to execute.

Now let me attempt to answer your question after all the long turenchi.
Most people see IT as some kind of getaway route, and they can just use certifications to augment and jump into a job. Actually this has worked in the past, in the 90s. When MCSE was virtually unknown, people actually used MCSE certifications to land foreign jobs from Nigeria. But that time has passed, and IT is way more structured. That's why I went to all that trouble of outlining 1-5 for you.

If you are in school the first assignment for you is to get a good degree. The very good opportunities in ICT in Nigeria (categories 3-5) are very highly competitive. They typically expect the best graduates from CS or electronic engineering, and people compete fiercely for any entry positions available. Certification without requisite experience means little to these guys, for two reasons. One is, they are top-heavy with OEM certifications. Secondly, they only value experience, in the absence of which they need really smart guys that they can train.

If you are out of school, then you have to think a little differently. Technical career path is not the only career path in ICT. You can also explore either a project/program management + IT Governance route, or you can explore a career from a purely sales perspective. It all depends on what is available to you.

From this thread, it's quite apparent that most Nigerians do not really understand the makeup of the ICT industry in Nigeria. That's understandable, if you're forming impressions from outside, and also from hearsay. The truth is that ICT isn't fundamentally different from any other industry. In fact, basic ICT skills are now an integral requirement for many professionals all over the world. I hope all of this info actually helps someone.

oluwabukunola: what! Is he insane or what oops! Sorry about dat. Ahn! Ahn! Which kain man be dat. Hmm God is your helper o.

AjanleKoko: I was in IT long before some of you guys got admission to school.
And I am still waiting for your response re the below

GboyegaD: @Snazzylove,
Your friend isn't fit to be a mother. If both kids at that tender age exhibit such character, she should sit them down and find the root cause of where such habit was learnt that way, she can handle it in a better way. What the kids need is help to get out of such habit as I do not believe they know what they are doing and I an sure they get no pleasure nor relief from such.
Applying pepper to the kini makes no difference and it is only an abuse to the child.

toba: That was an error. I knew immediately they mentioned the 4 potential evictee, that Daniella would be saved and for the sack of balancing things up, the Ghanian would also be saved. Due to Shola's popularity, he was going to be saved by the contestants. Taiwo is better than Shola.

This is what you get when biased fans that knows nothing about Music are to determine the fate of the contestants. Debbie that was poor, should have been on probation

joywendy: it has always being like that, I'm surprised you are just finding out.Never trust reality shows.

jasmine21: Not Debbie oh! It was Daniella that was on probation NOT Debbie.

joywendy: it has always being like that, I'm surprised you are just finding out.Never trust reality shows.

AriDsexy: One could see the disapointment written all over Taiwo,it even showed in his performance today.Yes,Daniella is good!

homesteady: Poor Christian! always on probation!
I thought I read Daniella was on probation?

homesteady: Only Taiwo? how many were on probation? who saved who?

Emioga: @krystal101 looooool and my palour too na my territories be dat and i never overstep them.i even have another entrance into d house(my own entrance)i sweep my side of d house they sweep theirs.like a poster said desperate times call for desperate measures i cant kill myself

akitijackson: I'm final year student of the English Language(B.A). In my 1st year in the university, I was a first class student, bt I drastically dropped to 2.2 in 300level. As I discovered d level at which I dropped, I lost interest in the degree, nw I dnt knw my fate. My plan nw is as soon as I'm done, I'm gonna apply for a 2nd degree nd dis time ntin will stop me frm attaining what I've always desired. Now my dilema is if it's gon be a gud idea for me to start afresh or shld I jst continue onto masters? I really want to make things straight cos the worst result I've eva had is dis present 1.

Saraha1: Common! This year programe is not that difficult. The lord is your strenght.
Our effort shall not be in vain in Jesus name.

Saraha1: Yes oh!


Habi you dey partake for our 70days fasting and prayer ?

joywendy: lolz thanks
But sincerely I'm very far from that,I personally hate prolong argument. I was just trying to bring up a point, I just don't like it when I say something and someone misinterprets it to mean something else.

I just had to put the lady in her place and make her understand what I was saying.
That's just it.

Pls edit that last post, too much mistakes.
Thanks

joywendy: Did you even read my other posts before coming here to talk?

Saraha1: Yes oh, mfm for life.

ModusOperandi: What they did to Flourish isn't fair. . Its like they're trying to stir up controversies and drama where there's none at the expense of her career. She has lost so many fans already, Not fair

orirebaby: What's up pls? That's wat I really want to kno

orirebaby: Please who knows the full details abt oge and flourish beef....or why is uncle ben trying to make her look inferior

punintended: yaa the injured guy is Clement, but I don't think they beefed over him. I've never seen Flourish hangin out with Clement, I think the person she's most fond of is Christian

joywendy: good you said it well. Uncle ben is doing his job so are the judges. You don't expect the jugdes to be like the faculty praise you outside and crticize you inside. Me am saying he should have appreciated her work first before saying what he wanted to say.anyways I don't think there was another way to put it that wouldn't have sounded sentimenal, remember there are other people who have musical ears and are watching this. That's how judges do their thing, do you watch x factor and american idols? Do you know simon cowell? His comments are extremely harsh attimes and its very hard to please him.But he means well,So he was been sincere with her the competition is fierce.

See there is a difference, this is adele we are talking about here. Even if were going to cry she would do it professionally not like debbie's.

I'm every tired of typing,upon everything the man is making money and we are here talking about what he said

joywendy: Seriously I don't know why everyone is complaining of Ade bantu

He simply said the truth and the truth hurts, she was singing well and all of a sudden she started crying. She didn't end well at all and you expect the guy to open his hands wide and say 'debbie you are wonderful' this was her comfort zone and her biggest moment to shine more than before but let her emotion guide her.I know. It's not easy, not to get over emotional with a song that why she has good people to show her the way and help her

It doesn't work like this in the music industry, you need to learn the art of controlling your emotions. How would you feel watching a video of adele and towards the end she justs start crying and singing in tears. Would you like that? Even if you enjoyed the song at first,you won't really enjoy it again and you would start to think. What happened? They couldn't cut this part out? Who is the director? Then you would start to shift blame.
Yes what he said was harsh but it was true, though in my opinion he should have said something like'it was okay at first but then what happened?' Than just going straight to the point. If it were uncle ben he would have probably said worse.
Let's leave sentiments aside and be factual. This one of the things killing us in this country,we let our sentiment cloud our judgement.

joywendy: Seriously I don't know why everyone is complaining of Ade bantu

He simply said the truth and the truth hurts, she was singing well and all of a sudden she started crying. She didn't end well at all and you expect the guy to open his hands wide and say 'debbie you are wonderful' this was her comfort zone and her biggest moment to shine more than before but let her emotion guide her.I know. It's not easy, not to get over emotional with a song that why she has good people to show her the way and help her

It doesn't work like this in the music industry, you need to learn the art of controlling your emotions. How would you feel watching a video of adele and towards the end she justs start crying and singing in tears. Would you like that? Even if you enjoyed the song at first,you won't really enjoy it again and you would start to think. What happened? They couldn't cut this part out? Who is the director? Then you would start to shift blame.
Yes what he said was harsh but it was true, though in my opinion he should have said something like'it was okay at first but then what happened?' Than just going straight to the point. If it were uncle ben he would have probably said worse.
Let's leave sentiments aside and be factual. This one of the things killing us in this country,we let our sentiment cloud our judgement.